The Volkswagen Rabbit and Eos remained in first and second place, respectively. Mazda’s MAZDA3 gave up the third slot to its sister car from Mazda, the MX-5 who now shares that position with the Audi A3.

“The Top 10 Most Researched list tends to be self-perpetuating,” said Gaywheels.com founder Joe LaMuraglia. “But with the arrival of the Toyota Matrix, smart fortwo and Maserati GranTurismo, our users continue to amaze us with their diversity of vehicle interests.”

For the first time, there were multiple ties on the list.

In addition to the tie for third, the MAZDA3 and VW Jetta vied for the fourth slot, the Saab 9-3 and Dodge Caliber both slotted in at 6th and the newcomer Toyota Matrix joined the MINI Cooper as the 9th Most-Researched Vehicles. Rounding out the Top 10 is the Maserati GranTurismo – first exotic vehicle to ever appear on the list.

Gaywheels.com Top 10 Most-Researched Vehicles – 3rd Quarter 2008

Rank
1 VW Rabbit
2 VW Eos
3 Mazda MX-5 Miata and Audi A3 – tie
4 Mazda MAZDA3 and VW Jetta – tie
5 Toyota Yaris
6 Saab 9-3 and Dodge Caliber -tie
7 Volvo C30
8 smart fortwo
9 Toyota Matrix and MINI Cooper – tie
10 Maserati GranTurismo

The Top 10 Most Researched list is based on website statistics gathered from July 1, 2008 – September 30, 2008 from Gaywheels.com’s New Car section. Gaywheels.com publishes its Most-Researched list quarterly.

They’ve had contenders as far back as the late ’80s with the 626 and more recently with the last generation Mazda6. But it is the first time that Mazda designed and built a midsized sedan specifically for the U.S. consumer.

The last generation of the Mazda6 was a global car and had to meet the needs of consumers from various countries. As a result, it was smaller than its competitors and when you are thinking baby seats, baggage and American teenagers, bigger is better.

In addition to the size deficit, Mazda product planners identified two additional areas that needed improvement over the last generation 6: power and quality. So they set out to make a high-quality vehicle with efficient power in a roomier package.

 Luckily, they paid attention to aesthetics as well, because what emerged is a vehicle that met all their technical requirements and comes wrapped in gorgeous sheet metal that is unmistakably a Mazda.

Bigger

The new Mazda6 is bigger than the car it replaces. It has a 4.5-inch-longer wheelbase and a wider front and rear track. It is 6.1 inches longer and 2.3 inches wider than the last car and its trunk volume increased by almost 10 percent.

The growth is evident when you enter the roomy cabin. Where the last car felt snug and sporty, the new Mazda6 has a more open feel with details and controls that still hint of its sporty nature.

You can feel a real difference in the rear seat and the Mazda6 is now on par with the best in its class.
Badder

What’s more room without some zoom? When they say that the Mazda6 got a complete makeover, that includes the engines as well. The new Mazda6 base “i” trim gets a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that has 170 horsepower while the new Mazda6 “s” trim gets the 3.7-liter V-6 from the CX-9 that produces 272 horsepower.

The base 4-cylinder is quite impressive and for those of you with sporty intentions, choose the standard 6-speed manual transmission. I drove it in the hills just north of Los Angeles and it is a fantastic package. If you want the efficiency of the 4-cylinder but don’t like to shift your stick, there is an optional 5-speed automatic available. Both get competitive fuel mileage with the manual rated at 20/29 city/hwy and the automatic at 21/30 city/hwy.

Yes, you read that correctly, the automatic actually gets better MPG in this case.
For those of you that have to have the power, the V6 in the “s” trim is sublime. At 272 horsepower, it outguns the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. On the road it pulls smoothly and with the manual shift mode in the automatic, is a blast on the curves and highway alike. It’s fuel economy is not at the head of the pack but it still achieves a respectable 17/25 city/hwy.

