GTPlanet's "Best Car 2006" (Final Vote on Wagon/Estate too)

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Best Wagon/Estate

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YSSMAN

YSSMAN

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YSSMAN
Well we are winding up the year here, and with all the magazines publishing their lists of "Best Car 2006," I figure we should indeed to the same.

So what are the rules? Well first things first, it has to be a car. Crossovers and minivans do count as they are car-based, but there aren't going to be a wide variety of options there. Along with that, the car must be all-new or significantly updated for 2006/2007, and would have to be released between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006.

Ready? GO!

(I'll nominate shortly)

---

Also, please vote on "Best Wagon/Estate" as well. Given that my Volkswagen has been eliminated, I'm going to have to go with my secondary choice, the Dodge Magnum. Simply put, it offers quite a bit of value for a fair ammount of money, semi-shoddy build-quality or not. The cars are quite pleasant to drive and to ride in, and on the whole, are more than enough to keep both Mom and Dad happy. Best-case scenario is the Magnum R/T with the 345 BHP 5.7L HEMI V8, available in rear or all-wheel drive. With that kind of power, shes a sleeper, and to me, that makes her a winner.
 
WRX Estate hands down. It will out handle and out perform that Hemi Magnum...or at least keep up with it...and with almost 1/3 the discplacement.
 
Also voted for the WRX. It is not only quicker than the Magnum, you can get it with a stick, too!
 
-> Since I own a 2006 WRX Wagon, might as well vote my own, heh, heh. (:

CPIC002.jpg
 
I voted Volvo 850. For me it's the definative estate car, especially in T5 trim. The Impreza wagon is more of a hatch than an estate in my opinion, offering virtually no more load space than the saloon.
 
I nominate the Audi TT MK2.

Its won critical acclaim around the world already.

Its beaten the cayman and Z4 in comparos, it looks great, sounds great and it goes great.

Its already been named car of the year by several magazines and has won a couple "drive of the year" awards also. Audi have perfected the TT, and perfected what a sports coupe is all about. The perfect balance between comfort and speed. :D
 
So they've started making the Model T again have they?

- When will Ford drop this 'retro' thing :rolleyes:
 
Actually they did start making the Model T again ;), but that a special deal and I think it was last year or the year before that, not this year.
 
live4speed
Actually they did start making the Model T again ;), but that a special deal and I think it was last year or the year before that, not this year.
Click to expand...

They made ONE new-production one for Ford's Centennial.

[EDIT] Damn rules. I can't think of any cars you people would like.
 
Again, VW have not made a trad style Beetle in 2006. Read the rules fellas.

YSSMAN
... Along with that, the car must be all-new or significantly updated for 2006/2007, and would have to be released between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006.
Click to expand...
 
Jim Prower
They made ONE new-production one for Ford's Centennial.

[EDIT] Damn rules. I can't think of any cars you people would like.
Click to expand...
The ndon't, think of a car you like from 2006 ;).
 
But, we've already done Sedans, so, unless you count the Charger SRT-8 as a different model, I'm out of luck.
 
Volvo 850 of course (any T5 estate would do for me) ;)

As for best new car....you won't believe me but:

F5CO-Suzuki-Swift-Sport.jpg


Suzuki Swift Sport
 
Oh, whoops, a current car, I'll go with the.... Saturn Sky Red Line.

:D

0,,i=124255&sz=1,00.jpg


277 hp, for what? $27K? Great little mini Corvette.
 
Should we not vote for best new/redesignedmodel? Just a question.

I mean, why would we vote for a car that's been around for ages, but is now out with the 2006 badge?

Poverty
I nominate the Audi TT MK2.
Click to expand...

Read the rules man, you're banned from voting for any Audi.
 

BMW 335i


(those are the important bits, the fact that they come in a better looking wrapper than other new BMWs is just a bonus)

Best BMW in a while and the car people most likely will still remember in 20 years.
 
new%20Clio2.jpg


Such a huge leap in quality over its predecessor, it's gobsmacking.

