Top 10 Fun-to-Drive Cars

Do not be fooled: the sports cars are fun to drive, but not only cars that can provide the excitement behind the wheel. No need to sacrifice rear seat or a monthly fee so steep that you eat only ramen noodles to enjoy driving your car. We have a detailed model of 1910, that are fun beyond all expectations. Some are sports cars, while others are families or first home. What have the excellent performance that sets them apart from competitors.

Won't Break the Bank

2011 Ford Mustang

The Mustang has always been fun to drive, in a raw, muscle-car way. The 2011 is so much more refined that it now competes with what most people consider to be sports cars. It gets the nod because it beat the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in our comparison test and because the V-6 model's 305 horsepower and 31 mpg highway are staggeringly good for the price.

2011 Mazda3

Affordable cars are becoming better performers, and the Mazda3 stands among the best. Spot-on steering, strong brakes and responsive drivetrains will make the daily commute a bit of fun. Want more? The turbocharged MazdaSpeed3 hits 60 mph in a blistering 5.2 seconds — muscle-car numbers from a hatchback that's less than $24,000.

2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata

From its specs alone, you might be wondering how the Miata made this list. It has a four-cylinder engine, and at 158 hp it doesn't sound like it would be a driver's car. Numbers don't always tell the whole story, and with the Miata, driving is believing. Great balance, precise steering and an available short-throw manual shifter all contribute to an exceptional driving experience at an affordable price.
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Fuel-Efficient Enjoyment

2011 Honda CR-Z

Add a hybrid powertrain to a small, lightweight sport coupe and you get what could be called the first sport hybrid for the masses. The all-new CR-Z has three selectable drive modes. One is for maximum mileage, but Sport mode completely changes the driving dynamics for a sportier ride. For the driving enthusiast, that's the mode that will be on all the time.

2011 Mini Cooper

The 37-mpg Cooper is among the best-handling front-wheel-drive cars around. Don't let its modest 121 hp fool you: On sweeping curves, you can put the hatchback into four-wheel drifts. Excellent handling need not require extra power, but if you want it, the turbocharged Mini Cooper S moves out.

Family-Friendly

2011 Mazda CX-9

Having a family vehicle doesn't mean you can't enjoy road trips and carpools. The CX-9 is one of many three-row crossovers on the market, but it's the only one that exudes sportiness from all angles, including the driver's seat. The steering is precise, and the engine is no slouch, even when the crossover is loaded down with kids and cargo.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

The Kizashi is as fun to drive as it is to say. Smaller and nimbler than the reigning family cars, it packs road manners and ride quality that are both a cut above. The Kizashi is a refreshing break from the suburban troupe of Toyota, Honda and Ford sedans. If your neighbors ask why you got a Suzuki, a quick ride should turn them into believers.

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

The little-known Tiguan is an exceptionally fun-to-drive compact crossover. The base front-wheel-drive trim level comes with a manual transmission, which Honda's and Toyota's models lack. Also, it has the excellent turbocharged four-cylinder with direct injection that has breathed new life into many Volkswagen models. Its relatively short wheelbase makes it nimble, feeling more like a car than SUV.

Fun, Bar None

2011 BMW 3 Series/M3

The BMW 3 Series is legendary in enthusiast circles for good reason. It's an entertaining driver's car, and the one we'd take in a heartbeat to attack our favorite back roads. The high-powered M3 is a track-ready variant that doesn't give up any of the base model's commendable ride comfort. Many automakers have tried to copy the 3 Series formula; some have come close, but none have equaled it.

2010 Porsche Cayman S

Frankly, we could fill half this list with Porsche models. Porsche is about performance, which equals fun. Why the Cayman? Because it's one of the most affordable Porsches, second only to its roadster sister, the Boxster. The 911 is so unflappable that it's almost boring to drive unless you're on a racetrack. The Cayman is fun to drive in normal circumstances, especially in its S form.

