Sports Cars Reviews

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Sports Cars Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Sports Cars Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	2008 10 Best Cars Csaba Csere and Tony Swan Jan. 2008		This article reports on Car and Driver's annual list of top ten cars, based on hands-on testing. The editors test all new or significantly upgraded cars introduced for the current model year, as well as re-test previous winners to ensure they remain worthy. This year's list features a number of sports cars, including the Chevrolet Corvette, Mazda MX-5 Miata, VW GTI and both the Boxster and Cayman from Porsche.
2. Motor Week >> Details/Subscribe	Drivers' Choice Awards: Winners for 2008 Editors of Motor Week Feb. 2008		Motor Week annually chooses what they believe to be the best of the best in a number of categories based on the previous year's tests. While the write-ups on the cars here are brief, longer reports can be found elsewhere on the site. The Volkswagen R32 takes the Best Performance Car prize for its "lightning quick reflexes that allows it to leave many big-horsepower performance cars in its dust." The new Audi R8 supercar, priced at more than

Sports Cars Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Sports Cars Ratings Comments on Reviews

3. Consumer Guide.com	Best Buy and Recommended Awards Editors of ConsumerGuide.com Not Dated		While we are sometimes critical of Consumer Guide's reporting in other product categories, it does a terrific job evaluating automobiles. Each car is evaluated by at least four test drivers. Although the cars are put through their paces on a test track, greater weight is given to how a car performs in more typical situations -- shopping, commuting, on long trips and in stop-and-go driving. Cars are given numerical ratings in ten important areas ranging from Acceleration to Value within Class, and those ratings are put into context by comparing them to the average score of competing cars. A repeat winner, the 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata, scores a Best Buy rating for delivering as much driving fun as other two-seaters costing considerably more. The BMW Z4 and the Chevrolet Corvette are recommended among pricier sports cars.
4. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Sporty Cars Editors of Consumer Reports As of June 2008		Consumer Reports' editors test most new cars as they come to market. The reports, while reasonably complete, are not as detailed as those from some reviewers we rate more highly. On the other hand, Consumer Reports' information on reliability and resale value isn't often matched elsewhere, and those factors, along with safety, play a large role in the magazine's recommendations.
5. Automobile Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	2008 Automobile All-Stars Editors of Automobile Magazine Not Dated		Based on testing by the editors, Automobile Magazine names a Car of the Year along with "All Star" picks that just miss the top honor. This year's top automobile and 2008 Design of the Year is the new Audi R8 mid-engine supercar. Joe Lorio notes that the R8 has "proved itself to be a great real-world sports car," while at the same time, "it's also an otherworldly exotic, with every bit as much presence as a Ferrari." More traditional sports cars earning "All Star" labels include the Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche Boxster/Cayman, Volkswagen GTI and Lotus Elise.

Sports Cars Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Sports Cars Ratings Comments on Reviews

