Clarkson Names Corvette ZR1 Best Car Of 2008

The world’s most famous motoring journalist thinks that all Americans are fat, they build big shoddy gas guzzling cars and generally use them for cruising between hamburger joints.

Or does he?

Clarkson shuns the Europeans and embraces big fat American cubic inches

Jeremy Clarkson used his Sunday Times column to reflect on the year that almost is, and made the stunning announcement that yes, despite it not being built well, he considers the best car of 2008 to be the Corvette ZR1.

Oh, it’s not built very well. After just three days in my care, the boot lock disintegrated and the keyless go system refused to acknowledge the keys were in the car, but I didn’t mind because there is simply no other car that looks this good, goes this fast – in a straight line and around corners – and that most of the time bumbles about like a forgetful uncle. And when you throw in the price tag of just £106,690 – lots for a Corvette but modest next to a similarly powerful Ferrari – the case for the defence can sit down and put up its feet knowing that the prosecutor simply has nowhere to go.

The Corvette ZR1 is an epic car

As far as Clarkson is concerned, his recent jaunt from San Francisco to Bonneville in the ZR1 was enough to prove that this particular Vette, with its supercharged LS9 mill, swings beautifully between being mild-mannered and completely psychotic. It is in fact epic.

It is an epic car and I’m only sad that unless the healthcare and pensions company that makes it can be turned around, it will be the last of the breed.

The Chrysler Sebring is not an epic car… at all

Clarkson wasn’t waving the stars and stripes with completely gay abandon. While he now admits to liking a Corvette, he confesses to despising the Chrysler Sebring, claiming it is ugly, hateful, poorly designed and not especially well made either.

That’s more like the Clarkson we know and love.

[Source: Jalopnik ]