2013 Motor Trend's Best Driver's Car
The Dirty Dozen: 12 of the greatest sports cars you can buy in America fight for the crown


Read more: 2013 Motor Trend's Best Driver's Car - Motor Trend

 

I think this is a very good showing for Jaguar, though I wonder if they had used a V6 S how the results would have been.

 

I agree - it's a good showing for the F-Type and a terrible showing for the car I'm coming from, the Viper.

 

Given the cars that beat it were all substantially more expensive I think our little cat did fine. I agree the 6S would likely have done better but beating an R8, woof, particularly with the new tranny I have to admit that is one wonderful car to drive. The top 3 were all wheel drive too and getting the power down on a 2 wheel driver is always an issue. But hell we beat Godzilla, beating a GT-R is incredible (if you've never driven one you should, it's is a ton of fun). This really showcases our car is in the supercar class. One thing is clear, if they make a V-8 RS it better damn well be 4 wheel drive otherwise it'll just sit and cook tires. I'm not going to bother with performance mods...

I do wish the Corvette had made it in time, that's a comparison I'd like to see. On paper that is one hell of a car too.

 

The F Type was the only soft top in the entire lineup. I'm surprised that it did as well as it did. Convertibles are less rigid and heavier than their counterpart coupe. If it was the coupe I think it would have placed top two. Jag did a great job.

I'm also very surprised at the track time of the M6. I don't believe that it was slightly faster than the F Type, especially at a technical track like Laguna Seca! I think they made a mistake or BMW slipped in a ringer because the XKRS was significantly faster than both the M5 & M6 at the VIR, (see 2013 lightning laps) and the XKRS had a 2s slower lap time than the F Type at Laguna. The M6's track time at Laguna was a full 2s faster than the XKRS and about the same as the F Type. The XKRS is 5s faster than the M5 at the Nurbergring. More power to the M division if they really pulled it off but based on other track times and multiple reviews - talking about how much lighter and more nimble and responsive the XKRS is over the M6 - and the F type is even lighter and better handling than the XKRS so something is not right.

 

I have to say, I was a little surprised by how awful the Viper was. Quality issues aside, it just sounded like it was complete beast to drive. I imagine it won't stack up well (or at all) against the C7.

 

I suspect the new Z06 and ZR1 will prove to be incredibly tough competition for the Viper to deal with.