Updated: Motor Trend Best Driver's Car

[TSM330i]

Laguna Seca Lap Times:
Dodge Viper ACR - 1:31.58
Audi R8 V10 Plus - 1:34.23
McLaren 570S - 1:34.58
Merc GT-S - 1:35.30
Shelby GT350R - 1:36.11
Acura NSX - 1:36.36
Porsche 911S - 1:36.44
Nissan GT-R - 1:37.08
BMW M4GTS - 1:37.66
Camaro SS 1LE - 1:37.78
Jaguar F-Type SVR AWD - 1:38.75
AM V12 Vantage S - 1:41.77

FINISHING ORDER:
12th - AM V12 Vantage S
11th - BMW M4GTS
10th - Nissan GT-R
9th - Jaguar F-Type SVR AWD
8th - Acura NSX
7th - Audi R8 V10 Plus
6th - Merc GT-S
5th - Dodge Viper ACR
4th - Camaro SS 1LE
3rd - Porsche 911S
2nd - Shelby GT350R
WINNER: McLaren 570S

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/mclar...t-drivers-car/

WORLD'S GREATEST DRAG RACE:
1st: Audi R8 V10 Plus - 10.6 @ 130.3
2nd: McLaren 570S - 10.7 @ 132.0
3rd: Nissan GT-R - 11.2 @ 123.4
4th: Acura NSX - 11.3 @ 123.6
5th: Merc GT-S - 11.4 @ 126.7
6th:Jaguar F-Type SVR AWD - 11.5 @ 122.7
7th: Porsche 911S - 11.5 @ 120.5
8th: Dodge Viper ACR - 11.5 @124.7
9th: BMW M4GTS - 12.1 @ 118.9
10th: Shelby GT350R - 12.2 @ 118.9
11th: Camaro SS 1LE - 12.4 @ 114.2

http://www.motortrend.com/news/watch...t-drag-race-6/

[insanecoder]

My bets on the Porsche..

[fcman]

Crazy that the M4 GTS has an extra ~40hp, Sport Cup 2s and 400lbs less weight, but the Camaro was only a tenth slower on Goodyear F1s. I'l have to watch the videos when I get home, either Randy make some mistakes on the M4 lap or that Camaro is a monster. That Audi lap is a shocker too, would not expect it to be faster than the 570S

[TSM330i]

Originally Posted by fcman

Crazy that the M4 GTS has an extra ~40hp, Sport Cup 2s and 400lbs less weight, but the Camaro was only a tenth slower on Goodyear F1s. I'l have to watch the videos when I get home, either Randy make some mistakes on the M4 lap or that Camaro is a monster. That Audi lap is a shocker too, would not expect it to be faster than the 570S

I agree, but I know the 1LE is using the magnetic ride suspension tweaked for track use. It has much wider tires than the standard Camaro and it looks like Randy was pretty confident in the car because it had great front end grip and was very balanced. This all adds up to a quick lap.

570S is a monster for sure. Consider that McLaren tuned this car for street use and it runs quite small tires in comparison to most of the other cars in the test (only 225 section width fronts). If McLaren were to offer a "track package" with properly wide tires, it would be a monster on the track as well (not that it's slow now).

[Questofthetune]

Call me crazy but my 1le just didn't inspire the confidence I see talked about all over the inter webs. Maybe since mine was a 2013 with no mag ride? It just felt very heavy and wallowed in tight corners on the track.

[pgviper]

I'm a bit confused though, why no grand sport?? It's a perfect candidate for Best Driver's Car.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by pgviper

I'm a bit confused though, why no grand sport?? It's a perfect candidate for Best Driver's Car.

Not released in time? They filmed all this months ago.

I bet it will be in next years comp.

[CirrusSR22]

Originally Posted by fcman

Crazy that the M4 GTS has an extra ~40hp, Sport Cup 2s and 400lbs less weight, but the Camaro was only a tenth slower on Goodyear F1s. I'l have to watch the videos when I get home, either Randy make some mistakes on the M4 lap or that Camaro is a monster. That Audi lap is a shocker too, would not expect it to be faster than the 570S

The new ZL1 will be the real monster! Basically a 1LE with an extra 200 HP and an (optional) 10-speed auto. And still cheaper than a base M4...

[LBBDrew]

The Viper ACR will mop the floor with the rest imo

[NickyC]

Viper ACR competition destruction impending.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Viper ACR competition destruction impending.

Originally Posted by LBBDrew

The Viper ACR will mop the floor with the rest imo

Yes it will have the quickest lap time for sure. But this isn't the Best Track Car competition.

If you have seen MT previous ACR review, it is easy to come to the conclusion the ACR isn't winning this years BDC.

[David70]

Originally Posted by Blipit_

Yes it will have the quickest lap time for sure. But this isn't the Best Track Car competition.

