[ogrady]

As reported on E90post Homepage.

The BMW 3 series / M3 makes C&D's 10Best list again what a shock! Here's the full list of 10Best cars for 2010.

2010 Audi S4
2010 BMW 3 Series / M3
2010 Cadillac CTS / CTS-V
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
2010 Honda Accord
2010 Honda Fit
2010 Mazda Miata MX-5
2010 Mazda3 / MazdaSpeed3
2010 Porsche Boxster / Cayman
2010 Volkswagen GTI


2010 10Best Cars - 10Best Cars
58 contenders. $2.5 million total. 12,000 test miles logged. The ultimate quest to find the year's greatest cars.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...rs-10best_cars

This year, for the 28th running of our annual 10Best competition, the rules were simple. First, we raised the price cap from $71,000 to $80,000 (roughly three times the average transaction price of a new car) in the belief that 80 grand is the current point of automotive excellence’s diminishing returns. Cars get more expensive than that, but they don’t get much better. More important, raising the cap makes eligible nominees in two other vital categories: luxo-sport GTs and luxury sedans. Never mind that only two new cars qualified (and one was about to be replaced in a few months, so we left it out).

Second rule: As is the norm, we invited back 2009’s 10Best winners and all the new or significantly altered cars for 2010. Every qualifying vehicle must be on sale no later than January 2010, ergo the complete absence of vaporware.

In all, we hosted a total of 58 automobiles at our secret base hidden amid the farm plots of southeast Michigan. We flogged the cars for a week over our long-standing route, which serves up everything from smooth curves to pockmarked apexes to first-gear corners to high-speed straights to elevation changes.

There, we sought answers to the following questions: 1) How well does this car perform its intended mission? Does a given luxury car, for example, ride harshly? Does it sacrifice rear-seat headroom for an aggressive tumblehome? 2) Is this a highly engaging, fun-to-drive vehicle in its category? Does it compel the driver to get in and enjoy it? And 3) What kind of value does it represent? How much goodness does it deliver for its price?

The cars on the following pages max out in all three areas. These are the machines that have cracked the greatness code. The overwhelming consensus in our results, arrived at by a diverse array of drivers and their biases, has convinced us that these are the 10 worthiest cars on the American road. And their average base price of just over $35,000 was far below our $80,000 cap.

The Nominees

Nominees consist of all-new cars, 2009 10Best winners, cars that were not available for the 2009 competition, and those with significant updates. All cars must fall under our base-price cap of $80,000 and be on sale in January 2010.

Acura TL 6-sp manual • Acura ZDX • Audi A5 2.0T • Audi A6 3.0T • Audi S4 • Audi S5 Cabriolet • Audi TTS • BMW Z4 • BMW 3-series/M3 • Buick LaCrosse • Cadillac CTS/CTS-V • Chevrolet Camaro • Chevrolet Corvette/Grand Sport/Z06 • Ford Fusion/Fusion hybrid • Ford Mustang/Shelby GT500 • Ford Taurus/Taurus SHO • Honda Accord • Honda Fit • Honda Insight • Hyundai Genesis coupe • Infiniti G37 • Jaguar XF/XFR • Kia Forte/Forte Koup • Kia Soul • Lexus HS250h • Lexus IS convertible • Lincoln MKS EcoBoost • Lotus Evora* • Lotus Exige S 260 Sport • Mazda MX-5 Miata • Mazda 3/Mazdaspeed 3 • Mercedes-Benz E-class • Nissan Cube • Nissan 370Z • Pontiac G8 GXP* • Pontiac Solstice coupe* • Porsche Boxster / Cayman • Porsche 911 Carrera • Subaru Legacy • Subaru Outback • Suzuki Kizashi • Toyota Prius • Toyota Venza • Volkswagen Golf*/GTI
______________________________________


2010 BMW 3-series / M3 - 10Best Cars
Oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Bimmer 3?





Attacking our 10Best loop each year in a 3-series gives you the sense that this car has been designed for the sole purpose of oozing along that twisting, cratered section of pavement. There, it has a cohesive fluidity that’s unmatched by any of its competitors. But then, the 3 feels similarly sublime on any other stretch of road, too.

