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And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
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bmoreDLJ
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
I'd pick the Camaro and SRX. :P
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Unregular
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
so, in order for it to be a "truck", body on frame? is that it?
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kreepyone
10/01/09

@Unregular: so my crown vic is a truck, huh im going to go try to get b plates for it now, thanks
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Unregular
10/01/09

@kreepyone: ok, so that's out, too.

so no one on here can define "truck" other than pointing out what ISN'T a truck.

see that refrigerator, that is NOT a truck!
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MushyHeirloom
10/01/09

@Unregular: Trucks have either a pickup bed (Rampage) or a ladder frame with a wagon body (Wagoneer) and optional 4wd, with few exceptions.

My Volvo 240 has a basic interior, rear-wheel-drive, and a live axle; ergo, it is more of a truck than most of these "trucks".
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Edited by MushyHeirloom at 10/01/09 5:33 PM MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred

MushyHeirloom
10/01/09

@MushyHeirloom: Hmm, he seems to have gone back under his bridge.
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MushyHeirloom
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
If the Crosstour, Outback, or ZDX win, I vote we amass some high-grade explosives and start plotting.

The Equinox is genuinely good, the Connect is unique, and the LR4 is a Land Rover again. There are reasonable choices here, jurors; please make a sensible decision.
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MushyHeirloom
10/01/09

@MushyHeirloom: At least most of the cars are acceptable choices - the Insight's a Chinese Prius knockoff, the Legacy is uglier than Piss Christ, and nobody's driven a Kizashi, but outside of that, they can't make that bad of a decision.
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CJinSD
10/01/09

@MushyHeirloom: I actually stopped at a Ford dealer yesterday to look at the Transit Connect. what I discovered is that all the ones they had in stock were gas engine/automatic combinations. They aren't going to save any commercial fleets a fortune in operating costs and they aren't going to take sales from Honda's Element or Toyota's Scion xB. The Taurus should have been entered in Truck of the year. It probably has a higher GVWR than the average competitor this year.
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stephdumas
10/01/09

@CJinSD: the Transit goes more after the Dodge Sprinter and as an lighter alternative to the Ford E-series (formely known as Ecolonine) and Chevy Express (formely known as Chevy Van)

as for the Excremen...errr I mean Element, if the Transit steal some help it would help to force Honda going back to the drawing board hoping they won't do more worse then that.
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MushyHeirloom
10/01/09

@stephdumas: I don't mind the current Element, I'm just afraid that they will make it worse, because they're remarkably good at that.
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Edited by MushyHeirloom at 10/01/09 5:30 PM MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred

MaWeiTao
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
These things are always full of crap especially given the arbitrary selection of cars, some aren't even in the market yet and others have been around for a while.

For the cars I'd have to choose the Panamera because it's such a departure for Porsche but it actually seems to be cool. The Buick also deserves credit for being such a compelling update for the brand.

For trucks I'd have to choose the Ford Transit Connect because it's the most functional vehicle on the list and demonstrates that Ford is serious about being a more global brand.

Everything else on the list is standard fare and not particularly noteworthy. The Acura ZDX and Honda Crosstour deserve a dishonorable mention for being the most awful looking vehicles in years.
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engineerd
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
As far as the cars, I think there's a good, bad and ugly lurking here.

The judges will probably choose the Prius or Fusion/Fusion Hybrid to show how green they are.

In reality, the Prius should be replaced on the list by the Insight. However, that shouldn't win. The Camaro, Mazdaspeed3, Soul or GTI should win. However, these aren't necessarily "car people" voting...even if they do work in the car industry (i.e. Motor Trend's entire staff).

If I were voting, I would vote for the 335d. Maybe even the Panamera just to piss people off.
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Racin_G73 - dirt track legend (some day ... maybe)
10/01/09

@engineerd: Umm... the Insight is on the list. I was just getting ready to post a joke about how the small Toyota hybrid sedan appeared on the list twice...
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engineerd
10/01/09

@racin_g73: Oh, you're right. Oops. The Prius should still be replaced by the Insight.
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Jo Schmo
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
NACTOY? Meh, I am more interested in who took home the top prize this year in the NAMBLA contest.

