The boys went to America to take another roadtrip to the Bonneville Salt Flats and to test out three American musclecars: The Corvette ZR1 (with Jeremy Clarkson driving), the Cadillac CTS-V (with James May) and the Challenger SRT8 (with Richard Hammond).
Corvette ZR1: Jeremy loved it, thinks it's the best American car ever made and that Ferrar could learn a thing or two from the car. He also thinks that it's a bit too "gauche" and doesn't have the prestige and ultimate build quality of a Ferrari, but at the same time concedes that it's amazing both on the track and on the road. Unlike the Z06 which he felt was amazing on the track but so-so on the street. Hit 176mph on the one mile course at Bonneville and broke a record for fastest production car.
Cadillac CTS-V: James May hated it, felt it had too much power, but quickly warmed up to it once he hit a twisty road. Going so far as trying to race Clarkson. Hit 163mph at Bonneville.
Challenger SRT8: May loved it, said that the sound it makes could start earthquakes and Jeremy thinks it's a beautiful car, but even Hammond had to admit that it doesn't handle that well compared to the ZR1 or CTS. Despite it's SRT badge it's basically a straight line point and shoot musclecar and not a handler. Hit 150mph at Bonneville.
On a side note, I think it's totally stupid to have the SRT Challenger not handle well. They should let the R/T Challenger be a musclecar "recreation" and give the SRT much better handling. While they're at it, they should make an SRT10 too. I saw that thing move and wow.
Anyway, it's not as funny as the earlier American adventure but it was fun seeing them review American cars positively. Y'all should check it out.
Also interesting -- how they claim Chrysler backed out of letting them review the Challenger at the last minute, so they went and bought one so they could do it anyways.
As far as the Cadillac goes, the first thing I thought of when May started complaining about too much power was "isn't that why there is a CTS non-V?" Then again, without the power they wouldn't have much to review. The whole bunch of them have never been impressed by Cadillac's brand of plastic-dash luxury.
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They need to do some ACR models of the Challenger and make them about 800 lbs lighter.
the SRT-8 Challenger handles great considering, ive been in one while being slightly pushed around a few corners and it definitely doesn't lack any handling in my opinion, it doesn't however let you forget that its a heavy car.
Does it handle as well in comparison to the ZR1 or the CTS-V...probably not...but it is also has a starting price in the 40's (CAD) and not the 90-100's (CAD) like the other two.
Thats my opinion tho.
the challenger is a pig..its to heavy and personally i think its overrated...nice looking car but from the looks of it, seen many in person..it sits to high..i think it was meant for the old folgies that used to have one and want a new one
newt wrote:the SRT-8 Challenger handles great considering, ive been in one while being slightly pushed around a few corners and it definitely doesn't lack any handling in my opinion, it doesn't however let you forget that its a heavy car.
Does it handle as well in comparison to the ZR1 or the CTS-V...probably not...but it is also has a starting price in the 40's (CAD) and not the 90-100's (CAD) like the other two.
Thats my opinion tho.
And just how many $100K+ supercars have you driven lately?
These are guys who drive the best cars in the world on an almost daily basis... Their point of reference is just a LITTLE more refined than schmucks like us...
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What im saying is that obviously its not going to handle as well as the other two...its half the price.
It still handles better than many other high end sports cars ive been in.
