'09 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car - NO M3???

[Nawaaz]

I don't think this has been brought up yet, but I'm sure most of ya'll already know that Motor trend holds their annual "The Best Handling Car Contest", but they're now changing that up to "The Best Driver's Car Contest".

So NATURALLY, I expected my beloved M3 to easily make the cut and be present within the competition.......BUT it wasn't!!!??!!

What gives??

Here's the list of all the competitors in the order of the final rankings:

1.) 2009 PORSCHE CAYMAN S PDK
2.) 2009 AUDI R8
3.) 2009 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
4.) 2009 CADILLAC CTS-V
5.) 2010 FORD SHELBY GT500
6.) 2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1
7.) 2010 NISSAN NISMO 370Z
8.) 2010 JAGUAR XFR
9.) 2009 BMW 135I
10.) 2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS

Also, here's the link if you wanna read the entire article: http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...car/index.html

[DP8]

Interesting not sure how the Jaguar XFR and Camaro SS beat out the M3?!?

They may be nice cars but both are more of a grand tourer/cruiser than a "drivers" car. The "driver" is pretty ambiguous.

[Vise]

Let's not forget this list is from Motor Trend aka the worst car magazine ever.

[ching]

The selection list is pretty random and appears to be set by marketing appeal rather than any other objective measure.

[ModLikeMad]

The reason the M3 isn't on this list is because it's supposed to be "fair" for the other cars...

[503Alex]

No GT3???

[py0413]

i m glad it's not on their list simply because they are one of the worst car magzines in the world.

[KonigsTiger]

It is a bit perplexing that the M3 is not on the list, but I very seldom buy a car from what this or that magazine says unless of course it is very consistent. I´d also be surprised why there is no GT3 for instance. The thing is, sometimes the criteria employed for choosing these vehicles may be very different than what we value in say, the M3 or GT3.

[drivendriver]

The M3 was in the 2008 version of the test. It was ranked 3rd behind the R8 and the GT-R.

The only car from the 2008 test that is included in the 2009 test is the 2008 winner (the R8). I don't think they include a car again unless it has been significantly updated, like the Cayman S in 2009. So, hopefully, the GT-3 will be in the 2010 test.

Note that the tests and criteria have changed quite a bit since 2008.

Now, for those who need cheering up, here is what they said about the M3 in 2008:

"We expected the new BMW M3 (3rd place) to finish strong; it's simply one of our all-around favorite cars. Pobst gushed over its sublime responsiveness and grace, scoring it second. On our instrumented tests, the BMW delivered a second-best step-steer time, midpack lane-change speed, a top-place finish in ride quality, and one of the smoothest, tightest traces (despite high performance limits) on our figure-eight test. Most important, the M3 delivers handling performance you can utilize fully on your favorite roads. Steering feel, balance, chassis feedback, grip-the M3 covers every important base as few other cars in the world today can."

[bobbyd1961]

Originally Posted by Nawaaz

I don't think this has been brought up yet, but I'm sure most of ya'll already know that Motor trend holds their annual "The Best Handling Car Contest", but they're now changing that up to "The Best Driver's Car Contest".

So NATURALLY, I expected my beloved M3 to easily make the cut and be present within the competition.......BUT it wasn't!!!??!!

What gives??

Here's the list of all the competitors in the order of the final rankings:

1.) 2009 PORSCHE CAYMAN S PDK
2.) 2009 AUDI R8
3.) 2009 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
4.) 2009 CADILLAC CTS-V
5.) 2010 FORD SHELBY GT500
6.) 2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1
7.) 2010 NISSAN NISMO 370Z
8.) 2010 JAGUAR XFR
9.) 2009 BMW 135I
10.) 2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS

Also, here's the link if you wanna read the entire article: http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...car/index.html

the only car i would consider buying on that list is the R8. all the rest would never be considered especially the american cars.
motortrend doesnt like the fact that car and driver always select Bmw in head to head competitions and 10 best cars year after year. the magazine is quite boring and im surprised they still exist i thought they were out of business decades ago.

[MuchMoore]

Perhaps its the list of the top 10 advertisers?

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by ching

The selection list is pretty random and appears to be set by marketing appeal rather than any other objective measure.

