VOLKSWAGEN GTI
The Rabbit, then Golf, now Rabbit (and in many parts of the globe, still Golf) isn't the prototypical performance car foundation. The hatchback, in and of itself, is not exactly a stunner. Basic versions of this vehicle can be had with as little as 75bhp in some countries. In fact, with the current GTI, Volkswagen harks back to the first generation, not only with plaid seats, but - more importantly - with a rediscovered down-the-road adeptness. Great advertising, spectacular wheels, a futuristic transmission, and a punchy turbocharged four-pot combine to generate plenty of true GTI cred. And when it comes to hot hatchbacks, a vehicle's accreditation carries sway into the future, affecting the sales of future generations. Let's be honest: if the current GTI d
rove like the VR6 of 2000, there wouldn't be enough takers to make the development worth VW's worthwhile. As it is, the GTI is a driver's car, going so far as to assure at least some sales of the next generation, on this model's reputation alone. For that, GoodCarBadCar gives honour. -----
Engines: 200 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque from a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder.Mileage: City high = 21mpg. City low = 22mpg.Base USD Price: $22,730Anything Else? Unimpressively, taking the GTI up another notch to all-wheel drive/V6 (the R32) adds way too much cost and subtracts way too much involvement. The GTI is the Gabbit happy medium.
smart fortwo
Part X of The Good 12, the fortwo built by Mercedez-Benz subsidiary smart, is unfortunately introduced on the heels of the Porsche Boxster. Take note of two things: firstly, inside that stark hallway of differentiation lies the beauty of autodom and secondly; the Boxster and fortwo have more in common than a first glance would have you believe.
Germanity, non-traditional engine placement, engine note, and seating capacity stand out as similarities. As noted in The Good 12 Part VIII, GoodCarBadCar hates boring ca
rs. As much as the Mini Cooper is the antonym of boredom, the smart fortwo (lighting up American roads in 2008) shines as an example of originality, uniqueness, and unconventional thinking.
Up to this point, smart has not been a money-making operating for Daimler, but the little city car is a terrific way for consumers to save $. Not only is the fortwo insanely fuel efficient, it will also be one of the least expensive vehicles on sale in the USA.
Is the smart fortwo a logical purchase for the buyer of The Good 12 Part V, Honda's Accord? That's unlikely. Is the smart absolutely perfect for thousands of Americans? Most certainly. So specific are the fortwo's capabilities; so perfectly will it meet the demands of its buyers.
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Engines: 70 horsepower and 68 lb-ft of torque from a 1.0L three-cylinder.
Mileage: City/highway combined estimation of 40-45mpg.Base USD Price: $11,590
Anything Else? fortwo's are available as pure's and passion's in the States, as well as passion cabriolet's which feature a $16,590 base price.
PORSCHE BOXSTER
No, it's not the cheapest Porsche. The Boxster isn't the fastest, either. It's debatable; but the Boxster probably isn't the prettiest Porsche. The most expensive Boxster, known as the S, has less horsepower than a Ford Mustang GT; less than the projected horsepower of Hyundai's Genesis coupe; and less than the German and Japanese luxury sporting coupes.
This may sound like a case before The Good 12 Court of Appeals. In fact, the Porsche's seemingly low power rating aids its cause. To be frank, numbers like 245 and 295 do not represent low horsepower ratings. Top speeds of both the standard and S versions are in excess of the German gentlemen's agreement (155mph) and acceleration is sub-6 seconds to 60mph in both cases, as well.
But the Boxster is so much more than speed. It's about communication, tactility, appropriate noises, and a three-way conversation between road; machine; and man.
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Engines: 245 or 295 horsepower and 201 or 251 lb-ft of torque from a 2.7L flat-six or a 3.4L flat-six.
Mileage: City high = 32mpg. City low = 20mpg.
Base USD Price: $45,800
Anything Else? The prettier, faster Porsche Cayman would be joining its closely linked sibling on this page were it not for its +$3,600 price tag, which also forbids the dropping of the Boxster's top.
INFINITI G
Let us liken Infiniti's G35 sedan and G37 coupe to discovering you'd booked your favourite New York City hotel on Hotwire.com, at a 25% savings mind you, after already resigning yourself to staying at the Super8.
Landing an Infiniti G is showing up at your favourite restaurant for lunch and realizing the best main course they offer is on special; and with dessert thrown in for free. The buyer determines his or her luxury sports sedan need; spends their money on Infiniti's G coupe or sedan, and finds a couple extra thousand dollars sitting in their bank account. How'd that happen?