*Smacks gob*
 
For my nomination, things were a bit complicated. When first thinking about it, three cars came to mind; The Honda Fit, Saturn Aura, and VW Rabbit. The problem was, all three cars have been around for a while in different variations. The Fit/Jazz was just updated last year in Europe, and then was introduced this spring to the American market. The Aura is a mish-mash of the Vectra and the G6, again a fresh-face to the American market. And over at VW, they have finally shipped the three year old MKV Golf to America as the Rabbit.

What an exciting year for new cars, eh?

So I began to think about things, and slowly I realized that all three cars represent completely different ideas about what a "Best Car 2006" should be. For the Fit, it is a matter of making the old "penalty box" a better option for those who cannot afford a better car. The Aura on the other hand is GM's way of proving that America CAN out-do the Japanese, and has for the most part succeeded. The Rabbit puts emphasis on safety, luxury, and little compromise for a low-price.

But when it all came down to it, there was a pretty clear winner in my heart.

Simply put, the Saturn Aura makes it as "Best Car 2006" in my book. There are indeed many reasons as to why:

- It creates the best compromise available for a German/American cross-breed, using extensive European styling and dynamics with a backdrop of American levels of space, ride, and comfort.

20091706-E.jpg


- Build quality is superb, far beyond the Saturns and other GM models of the past. If anything, the Saturn is a signal that shows where GM is headed, and it is indeed a great path. I found the material qualities to be top-notch in it's class, certainly not a dead-ringer for Lexus or BMW materials, but certainly a match for that of Toyota and Honda.

20091702-E.jpg


- The mechanical bits and pieces are also done quite well, and serve a purpose that matches the car's attitude quite well. Options include

* 3.5L 224 BHP OHV V6 with variable valve timing, and is available with the old, but reliable 4T45E automatic transmission
* 3.6L 252 BHP DOHC V6 with vaiable valve timing, as is available only with the new 6T70E automatic transmission

(a hybrid option is due next year)

2007.saturn.aura.20102618-E.jpg


The engines offer plenty of power, and most importantly, fuel economy numbers to rival that of the competition. Best of all, it is class leading power that makes the car a winner in my book, and the fact you can run both engines on regular gasoline is also a plus compared to premium-only Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.

07.saturn.aura.cc.500.jpg


- Did I mention that the car is safe? The car received Five-Star crash ratings from the NHTSA for both frontal and side-impact tests, certainly an added bonus with any car.

2007.saturn.aura.20102625-E.jpg


- And how about the pricing? The "standard" Aura XE with the 3.5L V6 starts at a rather-low $19,945, and comes with some great standard features. The up-level Aura XR starts at $23,945 and it too includes a lot of great standard equipment, some of which isn't available or is only optional on other competition.

07.saturn.aura.bdg.500.jpg


...So yes, I did it... I nominated the Saturn Aura. Its awards were stolen from it, and thus it deserves recognition...
 
ЯebЯum!;2509185
Should we not vote for best new/redesignedmodel? Just a question.

I mean, why would we vote for a car that's been around for ages, but is now out with the 2006 badge?



Read the rules man, you're banned from voting for any Audi.
Click to expand...
Why is that??

By your take, no model with an update can be nominated?? So no BMW, Mercs, Audi´s or just about any car at all goes??

The all new TT premiered during 2006 and that´s it!
 
And even more predictably than ever, the vote goes to the fastest car... :lol:

Best "all new" car for 2006? Hmmm... toughie... I'd say Mazda Miata PRHT, but that's a personal thing...

No, my nomination (shock that it's coming from me...) goes to the Audi RS4 (sure, it's mid-2005 in Europe, but it's 2006 in the US, so sue me).

Why? I'm an Audi-hater! But seriously. This car has a glorious engine, and it may not be the best ever built, but it shows that Audi still knows how to make real, honest-to-goodness, sports cars. That 400+ hp 4 liter V8... that glorious traction... that style! :D

EDIT: Oops... anyone do the Cayman, yet? :lol:
 
There are so many good cars this year. I really can't make my mind up. 335i Coupe, 911 GT3/Turbo, Suzuki Swift Sport, XKR... but I think I will have to settle for the Suzuki purely for its affordability for what you get.
 

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