Top 10 Worst Car Names

We spend a lot of time discussing how a car behaves, how it looks and how it performs in crash tests, among others. Sometimes, however, our first impression of a car comes from his name - and this impression is not always a good idea. Here are 10 cars in 30 years with names so terrible and difficult as we are sometimes surprised consumers gave them a shot. Remember this list is based solely on the name of the car, and has absolutely nothing to do with the actual substance of the car.

10. The Entire Lincoln Lineup

2010 Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln is a brand with a considerable history, and we know they know how to give cars strong iconic names such as Continental or Navigator. Somewhere around 2007, many of those easy-to-remember names went out the window, leaving consumers with a hodgepodge of names starting with "MK." That's a shame because Lincoln has a strong lineup right now. What's the difference between the MKZ, MKX and MKS? Gimme a second to look it up because I honestly can't remember which is which.

9. Hyundai Equus

2011 Hyundai Equus

The inclusion of the Equus might be premature considering it's not even on sale yet, but this could be the push Hyundai needs to give the car a proper name before it's released. Companies occasionally give Latin names to products to make them sound sophisticated or fancy, but Equus just makes us think of the Broadway play of the same name — most recently starring Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame — where a young man loves horses a little too much.

8. Toyota Yaris

2010 Toyota Yaris

There was a girl in my dorm freshman year who organized her shoes alphabetically by mood. She majored in dead languages and responded to every single question with "no worries." She once set the dorm microwave on fire by overcooking a ham-and-cheese Hot Pocket. Yes, that story is ridiculous and nonsensical ... sort of like naming a car Yaris.

7. Kia Forte Koup

2010 Kia Forte Koup

As writers, we're particularly offended when companies take liberties with the English language in an effort to be cutesy — and this is no exception. We actually like this car! But Kia is asking us to overlook years of schooling and experience to accept their quirky spelling of coupe. It might require a few sessions with a therapist before we can get to that happy place.

6. Subaru B9 Tribeca

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca

Here we've got a family crossover named after a fashionable neighborhood in lower Manhattan and ... a World War II bomber? Consumers didn't understand the B9 moniker either; that part of the name got the ax when Subaru redesigned the SUV for the 2008 model year.

5. Volkswagen Touareg

2007 Volkswagen Touareg

A few Volkswagens could've made this list, but the Touareg was easily the name that tripped up our American mouths the most. Early Touareg commercials in the U.S. even depicted people struggling to say the name. When an automaker has to spend precious time and ad dollars helping consumers learn to pronounce the car's name — something is wrong.

4. Ford Probe

1993 Ford Probe

There are many borderline inappropriate jokes you could make about a 1990s sport compact named Probe, but we're far too classy for that. Even if you don't take into account the tasteless jokes, this is just a bad car name. There is nothing cool about a probe (the word, not the car). What thesaurus was Ford using where probe was synonymous with sleek and sporty?

3. Subaru Brat

1982 Subaru Brat

Although Brat is technically an acronym — it stands for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter — it's a particularly unfortunate one. "Brat" is almost never used to describe something positively. A brat is not a calm, confident driver who knows what he wants and how to get it. A brat is busy throwing a hissy fit in the corner because his mom won't let him borrow the car to go buy the new Styx album.

2. Isuzu VehiCROSS

2000 Isuzu VehiCROSS

Isuzu deserves a little credit for creating an attention-grabbing crossover before it was even a recognized vehicle segment, but the name practically beats consumers over the head with the idea (think SUV plus a cross-training sneaker). Add to that the unnecessary capitalization and the fact that VehiCROSS is a mouthful, and you have one bad name.

1. Ford Aspire

1997 Ford Aspire

It's pretty safe to say that many drivers' dream cars fall under the category of sports car or luxury auto; few children hope to one day spend their commuting hours behind the wheel of a 63-horsepower subcompact hatchback. When Ford slapped the Aspire name on the back of this car, they were basically saying: "Yeah, even our car knows you wish you were driving something cooler."

