RX8-79

but two other Mazdas say hello.

BMW 3 series
Chevrolet Corvette
Chrysler 300
Honda Accord
Honda Fit
Infiniti G35 sedan
Mazda MX-5
Mazdaspeed 3
Porsche Boxster and Cayman
Volkswagen GTI

----------------------------------

And in other good news, no toyotas, no lexus, no subarus or m-b's to be found.

DailyDriver2k5

Its to be expected.....Mazda didn't raise the bar for the 8, so it was a given. I agree with every car to be on that list except the Honda Accord and the fit. Those cars are Vanilla city! I test drove both and was blown away into bordem. Honda has turn the Accord into a Japanese Buick! And the Fit, well ...is just ....

Chris_Bangle

iTrader: (2)

what do you mean didn't raise the bar? what about the great new interiors or the new exterior colours, no other car in our class improved nearly as much.

On a serious note however, I was driven around a track in turbo 8 after I did the track in mine, Mazda never did the car justice from day one and I am afraid it is going to die without ever getting a proper engine rotary or not.

good on VW for finally doing a proper GTI.

Slick8

The Mazdaspeed 3 bumped the RX-8 in overall value, performance, refinement and style. Car and Driver can not put three Mazdas on the list.

DrDiaboloco

I believe there have been years where there were 3 Hondas or 3 BMW's on the list... But I could be wrong.

EDIT- Looked it up on C&D's website. It's been a while, but yes, there were 3 Hondas on the C&D 10Best list in '85 and '88.

Slick8

Top Ten Models
From 1983 through 2006, the following individual models were represented on the list the most times:

Rank Model Number of wins
1 Honda Accord 20
2 BMW 3-Series 15
3 Chevrolet Corvette 12
4 Honda Prelude 10
5 Ford Taurus 7
5 Mazda Miata 7
5 Nissan 300ZX 7
5 Porsche Boxster 7
9 Acura Integra 6
9 BMW 5-Series 6
9 Honda Civic 6

Note: The Acura RSX and Acura Integra are similar models. The RSX's 2002 and 2003 wins would bring the Integra into 5th place if their numbers were combined.


1983
For the 1980s, Car and Driver picked five domestic and five import cars.

Model Times on List
AMC/Renault Alliance 1
Chevrolet Caprice Classic 1
Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5
Honda Accord 20
Mazda RX-7 5
Mercedes-Benz 380SEL 1
Pontiac 6000 STE 3
Porsche 944 4
Toyota Celica Supra 2
Volkswagen GTI Rabbit 3

Fastest car tested: Jaguar XJ-S HE, 142 mph

Top-selling cars:

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Ford Escort
Ford LTD

1984
Instituted the price cap at $30,000.

Model Times on List
Audi 5000 S/Turbo 5
Dodge Daytona Turbo 1
Honda Accord 20
Honda Prelude 10
Mazda 626 1
Pontiac 6000 STE 3
Pontiac Fiero 2M4 1
Porsche 944 4
Toyota Celica Supra 2
Volkswagen GTI Rabbit 3

Fastest car tested: Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole, 144 mph

Top-selling cars:

Chevrolet Cavalier
Ford Escort
Ford LTD

1985
Price cap: $30,000

Model Times on List
Audi 5000 S/Turbo 5
Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z 1
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Dodge Caravan 3
Honda Accord 20
Honda Civic 6
Honda CRX 2
Honda Prelude 10
Merkur XR4Ti 1
Plymouth Voyager 3
Pontiac 6000 STE 3
Porsche 944 4

Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette, 150 mph

Top-selling cars:

Chevrolet Cavalier
Ford Escort
Chevrolet Celebrity

1986
Price cap: $30,000

Model Times on List
Audi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro 5
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Ford Taurus 7
Honda Accord 20
Honda Prelude 10
Lincoln Mark VII LSC 1
Mercury Sable 3
Porsche 944 Turbo 4
Saab 9000 Turbo 4
Toyota MR2 2
Volkswagen GTI 3

Fastest car tested: Porsche 944 Turbo, 157 mph

Top-selling cars:

Chevrolet Celebrity
Ford Escort
Chevrolet Cavalier

1987
Price cap: $30,000

Model Times on List
Acura Integra 6
Audi 5000 CS Turbo 5
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Ford Mustang GT 5
Ford Taurus 7
Honda Accord 20
Mazda RX-7 Turbo 5
Pontiac Bonneville SE 1
Saab 9000 Turbo 4
Toyota MR2 2

Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa, 176 mph

Top-selling cars:

