Topic: Car and Driver's Ten Best 2012

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Car & Driver's Ten Best 2012

    Audi A7
    BMW 3 Series / M3
    Cadillac CTS-V
    Ford Focus
    Ford Mustang GT / Boss 302
    Honda Accord
    Honda Fit
    Mazda MX-5
    Porsche Boxster / Cayman
    Volkswagen Golf / GTI

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2012-10best-cars-concepts-technologies-and-more-feature

Pretty tough to argue with the list. I might have swapped the Accord for the Sonata, and possibly the Fiesta for the Fit, but that's personal preference more than anything objective.

[sailor723]

I'd have to agree with you. The Accord and Fit are the two that jump out as being a little questionable. (not bad choices ...just certainly open to discussion

[ktm525]

Car & Driver ? Who is that?

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Car & Driver ? Who is that?

They used to be big in the 1980s.

[CanuckG35]

The Accord?  Really?  I can see the Fit making the list long before the Accord.  Good to see the Mustang make the list, well deserved IMO.

[rrocket]

WHAT??  No Regal on the list??   

[Jaeger]

I'd dispute the Accord.  Not saying it should be the Sonata instead, just that the current Accord is a thoroughly average vehicle in every respect and seems to land on C/D's list by sheer force of inertia.  It's always been there, so it'll always be there.  A good car?  Yes. 10 Best material?  Nope.  Not a game-changer and not a standard-setter. 

Jaeger

[rrocket]

I'd dispute the Accord.  Not saying it should be the Sonata instead, just that the current Accord is a thoroughly average vehicle in every respect and seems to land on C/D's list by sheer force of inertia.  It's always been there, so it'll always be there.  A good car?  Yes. 10 Best material?  Nope.  Not a game-changer and not a standard-setter. 

Jaeger

Like the BMW.  I remember the one year the G35 beat the BMW in nearly every test they did.  But the BMW was still on the 10 Best List.

[CanuckG35]

I'd dispute the Accord.  Not saying it should be the Sonata instead, just that the current Accord is a thoroughly average vehicle in every respect and seems to land on C/D's list by sheer force of inertia.  It's always been there, so it'll always be there.  A good car?  Yes. 10 Best material?  Nope.  Not a game-changer and not a standard-setter. 

Jaeger

Completely agree!!!

[sailor723]

I'd dispute the Accord.  Not saying it should be the Sonata instead, just that the current Accord is a thoroughly average vehicle in every respect and seems to land on C/D's list by sheer force of inertia.  It's always been there, so it'll always be there.  A good car?  Yes. 10 Best material?  Nope.  Not a game-changer and not a standard-setter. 

Jaeger

Like the BMW.  I remember the one year the G35 beat the BMW in nearly every test they did.  But the BMW was still on the 10 Best List.

Yes, but it's a BMW 

(it's kind of like the divine right of kings but different) 

[CanuckG35]

I'd dispute the Accord.  Not saying it should be the Sonata instead, just that the current Accord is a thoroughly average vehicle in every respect and seems to land on C/D's list by sheer force of inertia.  It's always been there, so it'll always be there.  A good car?  Yes. 10 Best material?  Nope.  Not a game-changer and not a standard-setter. 

Jaeger

Like the BMW.  I remember the one year the G35 beat the BMW in nearly every test they did.  But the BMW was still on the 10 Best List.

The 3er is on C&Ds list EVERY year regardless of what competition exists.   Same goes with the Accord. 

[ajay]

Car and Driver likes cars for the enthusiast
thats probably why the Accord is on the list
quote
 This is a big sedan (without a sunroof, roomy enough to reside in the EPA’s Large Sedan category) that’s lighter on its feet than many sports coupes you could mention.

[rrocket]

I will say...the Accord Coupe is pretty decent the last time I drove one...

[Jaeger]

I will say...the Accord Coupe is pretty decent the last time I drove one...

Yes - especially with the 6 speed manual.  The Accord Sedan - not so much.  My Dad drives one - I have driven it countless times - there is nothing enthusiast-oriented about it at all.  It's a large, spacious sedan with a somewhat flinty ride.  Altima, 6, Fusion are all sportier rides in that class.  Passat CC is way sportier.

Jaeger

[rrocket]

I will say...the Accord Coupe is pretty decent the last time I drove one...

Yes - especially with the 6 speed manual.  The Accord Sedan - not so much.  My Dad drives one - I have driven it countless times - there is nothing enthusiast-oriented about it at all.  It's a large, spacious sedan with a somewhat flinty ride.  Altima, 6, Fusion are all sportier rides in that class.

Jaeger

But just like the M3 is a completely different animal to the regular 3 Series, so is the Accord Coupe to the sedan.  So maybe 80% of the votes came for the Coupe and the rest for the Sedan to be on the list?

[Jaeger]

I will say...the Accord Coupe is pretty decent the last time I drove one...

Yes - especially with the 6 speed manual.  The Accord Sedan - not so much.  My Dad drives one - I have driven it countless times - there is nothing enthusiast-oriented about it at all.  It's a large, spacious sedan with a somewhat flinty ride.  Altima, 6, Fusion are all sportier rides in that class.

Jaeger

But just like the M3 is a completely different animal to the regular 3 Series, so is the Accord Coupe to the sedan.  So maybe 80% of the votes came for the Coupe and the rest for the Sedan to be on the list?

Could be.  But it's not like there's much competition in the large FWD import Coupe category.  Being the best in that category doesn't mean much more than being better than the Altima Coupe.  I really don't see that as solid platform for 10-best candidacy.  In my books, from an enthusiast standpoint, Accord Coupe > Altima Coupe, Altima Sedan > Accord Sedan.  Given that the sedan is by far the volume seller for both models, I can't see the virtues of the Accord Coupe bootstrapping the combined model line into 10-best status.

Jaeger

[rrocket]

By that same standard though, the CTS-V isn't the volume seller either...But it is a cool car nonetheless...

[Oldsguy]

WHAT??  No Regal on the list??   

I'd take the Regal ahead of the Accord. Every time I see an Accord now I think, "what was that person thinking, buying that thing?"

[Snowman]

The Lancer EVO MR sound be on that list.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

By that same standard though, the CTS-V isn't the volume seller either...But it is a cool car nonetheless...

But they were specific about choosing the CTS-V. They didn't specify the Accord Coupe.

It just seems to me that Honda has been getting way too conservative, and hanging onto models way too long.