BMW 3 Series dominates Top Ten List for the past Decade

Making it to the top ten list for the past ten years is a serious compliment. It is also one of the best proofs that a car’s design, performance, and all other factors that make people buy them, endures through time. Here is what Car and Driver says about the BMW 3 Series constantly making it to their top 10 list for the past decade:

Nineteen eighty-three was the first year of our annual 10Best competition, in which we test the coming year’s newest metal to find the top 10 cars in the U.S. Every year, we drive thousands of miles, slurp gallons of coffee, munch hundreds of doughnuts, and get tangled in some raging arguments, all in the name of crafting another 10Best list.

Like any competition, there are rules. A changing price cap based on vehicle transaction price is the only variation each year. If a car wins the previous year, it is invited back, but all other competitors must be new or significantly altered for the coming model year. Our three main questions are: How well does a car perform its intended purpose? Is it a highly engaging, fun-to-drive vehicle within its category? And what kind of value does it represent?

We’ve compiled another 10Best list to mark the end of the decade, this time running down the cars that dominated our competition over the past 10 years.

BMW 3-series: 10Best Appearances

Ten, count ’em, ten consecutive titles from 2000 through 2009 (with another nine in a row before that). Simply slide behind the wheel of one, and you’ll understand why the 3-series is considered the benchmark entry-luxury sports coupe, sedan, wagon, and convertible.

What We Said:

“The 3-series’ effortless competence also manifests itself in responsive handling, consistent and powerful brakes, and notably linear and progressive controls.” —January 2000

“For a car enthusiast, everyday drivers don’t come any better.” —January 2007

Source: Car and Driver on Yahoo