Best Car 2008: Italy --> Spicy Meatballs and Votes!

[YSSMAN]

The last of the nomination threads are closed, three days until we get into the "big show."

- Vote for two
- Banter
- It'll all be over soon!

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The Nominees for Best 2008 Italian Car are:

The Alfa Romeo 8C

The FIAT 500

The Lamborghini LP-560-4

The Alfa Romeo 159

The Ferrari F430 Scuderia

The Pagani Zonda

The FIAT Panda 100 BHP

The Alfa Romeo Mi.To

The Alfa Romeo Brera

The Maserati Gran Turismo


The Lamborghini Reventón

The Alfa Romeo 147

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I went with my gut on this one and chose two radically different cars... The distinctly Italian Alfa 8C who looks pretty and doesn't offer much else, and the overly practical and otherwise "fun" FIAT Panda 100 BHP.

 

[Joey D]

Brera because it's the best looking car ever and the Scuderia for having a funny name and being fast.

 

[Jim Prower]

I swear, YSS, the jokes are getting worse as they go along.

I hadn't meant to vote for the 147, but I did...I did meant to vote for the 500, though.

 

[homeforsummer]

8C (because it looks better than the Brera, Joey ) and the Alfa 159 for being as beautiful as the 156 (which is one of my favourite sedans ever) but with an extra hint of aggression, likely more reliable, solid, quick, and an Alfa Romeo...

But honestly this vote was harder than any of the others for me, because there isn't a single car above that I wouldn't vote for.

 

[neanderthal]

159. Bringing Alfa back to the mainstream.

Panda 100. A barrel of fun

3rd choice would have been the 8C

 

[Moglet]

No matter how much I adore the 8C, especially the convertible in white, I can't vote against the 500. I simply can't

 

[Tornado]

This is by far the hardest one to vote for.

 

[Danny]

Interesting, I assumed the Scuderia would walk it.

I voted the little Fiat twins.

 

[YSSMAN]

I swear, YSS, the jokes are getting worse as they go along.

It'd be boring if they weren't just a little corny... Gotta keep things interesting!

 

[JCE]

As others have said, this is insanely difficult to choose. But I chose the Zonda (duh) and the Fiat 500. The Alfas were really really calling me to vote for--the 159 practically upzipped my pants and climbed on in but the 500 is just too brilliant.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

I don't know why people are voting the 159, it's not that fast, and IMO is not that good looking either in comparison to almost every sedan I can think of.

I voted the 8C and the MiTo, both cars bringing Alfa Romeo (my favourite Italian brand) back to the game of awesome. They both look far better than their rivals (honestly, Fiat Panda?).

 

[homeforsummer]

I don't know why people are voting the 159, it's not that fast, and IMO is not that good looking either in comparison to almost every sedan I can think of.

Whaaaaat? There are very few saloons better looking than it, in my opinion!

 

[Danny]

There are very few saloons better looking than it, in my opinion!

Very, very +1.

Pity the rest of the package doesn't stir me like it should, or it would have nailed another vote.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Whaaaaat? There are very few saloons better looking than it, in my opinion!

Suit yourself, but not a single person will turn their heads when you drive past, there is nothing special about it.

 

[Tornado]

Actually, I'm guessing that few cars turn more heads than the 159.

 

[homeforsummer]

Suit yourself, but not a single person will turn their heads when you drive past, there is nothing special about it.

There are very few cars that people do turn to look at as they pass, but a 159 is more likely to attract admiring glances than most other standard saloons. Personally I always catch myself having a look as one passes. Can't say that about any 3-series, C-class, Jaguar etc. Helped by the fact that there aren't really that many about. I'm pretty certain there are more Maserati Quattroportes in my town than there are 159s!

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

You guys freak me out.

 

[Tornado]

Can't say that about any 3-series, C-class, Jaguar etc.!

I've seen people double take the Beamer 3. Just for different reasons.

 

[GT Pro]

Wow, this may well be the most rediculously difficult decision as to what-car-wins, ever.

Italian cars seem to dominate the rest of the world when it comes to outright performance, exclusivity and sex appeal.

Edit: Done. The Fiat 500 for it's ability to reincarnate the past in an even more brilliant form (not to mention the amazing fuel economy of the 1.3l JTD @ 4.2 l/100km combined - the most fuel-efficient new car here in Australia), and the Lamborghini Reventon for it's complete outrageousness. Just like a Ragin' Bull should be. 👍

 

[Leonidae]

Fiat 500 and Alfa Mi-To for being small Italian cars.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Fiat 500 and Alfa Mi-To for being small Italian cars.

Yay, go the MiTo.

 

[YSSMAN]

I don't know why people are voting the 159, it's not that fast, and IMO is not that good looking either in comparison to almost every sedan I can think of.

Haskjfakjshfasdkjashd????

The American magazines and Alfa fans have been freaking out because they keep getting delayed from roaming our great land. Despite my undying love for the Mazda6, the 159 would likely make me forget all about it. It looks good on the inside and outside, and as I understand it, it goes about its business rather well.

If they can push the cars out here in the US for less than $30K, I imagine they won't have a hard time selling them at all.

EDIT:

One of the things I recall is that they depreciate really quickly in Europe making them excellent used cars. I'd be all over it if I could get one here...

 

[exigeracer]

I'm not as adamant about this one as the German vote, but I voted for Zonda and Maserati GT. I let my design sense guide me, and both cars achieved their design objectives from brief to final product.

 

[Tornado]

But the Maserati GT causes eye cancer.

 

[JacoJa]

Ooh... tricky, tricky.

I ended up voting for the Fiat 500 (great looking, quality city car) and the Gran Turismo (sophisticated and powerful).

The Reventon would be my favourite car of the lot... but there's only 20, and they're about 50 million dollars each... so no.

 

[exigeracer]

But the Maserati GT causes eye cancer.

To each his own. It's bold, classy, exciting and is moving Maserati design far far far faster than the Quattroporte, Cambio, Coupe and MC12 combined.

 

[Muzaffar]

Voted for the 2 powerhouse in the poll. The Zonda and the Reventon. Would have liked to vote for the LP560, but I think the Reventon is the better car. Both cars have a lot of horsepower, and have a lot of class and prestige, but most of all, its just......

 

[Rue]

The 8C, because I'd shoot myself in the foot for it and the Scuderia cos I'd shoot myself in the other foot for one.

 

[McLaren]

Went with the Gallardo & the Fiat. The Rev. would have been nice, but it just isn't the best Italian car. It's only purpose is to offer its owner an exclusive car. It isn't built to compete with anything, performance is only a small margin over a LP640, and she only comes 1 way from the factory.

It's a great car, but it's also a fundraiser car. Nothing really more, or less.

 

[Tornado]

But it is the wild, over the top Murcielago that everyone always wanted.