Hooniverse Asks: Which car do you think should win R&T’s 2020 PCOTY?

Jeff Glucker

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Comments

Our friends at Road & Track just had a lot of fun. The team spent time both on the road… AND the track, to test a batch of performance cars. Their goal? To determine which vehicle deserves to be crowned the 2020 Performance Car of the Year.

Here’s the list of contenders:

  • Mazda Miata RF

  • Hyundai Veloster N

  • Toyota Supra

  • Lexus RC F Track

  • BMW M2 Competition

  • Lotus Evora GT

  • Nissan GT-R Nismo

  • Porsche 911 Carrera S

  • Chevrolet Corvette

  • McLaren 600LT

  • Lamborghini Huracán Evo

That’s a hell of an entertaining lineup. There’s something for almost everyone there who enjoys driving a vehicle quickly. Some well heeled and others just, you know, regular heeled. We will get into the actual winner of this thing later on, but for now I want to see who you think should win. Even if you already know who wins, that doesn’t mean you agree with the outcome. Here at Hooniverse HQ we’re divided.

Where do you stand? Which car on that last would likely get your vote for a Performance Car of the Year huzzah? Shout it out in the comments below.

[Image “borrowed” from Road & Track, sorry Dave…]

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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22 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: Which car do you think should win R&T’s 2020 PCOTY?”

  1. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Quite the selection…I have driven none, but my brain shouts “Hyundai” because, wow, it’s the odd one out in this company, and my heart wants me to be seen in the Lotus. Yet I would suspect the McLaren to be the best to drive in a performance environment, all things considered.

    Reply
  2. Mister Sterling Avatar
    Mister Sterling

    My heart yells Lotus, but my brain says Supra. It’s quite a sensible performance car that is yet to approach its full potential. Maybe then the Supra should wait for factory enhancements and the McLaren should take the crown as the reviews and specs say it should.

    Reply
  3. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Petition to apply “plutocrat zone” as a hashtag to relevant articles. Absolutely true perspective!

    Reply
  4. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    Corvette changed its 60+ year old recipe by finding a new place to stick the engine, then gives it a sticker price that has people thinking might have a missing digit. And Chevy did a masterful job of playing with the press to get lots of speculation articles written during development.

    Reply
  5. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    Having not driven any of the contenders, I would give it to the C8. Most of these are incremental improvements on already spectacular vehicles. The most highly anticipated performance cars of the years are the mid-engine ‘Vette and the MKV Supra. Both disappointingly forego any row-your-own option, but between them, the Vette makes a better case for such a decision.

    The Road and Track write-up does pique my curiosity in the N, and I will have to drive one at some point.

    Reply
  6. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    I might default to Miata as the cheapest car that isn’t a Hyundai (I have a thing), but it warms the cockles of my bitter heart that the cheapest thing there was so heavily embraced. I’m in agreeance though, I’d like to see the Veloster’s strengths applied to something with a more family-friendly back seat.

    Reply
  7. caltemus Avatar
    caltemus

    As much as I like the Veloster N and how they’ve done it; I can’t help but pine after the normal-looking i30 N, and the even better looking i30 N fastback they recently came out with.

    Reply
  8. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Quite the selection…I have driven none, but my brain shouts “Hyundai” because, wow, it’s the odd one out in this company, and my heart wants me to be seen in the Lotus. Yet I would suspect the McLaren to be the best to drive in a performance environment, all things considered.

    Reply
  9. Mister Sterling Avatar
    Mister Sterling

    My heart yells Lotus, but my brain says Supra. It’s quite a sensible performance car that is yet to approach its full potential. Maybe then the Supra should wait for factory enhancements and the McLaren should take the crown as the reviews and specs say it should.

    Reply
    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Your brain is off when theres a better BMW on the table 😉

      Reply
    2. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Your brain is off when theres a better BMW on the table 😉

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        Agreed. I’d take the M2 over the pseudo-Toyota, easy. The mandatory automatic transmission and goofy styling really drag the Supra down on my personal list.

        Reply
        1. crank_case Avatar
          crank_case

          For me, it’s not so much hating on the Supra, but the BMW seems a more slightly more fun thing yet is more practical with at least small back seats and being a (little) more discreet looking. If it wasn’t for the big arches, I’d be tempted to stick a 116d badge on it. 😀

          Reply
  10. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Petition to apply “plutocrat zone” as a hashtag to relevant articles. Absolutely true perspective!

