On the pre-grid, they lined up about two dozen of the best and fastest cars sold in America. We could drive two laps in each car, from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 3. For every minute of all 5 hours, I was either on the track driving as fast as I could (leaving room for error), or rushing from car to car like I was late for the bus. The strategy for maximum track time: jump in any car that’s available. Never wait, not even for the Viper or new Audi R8 supercar.
Here’s my Top 20. My preferences are objective and subjective, recognizing performance and engineering while factoring in my own thrill level.
1. Mustang Shelby GT (drove it 4 times)
I’m in love, without a doubt. It’s hard to believe that the Shelby GT is made from bolt-on parts, meaning you can take your own Mustang GT and give it the Shelby’s 325 rumbling horses, its brakes and suspension, and its fantastic Hurst short-throw shifter. It’s that easy to feel the perfect evolution of a ‘60s Muscle car. Even easier, go rent a Hertz Mustang GT-H.
2. Nissan 350Z Nismo (3 times)
The new 3.5-liter engine revs to a sensational 7500 rpm, while making 306 horsepower. Nismo (Nissan’s performance division) adds the suspension, brakes and aerodynamics, and yes indeed it’s track-ready, as they say. It’s totally confidence-inspiring. On the final two laps I ran the 350Z on the tail of the Shelby GT, driven by Gary Witzenburg, a racer like me. It was the best four minutes of the day, racing into the low desert sun.
3. Honda Civic Si (2 times)
An impressive achievement, for a car this small to finish on the podium. But the Civic Si does everything right. Hitting 8000 rpm gets you every time, with this screaming 2.0-liter engine making 197 horsepower. Precise turn-in, without oversteer. The cloth bucket seats are great. The throw of the six-speed gearbox is too long, but I bet there’s an aftermarket fix. For $22,000 delivered, it’s the best bang for the buck I know of. It blew past the Mini Cooper S, and cornered circles around the Dodge Caliber SRT4.
4. BMW Z4M Roadster (2 times)
The Z4M felt amazingly like the 350Z Nismo, although the Beemer is an inline six (3.2 liters, 330 horsepower) and the Nissan is a V-6—both engines have won many awards. Revving to 7900 rpm, the Z4 took the same turns in the same gears at about the same rpm as the 350Z. The Z4 suspension was less rigid and more roadworthy, but that didn’t seem to hurt its handling on the track.
5. BMW M5 (3 times)
You know it’s a good day when a BMW M5 around Willow Springs is only your fifth favorite. I pushed this 500-horsepower V10 harder and harder, to the point where it twitched and wobbled a bit. The 7-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox with paddle shifters is smoother and quicker than before. I hit about 140 mph on the front straight, same as in the Mercedes E63AMG.
6. Volkswagen R32
The reborn R32 is magic. It’s got all-wheel-drive, a 250-hp V6, and DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox), which is a clutchless manual transmission like the M5 has. The suspension is a bit soft for track days, but the R32 remains a wonderful unique machine.
7. Lexus IS-F
Lexus enters the super-high-performance field and takes on the BMW M3 with this new model. It uses a 5.0-liter V8 making 413 horsepower, and an 8-speed manual automatic transmission that blissfully obeys the driver. Its bulging hood and aero nose shout hot rod. The IS-F handles. It’s something for BMW to worry about.
8. Infiniti G37 Coupe (2 times)
I knew it was great when I drove it at the launch in Seattle, and it’s gotten even better with more seat time. Its manners on the track with a six-speed gearbox are flawless (and the manual automatic is terrific too). For my second two-lap stint in the car, I turned off the electronic stability control, to see how well-balanced it really was. It loved it.
9. Audi S5
Last year my favorite car was the Audi RS4, using a 420-horsepower version of Audi’s 4.2-liter V8. The S5 uses that engine, detuned to 354 horsepower. It’s compromised from the RS, for the sake of comfort and civility. Intended to be driven in the real world. Still works well on the track. The quattro all-wheel-drive system is worth a lot.
10. Mercedes-Benz E63AMG
It’s supposed to be an M5-beater, with its 6.2-liter V8 making 507 horsepower to edge the M5 in 0-60 acceleration. But it can’t perform elsewhere with the M5. It’s a crime that the 7-speed manual automatic transmission won’t stay manual, it shifts itself. And why is the tachometer so tiny? It’ll take time to get used to the automatic bolsters that goose you in the corners. It’s a car for power junkies, not technical drivers. But it hit 140 at Willow, so I’ll take it.
Second Ten:
11. BMW Alpina B7 (supercharged)
12. Mustang GT 500 (supercharged)
13. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 (Hemi-charged)
14. Jaguar XKR Coupe (supercharged)
15. Lexus IS 350
16. Jaguar XJR (supercharged)
17. Mini Cooper S (turbocharged)
18. Nissan Sentra SER
19. Dodge Caliber SRT4 (turbocharged)
20. Cadillac CTS
Two new Audis would have been in the top 5, if I had gotten them on the track: the R8, a mid-engine-under-Lexan supercar; and the S6, with a sensational V10. I had driven about 20 laps in the R8 at Infineon Raceway, in October, and it was both dazzling and disappointing—the balance was beautiful, but the exhaust note was less than it should have been, and the gated shifter clanked.
As for the S6, I got about 40 miles on desert back roads. Best bucket seats in the universe, and the feel of its V10 is in a league of its own. It only makes 435 horsepower compared to the 500 horsepower from the BMW M5’s V10, but the Audi feels both more visceral and higher tech.
Since XLR8 won’t be around for the Samo Awards in January, I’ll squeeze this in: The Audi S6 with its V10 engine gets my Samo Award for spectacularness, and the Infiniti G37 Coupe gets the Samo Award for Car of the Year.
The end |
