7 Best Handling Cars and No Z?

ProfessorDave · 10-03-2010, 06:43 AM

While grocery shopping with my wife yesterday I did my usual prolonged stop at the magazine rack and noticed the new Car and Driver. The cover story is about the best (of seven) handling car for under 100k. I was a little surprised to see the Z absent from the list (I say a little surprised, since most of the cars on the list were 2x's the price of the Z).

The GTR is on the list, but did not get a high rating. The RX-8 came in third, which was not a surprise to me, having owned one and being completely impressed by the handling (but not the MPGs or lack of torque).

Any one else read this article (or watch the video online) and have a comment?

ImportConvert · 10-03-2010, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorDave

While grocery shopping with my wife yesterday I did my usual prolonged stop at the magazine rack and noticed the new Car and Driver. The cover story is about the best (of seven) handling car for under 100k. I was a little surprised to see the Z absent from the list (I say a little surprised, since most of the cars on the list were 2x's the price of the Z).

The GTR is on the list, but did not get a high rating. The RX-8 came in third, which was not a surprise to me, having owned one and being completely impressed by the handling (but not the MPGs or lack of torque).

Any one else read this article (or watch the video online) and have a comment?

I read it. Pathetic article. Based on opinion/SOTP "feel" instead of performance/lap times.

frost · 10-03-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

I read it. Pathetic article. Based on opinion/SOTP "feel" instead of performance/lap times.

This ^

ClemsonWill · 10-03-2010, 06:56 AM

The Best-Handling Car in America for Less Than $100K - Feature - Car and Driver

It's a good article. It would have been nice if they concentrated on cars 60K and under. Most people can't afford a Corvette Carbon or GTR.

ProfessorDave · 10-03-2010, 06:59 AM

Thanks for adding the link to the article ClemsonWill

ImportConvert · 10-03-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClemsonWill

The Best-Handling Car in America for Less Than $100K - Feature - Car and Driver

It's a good article. It would have been nice if they concentrated on cars 60K and under. Most people can't afford a Corvette Carbon or GTR.

So...how many RX8 owners are going to try to go up against Z06 Carbon and GT-R owners on the auto X? They handle better, right?

Article fail.

kenchan · 10-03-2010, 07:15 AM

Telling someone their car has good handling is like telling a character of a play his costume is nice (with absense of comment how his performance sucked).

Like mazadaze's for example.

So, I take this as a compliment.

ProfessorDave · 10-03-2010, 08:14 AM

I agree, Ken. What is so puzzling to me is how blatant C&D was about declaring their test subjective. Also, their comparison of apples to oranges to filet mignon. FWD. AWD. RWD. 2 seats. 4 seats.

And a GTI?!?

Modshack · 10-03-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorDave

I agree, Ken. What is so puzzling to me is how blatant C&D was about declaring their test subjective.

Ever drive a Cayman/Boxster? Then you'd know. They're pretty magical..

shadoquad · 10-03-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Ever drive a Cayman/Boxster? Then you'd know. They're pretty magical..

I wouldn't debate the handling abilities of a Cayman/Boxster, but I think the comparo is just odd. Doesn't strike me as their best work. Of course a Cayman will out-handle a GTI. They aren't in the same class to begin with!

Regardless, C&D comparos are one of my pleasures in life, and will continue to be.

ProfessorDave · 10-03-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Ever drive a Cayman/Boxster? Then you'd know. They're pretty magical..

I am certainly not questioning how the porsche and elise came out on top in this article. Nor was it my intention to create another "the Z is better than X because..." thread. Just scratching my head about the test. It has to cost a small fortune to perform such a test (the article mentions 10k in tire costs alone). So to spend money on this type of comparison (the kind of comparison that often gets flamed on this forum) just seemed so odd to me.

autopc25 · 10-10-2010, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Ever drive a Cayman/Boxster? Then you'd know. They're pretty magical..

BeachZTT · 10-03-2010, 08:22 AM

I recently read another article that was a "seat of the pants" evaluation and the RX8 was pretty high on the list. Problem was, even though the drivers were having fun and felt like they were doing well, the lap times were well off the mark.

ProfessorDave · 10-03-2010, 09:40 AM

My impression of the RX-8's very good handling was that you were never really getting the power to push its limits. I find that the Z takes more skill to achieve great handling, because there is the power there to push you over the edge (or cliff!).

