12 Cars of Christmas in Pictures
On the 12th day of Christmas my partner gave to me – one of the cars from our 2008 Top Picks from Economy all the way up through Minivan models. Give the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season – as long as gas prices stay down and car companies don’t sink into the ground.
Economy Class
1 Toyota Yaris
Toyota has a fine reputation for cars that last two decades and past 200,000 miles. And now with the Yaris you can have your very own fuel efficient, lifetime lasting Toyota for under 14k.
2 Hyundai Accent – The Egg Car
The Hyundai Accent is a darling of recent (cash strapped) college grads and rental car companies. Simple design (many have called this the “Egg Car”) and a fuel efficient engine have propelled the Accent high into small car sales brackets. Hyundai is finally beginning to build really solid cars.
3 Nissan Versa – Under $10K
Nissan grabbed attention last month with the introduction of their “Under $10,000 MSRP Versa” -Which sadly comes with no radio, no air conditioning and a manual transmission. Still, it’s almost like the Dell of cars – you start with something simple then build your way up into something you like. Hmm…maybe Dell isn’t the best name to reference, but we think you get the point.
Sport Cars
1 Mercedes SL 65
If you have several thousands of dollars to spare you may want to check out a Mercedes SL. Without a doubt it’s tops in the class of sports cars and convertibles. And it’s from Germany, if the guy on those ShamWow commercials has taught us anything it’s that Germans make fine products!
2 Mazda MX-5 – The New Miata
Actually, Mazda wants all mention of the “Miata” name stricken from their records. The new, sporty MX-5 is not only a powerful offspring of that vehicle made famous by Jay Mohr and Scott Wolf in the movie “Go” but also handles as well as any foreign sports car.
3 Pontiac G5 – America, F*&K YEAH!
Yes, it’s a sedan. Yes, it’s American. But the Pontiac G5 gets a nod for being a better version of the Chevy Cobalt, in the ways of performance and sportiness. We know the haters will bash us for liking a GM product, but we’ve recently driven the G5 sport halfway across the tundra of Eastern Canada – and were in love with the vehicle every second of our ride.
Full-size Vehicles
1 Lincoln MKS
Lincoln is trying to make a comeback into the world of luxury sedans (and the youth market with those catchy hipster tunes on tv ads) with models like the MKS. It’s got style, size and performance to back their attempt up.
2 BMW 7-Series
The BMW 7-Series has been used for commuting, limo service and was so impressive this year the Neiman Marcus Catalog auctioned off one of a kind models for their holiday charity event.
3 Ford Taurus – An American Icon
Ford’s Taurus has been around since the late 1980′s, and it’s legacy continues today. Unfortunately the Taurus X Sports Wagon is going to be discontinued in 2009. But fear not – Ford is priming the public for their 2010 Taurus concept.
Crossover/SUV/Minivan
1 Ford Flex – Car of the Year Finalist
Ford’s Flex seats up to 7 and shows that a van or crossover doesn’t have to be mundane. The Flex is a model we expect to see coming from Ford for years on – and with a possible Car of the Year award on it’s way our opinion feels solid.
2 Kia Borrego – Kia’s First SUV
Kia is taking a chance in this economy bringing out their first SUV. With a V6 or V8 engine option, hefty towing capacity and a roomy interior this may be the chance Kia has to impress those looking for a larger automobile.
3 Volkswagen Routan
VW’s Routan has made its mark on commercial advertising with their funny spots featuring Brooke Shields. It’s also made a dent in the world of Minivans, competing well against the Caravan. Only time will tell if Volkswagen can keep their minivan sales moving.
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