AAA Top Car Picks for 2006 *Mazda3

[Antoine]

AAA Top Car Picks for 2006

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http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/03/MAZDA3_5D_side_beauty_3.jpg (http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/03/08/000028.html)

That trusty institution that’s always ready to lend a tow has announced its Top Car Picks for 2006. AAA looked at more than 200 vehicles and chose winners in 13 categories based on criteria like ride, performance, braking, handling, cargo space, value and fuel economy. The categories have been broken down by price as well as class and the “Cool Car” category, won by the Corvette Z06, was thrown in there just for fun.

While the Honda Ridgeline did take top honors in the Pick Up Truck category, it’s stablemate, the Honda Civic, came up empty handed for the first time this year, bested instead by the well-liked Mazda3 in the Under - $15,000 category.

Under - $15,000 Mazda3
$15,000 - $20,000 Honda Accord Sedan
$20,000 - $25,000 Dodge Charger
$25,000 - $30,000 Toyota Avalon
$30,000 - $35,000 BMW 3 Series
$35,000 - $40,000 Volvo S80
$40,000 - $50,000 Infiniti M35/M45
$50,000 Jaguar XJ8L
SUV $30,000- Ford Escape Hybrid
SUV $30,000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Minivan Honda Odyssey
Pick Up Truck Honda Ridgeline
Cool Car Chevrolet Corvette Z06

[mikeyb]

You beat me too posting!

[Antoine]

You beat me too posting!

(laugh) Muuhahaha!

[Amemiya]

Awesome! Mazda 3's own. All Mazda's do.

[vindication]

honda ridgline? wtf are they smoking over there. that piece of crap is a piece of crap

[Chilledboost]

honda ridgline? wtf are they smoking over there. that piece of crap is a piece of crap
they are shitty. they are not even a real truck. a real truck has a frame

[vindication]

yup. I still think the best truck is the Nissan Titan

[JOS3]

hooray

[Gaboost]

The Ridgeline sure looks like a truck to me. Just because it has a stronger, less flexible unibody chassis and doesn't have a primitive solid rear axle, it is not a real truck? The Ridgeline meets the needs of 90% of truck owners who never go off road or tow heavy loads.

[vindication]

yeah, so do cars or minivans, and are more economical.

[Newf]

The Ridgeline sure looks like a truck to me. Just because it has a stronger, less flexible unibody chassis and doesn't have a primitive solid rear axle, it is not a real truck? The Ridgeline meets the needs of 90% of truck owners who never go off road or tow heavy loads.

thank you

Honda built a better small - mid size truck with their first try then any of the crap the big 3 has put out in the last 30 years.


as for mazda 3 beating out the civic, that is just too sweet!

[tsunami]

sweet... the S model should have taken honors in the 15-20k segment as well... the accord sedan at that price level is a pappy car!!!

[dmitrik4]

of COURSE the ridgeline sucks...it's a honda. everyone knows that every single honda ever made sucks, just b/c of the badge on the front.:rolleyes:


yeah, so do cars or minivans, and are more economical.

i don't know any cars or minivans that tow 5000 pounds, and i ain't moving mulch or pavers in a station wagon. there are plenty of things that pickups do better than cars, and for most of them a big full-size isn't necessary.

as far as mid-size trucks go, the ridgeline is a pretty good one...i'd take it over pretty much anything but the nissan frontier. i just wish it was available with a manual transmission.

[vindication]

I agree trucks are needed for somethings. reason why my family needs one. but that other dude said for not towing heavy loads and not going off road. that means you really dont need a truck if you fall into that category. if one day you need to bring mulch or whatever with you, there are trucks to be rented for real cheep, even from lowes and home depot directly. also, nobody said anything about honda sucking so dont get your panties in a bunch. trucks are needed, but not for what gaboost listed