Picture Gallery: 2010 Testfest Gallery | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Discuss
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My first car of the day was the Camaro SS. It impressed me with its on-road smoothness and effortless engine, and it even did well on the track in the rain, but I am still not a fan of the interior, and I don’t think it will take this category because of it. Next was the Hyundai Genesis coupe, the other rear-wheel drive competitor in the class. The 3.8-litre V6 model was entered; this car was noticeably lighter-feeling the Camaro, and the chassis felt stiffer than I had expected as well. It was a real treat out on the road as it cruised quietly with a comfortable ride. Its on-track handling was also great but the intrusive ESP system was a disappointment.
Next I went for the front-wheel drive pair back-to-back: the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Mazdaspeed3. The GTI impressed everywhere and many said it was their favourite in the category. I loved it on the track until I grabbed my next car; after 20 mintutes on road with the Mazdaspeed3 I was sure the torque steer would be a huge detriment on the track, but it turned out to be barely noticeable, plus the chassis is so well-balanced. These are two front wheel drive cars that are not handicapped on the track at all.
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The two all-wheel drive cars were last. The Ford Taurus SHO — which really did not fit well in the category — and the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart. The Taurus is heavy and you feel it. It does make a great car about town and on the highway, yes, but a sports/performance car it is not. The Lancer Ralliart is a great car and it certainly can be wild with its trick differentials, but on the road it is too harsh and boy-racer-ish. Tough call for this category; I think the Hyundai may get it but it will be close between the GTI and Mazda as well.
Part of our duty is to also vote on overall Car of the Year, and to do so, we need to drive every category winner by week’s end. To help myself along, rather than guess at the winners, I started driving all vehicles in categories to save time over Thursday and Friday. I completed the small cars under $21k category; first up was the Hyundai Elantra Touring, which I thought was refined and surprisingly sporty, and good value for its price of just under $21k.
Then I jumped into the Kia Forte Koup. I just test drove this car so I was familiar with it, but the rules state that we need to drive them here, so I did. Even in automatic form, I cannot get used to the Koup’s touchy throttle, and I spun the tires leaving stop lights and out of the parking lot. On the road it was fine and on the track about the same as the Elantra. Next, I stepped into the Mazda3. I turned out of the parking lot and for me the decision was made: I had to reconfirm I was driving a vehicle worth less than $21,000, and I was. The Mazda3 was spectacular on road and on the track and the interior quality is far superior.
Last, but not least, were Family cars over $30,000. I spent time in the Buick Lacrosse, the Ford Taurus and the Ford Fusion Hybrid; all are equally great family cars, but I need a winner. Value-wise, the Buick looks like the clear winner, although the Fusion’s hybrid powertrain is a bonus and its fuel consumption is remarkable. We will find out Friday who won what!
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November 02, 2009, 05:17:29 pm
There is no joy either when kicking someone's car door. Unlike a certain other manufacturer where you can gain access to a locked car and steal them blind, all you get with a VW is a sore foot. I guess its safe to assume Mazda got that little problem fixed?
People don't target VWs for theft. They're too worried about getting stranded with electrical issues...
November 02, 2009, 05:42:00 pm
There is no joy either when kicking someone's car door. Unlike a certain other manufacturer where you can gain access to a locked car and steal them blind, all you get with a VW is a sore foot. I guess its safe to assume Mazda got that little problem fixed?
People don't target VWs for theft. They're too worried about getting stranded with electrical issues...
Ha ha, touche!
November 02, 2009, 05:43:40 pm My posting was not meant to be a jab at VW, just mt perception. If I wanted to be nasty I would have mentioned premature failing of Clutch cables.
Railton
November 03, 2009, 09:55:38 am I'm liking the Audi S4 more and more each time I see one.
At first, I dismissed it because of the lack of the V8...that sounded soooo good. Now, I see it won its category and I also see that Car and Driver picked it over the RWD 335i...pretty impressive.
Hey...I can also get one in Red with a Red tone interior...cool. $60,000...ouch...well...maybe not.
November 03, 2009, 10:14:00 am
Railton
An RX-8 owner talking smack about reliability?- only on the internet lol.
FYI The Rabbit is one of the most relialbe small cars according to Consumer Reports. The Mazda3 isn't even in the top ten.
November 03, 2009, 10:35:51 am Points should be deducted for any vehicle that does not connect the driver's dashboard instrument lighting to the rear lights. I'm tired of following Toyota/Hondas in stealth mode during the long winter evenings on the 401.
I'm surprised the Elantra Touring did not out-score the Mazda 3. Having test driven the former, I thought it represented an amazing value proposition.
November 03, 2009, 09:04:54 pm
There are ghost cars all over these highways!
November 03, 2009, 10:54:01 pm
There are ghost cars all over these highways!
Minivans usually...