Top 10 Most Memorable Movie Cars

When we decided to list the Top 10 Movie Cars last summer, we had no idea our readers would be so passionate about their favorite movies, and the automotive industry they are characters. When the "Transformers" arrives, we will re-list, listening to reader feedback last year, because - once again - that he deserved to make the top 10 cars Some cars were able to keep their seats, while others are mixed around to make room for more deserving contenders. When "Speed ​​Racer" next year, expect another round of contention.

No. 10: 2003 Mini Cooper S, "The Italian Job"

Drivetrain: 163-hp, supercharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with six-speed manual transmission; front-wheel drive
Notable Features: 200 pounds lighter than stock Cooper S; painted red, white or blue

Larger cars would have rubbed fenders with light poles and tunnel walls, but thanks to a nimble fleet of Mini Coopers, a band of conspirators manages to escape captors down congested streets, parks and subway tunnels. (Parks? Mass transit? In Los Angeles?) Computer-rigged signals aid the getaway, stopping cross traffic at red lights. Sounds like California dreaming for drivers.

No. 9: 1959 Cadillac Ambulance, "Ghostbusters"

Drivetrain: 325-hp, 6.4-liter V-8; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Tailfins, flashing lights, sirens, attached ladder

Though it plays a relatively small part in its film, the Ectomobile is the finest medical movie car to date. What it lacks in brute force it makes up in style, with red tailfins, strobe lights and more roof gear than a fire truck. Should there ever be a remake, our pick for the new Ectomobile would be the Dodge Magnum. Right, Egon?

No. 8: 1974 Dodge Monaco, "The Blues Brothers"

Drivetrain: 275-hp, 7.1-liter V-8 with three-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Cop motor, cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks

You usually don't come out ahead when swapping a Caddy for a Dodge — unless the Dodge has a 440-cubic-inch V-8. The Bluesmobile would be our pick if we had to outrun the better half of Illinois police, not to mention a neo-Nazi outfit and a country-and-western band. The car totally falls apart in the end, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a vehicle that could do better on "a mission from God."

No. 7: 1932 Ford coupe, "American Graffiti"

Drivetrain: 60-hp, 3.6-liter V-8 with three-speed manual transmission
Notable Features: Bright yellow paint job bound to be noticed by bored teens in Modesto, Calif.

Nicknamed the "Deuce," this five-window '32 Ford coupe is the quintessential American hot rod. As built, it came with the engine mentioned above, but in the movie, it's clear the coupe has been souped up. It was the car's awesome growl and the cool drag race at the end of the movie that lodged this hot rod into the hearts of American teens for a decade.

No. 6: 1976 AMC Pacer, "Wayne's World"

Drivetrain: 100-hp inline-six with three-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Flame decal, licorice dispenser, "Bohemian Rhapsody" on continuous playback

Although this movie may not have driven thousands of people to track down a baby blue Mirth Mobile of their own, it did inspire a number of in-car, head-banging singalongs by fans of the film.

No. 5: 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390, "Bullitt"

Drivetrain: 325-hp, 6.4-liter V-8 with four-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Fastback roof, higher engine note than the Charger

Never mind the continuity mishaps; just tell yourself there were a lot of green Volkswagen Beetles in San Francisco that day. The seven-minute chase scene between Frank Bullitt's Mustang GT 390 and a hit man's 1968 Dodge Charger is among the best of its kind. Voters gave Bullitt's car the edge because, in the end, you have to root for the good guy.

No. 4: 1964 Aston Martin DB5, "Goldfinger"

Drivetrain: 282-hp, 4.0-liter six-cylinder with four-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Bulletproof glass, machine guns, incessantly beeping radar screen

Save for the anemic BMW Z3 1.9 in "GoldenEye," Bond cars are top-notch — the list includes Aston Martins, Bentleys and Lotuses — but voters agreed the champ is the Aston Martin DB5 in "Goldfinger." Not only is it gorgeous, it outruns and out-gadgets all of its competitors. Plus it gets plenty of screen time with the best Bond, Sean Connery. Any dissenters, of course, are welcome to ride in the "power" passenger seat.