Ford Escort
Ford Taurus
Chevrolet Cavalier

1988
Price cap: $35,000

Model Times on List
Acura Integra 6
Acura Legend Coupe 3
Audi 5000 5
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Ford Mustang 5 5
Ford Taurus 7
Honda Accord 20
Honda Civic 6
Honda CRX 2
Saab 9000 Turbo 4

Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa, 173 mph

Top-selling cars:

Ford Escort
Chevrolet Corsica/Beretta
Ford Taurus

1989
Imports and domestics chosen by marque, not by place of manufacture.

Price cap: $35,000

Model Times on List
Acura Legend Coupe 3
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Dodge Colt Turbo 1
Ford Probe GT 3
Ford Taurus 7
Honda Accord 20
Honda Civic 6
Lincoln Continental 1
Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo 4
Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo 1
Plymouth Laser Turbo 4
Saab 9000 Turbo 4

Fastest car tested: 750iL V12, 158 mph

Top-selling cars:

Honda Accord
Ford Taurus
Ford Escort

1990
Eliminated half domestic/half import rule as impractical.

Price cap: $35,000

Model Times on List
Acura Legend Coupe 3
Eagle Talon Turbo 3
Ford Taurus 7
Honda Accord 20
Honda Civic 6
Lexus LS 1
Mazda Miata 7
Mazda MPV 2
Mercury Sable 3
Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo 4
Nissan 300ZX Turbo 7
Nissan Maxima SE 3
Plymouth Laser Turbo 4

Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 175 mph

Top-selling cars:

Honda Accord
Ford Taurus
Chevrolet Cavalier

1991
New rule: No more than two places per marque.

Price cap: $35,000

Model Times on List
Eagle Talon Turbo 3
Ford Taurus 7
Honda Accord 20
Honda Civic 6
Mazda Miata 7
Mazda MPV V6 2
Mercury Sable 3
Mercury Tracer LTS 1
Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo 4
Nissan 300ZX Turbo 7
Nissan Sentra SE-R 4
Plymouth Laser Turbo 4
Toyota Previa 1

Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 176 mph

Top-selling cars:

Honda Accord
Ford Taurus
Toyota Camry

1992
Price cap: $40,000

Model Times on List
BMW 3-Series 325i 15
Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan 1
Eagle Talon AWD Turbo 3
Ford Taurus SHO 7
Honda Prelude Si 10
Lexus SC SC400 4
Mazda Miata 7
Mitsubishi Eclipse AWD Turbo 4
Nissan 300ZX Turbo 7
Nissan Sentra SE-R 4
Plymouth Laser AWD Turbo 4
Toyota Camry V6 3

Fastest car tested: Ferrari F40, 197 mph

Top-selling cars:

Ford Taurus
Honda Accord
Toyota Camry

1993
Price cap: $40,000

Model Times on List
BMW 3-Series 325i 15
Chrysler Concorde 2
Dodge Intrepid 4
Ford Probe GT 3
Honda Prelude Si VTEC 10
Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 1
Lexus SC 4
Mazda RX-7 5
Nissan 300ZX Turbo 7
Nissan Sentra SE-R 4
Toyota Camry Sedans 3

Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo, 204 mph

Top-selling cars:

Ford Taurus
Honda Accord
Toyota Camry

1994
Institution of the 2.5x price cap, now at $43,000.

Model Times on List
Acura Integra GS-R 6
BMW 3-Series 325i/325is 15
Chrysler Concorde 2
Dodge Intrepid 4
Eagle Vision 1
Ford Probe GT 3
Honda Accord EX 20
Honda Prelude VTEC 10
Lexus SC 4
Mazda RX-7 5
Toyota Supra Turbo 7
Nissan Sentra SE-R 4

Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 179 mph

Top-selling cars:

Ford Taurus
Honda Accord
Ford Escort

1995
Price cap: $46,000.

Model Times on List
Acura Integra GS-R 6
BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 15
Chrysler Cirrus LXi 3
Ford Contour 3
Honda Accord 20
Honda Prelude VTEC 10
Lexus SC 4
Mazda RX-7 5
Mercury Mystique 3
Toyota Supra Turbo 7
Nissan Maxima SE 3

Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo VT, 185 mph

Top-selling cars:

Ford Taurus
Honda Accord
Toyota Camry

1996
Price cap: $48,000

Model Times on List
Acura Integra 6
Audi A4 4
BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 15
Chrysler Cirrus 3
Chrysler Town and Country 2
Dodge Caravan 3
Dodge Stratus 2
Ford Contour 3
Honda Civic 6
Honda Prelude VTEC 10
Mercury Mystique 3
Toyota Supra Turbo 7
Nissan Maxima SE 3
Plymouth Voyager 3