I'm still hung up on a GTI in the mix.

red6spd · 10-03-2010, 09:46 AM

Yep I read this article. Why the GTI was in it and not the Z makes no sense to me. I love CarandDriver but they do some weird things. Whats really funny is that GTI was probably as much as my Z LOL.

10-03-2010, 06:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
ProfessorDave A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scranton, PA Posts: 1,580 Drives: In the fairway Rep Power: 19	7 Best Handling Cars and No Z? While grocery shopping with my wife yesterday I did my usual prolonged stop at the magazine rack and noticed the new Car and Driver. The cover story is about the best (of seven) handling car for under 100k. I was a little surprised to see the Z absent from the list (I say a little surprised, since most of the cars on the list were 2x's the price of the Z). The GTR is on the list, but did not get a high rating. The RX-8 came in third, which was not a surprise to me, having owned one and being completely impressed by the handling (but not the MPGs or lack of torque). Any one else read this article (or watch the video online) and have a comment? __________________ Rain, snow, sleet, hail: 2009 Mazda 3 sGT HB Everything else: 2009 370z, PW Touring 6MT

10-03-2010, 06:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
ClemsonWill A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 12,045 Drives: a Civic VP! Rep Power: 445	The Best-Handling Car in America for Less Than $100K - Feature - Car and Driver It's a good article. It would have been nice if they concentrated on cars 60K and under. Most people can't afford a Corvette Carbon or GTR. __________________ Slightly modded

10-03-2010, 06:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
ProfessorDave A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scranton, PA Posts: 1,580 Drives: In the fairway Rep Power: 19	Thanks for adding the link to the article ClemsonWill __________________ Rain, snow, sleet, hail: 2009 Mazda 3 sGT HB Everything else: 2009 370z, PW Touring 6MT

10-03-2010, 08:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
ProfessorDave A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scranton, PA Posts: 1,580 Drives: In the fairway Rep Power: 19	I agree, Ken. What is so puzzling to me is how blatant C&D was about declaring their test subjective. Also, their comparison of apples to oranges to filet mignon. FWD. AWD. RWD. 2 seats. 4 seats. And a GTI?!? __________________ Rain, snow, sleet, hail: 2009 Mazda 3 sGT HB Everything else: 2009 370z, PW Touring 6MT

10-03-2010, 08:22 AM	#13 (permalink)
BeachZTT Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 746 Drives: '10 BC ZR T/S/Nav Rep Power: 17	I recently read another article that was a "seat of the pants" evaluation and the RX8 was pretty high on the list. Problem was, even though the drivers were having fun and felt like they were doing well, the lap times were well off the mark. __________________ '10 ZR Black Cherry Sport/Touring/Nav, Swift Springs, Stillen G3s, 15mm-F 20mm-R Spacers, SPC, Spoiler Solutions Rear Wing, Stubby Antenna

10-03-2010, 07:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	Telling someone their car has good handling is like telling a character of a play his costume is nice (with absense of comment how his performance sucked). Like mazadaze's for example. So, I take this as a compliment.

10-03-2010, 09:40 AM	#14 (permalink)
ProfessorDave A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scranton, PA Posts: 1,580 Drives: In the fairway Rep Power: 19	My impression of the RX-8's very good handling was that you were never really getting the power to push its limits. I find that the Z takes more skill to achieve great handling, because there is the power there to push you over the edge (or cliff!). I'm still hung up on a GTI in the mix. __________________ Rain, snow, sleet, hail: 2009 Mazda 3 sGT HB Everything else: 2009 370z, PW Touring 6MT

10-03-2010, 09:46 AM	#15 (permalink)
red6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 3,277 Drives: 2010 Z Coupe M6 SPT Rep Power: 21	Yep I read this article. Why the GTI was in it and not the Z makes no sense to me. I love CarandDriver but they do some weird things. Whats really funny is that GTI was probably as much as my Z LOL. __________________ 2010 Base+Sport 6spd: Stillen G3, FI Non-Resonated CBE, FI Non-Resonated Test Pipes, UpRev Tuned, Custom 24R Oil Cooler, JDM Rear Fog-OEM Harness. ???Whp ???WTQ (Will find out come spring time)

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