November 04, 2009, 08:19:26 pm How hard is it, to turn on the lights?. It took me O' about a minute b/c if don't on MK8 Civic the dash is much brighter at night. On the Van I got out and checked. Simple pimple easy peesy.
November 04, 2009, 10:06:37 pm
My Corolla is much more obvious lights on versus off.... and it has a auto on/off system so I rarely even have to do anything.
November 05, 2009, 09:41:57 pm Did you know that the BMW Z4 was disqualified from the test?
From today's Toronto Star section on test fest:
Although the BMW roadster is available with an optional, much more expensive seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox from the M3 sports sedan, the Z4s BMW Canada entered in this year's competition were disqualified for showing up with six-speed manual transmissions while the other convertibles arrived with slushboxes. - John Leblanc
WTF? This whole thing is more messed up than I thought...I call BS on the whole thing.
BTW: Our man picked this up and described it as a rumour on his Blog of TestFest Day 2.
November 05, 2009, 09:53:45 pm
From today's Toronto Star section on test fest:
Although the BMW roadster is available with an optional, much more expensive seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox from the M3 sports sedan, the Z4s BMW Canada entered in this year's competition were disqualified for showing up with six-speed manual transmissions while the other convertibles arrived with slushboxes. - John Leblanc
WTF? This whole thing is more messed up than I thought...I call BS on the whole thing.
BTW: Our man picked this up and described it as a rumour on his Blog of TestFest Day 2.
So Wing, any special arrangements provided by Audi in Niagara? Afterall, it is the sincity of Canada...
November 05, 2009, 09:56:20 pm
From today's Toronto Star section on test fest:
Although the BMW roadster is available with an optional, much more expensive seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox from the M3 sports sedan, the Z4s BMW Canada entered in this year's competition were disqualified for showing up with six-speed manual transmissions while the other convertibles arrived with slushboxes. - John Leblanc
WTF? This whole thing is more messed up than I thought...I call BS on the whole thing.
BTW: Our man picked this up and described it as a rumour on his Blog of TestFest Day 2.
That is totally wrong. No Z4 in Canada today has the M3s DCT; in fact, at present, no other BMW has it. The new M5 will get this DCT type transmission but that's a year or two away. Where do some of these journalists get their info??
EDIT - I was wrong above, apparently you can get the 7 spd DCT in the 2010 Z4 35S roadster as a $1950 option.
November 05, 2009, 10:20:41 pm At the time it was a rumour when I wrote it, I have no inside news. Yes BMW was disqualified for sending a manual.
Apparently the rules state only manual transmission cars are allowed to enter in the sports performance categories and the prestige. I don't agree with the rule either, a lot of journalists were perplexed as well.
November 05, 2009, 10:24:04 pm Oh and ovr50, I believe John got his info from BMW's website where they clearly list a 7-speed dual clutch transmission as a $1950 option.
The A5 is a DSG I believe though not a slushbox either...
November 05, 2009, 11:04:54 pm Well, that is news to me (obviously). It does say that for the 2010 Z4 35S model. I did not know until now that BMW was using that transmission in any other BMW than the M3, plus coming in the M5. I was wrong.
November 06, 2009, 06:40:50 am
Does this mean another trip to the dealer to try some new
Be careful, have the wife carry the check book
November 06, 2009, 07:12:24 am I wonder what the folks at BMW were thinking? They have the rules and know what is eligible and yet they show up with the manuals.
Were they hoping to have the rules bent to accomodate or was it merely a case of the only product that was available were manuals? We will never know.
November 06, 2009, 09:12:42 am Yeah, Inco, heaven forbid a company promoting / presenting a legitimate sports car -- a proper roadster no less, would provide it with a manual transmission! Oh the horrors!
What a shame.
November 06, 2009, 09:37:20 am I think there's a UK variation of the Testfest or some equivalent which disqualifies automatics. Each to their own....
November 06, 2009, 09:54:43 am I think the Z4 would have won best convertible.
November 06, 2009, 12:35:05 pm
Just saw this post now. Mazda3 is the same as the previous model? Which part is the same? Everything from the body, to the glass, to the interior, to the wheels to drivetrain is new! What more do you want for it to be new?!
***
As for James' contention that the Z4 would've likely won the convertible category if it had been allowed, I'd like to believe that would've been the case too, though I would've thought the 370Z would've made a stronger competitor than the A5.
November 07, 2009, 11:04:59 am
What a shame.
Well now that cellphones are banned you have to wonder what's next. It may not be a problem for BMW and anyone else if distractions are applied to what we can drive. You just knew this was coming.....
http://www.wheels.ca/article/782846
November 07, 2009, 12:38:52 pm
Apparently the rules state only manual transmission cars are allowed to enter in the sports performance categories and the prestige. I don't agree with the rule either, a lot of journalists were perplexed as well.
IMHO rules like this make a mockery of the entire test.
November 07, 2009, 10:40:06 pm ..wot happens in Niagra Falls .....stays in Niagra Falls..................