| Are you in the market for a new car? Here is | | | | performance, swagger, and everyday |
| the best piece of advice I can offer you | | | | livability. |
| before you make any decision. Do your | | | | |
| homework. Every year, hundreds of Americans | | | | 3. Chrysler 300 - The 300 is known for its |
| buy a car and later on come to regret their | | | | styling but it's what's on the inside that |
| purchase. It's called buyer's regret and | | | | keeps everyone coming back. Under its hood, |
| there is no excuse for it with the internet | | | | there is either a mild V-6 engine for the |
| at your fingertips. | | | | faint of heart and then there is a wild Hemi |
| | | | V-8s, with up to 425 horses coupled to a |
| Car and Driver Magazine wants to help. Every | | | | five-speed automatic with manual control. The |
| year, they evaluate all of the new cars | | | | 300 has a huge back seat (even huger in the |
| released by the manufacturers. They make | | | | new-for-'07 long-wheelbase versions), a |
| their judgments based on three general areas. | | | | capacious trunk, and fold-down rear seats to |
| They want to know how well a car performs its | | | | provide cargo utility. The cabin is |
| intended functions. A sport car is supposed | | | | structurally rigid, free of road-induced |
| to be fast and exhilarating so they expect it | | | | vibrations, and impressively quiet. |
| to be. Next, they look at factors like its | | | | |
| driving manners, a new and exciting body | | | | 4. Honda Fit - The Fit, with its 109 |
| design or interior, or a powerful engine. | | | | horsepower producing engine, won't generate |
| Finally, they want to know its worth the | | | | any kind of acceleration like a Ferrari or |
| dollar amount asked. If it an inexpensive car | | | | Corvette, but it generate some pretty |
| is fast, fun, and practical, then it will | | | | attractive fuel-economy numbers. It gets on |
| certainly be graded well above others. | | | | average 33 city miles per gallon, with 38 |
| | | | highway mpg, according to the EPA. Now, |
| | | | factor that in with its relatively cheap |
| | | | price (anyone can afford one), room enough |
| 1. BMW 3-Series - This gem is a 300-hp | | | | for four adults, exceptional cargo |
| twin-turbo 3.0-liter version of the classic | | | | adaptability with sports-car agility, and you |
| six. The 3-series zips to 60 in 4.8 seconds | | | | get full fledged economical car with its own |
| and corners at 0.89 g while offering more | | | | unique appeal. |
| luxury and space. It also delivers better | | | | |
| fuel economy and a quieter, more comfortable | | | | 5. Volkswagen GTI - The GTI knows how to cut |
| ride than its competition. The 3-series is | | | | like no other competitor, thanks to its |
| the definitive sports sedan, delivering the | | | | high-powered, turbocharged, direct-injected |
| driving satisfaction of a sports car in the | | | | 2.0-liter four engine that develops 200 |
| body of a practical machine. | | | | horsepower of smooth feeling goodness. More |
| | | | importantly, this little power-packed engine |
| 2. Chevrolet Corvette - The composite body of | | | | is light enough to maintain excellent balance |
| the Corvette hearkens back to the seminal | | | | in the front-drive chassis. While it has the |
| 1953 model. Newer materials, like balsa-core | | | | mentality and feel of a race car, the car's |
| composite floor panels used in the floor | | | | designers didn't forget about you, the |
| panels, combine with a sophisticated | | | | driver. The GTI possesses an interior finish |
| structure to yield a car that remains light | | | | that belies its price, an optional navigation |
| and agile, despite higher power, bigger | | | | system, and a long list of other standard |
| brakes, and grippier tires. The Corvette's | | | | features that more expensive cars don't even |
| combination of heritage and sophistication | | | | offer. |
| gives it a uniquely American blend of | | | | |