#5007798 - 09/02/10 12:22 PM
The best handling car in America is....
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Serendipitous
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 15300
Loc: Northern California
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From the new Car and Driver, price capped at $100k. Article isn't online yet but I have the issue in front of me.
7. Volkswagen GTI 97 pts.
6. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 101
5. Nissan GT-R 104
4. BMW M3 106
3. Mazda RX-8 R3 112
2. Lotus Elise SC 113
1. Porsche Boxster Spyder 126
Ranked from a mix of subjective categories like cornering stability, balance, steering response, braking response, etc. 130 points total.
Lap times for the enginerds (Waterford Hills):
7. GTI 1:24
6. RX-8 1:22.6
5. M3 1:20.8
4: Elise 1:19.3
3. Boxster 1:19
2. GT-R 1:16.5
1. Z06 1:16
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#5007963 - 09/02/10 01:13 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: Impulsive]
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Euphoricuck
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 11/05/03
Posts: 92703
Loc: Canadistan
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None of those surprise me - just odd seeing the GTi in that list. Mine should be in the mail soon.
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#5008072 - 09/02/10 01:47 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: ResisterGo]
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Serendipitous
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 15300
Loc: Northern California
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Probably had more to do with diversifying the test lineup than anything else (hence no Miata, Cayman, Z4, etc.). The article mentioned that they wanted all driveline configurations to be involved.
I have heard from some fellow feel douches that the GTI is a blast.
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#5008471 - 09/02/10 03:59 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: Serendipitous]
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progressi
Post Master Sr
Registered: 06/01/01
Posts: 9134
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Ive always argued on here how special the RX8 is (was...  ).
But I dont think you're an engine nerd to appreciate the fastest lap on a road course. I mean,it is a road course. That used to be the retort for the Civic crowd,was it not? The twisteez arguement? 
Glad to see the C6Z beat the GTR after it was all settled and certain that the GTR was clearly the faster car. Its not the first time,and I know they're close. I just enjoyed that result.
Edit: and picking the fastest handling car on the track and saying it's the worst handling car of the bunch is old hat now. Mags love to cause drama just like the tabloids and 6pm news: "We test the mighty Z06 against the competition,surely it's a better handling car than the RX8,right? Tune in tonight,you might be shocked!"
Edited by progressi (09/02/10 04:01 PM)
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#5008481 - 09/02/10 04:02 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: progressi]
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ReplicaR
Post Master Sr
Registered: 05/26/06
Posts: 7129
Loc: E.E.B.
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Love the Boxter Spyder. Something that I can actually envision my self getting at some point. Something ridiculously sexy about the way that car looks, and the point that it's a GT3 RS of the Boxters.
_________________________
'94 Mustang GT Acceleration....  -------+-- Handling......... -------+-- Speed............ ------+---
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#5008860 - 09/02/10 07:07 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: ]
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Serendipitous
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 15300
Loc: Northern California
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The RX8 is a great chassis, but that list was derived with too many subjective variables.
Enginerds, what is that a new excuse for having the worst engine put in a new car today, bar none. And that is based on fuel economy, engine life, emissions, and performance (lol).
It's a test of "handling", which is a completely subjective term. The RX-8 wouldn't handle as well as it does without the "worst engine put in a new car today, bar none (lol)" sitting low and towards the center of gravity, being all compact and lightweight.
Enginerds = Engineers, not people who are into engines. I used to be the lone business major in a house full of engineers, so the term came naturally
Edited by Serendipitous (09/02/10 07:08 PM)
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#5008866 - 09/02/10 07:10 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: progressi]
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Serendipitous
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 15300
Loc: Northern California
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Ive always argued on here how special the RX8 is (was... ). But I dont think you're an engine nerd to appreciate the fastest lap on a road course. I mean,it is a road course. That used to be the retort for the Civic crowd,was it not? The twisteez arguement? Glad to see the C6Z beat the GTR after it was all settled and certain that the GTR was clearly the faster car. Its not the first time,and I know they're close. I just enjoyed that result. Edit: and picking the fastest handling car on the track and saying it's the worst handling car of the bunch is old hat now. Mags love to cause drama just like the tabloids and 6pm news: "We test the mighty Z06 against the competition,surely it's a better handling car than the RX8,right? Tune in tonight,you might be shocked!"
The fastest car on the track is not always the best handling car. That's part of what the test shows.
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#5008867 - 09/02/10 07:10 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: ResisterGo]
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Serendipitous
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 15300
Loc: Northern California
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Well they need to sell issues, no? Maybe they think the GTI is the best handling FWD out there now. I don't know.
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#5009021 - 09/02/10 08:42 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: Serendipitous]
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progressi
Post Master Sr
Registered: 06/01/01
Posts: 9134
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Well I guess Im at a disadvantage without the whole article.
And I agree. Even if the Rotary (ROTARD WARNING HAHA) was as heavier or heavier than a great v6 or v8,it would still be larger dimensionally and it would be worse for handling. That's truth.