This Infiniti sports sedan took the world by storm when it debuted as a first-generation BMW 3-series competitor. Now in its second iteration, the G35 and G37 don't need to sell on value - they're good enough without a price advantage - but if savings Infiniti wants to give, then savings we shall have.
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Engines: 306 or 330 horsepower and 268 or 270 lb-ft of torque from a 3.5L V6 (sedan) or 3.7L V6 (coupe).
Mileage: City high = 26mpg. City low = 17mpg.
Base USD Price: $31,600
Anything Else? Individual horsepowers can be had for $103.27 in the sedan, but are ¢0.52 more expensive in the coupe.
HYUNDAI ACCENT HATCHBACK
If you're still wondering why you see so many Hyundai's on the road, please quit it. Not only does Hyundai compete successfully at this, the lower end of the market, but also in the lofty heights of Veracruz and Santa Fe. You want the very, very best subcompact money can buy. Part V of The Good 12 is a great place to start. After visiting the Hyundai dealership, you'll discover that the Hyundai Accent hatchback is truly worthy of your attention. Plus, and it's a big plus, the Hyundai manufacturing plant and your salesperson will give you more stuff for less money.
In my region, I could have an Accent hatch with sunroof, power locks & keyless entry, a sport-tuned suspension, air-con, four speakers, power windows - for less mo
ney than Honda would charge for a Fit without all that stuff. Would the Accent feel as good as the Fit? Put it this way: you would feel plenty pampered, indeed.
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Engines: 110 horsepower and 106 lb-ft of torque from a 1.6L inline-four cylinder.
Mileage: City high = 27mpg. City low = 24mpg.
Base USD Price: $10,775
Anything else? Hyundai's 3-door hatchback, the winner here in part for its good looks, weighs more than the 4-door Accent sedan.
HONDA FIT
Before GoodCarBadCar even listed the Fit as one of its 12 cars to drive in 2008, Honda introduced the next Fit. Growth, power, and added maturity are expected. Nevertheless, the characteristics which contribute to the little Honda's greatness are traits we expect from any great car. The inside feels more commodious than the exterior dimensions suggest. The power rating, though low, doesn't match with the rev-happy feel and a quick-on-its-feet quality. Some will complain about a rough ride, but Toyota builds a Yaris for them. The Fit possesses sharp steering, a snickety-snick gearshift or even a 5-speed automatic, and remarkable economy.
The Fit's biggest demerit? That economy, as expected, falls from 'remarkable' to 'impressive' when you give heed to the engine's desire to reach redline in every gear. Woe to the Fit driver.-----
Engines: 109 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque from a 1.5L four-cylinder.
Mileage: City high = 28mpg. City low = 27mpg.
Base USD Price: $13,950Anything Else? Great though the Fit may be, the best among the new wave of small cars for North America, it's hard to buy a car when you already know the look and specs of its successor.
HONDA ACCORD
The North American Accord would seem large in Europe, expensive in developing markets, and a little too front-wheel drive Down Under. For North America, its intended market, the Accord (new and old) suits perfectly. The Accord has taken on a smidgen of exaggerated growth, but Honda has managed to build a larger and more powerful car that also happens to be more fuel efficient. If the sub-luxury midsize sedan market were split in two camps, the Accord wuld be the one car seen riding the fence. 
Most competitors are blaa, but some are quite fun to drive. The Mazda 6 and Subaru Legacy fit this sector well. On the other side are blaa cars with enough qualities apart from driving fun to meet sales success. Think Camry. The Accord wraps this all into one car. It's not an S2000, but it's no Pilot, either. The Accord is a sharper-than-you'd-think driving tool, with the space; reliability; perceived quality; and efficiency you expect from a family car.-----
Engines: 177, 190, or 268 horsepower and 161, 162, or 248 lb-ft of torque from a 2.4L four-cylinder or 3.5L V6.
Mileage: City high = 22mpg. City low = 19mpg.
Base USD Price: $20,360
Anything Else? The Accord's basic 4-cylinder engine makes seven more horsepower than did the original V6 Accord of the mid-'90s.
rove like the VR6 of 2000, there wouldn't be enough takers to make the development worth VW's worthwhile. As it is, the GTI is a driver's car, going so far as to assure at least some sales of the next generation, on this model's reputation alone. For that, GoodCarBadCar gives honour. 
