Motor Trend Best Driver's Car (2009)

[bartboy9891]

There's some cars missing (IMO) in the test like the M3, Viper, Elise or Exige, 911 and/or GT3. But it's a good, and long, read. I'm not going to copy and paste the whole 18 page article, but I'll post the charts and graphs for your viewing pleasure.

Overall chart, the higher the bars are to the outer circle, the higher it placed and vice versa.
http://img10.imageshack.**/img10/5948/bestdriverscarfinalanal.jpg

Here are the Laguna Seca laptimes and dynamics scorecards in ascending order

Camaro SS
http://img21.imageshack.**/img21/9715/2010chevroletcamarosssc.jpg

BMW 135i
http://img13.imageshack.**/img13/50/2009bmw135iscorecardtra.jpg

Jaguar XFR
http://img13.imageshack.**/img13/9779/2010jaguarxfrscorecardt.jpg

Nissan Nismo 370Z
http://img41.imageshack.**/img41/3309/2010nissannismo370zscor.jpg

Chevy Corvette ZR1
http://img7.imageshack.**/img7/6464/2009chevroletcorvettezrn.jpg

Ford Shelby Mustang GT500
http://img197.imageshack.**/img197/1383/2010fordshelbygt500scor.jpg

Cadillac CTS-V
http://img41.imageshack.**/img41/1447/2009cadillacctsvscoreca.jpg

Mazda MX-5 Miata
http://img32.imageshack.**/img32/2047/2009mazdamx5miatascorec.jpg

Audi R8
http://img36.imageshack.**/img36/5333/2009audir8scorecardtrac.jpg

Porsche Cayman S (with PDK)
http://img36.imageshack.**/img36/8338/2009porschecaymansscore.jpg

I'm surprised that the CTS-V and GT500 placed higher than the ZR1. Here's the full article if you want to watch the laps and read more about why each car placed where it did:
http://www.motortrend.com/features/performance/112_0910_2009_best_drivers_car/index.html

 

[ahpadt]

A....Mustang?

 

[katwalk]

So the best value for money there is a MX-5. Ok everyone buy those then.

 

[Twerp128]

Oh yeah, gettin' in the Miata mood.

 

[Mr. Nice]

So the best value for money there is a MX-5. Ok everyone buy those then.

already did.

 

[bartboy9891]

A....Mustang?

They didn't say it won, but I'm surprised it placed higher than the 1-series, Nismo 370Z and ZR1.

 

[thedguy]

So the best value for money there is a MX-5. Ok everyone buy those then.

already did.

ditto.

 

[bartboy9891]

ditto.

I think the Miata is the only car on sale today that pretty much everyone can agree on. I haven't driven one, only ridden, but I can tell it could be pretty entertaining on a daily basis.

 

[BlaRo]

So, according to that chart, the CTS-V, Shelby GT500, and ZR1 are all torturous to drive, and the best value-for-money car is the same car that's been first in that regard for the past 20 years.

See, this is why I don't pay for Motor Trend.

 

[thedguy]

So, according to that chart, the CTS-V, Shelby GT500, and ZR1 are all torturous to drive, and the best value-for-money car is the same car that's been first in that regard for the past 20 years.

See, this is why I don't pay for Motor Trend.

Actually I believe they said the CTS-V was a pleasure to drive.

It's rather funny they called this article "best drivers car" and then give us all these numbers and charts. The Article and title work fine together, but the charts are all for someone looking for the "best mathematically awesome car."

Blaro, they based it around how the drivers enjoyed driving the cars, not on the numbers on the chart. Though this is usually the very reason Ferrari's always beat out faster Porsche and Corvette's in their comparo's... and make me

"The MX-5 was so confidence inspiring," says Pobst, "I felt like I could go flat out in it from the second corner out there-it just made me want to." The ZR1? Not so much. "The Miata is great for beginners or experienced drivers alike," observes Loh "It accommodates the rookie's last-minute decisions and the seasoned vet's late-braking, high-cornering-speed quest for momentum." The XFR? Rookies, beware. "This is such a useable car," notes St. Antoine, "you can run up and down through all the gears without going so fast you worry you'll need a parachute to stop." The Shelby? Better pack the parachute. "What a fun little go-kart!" says Markus. "So light and tossable, and it goes right where you point it -- very easy to place and very easy to control in a gentle drift." The 135i? If it were lighter, didn't understeer profusely, and could be gently drifted, then maybe.