Someone will e-beat me for this,but Im good. lol
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#5009056 - 09/02/10 08:58 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: Serendipitous]
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cacasesi
Say my name!
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 06/01/00
Posts: 11493
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The GTI does NOT surprise me.
The GTI is, by far, the easiest car to drive FAST that I've ever driven. My previous MR2 (for example) was faster, given the proper conditions. But which of the two cars could I hustle through an unfamiliar mountain road faster...? Undoubtedly the GTI. The MR2 or s2k were situationally phenomenal cars. But, one mid-corner bump or road hazard and it was hold onto your ass time! The GTI just hauls ass regardless of road conditions, providing confidence levels in high-speed corners I'm yet to experience in anything else I've piloted.
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#5009078 - 09/02/10 09:05 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: cacasesi]
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NOT spotch...
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 07/25/00
Posts: 57253
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The MR2 or s2k were situationally phenomenal cars. But, one mid-corner bump or road hazard and it was hold onto your ass time!
For me that's always been the miata's biggest advantage over the s2k... You can climb into a miata and drive it at 9/10ths on any road you can find (familiar or not) and not die. S2k... not necessarily lol. Just not quite as communicative or confidence inspiring.
_________________________
"On the street where there is no lap timer, feel is all that matters" - scootergeek
"A bunch of nerdy douchebags chasing a ghost." -Ob1 on bitcoin
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#5009189 - 09/02/10 09:45 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: ReplicaR]
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Serendipitous
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 15300
Loc: Northern California
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Love the Boxter Spyder. Something that I can actually envision my self getting at some point. Something ridiculously sexy about the way that car looks, and the point that it's a GT3 RS or the Boxters.
Missed this post, but I agree 100%. I typically hate 'verts with clunky top mechanisms but given where I live now I think I could deal!
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#5009194 - 09/02/10 09:47 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: Serendipitous]
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Serendipitous
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 15300
Loc: Northern California
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Oh, and I feel it's completely appropriate that there was 1 FWD car, 1 AWD, and 5 RWD entrants.
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#5009197 - 09/02/10 09:48 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: Serendipitous]
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ReplicaR
Post Master Sr
Registered: 05/26/06
Posts: 7129
Loc: E.E.B.
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Love the Boxter Spyder. Something that I can actually envision my self getting at some point. Something ridiculously sexy about the way that car looks, and the point that it's a GT3 RS or the Boxters. Missed this post, but I agree 100%. I typically hate 'verts with clunky top mechanisms but given where I live now I think I could deal!
Also I meant to say "GT3 RS of the Boxters" Sorry.
_________________________
'94 Mustang GT Acceleration.... -------+-- Handling......... -------+-- Speed............ ------+---
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#5009216 - 09/02/10 09:57 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: ]
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progressi
Post Master Sr
Registered: 06/01/01
Posts: 9134
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I have posted "what does handling mean" threads before, and there was little agreement. To me, feel is feel, handling is a combination of feel and actual performance. A Miata is fun to autocross, but meh meh meh on the street.
The cars that put down the lap times will always be a little looser than the slower cars.
I think of handling when a car with 505 hp driven only through the rear wheels can beat a car like a GTR. It may have felt spooky at the time,but that gets me-as an owner,all inspired about the potential of even faster times and a car that will not let me down,in other words I know that I will have to be a better driver and this car will challenge me. Its pretty inspiring,personally.
In Forza I loved driving the Ferrari P4 because it was so light and so scary. That this old beast could put down awesome lap times if driven right. Same thing if you got an old 911 2.7RS and put a modern build GT3 mill in it. It scared you,thrilled you,but once you got it down it would all start rapidly paying off.
I know,it's a game,but few people have the kind of money necessary to experiment with 20 or 30 cars to find combinations they really liked.
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#5009227 - 09/02/10 10:00 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: NOT spotch...]
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Serendipitous
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 15300
Loc: Northern California
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I expected a spotch post mentioning that article proclaiming the Prelude as the best handling car from back in the day, but I'm satisfied with the H22 reference.
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#5009231 - 09/02/10 10:01 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: ]
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Serendipitous
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 15300
Loc: Northern California
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Are you trying to outtroll me Chuck? I WILL STEP UP MY GAME IF I NEED TO
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#5009278 - 09/02/10 10:17 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: NOT spotch...]
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theLoon
Post Master Sr
Registered: 01/06/03
Posts: 3275
Loc: MN
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LOL. fwiw it was only the 'best handling under 30,000'. The E36 m3 was the best handling over 30k.
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#5009281 - 09/02/10 10:18 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: NOT spotch...]
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Hytec
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 24074
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I expected a spotch post mentioning that article proclaiming the Prelude as the best handling car from back in the day, but I'm satisfied with the H22 reference. LOL. fwiw it was only the 'best handling under 30,000'. The E36 m3 was the best handling over 30k. Not that I remember stupid shit like that. .........................
Taken from the same article in the OP.... 
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#5009307 - 09/02/10 10:27 PM
Re: The best handling car in America is....
[Re: ]
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Hytec
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 24074
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Nope, full article here
http://m3.asdf17.com/
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