    Reply
  11. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    Having not driven any of the contenders, I would give it to the C8. Most of these are incremental improvements on already spectacular vehicles. The most highly anticipated performance cars of the years are the mid-engine ‘Vette and the MKV Supra. Both disappointingly forego any row-your-own option, but between them, the Vette makes a better case for such a decision.

    The Road and Track write-up does pique my curiosity in the N, and I will have to drive one at some point.

    Reply
  12. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Porsche for mine, or perhaps the Lotus and honourable mentions to the Hyundai and McLaren. They’ll wait for a hotter version of the Corvette, and the others are comprised to a lesser or greater degree in different areas.

    Reply
  13. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    I’m typically all for the underdog, but not if it’s the Veloster. It’s just my opinion, but I don’t think a FWD car should even be in contention for PCOTY. I’m sure many might make a case for it, but I think FWD exists only because it’s easy to package in a vehicle and cheaper to produce– not because it makes for better driving. It’s a handicap for a performance car.

    Reply
    1. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      I have to disagree and the reports on the Velositer N and Civic Type R seem to go against your assessment as well. Both seem to offer spectacular performance in a FWD chassis.

      My own experience is that my FWD RSX Type S was the most fun of any car I’ve owned, including my sport package equipped E46 BMW. Now, if my BMW was an M3 or even a 330 instead of a 325, perhaps I’d feel differently. But that Acura never failed to put a smile on my face and the BMW is much more relaxed in comparison.

      Reply
    2. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      I have to disagree and the reports on the Velositer N and Civic Type R seem to go against your assessment as well. Both seem to offer spectacular performance in a FWD chassis.

      My own experience is that my FWD RSX Type S was the most fun of any car I’ve owned, including my sport package equipped E46 BMW. Now, if my BMW was an M3 or even a 330 instead of a 325, perhaps I’d feel differently. But that Acura never failed to put a smile on my face and the BMW is much more relaxed in comparison.

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        To each his own. For a given price point and target function, I’ve never found a FWD that is as enjoyable to drive as a comparable RWD. Tasking the front wheels with both acceleration and direction seems– to my observation at least– a compromise of both functions. Even when the numbers suggest competitive objective performance, I find that the subjective performance of FWDs is lacking. The feedback feels more artificial, and the barrier between man and machine much more distinct. I don’t think every FWD sucks nor is every RWD brilliant, but I do feel that the latter has far more potential, and that the former is inherently flawed.

        Reply
        1. salguod Avatar
          salguod

          I think we’re splitting hairs, frankly. I’m not arguing for FWD superiority or even equality, only that there is a lot of fun to be had in the right FWD car. Over my lifetime I’ve driven a lot more FWD cars and the RWD cars I’ve owned haven’t been serious performers in general (6 cyl. 1976 Camaro, 4 cyl 1980 Monza, 318ti, 325Ci, 4 cyl. Ranger, 1960 Thunderbird) which is clouding my perspective. That RSX is the most aggressive car I’ve owned and, though it handled well and was an absolute riot, it certainly plowed in the corners.

          My E46 seems to have some looseness in the rear that’s generating axle hop and sloppy power-on cornering that is taking the fun out of things. I did the front lower control arms but I think I’ve got some bushings to replace in the rear. Once I address that and its performing to its potential, I think I’ll have a new appreciation of the joy of a proper RWD chassis.

          Reply
        2. salguod Avatar
          salguod

          I think we’re splitting hairs, frankly. I’m not arguing for FWD superiority or even equality, only that there is a lot of fun to be had in the right FWD car. Over my lifetime I’ve driven a lot more FWD cars and the RWD cars I’ve owned haven’t been serious performers in general (6 cyl. 1976 Camaro, 4 cyl 1980 Monza, 318ti, 325Ci, 4 cyl. Ranger, 1960 Thunderbird) which is clouding my perspective. That RSX is the most aggressive car I’ve owned and, though it handled well and was an absolute riot, it certainly plowed in the corners.

          My E46 seems to have some looseness in the rear that’s generating axle hop and sloppy power-on cornering that is taking the fun out of things. I did the front lower control arms but I think I’ve got some bushings to replace in the rear. Once I address that and its performing to its potential, I think I’ll have a new appreciation of the joy of a proper RWD chassis.

          Reply