... but a Scion xB is?????

thats according to R&T

The list(if you don't want to click the link and read why)

M3
Corvette
SRT-4
Mustang GT
Elise
Viper SRT-10
MB E55 AMG
Mini Cooper S
911 Carrera S
Boxster S
Scion xB
WRX STI


I fail to see how an xB is fun and an 8 isn't.....

 

You can't take these too seriously, they usually screw up one way or another.

The RX-8 is obviously (very) fun to drive. That's the reason I bought one!

Nothing like going through the buttery smooth 6 speed gearbox at 9000 rpms!

 

well in that article they tried to get a full spectrum of types of cars that are 'fun to drive', so they had to pick a el cheapo car for that price range :o

 

Horsepower (SAE) 108 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque 105 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
0-60 9.4 sec

ooooooooooooooohhhh daaaaaaaaaaaaamn. I am ready for the exhiliration and fun to drive factor! It's a bloody box...how the F&^# is that any fun?!?!

I do agree with the rest of the cars on the list that they are fun to drive. However, how do you pick those 12? There are so many more cars to drive.....certainly more then a lousy 12.

 

It wasnt' the top "most fun to drive" or even a best in class list. Just a sampling of cars R&T considers to be "fun", with no specific criteria given. They even said many of the cars may not be the best in their class.

Kind of an odd article, like here's a group of fun cars just for the heck of filling up their Sept. issue.

 

stupid article! R&T looks stupid for writing it.

 

Guys relax

so R&T doesn't include the 8 in their list of fun to drive cars.... What do you care? You enjoy your car and thats all that really matters. What a bunch of strangers think when it comes to something like this should be irrelevant

 

It happens all the time, an article comes out, about a specific topic that is subjectiviely written. Fun-to-Drive ? How does one accurately measure that? 0-60 times, G-force, braking capablity,- all have tangible means of measurement. The fact is R&T has to sell, compete (CD, Auto ..etc), and as a resulut throws in some eye candy that folks like to read. It's BS

 

I wouldn't say it is necessarily a stupid article... consider the facts...

1. Many people buy an auto mag to see what some critic has to say about your car (heck, anytime I see an article about the RX-8, I immediately go toward that mag and open it up to find out what was said)

2. The XB has been Toyota's (don't let the Scion front end BS fool you) most succesful campaign to the hip youth culture since they came out with the Supra (why they did away with such a fine sports car, I dunno...)

Because of this, R&T want to piggy back and have their mag read by this very same demographic.

3. The list of cars would otherwise NEVER be compared to each other, but as a group will attract large slices of the population (see some of the groups each car will attract below)

BMW M3 - Appeals to those (dare I say) yuppie types... goes over a wide segment (including me)

Corvette - Appeals to working class types and recently divorced men who appreciate a solid line and heritiage of sports cars

SRT-4 - Appeals to those under 25 who thinks its cool to spin tires and have a few bucks to spend.

Mustang GT - Appeals those 30/40/50/60 somthings that are nostalgic for the days of the true PONY car. (Sad to see this is the only one really left) Boy I miss the TransAm (circa 1978 - Smokey and the Bandit)

Elise - Appeals to those who have too much money to know what to do with

Viper SRT-10 - (See Corvette group but make it white collar instead of working class)

MB E55 AMG - Appeals to CEOs who could afford the AMGs

Mini Cooper S - Appeals to those environmentally friendly but still wanna have fun (i.e. NO PRIUS THANKS) types who are under 6 ft.

911 Carrera S - Appeals to those with a love affair with speed

Boxster S - Same as the 911 but with less dough (I think, forget wich of the two is cheaper)

Scion xB - Appeals to the bling bling crowd (however I do like the lighted cup holders, would look cool in an RX-8 don't you agree)

WRX STI - Appeals to those under 25 who thinks its cool to spin tires and have a few more bucks to spend than those with an SRT-4

SUMMARY, R&T wrote this article to attract LOTS of folks to their mag and see what the fuss is all about.

I think NOT having the RX-8 on the list gives it cred as to how good the car is all around and not just a "fun" car to drive.

Keep in mind it wasn't a survey and not everyone enjoys curves (esp those who easily get motion sickness)

 

I read part of that article. Mind ... "part".

It's subjective, but a bit ridiculous. I mean the Scion xB being on this list alone is something of a joke which I hope it was. It litterally is a "grocery getter". I mean the Scion TC should be above that. Oh well, at least the majority of auto mags and websites praise the 8.

Can't please everybody, ya know.