Because, you know, there are alot of dudes out there that look like Marlon Brando.
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
The Buick Lacrosse is a good looking car, unconventional for Buick. The Lincoln MKT is also excellent, although I would tip my hat to the Ford Transit.
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Deartháir II
10/01/09

@leavethegun-takethecannoli: I just went and took an Allure for a spin (since apparently LaCrosse is a dirty word up here), and I am duly impressed. It was significantly nicer than the Acurae I've driven, and I'd put it safely on par with Lexus. It is a bit bland, but geez, they've really done a great job on it.

Now. A high-performance AWD option, SVP.
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stephdumas
10/01/09

@Deartháir II: The Return: Seems they decided to go anyway with the LaCrosse name for 2010 in Canada :-) [www.carguideweb.com]

And I agree for a high-performance AWD option :-) I would call it "GS" or "GS4W"/"GSWD" (for GS 4WD/AWD)
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Deartháir II
10/01/09

@stephdumas: They're still labelled as the "Allure" up here.
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engineerd
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
Where's the truck list?
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Flathead Smith
10/01/09

@engineerd: It was a typo.
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MushyHeirloom
10/01/09

@Flathead Smith Prefers the Days of Danger: They stuck the Land Rover there by mistake, I see.
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Buster Brew
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!

The Power Wagon is 1) new and 2) a proper truck, as is the Raptor. Why are neither on the list?

That said, I think the Equinox will win the truck category as it is a great leap in quality and fuel economy.

I think the Taurus or Lacrosse will win the car category, with the 335d a potential sleeper due to it's revolutionary engine.
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Alfisted
10/01/09

@Buster Brew: Is that the new Ram Ram Power Wagon?
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Buster Brew
10/01/09

@Alfisted: Fiat knows it rhymes with Bam Bam, so you know it's tough.
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Number_Six
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
I would choose:

Car: Fusion Hybrid, because it works better than all the other hybrids and if we have to live with them, we might as well get them right

Truck: LeMons People's Curse for whomever made the list
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Alfisted
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
Let's review (car/truck winners followed by runners up in each year):

2000
Ford Focus
Audi TT
Lincoln LS

Nissan Xterra
Dodge Dakota
Toyota Tundra

2001
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Honda Insight
Toyota Prius

Acura MDX
Ford Escape
Toyota Sequoia

2002
Nissan Altima
Ford Thunderbird
Cadillac CTS

Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Chevrolet Avalanche
Jeep Liberty

2003
MINI Cooper
Infiniti G35
Nissan 350Z

Volvo XC90
Hummer H2
Honda Element
Nissan Murano

2004
Toyota Prius
Mazda RX-8
Cadillac XLR

Ford F-150
Nissan Titan
Cadillac SRX

2005
Chrysler 300
Chevrolet Corvette
Ford Mustang

Ford Escape
Ford Freestyle
Land Rover LR3

2006
Honda Civic
Ford Fusion
Pontiac Solstice

Honda Ridgeline
Ford Explorer
Nissan Xterra

2007
Saturn Aura
Toyota Camry
Honda Fit

Chevrolet Silverado
Ford Edge
Mazda CX-7

2008
Chevrolet Malibu
Cadillac CTS
Honda Accord

Mazda CX-9
Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
Buick Enclave

2009
Hyundai Genesis
Ford Flex
Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Ford F-150
Dodge Ram
Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC

Based on this history, I'd say upmarket finalists would have to be pretty revolutionary to win. I think that eliminates BMW, Mercedes and Cadillac. Panamera is a major departure for Porsche but also too polarizing. I'd say the Buick wins top spot, hands down.

Trucks? Who cares. These aren't trucks.
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Deartháir II
10/01/09

@Alfisted: Except, of course, for 2002, 2004 and 2008, where Cadillac won....

