MT's Best Driver's Car Competition 2014

[campy]

What is their definition of a driver's car? Are they aiming for road feel, track times, or all-arounders? I feel like the Miata and twins should be on here, but I can appreciate them not wanting to list the same 10 cars every year.

I personally think the FRS/BRZ is a better driver's car than the M4, but I think the M4 is a better car all around. My complaint when I drove one was that everything was too numb and quiet. I almost stalled taking off from a stop light because I couldn't hear the engine.

[gramicci101]

I think they're only comparing new or significantly updated cars for each year. Which would be why we placed in 2012, but not 2013 or 2014.

Or I could be talking out of my ass, but that's what it seems like to me.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by campy

What is their definition of a driver's car? Are they aiming for road feel, track times, or all-arounders? I feel like the Miata and twins should be on here, but I can appreciate them not wanting to list the same 10 cars every year.

I personally think the FRS/BRZ is a better driver's car than the M4, but I think the M4 is a better car all around. My complaint when I drove one was that everything was too numb and quiet. I almost stalled taking off from a stop light because I couldn't hear the engine.

I think they're looking for all arounders, but with a heavier focus on driving feel and enjoyment rather than track times.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

I think they're only comparing new or significantly updated cars for each year. Which would be why we placed in 2012, but not 2013 or 2014.

Or I could be talking out of my ass, but that's what it seems like to me.

Yes that is the process of selection for the competition clearly outlined in the articles linked.

Now, your particular favorite sports car probably isn't in this test. Why not? First of all, we limit each year's BDC to performance machines that are either new or significantly updated for 2014.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...#ixzz3ERj3Zg00

Originally Posted by chrisl

I think they're looking for all arounders, but with a heavier focus on driving feel and enjoyment rather than track times.

You're not wrong but I think you misunderstood gramicci's post. IN any case, it's all in the article.

How can a hopped-up, tuner-friendly hatchback like the Fiesta ST compete with a plug-in hybrid supercar like the i8? Quite easily, as it turns out. Because Best Driver's Car isn't simply about numbers. If it were, we'd bring in a $1,000,000 ringer like the Porsche 918 Spyder and call it a day. Instead, Best Driver's Car is, and always has been, all about determining which new car is the best to drive on both a canyon road and a racetrack. Sadly, older cars are ineligible; otherwise the first-gen Mazda Miata would have embarrassed quite a few of the newbies.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...#ixzz3ERjGXPV5

[Deep Six]

I'm surprised they didn't include a C7 ? Would have been a double podium finish for GM.

[pinski]

Originally Posted by Deep Six

I'm surprised they didn't include a C7 ? Would have been a double podium finish for GM.

Was wondering the same thing - perhaps they knew they'd bring the Z06 next year and didn't want the Vette to win back to back?

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Deep Six

I'm surprised they didn't include a C7 ? Would have been a double podium finish for GM.

Originally Posted by pinski

Was wondering the same thing - perhaps they knew they'd bring the Z06 next year and didn't want the Vette to win back to back?

I like how you guys are asking questions that have answers linked above...

2013:

Let's get one thing out of the way: We wanted the C7 Corvette Stingray to be here. We begged Chevrolet, but a last-minute delay in the start of production meant there was no car available in time for our test, and rescheduling 11 other cars and one of the world's most famous racetracks just wasn't possible. The Corvette will be invited again next year.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...#ixzz3ESV56lB9

2014:

First of all, we limit each year's BDC to performance machines that are either new or significantly updated for 2014. The cars also have to be available, either currently on sale or in a manufacturer's fleet. That's why there's no 2015 Mustang, Corvette Z06, Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, or Porsche GT3. Worst of all, sometimes we ask and the carmakers say no.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...#ixzz3ESVCggpS

Implication is that either the C7 doesn't qualify as it was on the market for 2013 and with no significant changes to their arbitrary rules does not apply to the 2014. Or Chevy said no as MT has expressed public interest in involving the C7 in both these tests. I'd believe Chevy said they'd deliver one car and they'd rather hype the Camaro to keep up sales in the face of a redesigned Mustang instead of the Corvette which doesn't seem to need any help in the public eye.

[pinski]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

I like how you guys are asking questions that have answers linked above...

Implication is that either the C7 doesn't qualify as it was on the market for 2013 and with no significant changes to their arbitrary rules does not apply to the 2014. Or Chevy said no as MT has expressed public interest in involving the C7 in both these tests. I'd believe Chevy said they'd deliver one car and they'd rather hype the Camaro to keep up sales in the face of a redesigned Mustang instead of the Corvette which doesn't seem to need any help in the public eye.
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Still doesn't really answer why it wasn't included this year, your quotes show why it wasn't included last year. Z06 isn't available so it can't go but the C7 is now readily available and I'm sure Chevy would've provided one had MT asked.

However, I'm wondering if perhaps Chevy didn't provide one this year because they already provided the Z28 and didn't want the C7 to get beaten by a Camaro. Still a bummer that we don't get to see a C7 Z51 in the group, punching way above its weight class.