Fastest car tested: Ferrari F355, 179 mph

Top-selling cars:

Ford Taurus
Honda Accord
Toyota Camry

1997
Price cap: $54,000

Model Times on List
Acura Integra 6
Audi A4 4
BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 15
BMW 5-Series 6
Chrysler Cirrus 3
Chrysler Town and Country 2
Dodge Caravan 3
Dodge Stratus 2
Ford Contour 3
Honda Prelude SH 10
Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 2
Mercury Mystique 3
Plymouth Breeze 1
Plymouth Voyager 3
Toyota Camry V6 3

Fastest car tested: Dodge Viper GTS, 177 mph

Top-selling cars:

Toyota Camry
Honda Accord
Ford Taurus

1998
Price cap: $55,000

Model Times on List
Audi A4 4
BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 15
BMW 5-Series 6
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Dodge Intrepid 4
Honda Accord 20
Honda Prelude 10
Lexus GS 3
Mazda Miata 7
Porsche Boxster 7

Fastest car tested: Ferrari F50, 194 mph

Top-selling cars:

Toyota Camry
Honda Accord
Ford Taurus

1999
Price cap: $59,000

Model Times on List
BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 15
BMW 5-Series 6
BMW Z3 M Coupe/M Roadster 1
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Chrysler 300M 2
Dodge Intrepid 4
Honda Accord 20
Lexus GS 3
Mazda Miata 7
Porsche Boxster 7

Top-selling cars:

Toyota Camry
Honda Accord
Ford Taurus

2000
Price cap: $61,000

Model Times on List
Audi A6 2
Audi TT 2
BMW 3-Series 15
BMW 5-Series 6
Chrysler 300M 2
Ford Focus 5
Honda Accord 20
Honda S2000 4
Lexus GS 3
Porsche Boxster 7

Top speed recorded: Ferrari 360 Modena, 173 mph

Top-selling cars:

Toyota Camry
Honda Accord
Ford Taurus

2001
For 2001, Car and Driver created a separate "Five Best Trucks" award with a single winner in each of five categories.

Top-selling vehicles:

Ford F-Series
Chevrolet Silverado
Ford Explorer

Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $62,000

Model Times on List
Audi A6 2
Audi TT 2
BMW 3-Series 15
BMW 5-Series 6
Chrysler PT Cruiser 1
Ford Focus 5
Honda Accord 20
Honda S2000 4
Mazda Miata 7
Porsche Boxster 7


Five Best Trucks
Title Model Times on List
Large SUV Toyota Highlander 1
Luxury SUV Acura MDX 1
Pickup Truck Chevrolet Silverado 3
Small SUV Ford Escape 1
Van Honda Odyssey 5


2002
Top-selling cars:

Ford F-Series
Chevrolet Silverado
Toyota Camry

Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $66,000

Model Times on List
Acura RSX 2
Audi A4 4
BMW 3-Series/M3 15
BMW 5-Series 6
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Ford Focus 5
Honda Accord 20
Honda S2000 4
Porsche Boxster 7
Subaru Impreza WRX 2


Five Best Trucks
Title Model Times on List
Large SUV Honda Pilot 5
Luxury SUV Land Rover Range Rover 1
Pickup Truck Chevrolet Silverado 3
Small SUV Honda CR-V 2
Van Honda Odyssey 5


2003

Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $66,000

Model Times on List
Acura RSX 2
BMW 3-Series/M3 15
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Ford Focus 5
Honda Accord 20
Infiniti G35 2
Mazda Mazda6 s 1
Nissan 350Z 1
Porsche Boxster 7
Subaru Impreza WRX 2


Five Best Trucks
Title Model Times on List
Large SUV Honda Pilot 5
Luxury SUV Volkswagen Touareg 1
Pickup Truck Chevrolet Silverado 3
Small SUV Honda CR-V 2
Van Honda Odyssey 5


2004

Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $69,000

Model Times on List
Acura TSX 3
Audi S4 Quattro 1
BMW 3-Series/M3 15
Chevrolet Corvette 12
Ford Focus 5
Honda Accord 20
Honda S2000 4
Infiniti G35 2
Mazda RX-8 3
Toyota Prius 1


Five Best Trucks
Title Model Times on List
Large SUV Honda Pilot 5
Luxury SUV Cadillac SRX 3
Pickup Truck Ford F-Series 3
Small SUV Subaru Forester 3
Van Toyota Sienna 1


