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#1
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![]() Talkin' the talk since 2003 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Admin Posts: 28,271 Joined: 27-August 03 From: Seattle, WA Member No.: 27 Car: 2004 VW GTI 1.8T ![]() |
This poll is for the top 7 sports cars that won their categories. This thread will close in one week.
For more on the DieselStation Car of the Year '08 competition, please see this thread. Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster Base MSRP: $123,800 Available Engines: 4.3 liter DOHC 32-valve V8 with 379 HP and 302 ft.-lbs. of torque. Available Transmissions: 6-speed manual or 6-speed sequential manual transmission Available Drivetrains: Rear wheel drive EPA Fuel Economy: 15 City/21 Highway (Sportshift), 14/20 (6MT) Curb Weight: 3595 lbs. ![]() ![]() ![]() Audi R8 Base MSRP: $109,000 Available Engines: 4.2 liter direct injection DOHC 32-valve V8 with 420 HP and 317 ft.-lbs. of torque. Available Transmissions: 6-speed manual or 6-speed sequential manual transmission Available Drivetrains: All-wheel drive EPA Fuel Economy: 13 City/20 Highway (6MT), 13/19 (R-Tronic) Curb Weight: 3605-3615 lbs. ![]() ![]() ![]() Audi TT Coupe/Roadster Base MSRP: $34,800 (Coupe), $36,800 (Roadster) Available Engines: 2.0 liter turbocharged direct injection DOHC 16-valve inline-4 with 200 HP and 207 ft.-lbs. of torque, 3.2 liter direct injection DOHC 24-valve VR6 with 250 HP and 236 ft.-lbs. of torque. Available Transmissions: 6-speed manual (N/A on 2.0T) or 6-speed dual-clutch sequential manual transmission Available Drivetrains: Front wheel drive (2.0T only) or All-wheel drive (3.2 only) EPA Fuel Economy: 23 City/31 Highway (2.0T Coupe), 22/29 (2.0T Roadster), 18/24 (3.2 DSG), 17/24 (3.2 6MT) Curb Weight: 2965-3450 lbs. ![]() ![]() ![]() BMW M3 Coupe/Sedan Base MSRP: $54,575 (Sedan), $57,275 (Coupe) Available Engines: 4.0 liter DOHC 32-valve V8 with 414 HP and 295 ft.-lbs. of torque. Available Transmissions: 6-speed manual or 6-speed dual-clutch sequential manual transmission (late availability) Available Drivetrains: Rear wheel drive EPA Fuel Economy: N/A Curb Weight: 3704-3726 lbs. ![]() ![]() ![]() Porsche 911 GT2 Base MSRP: $191,700 Available Engines: 3.6 liter twin-turbocharged DOHC 24-valve horizontally-opposed flat-6 with 530 HP and 505 ft.-lbs. of torque. Available Transmissions: 6-speed manual transmission Available Drivetrains: Rear wheel drive EPA Fuel Economy: 16 City/23 Highway Curb Weight: 3175 lbs. ![]() ![]() ![]() Subaru Impreza WRX STI Base MSRP: $34,995 Available Engines: 2.5 liter turbocharged DOHC 16-valve horizontally-opposed flat-4 with 305 HP and 290 ft.-lbs. of torque. Available Transmissions: 6-speed manual Available Drivetrains: All wheel drive EPA Fuel Economy: 17 City/23 Highway Curb Weight: 3395 lbs. ![]() ![]() ![]() Volkswagen R32 Base MSRP: $32,990 Available Engines: 3.2 liter DOHC 24-valve VR6 with 250 HP and 236 ft.-lbs. of torque. Available Transmissions: 6-speed dual-clutch sequential manual gearbox Available Drivetrains: All wheel drive EPA Fuel Economy: 18 City/23 Highway Curb Weight: 3547 lbs. ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#2
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![]() Posting God ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Moderators Posts: 11,366 Joined: 30-January 05 From: Dubai Member No.: 1,451 ![]() |
R8 hands down. Stylish, contemporary styling, inside and out, and the dynamic ability to unseat the 911 as the everyday performance car king. It also has the typically God-like build-quality that Audis all have. Truly awesome stuff. It's a car that will be talked about for years to come.
