Winners and Losers '08: One Writer's View By JERRY GARRETT

December 27, 2008
Winners and Losers '08: One Writer's View By JERRY GARRETT

IN its 2008 Car Reliability Study, Consumer Reports ranked the Chrysler Sebring convertible, with a reliability score that was "283 percent worse than average," dead last among the 357 vehicles covered in the survey of subscribers. At the other end of the scale was the new Scion xD, the industry's reliability champ, at about 82 percent "better than average."

Coincidentally, the plucky pint-size xD and its somewhat more sophisticated stablemate, the boxy xB, get my vote as the best new car values for 2008. Starting at around $15,000 each, the Scion siblings provide great bang for the buck, along with their reliability and strong resale values.

The Sebring, a sorry reminder of issues that have tainted the reputations of Detroit automakers, more than earned its place in the basement. Rental fleets still love them, though.

Over all, 2008 has been a year of hits and misses for the United States auto industry. Ford has given its die-hard fans reason for hope, with several admirable new models; by comparison, G.M. and Chrysler have far less to cheer about. Toyota reliability remains tough to top, and BMW continues to set the standard for styling and engineering excellence.

And so long as there are still recounts underway from the November elections, I would like to retroactively change my vote for the 2002 Car of the Year. It rightfully goes to the 2009 Pontiac G8. Yes, General Motors is late to the party again, but consider buying one of these anachronistic V-8 gas guzzlers, because if the company needs more bailout money, your tax dollars will be paying for one anyway. What else is worth noting? Here are my picks and pans for 2008, sorted in my own unscientific classifications from the year that could go down in history as the year the American auto industry went, uh, down in history:

Best Compact/Subcompact (besides the xD): The xB from Scion, which as a car company is on something of a roll.

Worst Compact/Subcompact: Smart Fortwo. You can't be serious about that herky-jerky drivetrain, can you? Oh, you were?

Best Midsize: Chevrolet Malibu. Best-looking G.M. interior in a blue-collar model since the Harley Earl era.

Worst Midsize: Sebring again. The mortality rate for Chrysler midsize cars is higher than that of Spinal Tap drummers.

Best Large Car: Ford Taurus. Even though it is a rebadged Five Hundred, it still beats an ennui-infused collection of big sedans. The 2010 model, to be unveiled in January, incites lust.

Worst Large Car: Speaking of the Pontiac G8 ...

Best Premium-Class Car: A tie: BMW's 5 Series and 7 Series are refined all-around performers, despite indecipherable controls.

Worst Premium: BMW's 1-Series is right-sized, but how can you charge a 3-Series price for a car that is less, in every way?

Best Convertible: The intelligent design of the retracting hardtop on BMW's new M3 helps make it the class valedictorian.

Worst Convertible: As hard as it is to make a bad convertible, advantage Sebring.

Best Sporty Coupe: Seeking a long-term relationship? Go with Audi's A5. But for a hot, sweaty one-night-stand, call 1-900-Dodge Challenger.

Worst Sporty/Performance Car: Dodge's Viper, returning after a one-year sabbatical, is still the epitome of irrelevance.

Best Utility Wagon: Ford's Flex. When Ford introduced it three years ago as a concept, I said, "Over Land Rover's dead body." Apparently that was not a consideration.

Worst Sport Utility Vehicle: The Toyota Sequoia is as strong as the mighty redwood — a tree with a known drinking habit — and as thirsty as one.

Best Crossover: Toyota's Venza is the industry's 61st crossover, yet somehow Venza manages to seem like a fresh idea.

Worst Crossover: A 60-place tie for last.

Best Truck: Ford's F-150 is still the champ — bloodied after a bout with $4 gas, but unbowed.

Worst Truck: Dodge Ram. In a shrinking industry's game of musical chairs, a truck with so-so fuel mileage and reliability may find itself with no place to sit.

Most fun, fashionable and fuel-efficient? No, this is not a category, but if it were, at the top of my list would be the Clubman, Mini's new little stretch limo. I wanted one; sadly, Santa let me down.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/automobiles/28GARRETT.html?ref=automobiles&pagewanted=print

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