"B_dol" (bdolan40)
12/20/2013 at 09:00 • Filed to: None
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"B_dol" (bdolan40)
12/20/2013 at 09:00 • Filed to: None | 1
| 2 |
Since it seems like our fearless leaders have all chimed in with their "Best and Worst Cars I've Driven This Year", I thought I would do the same...not that I am a bandwagon jumper or anything…
2013 has been a good year in cars as far as I'm concerned, with multiple friends shopping for cars I have been able to test drive and experience far more than normal.
Best: 2013 Camaro SS 1LE - Heavily Modified
Take a Camaro SS, shed some weight, add a racing suspension, alternate gear ratios, headers, exhaust, cam, and ECU tune. What do you have? A freaking monster of a Camaro. The car pictured is my coworkers track toy, a nearly ZL1 spec Camaro with less weight to throw around.
I first noticed the simple and slightly lackluster interior, followed immediately by the fact you can hardly see out of the damn thing. Yet idling at a stoplight, I couldn't have cared less. Your body shakes, the plastic interior rattles…excitement builds like a kid on Christmas Eve. Throw the short shifter with a tactile click, mass the gas and lift the clutch and it's all smiles. Hands down, the best modern pony car I have driven.
Best: 2013 Scion FR-S
Call it underpowered, call the interior lacking, and call it ugly. Frankly, I still don't care. I have had the pleasure of driving this daily for nearly 1.5 years. The seating position is amazing, as is the 6 speed stick shift. It provides a sense of control and agility that no other car in its price range has for me. Joy rides on HWY 1 and the twisties speak for themselves.
I will not praise this car for what it is not, however, I will own it for many years to come even as the fleet grows.
Best: John Deere 111 Riding Lawnmower
Yeah boys, this one has a man pedal, err clutch. Not only was this the first gas powered anything I learned how to drive, it also helped me run my own lawn mowing business for 5 years and stash up the money to make a down payment on a real toy. I was real sad to see this go a few years back, the John Deere dealer said it was something of an antique these days.
Worst: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe
Earlier this year, my girlfriend traded her two year old leased Prius for something she saw as sportier, and sexier, a Hyundai Elantra coupe… Never mind the Prius, it is great for its intended use, namely allowing you to make road trips from SF to LA on 1.5 tanks of gas.
The Elantra however, contains the worst automatic transmission I have yet to experience outside of the 4 speed base Corolla. It responds to input sluggishly, refuses to accelerate until you mash it and it finally lurches to near redline before upshifting not one, but two or three times immediately after. The infotainment and HVAC layout is also another, hopeless mess.
Worst: 2012 Ford Mustang Convertible Base
While on vacation in San Diego, I had the option to upgrade my sensible rental car to the Ford Mustang V6 Convertible (automatic) without any additional cost. There wasn't much hesitation, I took the keys and bolted out of the lot. After spending four days with this emotionless, whale of a car, I really wish I had chosen the small, manual Fiat 500 turbo hidden in the corner.
The automatic transmission left a lot to be desired, and visibility was not the greatest using the side mirrors. I will admit though, having the top down provided lots of joy in the sunny, 85 degree weather. Unfortunately the V6 did not offer much in terms of fun, nor did the boat like steering.
Runner Up: 2012 Ferrari F430 Spider
I got to drive this little number on a large Autocross track via Groupon. However short the experience may have been, that 1-2 acceleration was incredible and I found myself giddy the entire time. The car simply had limits that I was unable and unwilling to approach, rocketing itself through tight corners and S curves. I could get used to paddle shifters if I heard that downshift blip all the time.
Nibbles
> B_dol
12/20/2013 at 09:02 |
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The best car I've driven this year? My in-laws' 2006 Nissan Altima 2.5 SE. Take from that what you will
Honorable mention: Project Thanks Obama. A damned hoot to drive, albeit scary as hell because I was never sure if the front suspension was going to collapse at the slightest bump
Naijaflavor, I Love Doritos
> B_dol
12/20/2013 at 09:03 |
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