6. CNet.com	Car Tech Editors of CNet.com As of June 2008		CNet.com might be best known for its reviews of consumer and computer technology products, but it also features a surprisingly strong section of auto reviews. The reviews emphasize technology -- perhaps too much so; it's an interesting approach that covers a unique niche, but it works for expensive cars better than for budget wheels. Among current year cars, the Audi TT, BMW M3 Coupe and BMW 1-Series earn Editors' Choice awards, signifying that each model has not only scored highly on the site's rating scale, but holds an extra appeal for the editors. The 2007 Jaguar XK coupe, which has not significantly changed for 2008, also earns an Editors' Choice award.
7. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	Comparison: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 vs. 2008 Ford &Shelby GT500 Arthur St. Antoine Not dated		Motor Trend takes two of the most powerful retro muscle cars and runs them head-to-head, including a series of performance tests. The result is among the "closest comparo calls we've made of late," Motor Trend says, but they give the nod to the 2008 Dodge Challenger. Editors like the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500's power and fun factor, but an "archaic chassis and whiney motor weaken its bid for numero uno."
8. Road & Track >> Details/Subscribe	Evil Twins: Porsche 911 Carrera S vs. GT3 RS Patrick Hong Apr. 2008		This article compares several stock performance cars against tuned variations of the same car, including track testing. Among the pairs of cars is the Porsche 911 Carrera S against the factory's racetrack-ready version called the GT3 RS. As you might expect, the race-prepared GT3 is stronger on the track, while the Carrera S wins for driving on public roads.
9. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	'08 Dodge Viper SRT10 vs. '07 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Michael Austin Oct. 2007		With a title of "The Rematch," Car and Driver once again pits the Dodge Viper against arch rival Corvette. The Viper SRT10 is a 2008 model, with 90 additional horsepower for a total of 600. The Corvette Z06 is a 2007 model, rated at 505 horsepower (the Z06 continues basically unchanged for 2008). While the V-10 Viper is faster, the V-8 ‘Vette wins the test, with extra points for its relative refinement and comfort." The writer claims that the Viper's "claustrophobic cabin and noisemaker mechanicals are too much of a handicap to overcome."
10. Edmunds.com	Comparison Test: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 vs. 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt Chris Walton Apr. 30, 2008		One of the first comparison tests featuring the new Dodge Challenger SRT8 pits it against the Ford Mustang Bullitt special edition. Not surprisingly, the newer, more modern Challenger uses its higher horsepower, better handling and general higher level of refinement to come in first place over the Mustang.
11. ForbesAutos.com >> Details/Subscribe	Hottest Sports Cars of 2008 Jim Gorzelany Not Dated		Several lists can be found here under the heading of "Hottest Sports Cars," including a list of "Sports Cars We Recommend." Best cars overall are selected in the high-end (Ferrari F430 and Porsche 911), mid-range (Porsche Cayman) and economy (Mazda MX-5 Miata) categories. The Chevrolet Corvette receives a nod as the best value. Numerous other cars are recommended for niches, but many of the reviews are of previous model year cars.
12. KBB.com	Recommended Shopping Lists: Convertibles Editors of Kelley Blue Book Not Dated		Though Kelley Blue Book is better known as a source for car values, their website also includes a fairly comprehensive review section and makes specific recommendations in a number of categories. Although there is no category for sports cars, most of the recommended convertibles qualify. Those cars include the Mazda MX-5 Miata, which KBB says is considered by some to be "the finest affordable roadster of all time," as well as the Pontiac Solstice/ Saturn SKY, Audi TT Roadster, Nissan 350Z and Porsche Boxster. The Volkswagen GTI three-door coupe earns a nod in the hatchbacks category.
13. Edmunds InsideLine.com	2008 Edmunds' Inside Line Editors' Most Wanted Awards Editors of Edmunds.com's Inside Line Jan. 2008		Inside Line is Edmunds.com's online automotive enthusiast magazine, and this year the 13 editors chose their first annual "Most Wanted" cars and trucks from 268 vehicles tested during the previous year. More subjective and less comprehensive, the Inside Line awards are compiled and announced separately from Edmunds.com's 32 categories of Most Wanted Vehicles (see below). Of the six vehicles chosen during an editorial meeting where Inside Line editors vote based solely on their own opinions, the Audi R8 and Porsche 911 GT3 were winners.
14. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	Four of a Kind – Comparison Test Michael Austin June 2007		Car and Driver pits four mid-range (approximately $35,000) coupes -- the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, 2007 Mazda RX-8, 2007 Nissan 350Z and the 2008 Audi TT 2.0T -- against each other. Road tests in and around Las Vegas were done to see how each car performed when stressed to its absolute limits and when driving in the real world. The Mazda RX-8, with its excellent handling, is judged the most pleasing overall, but it does fall short in terms of raw power and, in the words of Car and Driver, it "guzzles gas like a private jet."
15. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	Everyday Supercars: Comparison Test Tony Swan Jul. 2007		Three high-dollar sports cars are compared head-to-head in this test: the 2007 Aston Martin V-8 Vantage, 2008 Audi R8 and 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo. Confirming that there is a major new player in the exclusive supercar club, the 2008 Audi R8 takes first place, beating the more expensive 480-hp Porsche in overall points, although not in 0-60 mph acceleration. Writer Tony Swan concludes the R8 provides "sports-car perfection from an unexpected source."
16. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	Head to Head: Audi R8 vs. Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Angus MacKenzie Not dated		Motor Trend's editor-in-chief writes this review to settle the question: who makes the better sports car, Porsche or Audi? The test Porsche is a 2006 911 Carrera 4, priced lower when new than the 2008 Audi R8, and producing less horsepower. Acknowledging the differences, MacKenzie points out each car's pros and cons, but concludes that the Audi R8 is "smoother, quieter and more refined than the Porsche." The R8 takes first place, and the 911 is "no longer the obvious choice."
17. Popular Mechanics >> Details/Subscribe	Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper, Porsche Turbo: Supercar Comparison Test Ben Stewart July 2007		Popular Mechanics has a standard procedure for track testing its test cars, and took four of the fastest to Auto Club Raceway in &Pomona, CA. After putting each through a battery of tests, the 2008 Audi R8 came out as the winner.
18. Edmunds.com	Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2007 Editors of Edmunds.com Oct. 2007		Each year, Edmunds.com editors scour the lists of available cars to pick the ones they'd most like to see in their own garages. While the selection criteria are clearly spelled out, the site admits that sometimes their love of a particular car "overruled common sense during our selection process." Among sports cars, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Ford Mustang and Lotus Elise, as well as Porsche's Cayman, 911 (coupe and convertible) and Boxster are picks.
19. Edmunds.com	Comparison Test: 2008 Audi R8 vs. 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo Kevin Smith Mar. 11, 2007		Edmunds's editorial director, Kevin Smith, takes the 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo and the 2008 Audi R8 to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and compares and contrasts the two. Although the two are mechanically quite different, they have a similar price. After extensive track testing, the Porsche narrowly wins, with more horsepower, faster acceleration and stronger braking. However, Smith points out that the R8 also performs superbly.
20. Edmunds.com	Comparison Test: 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe vs. 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Josh Jacquot Oct. 7, 2007		In a classic head-to-head fight, Edmunds.com takes the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 and the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 to the track. Both cars are excellent performers, but the Viper's additional horsepower helps it win the contest. Although the Corvette Z06 is the more civilized car, editor Josh Jacquot respects the Viper for the brute it is. He says, "It wins the test because it deserves to -- because it's badass and it's not afraid to admit it."
21. U.S. News & World Report >> Details/Subscribe	U.S. News Ranking: Sports Cars Editors of USNews.com As of June 2008		U.S. News' car-review section borrows heavily from the methodology pioneered by ConsumerSearch -- that is, the U.S. News ratings are based on the testing of third parties. Editors boil down their research in an easy-to-read one-page report that culminates in a numerical rating for each vehicle. Sports cars are ranked in price-dependent categories. Winners include the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Porsche Boxster and a tie between Mercedes SL and Porsche 911. However, it's hard to determine why some models score higher than others.
22. Robb Report >> Details/Subscribe	Robb Report Car of the Year 2008: Jury of Your Peers Marco R. della Cava Feb. 2008		Robb Report caters to luxury goods and services, including cars. Each year, editors at Robb Report gather to test drive ultra-expensive sports cars and luxury sedans. During the week-long event at a resort, they invite a few automotive experts and even some readers to join them and rate each vehicle according to 15 mostly subjective criteria. For 2008, the panel narrowly chose the Audi R8 as best among the 14 cars tested.
23. Road and Travel.com >> Details/Subscribe	2008 International Car of the Year Awards Martha Hindes Not Dated		For the 12th straight year, Road & Travel Magazine has honored what it and a panel of distinguished judges feel are the best cars of the year in a variety of categories. The awards pay tribute to cars that combine design, appearance and performance into one compelling package. Judges are respected automotive journalists drawn from a wide cross-section of print, broadcast and on-line media. The Audi R8 earns the Sports Car of the Year award based on its "sex appeal" and performance.
24. Popular Mechanics	Automotive Excellence Awards 2008 Editors of Popular Mechanics Dec. 2007		Each year, the editors of Popular Mechanics choose the "most significant, compelling cars and technologies of the year" in 13 categories. The performance award goes to the BMW M3. Reviews include many technical details, and do a good job of balancing positive and critical comments.
25. MyRide.com	MyRide's 2008 Editors' Choice Awards Editors of MyRide.com Not Dated		MyRide.com is Autobytel's auto enthusiast website, full of news and reviews, and a mirror site with Autosite.com. Editors have compiled a list of 24 new vehicles that they feel stand out from the automotive masses. Every winner has been driven by at least one of their editors, and voted for as being "the vehicle they'd most often recommend" in each award category. The Audi TT Roadster wins "Best New Convertible Under $75,000." Clicking on a model retrieves a list of trim levels, prices and search results for additional reviews on the web.
26. Business Week >> Details/Subscribe	Our Favorite Cars of 2007 Thane Peterson Dec. 2007		Of the hundreds of new vehicles driven in 2007 by Business Week's auto reviewer Thane Peterson, this is the list of his ten favorite vehicles. The "Best Sporty Roadster" is the 2008 Audi TT, the only sports car in the list of ten cars. A well-rounded detailed review is linked to each vehicle on the favorite cars list. While we appreciate Peterson's objectivity and expertise, the top cars are only one person's opinion.
27. TheCarConnection.Com	2-Door Car Reviews Editors of The Car Connection As of June 2008		Reviews at The Car Connection are fairly varied. The very best are detailed, first-person narratives of the author's experience with a vehicle. Others are based on reviews read elsewhere. While that's somewhat like the methodology used by ConsumerSearch, details on the sources of information are lacking. There is no sports car category, but many can be found in the site's listing of two-door coupes.

