Consumer Reports' 10 Top Car Picks Announced

Odometer: 4530 miles
Avg MPG on current tank: 27.5

The 2008 Elantra got "Best Small Sedan" in Consumer Reports Top Picks survey. Though I like the car, that even surprised me. For the first time, Consumer Reports required its top 10 picks to have the anti-rollover technology, electronic stabililty control standard or an easily purchased option. That might have stacked the deck in the Elantra's favor, which has ESC standard on the SE model this year. (This was not even offered in 2007) The Santa Fe snagged the Best Mid-Size SUV. This is the first time Hyundai ever got any car in the Top Picks survey.

David Champion, the senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports said “If you look back in the early ’90s they were almost like the joke of the industry... They offer a very, very nice, competent car with all the bells and whistles for a very reasonable price, that’s going to be reliable as well.”

As for the popular family sedan category, the redesigned Honda Accord is the Top Pick for the sixth year in a row.

Here are Consumer Reports other Top Picks for 2008. For upscale sedan, the Infiniti G35. For luxury sedan, the Lexus LS 460L. For minivan, the Toyota Sienna. For small SUV, the Toyota RAV4. For green car, the Toyota Prius for the fifth year in a row. For top pick-up truck, the Chevy Silverado. And for fun to drive, once again the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

What I Might Buy If It Were 2009

I was seriously shopping a Pontiac Vibe along with the Elantra last August. I was considering a hatchback/wagon mainly because it would allow me to transport my bicycle(s) without needing an aftermarket rack. Currently I use a rear rack which I take on and off everytime I take the bike off. These aftermarket rear racks are easy to remove off a car, so I take it off and hide it in the trunk even if I am on a short ride. Not having to have to do that would be a substantial convenience.
The Vibe had that utility and lots of other desirable aspects. Where it came up short was in the price. Compared to the Elantra, the Vibe is overpriced.

In late 2008, Hyundai will be introducing the 2009 Elantra Touring, a 5-door aiming to be competition for the Vibe, Matrix, and Mazda3 wagon. It has just been confirmed last week at the Montreal International Auto Show that it will basically be a renamed Hyundai i30 wagon, a new model sold in Europe and parts of Asia. It has some pretty nice lines, so I think it would do well in the U.S. I am not thrilled with high reaching tail lights or the rip-off Honda Civic-like front grill. The wagon looks a little less sporty than the i30 hatchback( which has gotten nice reviews on CarAdvice.com.au and Autocar.co.UK), but you gain 9 inches in length for cargo. No big loss since the i30 hatchback doesn't look all THAT sporty when standing side by side to the Saturn Astra 2-door or Mazda3. The Vibe and Matrix have also gotten redesigns for 2009, so the Elantra Touring will face an uphill battle, though personally I think the new Matrix is a bit weird looking.

I don't know if the Elantra Touring will have the great perfectly flat folding rear seats of the Vibe/Matrix. But if it has that AND is as good a value as the Elantra sedan, it would definitely be on top of my list--- if I were looking for a car in 2009. If not, then I might consider one of these. (All pics in this blog "zoom" if you click on them)

Does Your New Car Make Others Around You Want New Cars?

I sort of think it does. Not that I expect the majority of folks to act on that want.
On a personal note, I have seen my brother buy 3 progressively nicer cars over the years, while I just kept on truckin' with my Geo. He is kind of hard on his equipment and it is in his nature to upgrade. I wonder how many new cars he saw his pals or co-workers buy that might have stoked that nature. I was really quite content when he bought his last two cars, but when he bought his current vehicle a tasty red 2006 Mazda CX-7, I'd admit my car was looking really really old by comparison and I was thinking about getting something new even back then

What made me bring this up is my neighbor, which I park next to almost every day, last month got a new black 6 series BMW sports coupe (2007). His previous 2 vehicles had been pewter grey. Did seeing my black Hyundai encourage him to go out a black B'mer this time? Who freakin' knows? And I ain't gonna ask him. His car is wicked cool in black though. It's got way huge 19" tires and 228 more horses than an Elantra. But it costs as much as 4 Elantras put together.

Adding to that, this week another neighbor just replaced their Sebring with a Solara.
UPDATE: (2-28-08) Another neighbor just turned in her 2004 Civic for a Lexus IS250. The 4-car car port at my complex now has 4 cars all less than 6 months old.

Odometer: 4023 miles
Avg. MPG: 24.5