2005

Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $70,000

Title Model Times on List
Luxury Sedan Acura RL 1
Sports Sedan Acura TSX 3
Luxury Sports Sedan BMW 3-Series M3 15
Performance Car Chevrolet Corvette 12
Full Size Sedan Chrysler 300C 2
Wagon Dodge Magnum 1
Muscle Car Ford Mustang GT 5
Family Sedan Honda Accord 20
Sports Coupe Mazda RX-8 3
Luxury Sports Car Mercedes-Benz SLK 2


Five Best Trucks
Title Model Times on List
Large SUV Honda Pilot 5
Luxury SUV Cadillac SRX 3
Pickup Truck Ford F-Series 3
Small SUV Subaru Forester 3
Van Honda Odyssey 5


2006

Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $70,000

Title Model Times on List
Sports Sedan Acura TSX 3
Sport Compact Audi A3 1
Luxury Sport Sedan BMW 3-Series 15
Performance Car Chevrolet Corvette 12
Full Size Sedan Chrysler 300C 2
Muscle Car Ford Mustang GT 5
Family Sedan Honda Accord 20
Roadster Mazda Miata 7
Sports Coupe Mazda RX-8 3
Luxury Sports Car Porsche Boxster 7


Five Best Trucks
Title Model Times on List
Large SUV Honda Pilot 5
Luxury SUV Cadillac SRX 3
Pickup Truck Ford F-Series 3
Small SUV Subaru Forester 3
Van Honda Odyssey 5


2007

Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $70,000

Title Model Times on List
BMW 3-Series 16
Chevrolet Corvette 13
Chrysler 300C 3
Honda Accord 21
Honda Fit 1
Infiniti G35 Sedan 3
Mazda MX-5 Miata 8
Mazdaspeed3 1
Porsche Boxster / Cayman 8
Volkswagen GTI 4

DrDiaboloco

Just curious... Why are you so enthusiastic about those brands not being represented? And for the record, none of those brands were on the list LAST year, either.

On another note, I see that the Acura TSX was dropped from the list.

DailyDriver2k5

I meen Mazda never further develoved the RX-8 ....usually after 2 years of a cars life , there is a refresh, not just of new colors and interior upgrades, but tweaks in chassis,suspension and HP improves for both manual and automatic models.As newer cars come out with more advanced technology in these areas mentioned, it becomes harder for the 8 to compete. Thus leaving the consumer to look elsewhere.


Oh , and have you been following te progress of the 350Z, a car that is in our class, also the S2000. Both cars had major refinements in the areas that i mentioned.

Ike

He's was being facetious...

Chris_Bangle

iTrader: (2)

have u ever heard of SARCASM?

DailyDriver2k5

Sorry can't see emotions through my screen.....lol

shaunv74

I think this is a symptom of being owned by an american car company which is on a 10-15 year redesign schedule...:p

saturn

I think it's a little weird how C&D does their top 10. They give huge points for past winners simply because they're past winners. And cars can only get onto the list their first year in production or when they get major updates. It's just like American politics -- favored for incumbents.

They need to make it so that any car can get on the list at any time. It may make things harder for them and they may end up with lists that are very similar to the way they're done now, but it's just dumb on principle. If a car barely missed the cut it's debut year and then the car that edged it out was no longer produced the following year, shouldn't the car that barely missed it at least get another look?

DrDiaboloco

For the once-every-twenty-years (if ever) scenario where the top-ten car isn't replaced by a car that's even better, or that the top-ten car simply is no longer produced, and no other newer cars good enough to beat the 2nd-place-car-that's-no-longer-eligible come along, I guess it's unfair.

But really, do you think this has ever happened? The state of automotive engineering and design rolls along so quickly, I doubt that it has. If anything, it's amazing that ANY car can stay "on top" for three years or more without a redesign.

GotBass

If you were not one of the 10 best cars on the market this year and you make no improvements, then why would you be one of the 10 best cars next year?

Car and Driver is the only magazine to have a top ten list where all of the cars are actually compared. They take all of the cars out together and test them head to head. They dont just pick the best cars from a list, based on prior test drives, like every other magazine or website.

By the way which car was on the list last year and is no longer in production now? A quick look over the list, the last time a car made the 10 best and dissappeared the next year... drumroll.... 1995, RX7.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

Eh. I don't need a magazine to tell me I bought a good car.

jdm knowledge

what car would that be?

Ever Hernandez

Agreed, just because the 8 is not on someone's list doesn't take from the fact the car is a blast to drive, to own and has the best compromise on performance, practicality and style. Funny, the g/f wants to put the MS3 in the garage also.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

Crossfire.