No. 3: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

Drivetrain: 280-hp, 3.0-liter V-12 with four-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Cherry-red exterior, wire grille, Cameron-sized tonneau compartment

This movie is probably responsible for thousands of teens cutting class to joyride in their father's car. Of course, none hold a candle to Mr. Frye's convertible Ferrari. It won votes for all the obvious reasons: It's red, Italian and bloody fast. If our fathers owned something like this, we'd ditch Econ 101 in a heartbeat to take a spin — especially if Dad didn't lock the garage. (And yes, we know this was a kit car.)

No. 2: 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, "Smokey and the Bandit"

Drivetrain: 200-hp, 6.6-liter V-8 with three-speed automatic
Notable Features: T-top, CB radio, runaway bride in the passenger seat

The mission seemed simple enough: Get a truckload of bootleg beer from Texarkana, Texas, to Atlanta while Bo "Bandit" Darville runs interference in his Trans Am. The combination of the comical car chases and Burt Reynolds' mustache sold more than a few black and gold versions of Bandit's car.

No. 1: 1981 DeLorean DMC-12, "Back to the Future"

Drivetrain: 1.21-gigawatt nuclear/electric hybrid with five-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Notable Features: Gull-wing doors, 16-port twin exhaust boxes, flux capacitor

This was an overwhelming choice for voters, and why not? Doc Brown's smoke-spewing DeLorean achieves time travel at 88 mph thanks to a plutonium-powered nuclear reactor and onboard flux capacitor. By the end of the first movie, it runs solely on trash — and it can fly. That's still futuristic two decades after the movie debuted. Sure, the ignition seems to have some reliability issues, but this car easily won our hearts.

Honorable Mentions:

• 1958 Plymouth Fury, "Christine"
• 1973 Ford Falcon, "The Road Warrior"
• 1975 Lotus Esprit, "The Spy Who Loved Me"

Top 10 Most Memorable TV Cars

When we published the list of Top 10 Movie Cars had more than a couple of times products proposals on the car TV, so is the so-called "second season" of us - you know, when the flop can be replaced in September - we decided to give The wheels on a small screen thanks to them if you think we missed something, or if. To sound out some of the elite, stop by our blog and let us know.

No. 10: 2005 Maserati Quattroporte, "Entourage"

If you're lucky enough to ride Aquaman's coattails all the way to a glamorous Hollywood lifestyle, a new Maserati is just icing on the cake. "Entourage" got a whole new generation of drivers drooling over this classy Italian exotic.

No. 9: Mach 5, "Speed Racer"

This 5,000-horsepower racing machine had seven buttons on the steering wheel that could adjust road traction, slice obstacles out of the way, turn the car into a submarine and more — and that was 40 years ago. Using a button on the steering wheel to adjust your stereo doesn't seem nearly as exciting anymore, does it?

No. 8: 1983 GMC G-Series, "The A-Team"

Who better to own a van that's continually crashed, chased, disassembled and shot at than former military man and master mechanic B.A. Baracus? You would think, though, that a band of do-gooding fugitives trying to keep a low profile would drive something with a less distinctive paint job.

No. 7: 1973 Chevrolet El Camino, "My Name is Earl"

This is by no means the best-looking car on the list — far from it. It's dusty, full of trash and repaired with enough spare parts to create a multicolored mess. Still, there's something poetic about Earl embarking on his karmic quest in a pieced-together El Camino.

No. 6: 1975 Ford Gran Torino, "Starsky and Hutch"

Although the Gran Torino wasn't quite as popular as other muscle cars of its era, this "Striped Tomato" wasn't without fans. Ford even released a limited-edition version painted to look like David Starsky's ride — crime-fighting sidekick not included.

No. 5: Batmobile, modified 1955 Lincoln Futura concept, "Batman"

George Clooney? Michael Keaton? Pshaw! Adam West's Batmobile is the one everyone remembers best. With the long fins, afterburner and assorted bat-gizmos, the Penguin never stood a chance.