If you have seen MT previous ACR review, it is easy to come to the conclusion the ACR isn't winning this years BDC.

X2. Last year the Miata got 3rd out of 9 with the slowest track time.

My guess has little chance of winning and for the same reason Viper's don't sell well. Best track time doesn't automatically equal "Best Driver".

Once the cars are in our hot, grubby mitts, the first challenge is to hand them over to our crack testing team so they can perform our standard battery of tests. Stuff like 0-60 mph, the quarter mile, 60-0 mph braking, and our patented figure-eight test. Next, we arrive at Highway 198 where our friends at the California Highway Patrol are kind enough to close down a 4.2-mile stretch. For one glorious day, the Motor Trend editorial staff treats 198 like our own private hill climb while our poor photo and video teams camp out on the side of the road and sweat.

After that, all the contenders show up at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca where our man (and professional race car driver) Randy Pobst sets a fast lap in each. Once we’ve collected all the various data points, the editorial staff sits down for an oftentimes contentious, sometimes tearful, and always scream- and insult-filled voting session. Thanks to majority rule, one car will be crowned the 2015 Motor Trend Best Driver’s Car. We’re looking for that special car we most love to drive. The one that allows us to achieve our individual limits on the street as well as makes a seasoned pro happy on the racetrack. To a large degree, the winner is also the car that makes us smile the most. As for said winner, make your guesses now, then keep reading.

[WhatsADSM]

Wow the 1LE is a lot of car for the money... same as the 350R (although I expected that one).

Honestly the M4 GTS is kind of sad given the money and on-paper specs. A semi race prepped car, 40 extra horse, a few hundred (!) pounds less weight, much sticker tires, and a bunch of aero is a tenth faster than a $40k Chevy SS. Ouch! Kind of an embarrassing time, I would be curious to see the video to see if Randi was just really conservative with it.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by Questofthetune

Call me crazy but my 1le just didn't inspire the confidence I see talked about all over the inter webs. Maybe since mine was a 2013 with no mag ride? It just felt very heavy and wallowed in tight corners on the track.

I upped the suspension on my SS with Eibach sways, then a front strut bar and my rear receiver that tied the rear chassis together. That thing was on rails and the steering was razor sharp. I wonder what that 1LE was running for sways, as I got such fantastic response with little body movement. It was like a surgical steel samurai sword compared to my BMW, which is more like some kind of blunt instrument. The harder I pushed the camaro the more stable it usually got. Gobs of traction, even when wet, which was one place I was surprised, compared to my old WRX, which only outdid it when it started to get a little frozen. No comparison between the two for handling, just that the wet-weather characteristics were still far better than the WRX. May come down to such a wider track and much better weight balance (52/48).

[zer0cool]

These "best driver's car" lap tests are kind of interesting to watch but pretty much meaningless. 99.9% of people cannot drive any of these cars close to their limits without crashing. Those lap times are meaningless to how not even an average driver, but a 90th percentile driver would be able to drive any of these cars. Why don't they actually just drive these on some nice road and tell people how each feel instead of doing a meaningless test that most people will never be able to experience?

[MightyMouseTech]

Best driver's car, NOT best lap time.

James May would be proud.

And if anything with flappy paddle bullshit wins, I will be very disappointed.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by zer0cool

These "best driver's car" lap tests are kind of interesting to watch but pretty much meaningless. 99.9% of people cannot drive any of these cars close to their limits without crashing. Those lap times are meaningless to how not even an average driver, but a 90th percentile driver would be able to drive any of these cars. Why don't they actually just drive these on some nice road and tell people how each feel instead of doing a meaningless test that most people will never be able to experience?

Have you not watched previous years of MT Best Drivers Car? Lap times is just one part of the equation. They do exactly what you ask each year.

[FriskyDingo]

So far, it's either the GT350 R or the 911.

[TSM330i]

Originally Posted by Blipit_

Have you not watched previous years of MT Best Drivers Car? Lap times is just one part of the equation. They do exactly what you ask each year.

+1
This is a comprehensive test and the track is only one aspect. They spend several days on the road with them as well.

BTW: The world's greatest drag race is coming as well. They pit all the contenders in an all-out drag race. I saw a little bit of a "spoiler" where they said a Hellcat "snuck into" the drag race.

[Mingwan]

Aston, go home, you're drunk.

A manual V12 is pretty epic, though.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by TSM330i

Laguna Seca lap times: [whatever]

All I want to know is where you found a 2105 GTI.

[TSM330i]

Originally Posted by wdb

All I want to know is where you found a 2105 GTI.

I'm from the future of course

I changed my sig, but forgot my avatar info. I saw that a few days ago and didn't check to see if it was fixed. TY!