The new M3 is an absolutely brilliant car, but it has become a bit too soft, and lost some character along the way. Like one magazine put it, the regular M3 is what a 3-series with a sports package should be like, and when the CSL comes, that's what the M3 should probably have been all along. It's interesting to see that just a few years back, Audi was making technically excellent cars that were just a bit soulless, whereas BMW was making cars that were just awesome to drive. I think the tides have turned, and I have no doubt that when the RS4/5 comes, the M3's days will be numbered. The GT2 is simply awesome, everything that the previous GT2 was not. But, I can't help but think I'd spend several thousands less and have the GT3, which is now widely considered to be the finest 911 ever built. The STi is officially sexier than it ever has been. I love the new, pumped-up hatcback bodystyle as opposed to the old "sedan with a picnic table" look. However, like the M3, I think it's grown up, and become a bit softer. The TT has made the transition from poser-mobile to a proper sports car, without losing any style along the way, but the R8 is just a far, far more significant car. Its introduction isn't unlike the original TT's, that caused a stir throughout the entire automotive industry. The Vantage Roadster is shockingly beautiful, but with significant revisions on the horizon, it's difficult to vote for. The R32 isn't a bad car, it just isn't the massive step-up from the GTi that the old one was. Many said the MKIII and MKIV GTis had lost their modjo. The Golf, the car that had created the hot hatch segment many years ago, was no longer a competent one. The MKIV R32 was the variant that brought the Golf back in the realm of hot hatches. With the MKV, the GTi is already so good, I can't think of a reason to pay extra for the R32...save maybe for that duck-on-steroids engine note. |
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#3
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![]() Race Driver ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,587 Joined: 2-October 07 From: Canada Member No.: 4,080 Car: 2009 Subaru Legacy ![]() |
It was a toss up between the GT-2 and the STi.
In the end I decided to go with the one I have a hope in hell of ever owning. That's not to say that the GT-2 isn't a superior car in almost every single way, but I think, as a pretty average driver I colud have just as much fun in the STi, and manage to avoid the crippling depreciation potential of the GT-2 (which may not occur since Porsche has claimed that they are building this car in limited numbers, although a lot less limited than the 993 version was). |
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#4
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![]() Talkin' the talk since 2003 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Admin Posts: 28,271 Joined: 27-August 03 From: Seattle, WA Member No.: 27 Car: 2004 VW GTI 1.8T ![]() |
I had to go for the GT2. The R8 is arguably the most significant one here, and an amazing car that I love, but the GT2 has always been such an unsung underdog to me...pulls at my heart strings so much more.
The M3 almost made me get over my anti-BMW leanings and vote for it due to its immensely impressive technical competence for its price point (it costs $10k less than I expected it to), but in the end I have to feel a little sad about the death of the S54 and its increase in weight over the E46, which was already a bit fat for my tastes. Gotta give the STI a nod as well for just looking so cool for being such an attainable car. Ditto for the TT, in a more refined way. The R32, I just dunno how it got this far, I really don't. The MkV disappoints me so. Aston Martin...eh it's pretty but compared to half the cars in this thread it's just dull. |
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#5
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![]() ^_^ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,233 Joined: 3-May 05 From: Canada Member No.: 1,656 ![]() |
Its a close call between the R8 and the GT2. But I chose the Audi for its practicality, yet its vicious...and looks superb inside out.
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#6
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![]() Pit Mechanic ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,304 Joined: 21-November 03 Member No.: 192 ![]() |
I have to agree with the GT2/STi toss up. I came down on the GT2's side since the STi isn't that revolutionary. I know the R8 is supposed to be this second coming but it's more of a "S-class" TT than the new messiah in sports cars to me.
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#7
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![]() Race Driver ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,587 Joined: 2-October 07 From: Canada Member No.: 4,080 Car: 2009 Subaru Legacy ![]() |
^I'm really torn by the R8.
I think it's technically brilliant, beautiful and definitely as good if not better than a 911. But a really great car to me is 70% what it is and 30% where it came from, and speaking in those terms the R8 came out of nowhere (I suppose an argument cold be made for the R8 being a product of Audi's LeMans effort, but that just kinda popped up too), so it's missing that little bit extra for me. |
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#8
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![]() / hell0 ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,661 Joined: 16-May 05 From: Sherman Member No.: 1,681 Car: College ![]() |
GT2. But I'd never know which I'd really pick without driving them. Comparing cars on paper isn't really my cup of tea.
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#9
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Banana ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 534 Joined: 14-November 07 From: Montreal Member No.: 4,139 Car: '12 STI (blue) ![]() |
I prefer the GT2's styling to the R8's. And it's twinturbocharged.
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#10
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![]() Race Driver ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 4,455 Joined: 9-August 06 Member No.: 2,585 ![]() |
A lot of good points made here, but that doesn't change the fact that the best, most awesome car here is the GT2.
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#11
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![]() Posting God ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Moderators Posts: 11,366 Joined: 30-January 05 From: Dubai Member No.: 1,451 ![]() |
^ Doubt it. The R8 has nearly double the votes of the GT2. The close race is in the non-sports category.
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 7th February 2025 - 12:43 PM |