No. 4: Ferrari 308 GTS, "Magnum, P.I."

So, Thomas Magnum lives in a guest house on a gorgeous Hawaiian estate, works sporadically and drives his employer's cherry red Ferrari whenever and wherever he wants? It seems my college career counselor did not adequately outline all of the job options for me.

No. 3: The Mystery Machine, "Scooby-Doo"

Not only could this multicolored van hold a quizzical Great Dane and four meddling kids, but there was also plenty of room for the Harlem Globetrotters, Don Knotts and whatever other guest stars dropped by for some ghost hunting. Forget Scooby Snacks: Why the heck was Mr. Furley hunting ghosts?

No. 2: The General Lee, 1969 Dodge Charger, "The Dukes of Hazzard"

To be fair, The General Lee and KITT were neck and neck (or chassis and chassis) for the top spot. Although the iconic orange Charger had legions of teens attempting Luke Duke's opening-credits hood slide, KITT won out for having enough gadgets to make James Bond jealous. That awful movie didn't help the General's chances, either.

No. 1: KITT, 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, "Knight Rider"

David Hasselhoff may have been the show's star, but KITT was the main attraction. The supercomputer controlling this black Trans Am rendered it intelligent, sarcastic, bulletproof and able to jump over obstacles, if not tall buildings. The closest most of us will get to a talking car is using a navigation system.

Honorable Mentions

The Flintmobile, "The Flintstones"
We just couldn't justify putting a car without an engine or real brakes into the Top 10.

1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible, "Nash Bridges"
Sonny Crockett — er, I mean Don Johnson — revisits the police drama in a bright yellow convertible.

Toyota Pickup, "Baywatch"
Wasn't everyone watching "Baywatch" for the shots of Mitch's yellow truck speeding down the beach to a dramatic rescue?

Pontiac Firebird, "Rockford Files"
Who needs Magnum's Hawaiian estate and red Ferrari when you have Jim Rockford's rundown L.A. trailer and a gold Firebird?

Volkswagen Transporter Tuned up by MR Car Design

Just because the Volkswagen Transporter can be used in a professional moving goods, people, or even both, does not mean that the tuner does not pay attention to it. In contrast, the Transporter has received a lot of tuning of love for many years, was in production. Tuning the Transporter proposed pre-facelift you can see the image here is a German expert on the secondary market, the MR Car Design.

Volkswagen transporter new body kit, courtesy of the crew agreed at ABT, including a combination of a front spoiler and rear spoiler, new grille, fog light inserts, side skirts, new headlights and LED taillights smoked. The appearance is enhanced with new alloy wheels 22 inch black and chunky wrapped in 265/33 22 tires. For those who want a low rider look, MR Car Design offers a new air suspension that can lower the ride height by an impressive, but this is understandable, practical-100 mm.

Volkswagen Transporter for performance kit turbo diesel engine with a reconfigured unit and has a release that includes four exhaust pipes, helping to boost output to 208 hp and 487 Nm (359.2 lb-ft) of torque, music complete.

VOLKSWAGEN POLO R WRC CONCEPT

Wolfsburg (5 de mayo de 2011). "Hemos invitado a unirse a nosotros aquí para anunciar Olbia in the Volkswagen entrada en el Campeonato del Mundo de Rallys 2013." - Estas son las palabras utilizadas por miembro Volkswagen of Junta el Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, dijo mientras acercaba is a Volkswagen en el más los cuatro versatile campeonatos del mundo del automóvil (Campeonato Mundial de Rally WRC). Antes de 200 periodistas, anuncio WRC concepto Polo R, el coche con el competir Volkswagen in 2013 Colaboración con Luca De Meo, marketing director of Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. Luca De Meo: "Hare casi dos años exactamente in mayo de 2009, el último modelo del Polo presentó aquí estamos orgullosos in Cerdeña Hoy el más caliente of mostrar del Polo de todos los tiempos - el. Polo I CMR" Para Kris Nissen y su equipo in the Campeonato Mundial de entrada Rally marca un nuevo compromiso ..