Originally Posted by drivendriver

I don't think they include a car again unless it has been significantly updated, like the Cayman S in 2009.

It's just pure marketing crap indeed. Car magazines think they can fool enthusiasts with their marketing-driven attempts at objectivity. Like many, I pay no attention to those lists at all. And I even take their reviews with a grain of salt. But yes, MT is the worst at that IMO too. Good day.

[Nawaaz]

Every one of you guys are correct.

There's no need to be brought down just because a magazine did not include it in a certain category, especially in a category that the M3 always excels in.

[drivendriver]

Here is a quote from the article regarding the test's philosophy for 2009:

Enter 2009's test. For this go-around we addressed a shortcoming that now seems obvious to us. In our efforts to ascertain the best-handling car, we overlooked some vital data: our expert subjectivity. Sure, we'll continue to keenly heed every observation made by Pobst, who graciously joins our team again, but this year we're going to listen to ourselves more, considering such nuances as a car's ability to induce driver confidence and its prowess at enveloping our judges in ergonomic delight.

And here is something about the Cayman S:

What's most striking about the Porsche Cayman S Vehicle Dynamics Score is that it doesn't appear to be remarkable at all. It took turning off our elaborate test equipment and simply wrapping our hands on its steering wheel to finally get the picture ... And when the results were compiled, our affection for the Cayman S became starkly apparent.

Interpret that however you will (there's already an ugly and pointless M3 vs. Cayman S thread, and I don't want to start another one), but the 2009 test is admittedly much more subjective than the 2008 edition.

[RJD M3]

YUK. I agree, the R8 would probably be the only car i'd really consider. The Porsche isn't a bad car, but come on...a rustang and camaro?

[Ramos]

Originally Posted by drivendriver

The M3 was in the 2008 version of the test. It was ranked 3rd behind the R8 and the GT-R.

The only car from the 2008 test that is included in the 2009 test is the 2008 winner (the R8). I don't think they include a car again unless it has been significantly updated, like the Cayman S in 2009. So, hopefully, the GT-3 will be in the 2010 test.

Note that the tests and criteria have changed quite a bit since 2008.

Now, for those who need cheering up, here is what they said about the M3 in 2008:

"We expected the new BMW M3 (3rd place) to finish strong; it's simply one of our all-around favorite cars. Pobst gushed over its sublime responsiveness and grace, scoring it second. On our instrumented tests, the BMW delivered a second-best step-steer time, midpack lane-change speed, a top-place finish in ride quality, and one of the smoothest, tightest traces (despite high performance limits) on our figure-eight test. Most important, the M3 delivers handling performance you can utilize fully on your favorite roads. Steering feel, balance, chassis feedback, grip-the M3 covers every important base as few other cars in the world today can."

How about the 135 then? It was not updated for 09

[Big Windy]

how do they define driver's car? i didn't follow the link...but do they at least give the criteria? because that list seems pretty subjective.

[URBAN LEGEND]

Originally Posted by DLin17

Interesting not sure how the Jaguar XFR and Camaro SS beat out the M3?!?

They may be nice cars but both are more of a grand tourer/cruiser than a "drivers" car. The "driver" is pretty ambiguous.

The Jaguar XFR and Camaro SS didn't beat the M3 because the M3 wasn't in the test.

[ChrisFastM3]

Originally Posted by bobbyd1961

im surprised they still exist i thought they were out of business decades ago.

Wow, so your saying you thought they went out of business in, lets say, in 1989?!?! Did you even have the internet then? Most likely no....

[FStop7]

Cayman S w/ LSD and PDK = very quick and a nice car

Not sure about the rest of that list. There are a lot of other cars in the R8 price range that are better driver's cars, IMO. The GT3 for starters.

[ADubM3]

I saw the magazine today at the news stand and just laughed at the selection.
Here is the first couple of things that went through my mind when I saw the selection.
1. Those 10 cars were just laying around the companies parking lot from past tests.
2. Cars that the manufactures were willing to cough up for the magazine test and needed some press to sell more units.

That's just my opinion. So in the end, my money went to RacerX.

[graider]

Originally Posted by MuchMoore

Perhaps its the list of the top 10 advertisers?

I smell the truth.