From the 230-hp 328i that can achieve 30-plus mpg on the highway to the even thriftier and uncharacteristically responsive diesel to the unforgettable bawl of the M3’s screaming 414-hp V-8 at 8400 rpm that gets the 0-to-60-mph job done in just over four seconds, the 3-series range is extremely broad. Body styles consist of coupe, sedan—including the resurrection of a fantastically subtle four-door M3— wagon, and folding-hardtop convertible.

There are faster cars, and ones with more horsepower, but the 3-series has earned a long list of comparison-test victories and now a 19th-consecutive 10Best appearance because of the instant confidence it imparts to the driver, making pushing a little harder completely comfortable. It’s the extraordinary precision and response of the perfectly weighted steering, the smooth predictability of the unwavering chassis, the optional sport seats that adjust and embrace in all the right ways, the slick six-speed manual transmissions, the firm but never harsh ride. In short, it’s the car we’d like to drive every day.

And some of us do. Actually, is there any higher praise than the fact that more of our staff has spent their own money to buy a 3-series than any other car?

[Top_Gear_Fan]

19 wins eh, go BMW for the 20 next year!

[1º]

i wonder why they picked the S4 over the M3

[ThinkPink!]

Originally Posted by 1º

i wonder why they picked the S4 over the M3

It's in alphabetical order.

[Ron1n]

Originally Posted by 1º

i wonder why they picked the S4 over the M3

[Imola.ZHP]

lol

10 best in alphabetical order, not top ten listed 1-10...

[zzzbullseye]

My favorite part of the write up:

"In short, it’s the car we’d like to drive every day. And some of us do. Actually, is there any higher praise than the fact that more of our staff has spent their own money to buy a 3-series than any other car?"

I like these guys!

[1º]

Originally Posted by ThinkPink!

It's in alphabetical order.

epic fail on my part

[mmm def]

Originally Posted by zzzbullseye

My favorite part of the write up:

"In short, it’s the car we’d like to drive every day. And some of us do. Actually, is there any higher praise than the fact that more of our staff has spent their own money to buy a 3-series than any other car?"

I like these guys!

+1. love it.

[canook]

love my bimmer more and more everyday. this just helps boost that love.

[M3 vert]

this is great!

Infact Car and Driver called the M3 as the best all round vehicle in a comparison test between the 911 Turbo, Nissan GTR and the E92 M3, can you believe that
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests
I am so glad I went to the M3 E93 from the SL, best performance 4 seater hardtop vert in the world

[chaz58]

Well, it is always nice to take the BMW out on the C&D test loop for a nice afternoon drive. Good mountain biking there too. Still, I'm sure BMW is keeping their eye on Audi - they are workin hard at gaining ground.

[GnokGnik]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the 3-series holds the 2nd most # of wins, right behind the Accord, right?

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

3 Series FTW!

[Zero.7]

Already knew that the 3 series is fantastic. True benchmark. But, I never get tired of hearing/reading about it.

[FrankiE90]

+1
yes a car u can drive everyday!

[datbimmerdoe]

Very cool.

[a burrito]

One of the best cars I've ever owned was a e90 330i. Absolutely great car.

[DerekS]

After having driven a number of 3 Series over the past 25 years, I am not surprised that the latest, and best to date, 3er makes the 10 Best List.
BMW continues to build the most sublime chassis of anyone and equips them with the best engines on the planet. The competition is always playing catch-up, but so far, BMW continues its leadership in the sport sedan category.

What is remarkable is the absence of any Toyota/Lexus and Mercedes-Benz models from the 10 Best List. This should send a wake-up call to these two respective manufacturers.

[Digtlartst]

3ers still rule for overall excellence of the driving experience (especially with 6MT, as C&D said). I also have to agree with C&D on the Mazda3. Shopping around for kid's first car I found it to be a blast to drive, especially the stick. It's gawdawful Tokyo-Godzilla-movie ugly this year but a real bargain and historically reliable.

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by 1º

i wonder why they picked the S4 over the M3

Yeah, I can't figure out why C&D thinks the best cars are the ones which are earlier in the alphabet.

[shiggy]

Originally Posted by chaz58

Well, it is always nice to take the BMW out on the C&D test loop for a nice afternoon drive. Good mountain biking there too. Still, I'm sure BMW is keeping their eye on Audi - they are workin hard at gaining ground.

but always remained in BMW's rear view mirror!