Democrats, republicans. Red states, blue states. Creationists, evolutionists. Red Sox, Yankees. We are truly a divided country.

Two weeks ago we posted a blog asking if you thought Prius drivers are "eco-snobs" and got a lot of heated comments.

Now we've upped the stakes. In Green Car Observer we have a polarizing article about a Prius being torched and a web site that posts pictures of people giving the finger to Hummers. Even "The Mechanic" (an alias or pen name, depending how you look at it) posted a piece called "I Hate Hybrids." The title pretty much says it all -- he hates hybrids.

Why can't we just let other people drive what they want without getting all cheesed off about it? What is it about what other people drive that demands hateful comments, name calling, obscene gesturing, vandalism and acts of extreme violence?

We do a lot of blabbering in this trade about "powering through corners," "hanging the tail out," "heel-and-toe downshifting," et cetera. But the reality is, most roads in this country just aren't set up for such shenanigans. That's why certain roads have earned special places in the hearts of American driving enthusiasts -- though probably not by design, they've turned out to be virtual racetracks for the real world, with tight corners galore and impressive scenery to boot. That's what this week's Top 3 is all about: the best driving roads, from sea to shining sea.

1. Big Sur Coast Highway, California

No, we're not biased because we live here. The 1 North from Cambria to Monterey, a.k.a. the Big Sur Coast Highway, has got to be one of the best driving roads in the world, both in terms of scenery and degree of difficulty. This ridiculous ribbon of tarmac snakes along the rim of the Pacific Ocean for miles and miles, 63 of which are particularly glorious (see picture above). If you get tired of navigating switchbacks and decreasing-radius bends, simply pull into one of the countless roadside turnouts and snap some pictures, or take a stroll on a secluded beach. I've been through this stretch in both a sport-packaged 2008 328i and our long-term 2002 M3, and I can tell you it's the most fun I've had on any road, ever. If you enjoy driving, you owe it to yourself to rent a car (preferably a relatively capable one) and head for the Big Sur coastline.

2. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

This one's more of a personal pick, since I'm one of the few on staff to have had the privilege of tackling the great Kancamagus. But I'm sure my colleagues would agree if they took a spirited drive along this winding White Mountain byway. Traffic can be more of an issue here than on the Big Sur route, particularly when the leaves are turning -- but you can always employ the time-honored tactic of going 10-15 mph until the cars ahead are well out of sight, then racing through the turns until you've caught up again (not that we would even think of endorsing such antisocial behavior). I've been on the Kancamagus in two old Hondas -- a '93 Prelude Si and a '95 Integra GSR -- and I still vividly remember the thrills from those trips. Next time you're driving around the Northeast, work this road into your itinerary. You won't regret it.        

3. Fill In The Blank

Alright, it's your turn. We've all got our favorites, but we want to hear from you. What road(s) have you driven on that you think would stack up well against the best in the country? Who knows -- if you're sufficiently persuasive, we might even show up in a long-term car sometime to check it out.

Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com

I briefly drove the redesigned-for-'90 Honda Fit last night, a Sport version with the five-speed manual.  First I subjected it to my six-mile, 0-to-20-to-0 (repeat countless times) commute and then got to stretch its legs when I went over my girlfriend's house (about 10 miles away) later on. So though I didn't get into any twisty roads, I was still able to form some impressions. It's the old good news / bad news.  But it's mostly very good news and only a little semi-bad news...