Just saw the top pics by CNN/ Money and thought I'd share, only one domestic won, and its a Ford.

Economy Car: Toyato Corolla
Sedan: Mazda 6
Luxury Car: BMW 5 Series
SUV: Toyota 4Runner
Coupe: MINI Cooper
Truck: F-150
Sports Car: Mazda RX-8
Wagon: Audi A4

A couple surprises for me; I still dont see what people see in the Mini's

 

Shoot me now

This would have been mine...

Economy car: Ford PZEV (or Prius)
Sedan: Malibu
Luxury Car: CTS
Coupe: Crossfire
Truck: F150
Sports Car: G35
Wagon: Audi A4

(no bias here )

 

What are you talking about? I see 3 Fords

Personally, I like the Mini. It's huge inside (I'm over 6ft tall and over 300# and I fit), small outside (easy to park), pretty decent powerplant for the size (200hp witht he Works package), and a style like no other (at the moment)

 

Bias? Say it aint so! Be thankful they even included a domestic nameplate in that list. If it was Car & Driver or one of those other *** car loving toilet rags no domestic car would have even been mentioned.

 

Maybe I am biased but is the RX-8 a better choice than the Corvette?

 

Of course theres still bias. That bias is gonna be hard to kill. And even the finest efforts by the domestics are going to have their results gauged in something closer to five year increments. The question is, do the domestics have the patience?

I mean, these are the companys that practically abandoned their car lines to build more trucks.

 

Not no but hell no.
Low real world power numbers and problematic motors. While the Corvette does have almost twice the price tag, the Mustang is right there with more power, more reliability, and of course, an American nameplate.

I think its funny that CNN would fill their list almost completly with foreign nameplates when they themselves are constantly bitching about our poor jobless economy. Way to pour salt in the wound CNN.

 

I only mentioned Corvette because it was the sports car section. Maybe the RX-8 should have been best coupe and sports car should have been left to the 2-seaters.

I hope the domestics will turn this around. I don't read any of those mags because they are so heavily biased towards foreign cars.

 

How about huge resale value, excellent perceived quality and the halo effect of the BMW dealer network?

The only downside is the Cadillac level of reliability. The Mini is still made in "Great" Britain.

In any case, the Mini is a small car without the small car stigma - something that even the Japanese haven't accomplished yet in this country.

 

I know there is still bias, I was just pointing out the obvious.

I admit I have never driven a mini, I have sit in one, but I personally dislike the styling, of course that is purly subjective.

 

you've NEVER read C&D.

 

Of course there is still a bias. A huge one.

Even if an American company built a car that surpassed all others on every single level, many people would still assume it was as crappy as the '79 Olds diesel their brother's neighbor's gynacologist owned in the early '80s.

 

I’m a big CNN nerd, I actually caught the “car specialist” or whatever he called him self they were interviewing over this list a week or so ago. I can’t remember specifics from the interview but I do recollect him being a Total Import Bias moron. I just recall getting a sour stomach and considering posting this but I just said screw it. Need I say more?

 

LOL, yeah, 3 Fords (Mazda owned by Ford). The Mazda 6 is built here in the states too, so technically it's a domestic If I'm not mistaken, it's the same plant the 2005 Mustang will be built at.

I've been looking at the MINI's too for a work car. I'm 6'3" 196lbs. and I'm looking for a sporty little car to go back and forth to work in. Hmm, wait, my Subaru fits that description, guess I don't have an excuse to get a MINI...darn.

 

Well... the Rx-8 is much cheaper, has a useable back seat, good handling and a much better interior. The only "problem" I really see with the Rx-8 is the high strung engine, which really isnt a problem if you like revs. Put your average person (non super car enthusiest) in this car and theyll the car is really fast compared your average 16 second car thats on the road.

People complain the car is down on hp but it doesnt seem to slow the car down too much. On Top Gear, the guy lapped a Rx-8 around their test course as fast as a 333hp M3. Its really a pretty good performing car. Edmunds in a review put the Rx-8 ahead of the 350Z, and the car also made Car and Drivers top 10 list (as did the Vette) so I dont see why theres so much hate for the car. The G35 would have been close competition, but it all depends on what criteria was used to judge the cars.

Also, its a sports car, (and this is a Camaro board )so lets not complain about gas milage too much.

Oh, and saying the Mustang is comparable to the Rx-8? No way. You can put a big engine in anything and make it fast. The Mustang Cobra (which is more expensive) is an awesome machine but when you look at refinement and the car as a total package, it doenst stack up to the Rx-8.