People ask me all the time Ã?whatÃ?s your favorite car youÃ?ve driven
lately?Ã? ThatÃ?s a real tough question because to me a great car
succeeds at what it set out to do, not some industry-wide
popularity contest.
ThatÃ?s why IÃ?ve put the Ford Transit Connect
and a BMW 335is on the same list in the past.
But here are my
Top 5 favorites IÃ?ve driven in first half of 2013 based on that
essential litmus test.
LetÃ?s give the Miata a rest for a minute and shine a light on the
all new Mazda6.
It went from 0-60 in terms of styling, both inside
and out.
Once one of the dopiest looking cars in its class, its now
about the most handsome and comfortable.
The SkyActiv engine
tech is smart, if a little hard to explain to consumers in less than
a half hour, and its not a standout as a sporting car but I think
would drive right past Toyota and Honda if I was in the market
for a mid size sedan.
I love the 750Li because its a big car that gets smaller when you
press it: At one moment this big pompous, opulent thing that
says Ã?Uh huh, IÃ?ll make more money in the time it takes you to
key this car than you than youÃ?ll make all dayÃ? to a quick, nimble
road machine at a momentÃ?s notice -- and the back again.
They
styling has been sexier and the price lower, but the long 750 is a
car for all seasons.
IÃ?m a big enough man to admit I love the new new Beetle - the
ragtop no less.
I was expecting a disaster like the VW EOS, but
instead found a really nice driving car with real drivable power,
great audio, a convertible top that makes you laugh at the
weather and the styling it should have had from the beginning.
ItÃ?s a fun car without being silly.
VWs cabin tech remains nothing
to write home about, but the coming iBeetle from VW and Apple
should change that.
The BRZ is a simple proposition: ItÃ?s meant to zip along twisty
roads, making a great noise, hanging its rump out one in a while
and inviting you to use all of its oomph, which isnÃ?t much at 200
HP and 151 ft-lbs of torque.
But thatÃ?s what sports cars are all
about, being a little bit less so you connect with the road a little
bit more.
The cabin has none of the charm of classic sports cars, and if
youÃ?re over 30 everyone with think youÃ?re borrowing your kidÃ?s
car, but for $25 grand or so youÃ?ll have enough left over to buy a
Mazda 6 as well.
(but as you shift down and turn up that
mountain road, you get the last laugh.)
Cadillac has for a while had an inferiority complex about the
Europeans.
Really, the Germans.
Its a neurosis recent CaddyÃ?s
have been healing, but never quite able to wash off the stink of
the Tommy Bahama set.
The ATS is somehow the first really honest Cadillac, completing
a path to redemption that started in 1999 and not just existing in
comparison to something from Germany.
CUE is one of the most promising cabin tech platforms out there,
two of the three engine choices are really modern and the ATS
dials down CadillacÃ?s Ã?creased and chromedÃ? look to great effect.
I can live without the driverÃ?s seat that vibrates nonsensical
warnings but in general, Cadillac can stop seeing its shrink.
To stay on top of ALL my new favorite cars, go to cnet on cars
dot com.
I am Brian Cooley, thanks for watching.