Wolfsburg (5 ever 2011). "Nous avons vous invites à nous rejoindre ici pour annoncer à Olbia entrée de Volkswagen en the World Rally Championship, here débute en 2013." - Ce sont les mots utilisés par le membre du conseil de Volkswagen Dr. Ulrich Berg Hacke, when to declare d'entrée de Volkswagen dans le plus polyvalent des quatre Championnats du monde de l'automobile (World Rally Championship, WRC). 200 Devant Journalistes, revel in the concept of the WRC R Polo, Volkswagen if the disputeront voiture que à partir de 2013, ainsi que les Meo Luca, directeur du marketing et de Directeur de Volkswagen AG Volkswagen Motorsport Kris Nissen. Luca De Meo: "Presque deux ans Exactement ya en mai 2009 était le dernier modèle de Polo ici presentes en Sardaigne Aujourd'hui, nous sommes Fiers de vous montrer the plus chaud de tous les temps Polo - Polo R WRC." Kris Nissen et pour ses Team World Rally Championship action marque a nouvel engagement ..

Three consecutive wins Dakar Rally, Volkswagen has set new targets high-caliber sport. When the three-car companies are currently involved in the World Championship and the media, the WRC offers an attractive, highly competitive environment for Volkswagen. By 2013 the brand of Wolfsburg-based rally car is developing around 300 hp 1.6 liter TSI engine and four-wheel drive is based on the Polo.

"We look forward to a new challenge and are working on this project with the same passion that we have won the Dakar Rally, in the last three years," said Kris Nissen.

Universal technological challenge, the new rules

World Rally Championship offers una sfida tecnologica per il mondo di diversificata competere con i Produttori. Diversi paesi hanno i esaminato del veicolo WRC concept design, come ad esempio tutti i tipi di Ghiaia, detrital, asfalto, ghiaccio, neve e fango. Calendario per questa stagione prevede turni WRC 13 in quattro diversi continent. Questa deve avere World Rally vettura Condizioni climatiche una molto diverse, dal calore del ghiaccio ardent giro del Sud America in Scandinavia.

En outre, de nouvelles Règles Techniques en vigueur cette année dans le WRC. Pour les moteurs première fois avec déplacement maximum of 1,600 cc, injection directe et turbocompresseur prescrits.

"The new technical regulations for the World Rally Championship is an ideal solution for Volkswagen's philosophy in regard to vehicle development," says Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the board of Volkswagen, Development Division. "downsizing, efficiency and reliability are priorities for our customers. The timing is optimal for Volkswagen WRC debut. The great task of engineering a car that is competitive and able to win many challenges exerts a major attraction for us. "

Volkswagen Polo produce and write R as the factory's commitment to the WRC. This team, based in Wolfsburg to build the structures, which have been strengthened in recent years. World Rally Championship is an ambitious goal and the team has won the Dakar in the last three years. "We are able to tap into a proven and experienced team that has done an excellent job in a sport of high caliber in recent years," said Volkswagen Motorsport Kris Nissen. "Although the WRC has a new area for us and includes the learning of a number of areas the team has already met some of the important prerequisites for now, because it brings unwavering professionalism and willingness to give absolute perfection of this undertaking."

Gennemprøvet Trupiano, Nye mål: the commitment of Volkswagen Motorsport Fabrik

Volkswagen storia di successo WRC

Volkswagen returns to a small gathering tradition remains impressive. production vehicles based in Wolfsburg famous rally racing success in the mid-late 1980. Most important: In 1986, the Swede Kenneth Eriksson and his German co-driver Peter Diekmann in the Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V claim the title of world champion in the new group incepted A. In addition, Volkswagen vigorously promoted talented young people around the rally Cup Golf Rallye. The launch of the WRC Volkswagen Polo from 2013 I closed the cycle: the vehicles of today are still based philosophy RMC Introduced in time, allowing to conduct meetings with the model-based vehicles production.