I agree with you, though. I think the Buick genuinely deserves a nod. And when I was driving my '93 Century a couple years ago, that was a phrase I never, ever thought I'd say.
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Prawo Jazdy and The Velocity Trumpets: I miss Deartháir II
10/01/09

@Alfisted: The Aura was nothing revolutionary in 2007. I own one and it has all the stuff my Cobalt had in 2005 with some of the same switch gear.

This award stopped being important and meaningful years ago and is now nothing more than a sales and marketing tool.

I'd rather have the general consensus of the Jalopnik commentariat steer my next automotive purchase with a vote. Even though I know the resulting purchase price would cost 3x as much as my house and have more power than Batman Superman, Spiderman and The X-Men put together.. It would also be of the homemade variety.
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Alfisted
10/01/09

@Deartháir II: The Return: Cadillac was a runner up in each of thoese years. I won't be surprised to see a premium brand do the same this year - I'd give the BMW the best shot.

I think voters will want to give the General a shot in the arm this year and Buick seems to be the one capturing hearts and minds, at least IRW.
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Deartháir II
10/01/09

@Alfisted: Yeah, sorry, that was poor writing on my part. See what happens when I'm watching the stupidity that is Fox TV and trying to write? It makes me stoopider too.
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MushyHeirloom
10/01/09

@Prawo Jazdy and The Velocity Trumpets:

a sales and marketing tool

Fritz?
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Prawo Jazdy and The Velocity Trumpets: I miss Deartháir II
10/01/09

@MushyHeirloom: Fritz and Dieter. Now with more mustache.
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wheatieboy
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
Acura ZDX - not a truck
• Audi Q5 - not a truck
• Cadillac SRX - not a truck
• Chevrolet Equinox - not a truck
• Ford Transit Connect - not a truck
• Honda Crosstour - not a truck
• Land Rover LR4 - not a truck
• Lincoln MKT - not a truck
• Subaru Outback - not a truck
• Volvo XC60 - not a truck

How hard is this?

Nissan Titan = Truck
Silverado = Truck
SVT Raptor = Effing Great Truck
Tacoma = Perfect Small(ish) Truck
Unimog = Really Big Truck

Come on "experts", get it right.
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MushyHeirloom
10/01/09

@wheatieboy: I might let the LR4 pass, if a Tahoe's a truck.

But my Volvo is more of a truck than most of these. Rear-wheel-drive, sturdy, solid rear axle, simple and reliable.
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Elhigh
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
Are any of those "trucks" actual trucks? I see SUVs, aka BOF cars with a glandular problem, or worse, unibody cars with a fuzzy mission statement.

How can they include the Insight? I know the mission requires the shape, but it's so me-too that it's just embarrassing - it's so much like the Prius in everything but scale, you could, if not a gearhead, easily mistake one for the other. I understand the handling is wretched, too.

I want the Fusion to win, but I don't think it's enough of an enthusiast car to win over the jurors. I think it'll probably wind up going to something a little more exclusive than a mere Ford.
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Prawo Jazdy and The Velocity Trumpets: I miss Deartháir II
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!
I have a feeling the Equinox is going to end up taking the "truck" category.
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Syrax
10/01/09

In reply to And Here's Your 2010 North American Car, Truck Of The Year Finalists!

How about this?
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Prawo Jazdy and The Velocity Trumpets: I miss Deartháir II
10/01/09

@Syrax, the hyrax: Exactly. Funny how the truck list isn't really trucks.
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Elhigh
10/01/09

@Syrax, the hyrax: I'm totally with you. Fast, ballsy, truck. Win!
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discontinuuity has left the Jalop until further notice
10/01/09

@Syrax, the hyrax: Truck of the Century.
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failurate
10/01/09

@Syrax, the hyrax: That's way too obvious. It's much more car snobby to call a car a truck and then give it an award for being the best truck.
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Tiberiuswise is all ate up with sarcasm
10/01/09

@discontinuuity is happy that everything has been set right in the Jalopverse. Now all we need is more of engineerd's Brefas Scotch!:
I know we have 91 years to go but you're probably right.
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