 

They can't possibly list every fun-to-drive car out there. They just picked some fun-to-drive cars. Most likely based on search statistics. They pick cars that'll sell copies.


Here's some specs:

116HP at 6500rpm
100lb-ft at 5500rpm

Can't possibly be fun to drive

Those are from an NA Miata, which by all accounts is a very fun car to drive.

 

Saw the cars on their webpage. What was more annoying was the video for each car kept loading.

I really don't like categorizing people with cars the way you did James. I've met some interesting characters that own RX-8's, STi's, Corvettes, AMGs, etc.

R&T, C&D, MT, Automobile and the other rags are pretty much the same. You're right. I'll buy one occasionally when I see my car (haven't seen a Ti Gray on one cover yet ). Otherwise, I'll stick to Autoweek, Detroit News, and online publications. The Intraweb is much faster in relaying the good news.

 

Sorry, didn't mean to pigeon hole groups o cars but I would bet that auto mags (and any advertiser) DOES think these things (i.e. which demographic can we grab).

I was just trying to demonstrate the thinking of R&T. I myself find many of these cars appealing and if you see the lists of cars I have owned in the past 15 years, a car alone couldn't even begin to describe which group (if any) I might fall into.

Olds Cutlass Sierra, Chevy Chevette, Ford Escort, Honda Civic Si (lime green I might add), Ford Mustang, Mistubishi Lancer, Chevy Avalanche (as a second vehicle), Volvo S80 (partner's vehicle actually but I drive it all the time), F150 pickup (currently my other vehicle, great for hauling stuff).

What would that make me??? Dunno....

In addition, I did not mean or would I ever intend to offend anyone. If I have inadvertenly done so, please accept my apology.

BTW, My next door neighbor (31 yr old ad exec and world traveler) has the following vehicles and I find him the most interesting neighbor I've had in a long time...

Nissan Xterra
Harley Motorcylce
Corvette (C5) with TTops
Vw Jetta

You couldn't begin to describe him by the vehicle he drives on any particular day.

However, some vehicles do give a certain image (take the Hummer... let me know what you instantly think of)


Good idea for a new thread... (what does owning an RX-8 say about a person)

 

If they're putting a transportation appliance like the xB on the list they might as well throw on an Escalade, Town Car and F-150 too, since their use of the term "fun to drive" is pretty much pointless.

 

Don't feel so bad, the evo's not up there either!

 

These are subjective writeups. Probably intended to appease the manufacturers who are big advertisers in those magazines. I'd like to know what each of those carmakers spent in R&T advertising.

Mind you, I don't recall seeing an ad for the Elise......

 

People always say the Corvette is the "working class"/"blue collar" sport car...

I know its relatively cheaper, but I've never known a workingclass/blue collar vehicle to cost 70Gs (CDN)... Chevrolet should try to cut out that stereotype because its not the "working class guys" that are buying the car (well I dont know too many "working class" people that have 70Gs to shell out on a car... I know tradesmen can make good coin, but that kinda money on a car seems to be over extending)

 

The vette's base is 42K. So it is possible for a union guy in midlife to purchase one of these (hey the avalanche in the US starts at 40K).

But adding stuff can get it up to 60K+ in the US. Used deals on the vette are also pretty good in this area (not unheard of to get one a few years old around 30K or less).

I certainly see the vette on the road more often than the RX-8 and it seems to appeal to a larger demographic (not just blue collar).

 

Even though the Elise costs less than the M3, Corvette, Viper, AMG, 911 and Boxter?

Interesting way to describe it...

 

True that these cars are about the same price (base Lotus is higher than the vette) but remember too there are costs to fixing these vehicles. At least from what I have heard, a Lotus can be like owning a boat, you are constantly having the thing in shops and spending kudos of cash fixing it.

You can easily shoot the price of an Elise, Vette, etc....

I was only trying to portray what R&T may be thinking. Personally, when I see someone in a Lotus, I really don't get a first impression.

 

One more item...

Could a Lotus really function as your only everyday car. (M3 can, Viper may be, Vette could, RX-8 definitely, Cooper S - Yes unless you like to shop)...

Anyone with a Lotus as their only car care to chime in...

 

Like I said before, R&T does not bill the article as "fun to drive" as many of you seem to think.

They just say "fun", which has a much broader context. An xB can be "fun" in a funky kind of way.

 

I think this is a perfect candidate for the DIY forums... anyone?

:D

 

yes--I believe the Elise could be one's only car (just as easily as a Cooper S could)