Best, Worst, and beige-iest of 2013

Kinja'd!!! "shpuker" (shpuker)
12/21/2013 at 01:09 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 9
Kinja'd!!!

Figure why not put together my countdown, wit ha twist of course. The 2 best, 2 worst, and 2 "most beige" cars I've driven in 2013.

Best: 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX

Kinja'd!!!

As some of you know I purchased a 2005 WRX over the summer, all has gone much better than expected so far. Here are the biggest ups and downs.

Up's:

- Amazing steering, throttle, and overall feedback.

- Good stock power, great power with some mild modifications

- Good handling, great with some sticky rubber.

Downs:

- Absolute pain in the ass to work on.

- Not exactly cheap to run (Full synthetic every 3,000 miles is a pain in the ass)

- Only good on fuel if you don't drive it like a WRX..... So not THAT good on fuel

Worst:

Toyota Prius

Kinja'd!!!

This year I had the distinct misfortune of driving a Prius for the first time. It went as poorly as expected. You might say this belongs as "beige-iest."I would say piss off, this things awful.
Up's:

- Good fuel economy

- Your arrogant neighbors will think you LOVE the environment.

Downs:

- Zero steering, braking (especially braking), throttle, or turn in feel. Seriously, it doesn't exist.

- Feels like you're sitting in a 10 year old Honda Civic with a light show in front of you.

- Ugly as sin.

- Slow as sin.

- Owning one should be a sin.

Beige-iest:

2012 Infiniti G37x Sedan.

Kinja'd!!!

I know what you're thinking, "What?! That's beige to you??" Well yes. I know it seems strange, but this is not a car that inspires confidence while driving by any stretch. It's a point A to point B machine with a nice motor and good looks.

Up's:

- Good amount of power

- Looks great on the outside

- Makes a nice noise when you step on it

Downs:

- Very artificial feeling steering. Turn in is massively vague, feels like driving a video game.

- Zero brake feel. It's another matter of guess and check.

- Overall beige in nature. Not bad per say, just meh on meh on meh.

Best:

BMW Z3

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Very similar to my WRX the Z3 is one of the most driver responsive vehicles I've ever driven.

Up's:

- Incredible amount of steering, clutch, brake, and throttle feedback.

- Very short wheelbase makes it easy and fun to drive. Literally feels like you're in a cockpit.

Downs:

- It's tiny... It literally feels like you're in a cockpit.

- Massively impractical.

Worst:

90's Volkswagen Jetta

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Given this example was abused beyond most recognition, it was still a piece of shit.

Up's:

- I imagine it was incredibly cheap.

- It did have a manual!

Downs:

- Clutch was blown (mostly)

- 2 Busted wheel bearings.

- No power what-so-ever.

- It was very broken.

Beige-iest:

1998 Ford Expedition

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Just.... Boring. Very boring.

Up's:

- Reliable

- Um..... reliable?

- Good sound system.

Downs:

- Slower than your grandma after Thanksgiving dinner.

- Gets about 14mpg.

- Everything gives back that feeling of just good enough.

Honorable Bests!

- E46 M3

Didn't drive one long enough to get a good feel, but from what little I did, I like it.

- Nissan 350z

Only drove my buddies for a short stint, but it handled well, power was nice, and they're pretty cheap nowadays. One may be in my future eventually.

- 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Decent feedback from everything, looks goofy and awesome, good power, good handling. I'm a fan.

- 2005 Ram 1500 (Straight piped and a CAI for good measure)

I'm a sucker for a truck. Especially a 2WD shortbed regular cab one making over 350hp. Thing was a blast.

Honorable Worst:

2011 Nissan Murano

Thing's an unreliable beige piece of trash.


DISCUSSION (9)


Kinja'd!!! Manuél Ferrari > shpuker
12/21/2013 at 01:17

Kinja'd!!!0

Everything you wrote looks reasonable to me. I haven't driven all of these cars but believe your takes.

Damn you beige mobiles! They're kind of worse than crap mobiles. Cause the crap ones are expected to be crap. Beige is just ugh, especially if it isn't cheap...


Kinja'd!!! shpuker > Manuél Ferrari
12/21/2013 at 01:20

Kinja'd!!!1

Very true. The Expy isn't bad because it only cost $2,000 but the G37 was disapointing. I mean it can still be fun to drive. So long as you never drive anything that actually IS fun to drive. Like pretty much any BMW.


Kinja'd!!! Manuél Ferrari > shpuker
12/21/2013 at 01:22

Kinja'd!!!0

And the G37 replacement is worse! Steer by wire. Ugh


Kinja'd!!! shpuker > Manuél Ferrari
12/21/2013 at 01:27

Kinja'd!!!1

Not sure which exec approved that. But they should be fired. Hell I'm not sure which exec approved selling literally two of the same car at the same time. Only real difference between the two is the body and interior.


Kinja'd!!! Manuél Ferrari > shpuker
12/21/2013 at 01:36

Kinja'd!!!0

Their execs are clueless. Or maybe really smart? Problem is there is not enough of us.

90% of buyers see cars as appliances. They don't care if everything is drive by wire. They just want to lease the latest model and show up the next door neighbor.


Kinja'd!!! shpuker > Manuél Ferrari
12/21/2013 at 01:46

Kinja'd!!!1

Looking at the infiniti's sales numbers, I'd have to agree with that logic. They're onto something. In November they sold 7,700 G37's and 5,000 Q50's. BMW sold 13,000 3-series cars.


Kinja'd!!! Manuél Ferrari > shpuker
12/21/2013 at 01:48

Kinja'd!!!0

Damn it!

People are idiots


Kinja'd!!! shpuker > Manuél Ferrari
12/21/2013 at 02:03

Kinja'd!!!0

Seriously. Especially considering the S60 only sold 1,400 and FRS/BRZ combines sales total just over 1,000. People have no taste. That's nothing new though.


Kinja'd!!! Manuél Ferrari > shpuker
12/21/2013 at 02:09

Kinja'd!!!0

The root of all the worlds problems don't come down to politics or resources. The issue is most people suck!