Sports Cars Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Sports Cars Ratings Comments on Reviews

28. Kiplinger.com	The Best Cars for 2008 Mark Solheim and Jessica Anderson Mar. 2008		In this article, Mark Solheim, senior editor, and Jessica Anderson, staff writer, name the magazine's top picks in a number of areas, including sports cars. Unfortunately, discussion about the individual cars themselves is disappointingly sparse, the criteria for selection are not well explained and we see no indication that any of these cars have been driven or tested in any way. The "best in class" sports car is the Porsche Boxster convertible, while the Audi TT wins "best new sports car," as well as the most fuel-efficient. The Chevrolet Corvette is the top choice for safety and is lauded for having the best resale value.
29. IntelliChoice.com	Best Overall Values of the Year -- 2008 Editors of IntelliChoice Not Dated		Every year, IntelliChoice looks at "nearly 2,000" vehicles to find those that represent the best value in their class. These vehicles are chosen on the basis of "data-driven automotive analysis" that points out which vehicles will cost significantly less to own than expected at the time of purchase, but no one has driven or otherwise tested the cars for themselves. In the sports car category, the winner is the Chevrolet Corvette. Best "base sport" car is the Volkswagen R32.
30. Cars.com	Best Bets: New Sports Cars Editors of Cars.com Not Dated		In this article, Cars.com reviewers name what they feel are the best new or updated 2008 models in a number of categories, including sports cars. Selections are based on factors ranging from ride quality to available safety features, but the list is lengthy -- 32 in all are named -- and no ratings or other help is offered to help readers determine which of these is best overall. One positive is that links lead to more extensive write-ups by Cars.com editors as well as other professional reviewers. The "Best Deal for Sun Lovers" is the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
31. Playboy >> Details/Subscribe	Playboy's 2008 Cars of the Year Editors of Playboy magazine Jan. 2008		Playboy's automotive editor, Scott Alexander, and the magazine's three regular automotive contributors, confer to choose the magazine's cars of the year from among the 300 cars they had collectively driven in the past year, with an emphasis on vehicles that "encourage spirited motoring, embody the latest technological nuances and feature uncompromised beauty." Playboy's 2008 Car of the Year is the Audi R8. The website provides no more than a list and photos of each winner.
32. AskMen.com	Cars Editors of AskMen.com Not Dated		Though many of the reviews here are sourced from Car and Driver, AskMen.com also includes some original content that makes a visit somewhat worthwhile. Perhaps the most useful are car vs. car comparison tests that rank two competing cars on a 0-100 scale and pick a winner. For example, the Mercedes SLK280 edges out the Porsche Boxster, and the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S beats the Audi R8. Little is offered in the way of objective information for the prospective car shopper. This site also offers a variety of Top Ten lists that provide helpful information for the consumer.