Cars
2014's condensed Good 12 simplifies matters compared with previous years. These are the vehicles that would be most welcomed as permanent members of the GCBC Towers driveway. Drop them off on Christmas morning. Thanks in advance.
None have base prices above $65,000 USD. They reflect many different parts of the market, they come from different places, they're powered by very different engines, they're accomplished in different areas. And when any one of them drives by, I want it for myself.
Click any of the images to be taken to the model's Sales Stats page. Don't forget to check out GCBC's The Bad 8.
RECOMMENDED READING
2013's The Good 12
2012's The Good 12
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2013 YTD U.S. Sales
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2013 Canadian Sales
2014's The Bad 8
- 2013's The Good 12 - Land Rover Range Rover - $80,000-$90,000
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER A November piece written by the unquestionably wise Jack Baruth for TTAC included mostly harsh words for the current state of Land Rover. Baruth shows this photo and explains it this way: "Putting that photo up where PEOPLE...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Dodge Ram 1500 - $30,000-$35,000
RAM 1500 There are probably about 1951 different Ram permutations that end up with a price somewhere between $30,000 and $35,000. One important new version is the V6-powered 2013 Ram 1500 SLT 4x4 Quad Cab. Relatively efficient, suitable for work and family...
- 2012's The Bad 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN It worked fairly well the first time around, so Nissan stayed true to practice with the second-generation Versa sedan by making it as ugly as possible. Where the first Versa sedan was devoid of styling, as though Nissan...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Porsche Boxster Spyder
PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER As if it wasn't enough that the Porsche Boxster was one of the best cars in the world to drive, in Spyder form, it's also one of the best at which to gander. We're nearing the end of the line for the current,...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER EVOQUE There's no doubt the Range Rover Evoque has already won more prestigious awards. Top Gear named it the magazine's car of the year, for example. The Evoque is not a very powerful vehicle. It's not especially...
Cars
GCBC's The Good 12 For 2014
None have base prices above $65,000 USD. They reflect many different parts of the market, they come from different places, they're powered by very different engines, they're accomplished in different areas. And when any one of them drives by, I want it for myself.
Click any of the images to be taken to the model's Sales Stats page. Don't forget to check out GCBC's The Bad 8.
 | Kia Rio 5-Door A subcompact-sized budget doesn't mean you can't have a car that looks terrific on the outside and the inside. |
 | Mazda 3 5-Door If the most attractive small car is also the most enjoyable small car to drive, that small car wins. (The less flexible sedan might look even better.) |
 | Nissan Juke There are few vehicles - of any type - more off-the-wall than the Juke. Even those who hate how it looks will appreciate the way it drives. |
 | Jeep Wrangler Honesty is the best policy. The Wrangler remains true to the Jeep brand, but it's fortunately more powerful, more efficient, and more spacious than ever before. |
 | Volkswagen Golf Volkswagen's seventh-generation Golf once again shows us that we can have a premium car without paying a premium price. |
 | Ford Fiesta ST Subcompacts are better than ever, but you won't find genuinely hot versions of the Rio, Accent, Sonic, 2, Fit, Yaris, or Versa. This Fiesta ST is the answer. |
 | Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Recipe: add one torquey diesel to a steaming hot cup of amazing truck. It seems simple, yet no other truck builder is doing it. |
 | Volvo V60 Finally. The very pretty V60 will be rare, adding to its appeal, but it will also be the Volvoiest of all Volvos. So maybe it won't be rare. Volvo could do very well with a Volvoey car. |
 | Chrysler 300 SRT8 This defines automotive cool. And it's not as though the 300 SRT8 is exclusively style-focused or power-oriented. This is a family sedan with a big rear seat and a big trunk. And a 6.4L V8. And 470 horsepower. |
 | Chevrolet Suburban Is it the best vehicle in the world? It's too big and too expensive to righteously stand beside that claim. But it is a claim you can make... in secret. |
 | Porsche Boxster Now that the Boxster looks like a million bucks, you don't need to be embarrassed to own the lesser Porsche sports car. Not that you would have ever been embarrassed to drive one. |
 | Land Rover Range Rover Sport In this, the Range Rover Sport's second iteration, it really is a Range Rover, only with a third row, slightly better styling, and a much lower price tag. |
RECOMMENDED READING
2013's The Good 12
2012's The Good 12
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2013 YTD U.S. Sales
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2013 Canadian Sales
2014's The Bad 8
- 2013's The Good 12 - Land Rover Range Rover - $80,000-$90,000
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER A November piece written by the unquestionably wise Jack Baruth for TTAC included mostly harsh words for the current state of Land Rover. Baruth shows this photo and explains it this way: "Putting that photo up where PEOPLE...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Dodge Ram 1500 - $30,000-$35,000
RAM 1500 There are probably about 1951 different Ram permutations that end up with a price somewhere between $30,000 and $35,000. One important new version is the V6-powered 2013 Ram 1500 SLT 4x4 Quad Cab. Relatively efficient, suitable for work and family...
- 2012's The Bad 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN It worked fairly well the first time around, so Nissan stayed true to practice with the second-generation Versa sedan by making it as ugly as possible. Where the first Versa sedan was devoid of styling, as though Nissan...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Porsche Boxster Spyder
PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER As if it wasn't enough that the Porsche Boxster was one of the best cars in the world to drive, in Spyder form, it's also one of the best at which to gander. We're nearing the end of the line for the current,...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER EVOQUE There's no doubt the Range Rover Evoque has already won more prestigious awards. Top Gear named it the magazine's car of the year, for example. The Evoque is not a very powerful vehicle. It's not especially...