No matter what engine and transmission combination you get, the DNA of Mazda is evident. As Mazda says, Zoom-Zoom is bred, not born. They’ve done an awesome job creating a mid-size sedan with athletic handling, responsive steering, confident braking, and a well-controlled ride that is smooth when you want it and sporty when you need it. If you move up from a Mazda3 or a MX-5, you won’t be disappointed. If you migrate from an Accord or Camry you’ll rediscover the joys of driving.

Beautiful

The saying goes that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but one might argue that there is such a thing as universal beauty as well. I’d use the second argument to describe the 2009 Mazda6. The designers have done an amazing job at making a gorgeous car that is clearly related to the rest of the Mazda lineup. There are very few lines to find fault with.

While there are many beautiful cars for sale, most have the luxury price tag attached to them. What is so unique about the Mazda6 is that they’ve made a vehicle in a very mainstream segment look so good. This is no shallow West Hollywood poser either. The beauty continues on in the interior with high quality materials, thoughtful design and intuitive controls.

Better?

The 2009 Mazda6 is bigger, badder and more beautiful than the car it replaces, that much is clear. But how does it compete on price and features? Starting at $18,550 for the 4-cylinder Mazda 6i with a manual transmission and easily topping $32,000 for a fully loaded V6 Mazda6s Grand Touring, there is a 6 to meet just about everyone’s price point. Those prices are inline with its competitors as well.

While all but a few offer the litany of features like keyless entry, Bluetooth, satellite radio, remote start and Bose stereo, few can match the combination of style and driving pleasure. I’d say that the Mazda6 is the new “10″ for mid-size sedans.

Read more about Mazdas and other vehicles at Gaywheels.com.

Boring, in whole. Kinda reminds me of the old Toyota Corolla.

I don’t think anybody ever confused the Corolla with stimulating. It’s as stable and conservative as your grandmother’s banker and as affordable as a White Castle hamburger.

That’s been enough to make the Corolla the best-selling nameplate of all time, but that’s not enough. To slay Honda Civics, Saturn Astras, and Nissan Sentras, Toyota had to go in for a makeover. When Toyota designers saw the sexy sleek Civic a couple of years ago, they nearly hurled their last supper. They should be feeling better by now.

Much of the Corolla’s tall, three-box design will cause no trauma among the faithful, but a snarly aero face, steeply raked windshield, smooth bodysides, and squinted taillamps are a bit like gluing falsies on a 53-year old man – they look fabulous, but glitz up a simple soul. Large alloy wheels and ground affects up the amps in the sporty column while body color door handles, and crisp creases dress for a night out. Toyota claims the car’s styling was in collaboration with its studios in Turin, Italy.

Corolla’s base 132-horsepower 16-valve 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, connected to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, sings like Olivia Newton’s umpteenth comeback attempt on the stage at Bubba’s bar in the show.

For more stage presence, step up to the available 2.4-litre four-cylinder that summons 158-horsepower to bark rubber. I’ll tell you right here and now that I’m not a fan of the twitchy electric power steering, but it contributes to excellent fuel economy ratings of 22/30-MPG city/hwy.

No big surprise, most Corolla drivers are practical people.

They’ll wet themselves over an extra storage bin above the glove box, door storage that can hold 20 oz. bottles, and large center console. They can even store their glasses in a compartment over the rearview mirror.

Whether driving cross-country or just to Fresh Market for sushi and Morbier, four passengers ride high and comfy under the sedan’s tall roof, enjoying XM Satellite Radio, protected by side curtain airbags, and getting a commanding view of the road and sidewalk hotties.

Don’t worry if nobody respects your version of excitement; you can make fun of their gas-popping luxury barges all the way to the club and back. Toyota took a boring, but infinitely practical compact sedan, gave it a facelift, added athleticism, and delivered a car as reliable as the laughs on Sordid Lives.

It’s never too late to have some fun – just ask Rue McClanahan about her character, Peggy Ingram. From a proper Baptist grandma to bar hussy and adulteress, she blazes a marvelous trail for the staid and boring. Just like the all-new 2009 Toyota Corolla.

Get more detailed information on the 2009 Toyota Corolla in Gaywheels’ New Car Section.

Toyota is a gay-friendly company.