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  • SupraWes

    Dec. 24, 2009 5:19 p.m. SupraWes Dork

    I have been pondering this for a few days and my vote is for the Corvette C5.

    *It proved that the Americans could build a reliable supercar at a bargain price.

    *Did I mention its a supercar that costs only a bit more than a loaded up Camry!

    *Powered by old pushrod 2 valve technology and still puts most twin cam 4 valve engines to shame in the hp/liter war.

    *Leaves enough on the table for the tuners to find and make absolutely bonkers power and handling improvements.

    *Gets over 30mpg on the highway!

    *Won international races with it over and over again.

    *Took what they learned at the track and applied it back to the street car.

    *There is not a single other car sold during this decade that could even compete in its class, nobody even tried, it was a game changer!

  • tuna55

    Dec. 24, 2009 7:59 p.m. tuna55 Reader

    Vigo wrote:

    The reason Ford is still afloat is just like anyone who dumps high-value stocks right before they crashed. Ford happened to take loans out against practically ALL their assets right before public opinion decided all their assets were worthless. It was just well played, but didnt have near as much to do with product as seem people believe. Ford is still not planning to be profitable in the near future. They just had cash on hand to pay bills because they reverse-mortgaged their house right before the bubble burst. :p

    There is some truth here - but I bought Ford stock at 1.71 and it was north of 10.00 when I checked Friday, so I am pretty happy.

    Of course, I don't really care about the cars - I haven't owned anything newer then ten years and don't intend to start now.

  • Canute

    Dec. 24, 2009 10:14 p.m. Canute New Reader

    Corvette C5/C6. In particular the C6. Base car, six speed, Z51 option. Because I own one :). Supercar for under $50,000 out the door. As has been mentioned before, this is not much more than loaded Camry money. You can have mine when you pry the steering wheel from my cold dead hands. Even if you can't buy a new one C5s are out there for low five figure money these days. The Elise comes in high on the list as well. I'll give the Prius a nod as well as it's been a game changer if not truly innovative. Why have we been idling in traffic for all these years?

  • neon4891

    Dec. 24, 2009 11:11 p.m. neon4891 UberDork

    Prius

  • DirtyBird222

    Dec. 24, 2009 11:52 p.m. DirtyBird222 Dork

    If you say C5 you gotta say Z06, they were introduced in 2000, the C5 was 1997.

    Wasn't the Insight the first mass market hybrid sold? Why is the prius getting all the nods over that?

  • 924guy

    Dec. 25, 2009 6:42 a.m. 924guy Dork

    In reply to DirtyBird222:

    You are correct Sir. Having the first edition y2k insight, and having had spent some time comparing the s1 insight to the prius , i will say it is a much more fun vehicle to drive, at least in the manual version.

    The honda hybrid setup using the electric motor to supplement the 3cyl gas engine, so the effect is similar, but not nearly as powerful, as a turbo kicking in. its still fun though. The toyota system makes the electric the primary and uses the ice to supplement and charge.

    Im averaging 50mpg, driving at highway speeds (70-80) , on non "economy" tires (correct tires should gain 5-8 mpg) and it looks more like a crx than anything else. I found the prius very boring in comparison.

    Car of the decade? I dont know, its certainly innovative, efficient, and proved a hybrid could be mass marketed, so allot of accolades, but it never gave me that "blown away" feeling... very few cars impress me that much, the Porsche Cayman was one of them..

  • wbjones

    Dec. 25, 2009 9:38 a.m. wbjones HalfDork

    93celicaGT2 wrote:

    You know, i just realized today why all these "of the decade" threads have been popping up everywhere.....

    glad to see you're wide awake there...

  • Wally

    Dec. 25, 2009 9:47 a.m. Wally UberDork

    The Prius is also more like a regular car than the insight. I drive a 1st gen at work from time to time and it is more "Normal" than the insight. Looks drives and feels like any other economy car. Since it turns off at every intersection it seems most like my friend's old Plymouth Horizon.

  • wbjones

    Dec. 25, 2009 11:35 a.m. wbjones HalfDork

    Wally wrote:

    Since it turns off at every intersection it seems most like my friend's old Plymouth Horizon.

  • Woodward_Dreams

    Dec. 25, 2009 3:10 p.m. Woodward_Dreams None

    I honestly think Ford has made two of the most important cars over the last 10 years. Starting with the Ford GT, it really forced the Z06 and ACR Viper to step up.

    Also, the 05 Mustang was huge. Whether you love it or hate it, it also forced GM to make the Camaro and Dodge to make the Challenger.

    Then new Mini was also very important, as small cars are becoming more popular in America.

    The introduction of the Elise/Exige in the US was also a big deal, but the elise has been going since the 90s in the rest of the world...

  • mr2peak

    Dec. 25, 2009 8:52 p.m. mr2peak New Reader

    DirtyBird222 wrote:

    Wasn't the Insight the first mass market hybrid sold? Why is the prius getting all the nods over that?

    It was about taking that technology to the people. The Prius did that, not the Insight. Which one do you see constantly ever day?

  • Dec. 25, 2009 10:30 p.m. miwifri New Reader

    I guess my nominees will show my bias.

    Corvette changed the way everyone else in the world looked at American performance cars in the last ten years. This car kicked the asses of so many exotics it isn't funny.

    S2000 is a car with amazing handling suitable for street or track with a jewel of a motor that is unique in the production car world. Nobody else has put a car like this together for the money. This car also lasted the entire decade.

    E36, E36 M3 has it all. You can race it or carry groceries with equal elligence

  • neon4891

    Jan. 3, 2010 10:40 p.m. neon4891 UberDork

    Tog Gear has anounced their pick of COTD, Bugatti Veyron!!!

  • Jan. 4, 2010 1:50 p.m. miwifri New Reader

    neon4891 wrote:

    Tog Gear has anounced their pick of COTD, Bugatti Veyron!!!

    It can't be COTD if only 8 people buy it.

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