2008 RawAutos Car of the Year Survey
So this week’s blog is fairly simple and easy to read. Our second annual RawAutos Car of the Year is coming up! But, this year I want your input!!! Last year I chose a group of cars myself and picked the winner. While that was fine. This year I’ve decided to get your opinions. I will chose 10-15 of the cars listed for the awards. I won’t list them in any particular order of numbering. But what I will do is do the top 10-15 cars that you guys have picked. It will be hard for me to do, but I’m willing to do it. Here’s basically what I need you guys to do. Rate each car on this list 1-26, as the most important cars in your mind for 2008. Your reasons can be anything. If you want to rate the Bentley Brooklands the best of 2008 simply because it has over 700lb-ft of torque, weighs over 5000lbs, has the luxury to match a private jet and still gets to 60 in roughly 5 seconds, go right ahead. If you want to rate the Tesla Roadster the best of 08 because of its environmentally friendly electric motor that still does a 0-60 of 4.0s and is built on the Lotus Elise chassis and frame, be my guest. Feel free to add a car to the list… If you don’t like a car, take it off and don’t rate it. Just tell me what you added and/or deleted. The only rules are these: The vehicle(s) had to be on sale for at least 1 month in the United States and/or road tested by major American automotive publications at some point in 2008. The Alfa Romeo 8C wasn’t necessarily on sale, it was already sold out… But, a few deliveries, if any, were made inside the United States. However, it had such a major impact on the exotic market in 2008, along with being Alfa’s first car to return to the states in over a decade, it gets special privileges. If you don’t know of a car, Google it and/or YouTube it. Most of these cars have been tested by Fifth Gear and Top Gear over in England. So in your search simply type, Top Gear or Fifth Gear and then the name and model of the particular car. If I could get this list back with your signature, or typed name along with the date it was filled out by the end of this week, that would be great. You can e-mail it to me at josh@rawautos.com. Now, onto the list:
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
Photo taken from: MotorAuthority.com
Aston Martin DBS (James Bond’s car)
Photo taken from: EGMCarTech.com
Bentley Brooklands
Photo taken from: DesktopCar.net
Bentley Continental GT Speed
Photo taken from: BentleyCarCover
BMW M3
Photo taken from: EGMCarTech.com
BMW 135i
Photo taken from: RoadFly.com
BMW X6
Photo taken from: BMW.com
Cadillac CTS-V
Photo taken from: RoadFly.com
Corvette ZR1
Photo taken from: Auto.cooone.com
Dodge Challenger
Photo taken from: ChryslerWeBlog.com
Dodge Viper ACR
Photo taken from: TheTorqueReport.com
Ferrari F430 Scuderia
Photo taken from: RawAutos.com
Ferrari California
Photo taken from: WallpaperGate.com
Ford Bullitt Mustang
Photo taken from: Zimbio.com
Jaguar XF
Photo taken from: GoldenStateCars.com
Lamborghini LP560-4
Photo taken from: MotorTrend.com
Lexus IS-F
Photo taken from: Pit-Auto-News
Maserati Gran Turismo/Gran Turismo S
Photo taken from: Evo.co.uk
Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series
Photo taken from: ZCars.com.au
Mercedes-Benz SL550/SL63 AMG/SL65 AMG/SL600
Photo taken from: TuningNews.com
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
Photo taken from: Cars.About.com
Nissan GT-R
Photo taken from: CorvetteForum.com
Pontiac G8
Photo taken from: MotorTrend.com
Porsche 911
Photo taken from: Flickr.com
Porsche 911 GT2
Photo taken from: PorscheUSA.com
Tesla Roadster
Photo taken from: RSportsCars.com
One thing I must add, the reason that the Bullitt Mustang is on here isn’t because I own one. I love my car. But, it’s primary purpose for being on this list is that fact that it was limited production of 7000 United States units and 700 in Canada, it has a natural legacy with the movie of the same name and Steve McQueen, and it is a HUGE turning point and stepping stone for the 2010 Mustang GT. I broke the news about the 2008-09 Bullitt was the chassis and suspension basis for the 2010 GT, and I was proud to know that. When speaking with Paul Randle, head of the Mustang program, in LA at the Auto Show, he told me that the Bullitt is faster around road courses than the GT500 due to weight, the 3.73 final drive and the limited-slip differential. The GT500 has no LSD and no 3.73 rear. So, there you have it… Thanks for your help and support, guys and gals! -Josh “Happy Motoring!”
