Clarkson Finally Gets It Right

What miserable quality on the ZR1. That was just sad.

Good comparison and what a fantastic show. However, I do think the guys are right. The ZR1 would kill me, quickly and brutally, but I bet I could handle the R8 V10 without too much trouble (never killing the traction control of course).

I wonder about his comment that the R8 is a better car in the real world. Perhaps the real world of Europe where the Vette's width could be a serious problem. But in the US, I don't see why the Audi would be the better car to drive (leaving aside the quality issues, which are really inexcusable on a $100K+ car).

At 7 or 8/10ths on your favorite canyon road would you run into the same issues that Clarkson experienced on the track? Given his experience actually driving the car in the 'real world' here in the country for which it is made I think not.

Fortunately for the ZR1 it offers world class performance and MONSTER power. Unfortunately, it's not built like a world class car. I don't even think the base $46K Vette is built like a $46K car even with the leather dash. The Vette overall is an awesome car but it needs a large dose of sophistication and a much higher level of craftsmanship.

Um what about this is getting it right?

I think they got it right. Good video.

Save the cash and get a Z51 or a used Vette instead of the unharnessed power of the ZR1.

Or better yet, get a car that wont fall apart. Come on GM.

These were 10 minutes well spent! I think both cars are capable and appreciated in the segments they are aimed at; and, to see their execution of a sport car concept be so far off from each other is incredibly amusing.

I don't know if it's Clarksons overdramatic persona or not but that Corvette is a F'n riot. In typical TG fashion, another very entertaining comparo.

I'd still take the R8 hands down (assuming I was forced to spend that much money). Based on the numbers I guess the Corvette is the winner, but that awful interior is just too much for me. I'd take the more driveable (read: boring?) R8 any day of the week. It also looks a thousand times better.

A bunch of people taking a Clarkson analysis as being factual? Come on people. They are two very different cars. The ZR1 is more of a track car that Clarkson couldn't handle (give him a Z06 and he might be able to handle it). I've yet to hear repeated quality complaints on the ZR1 from anywhere besides Top Gear. The Audi costs $40K more than the Chevy, BEFORE raking up tens of thousands of dollars worth of options.

I'd actually have the V8 Audi R8 before either of them.

Also, this just goes to show that at the end of the day, you have to buy the car that you like the most. Auto journalists can tell you how cars stack up objectively, but they can't tell you what to like. I respect Clarkson because he goes with his gut...like when he drove the Ferrari 599 and concluded that he would rather have a Ferrari 275. Is the 599 better? Yes. Did that matter? No.

Almost everything I've read goes in-line with this review. I'd rather have the R8 just based on looks. I'd also go for the V8.

I'm also not surprised the ZR1 had issues. Even small ones.

Here's part of a Nov 2009 WSJ article quoting executives at GM:

"General Motors Co. Chairman Edward Whitacre, becoming increasingly visible in GM's turnaround campaign, is pressing the auto maker's management team to sharpen its focus on boosting quality and customer satisfaction.

Mr. Reuss, a 26-year GM veteran whose father once served as the company's president, said [GM's] focus on customer satisfaction is long overdue. "It's something we haven't done [before] and should," he said during a roundtable interview with reporters.

Reliability remains an "Achilles' heel" for the auto maker, despite its consistent efforts to improve the durability and overall attractiveness of its vehicles, Mr. Reuss said. He said that a recent quality survey by Consumer Reports was 'very disappointing to me.'

Without hesitation I'd take the R8 5.2... and if I had to match the price I'd still take the R8 4.2 over the ZR1. I've drove an R8 at Infineon Raceway (simply marvelous car) and I've driven a C6 Corvette - two completely different animals. I don't think the ZR1's extreme power would ever get old but to me that's the only reason to buy this car. Definitely not for the garish looks, the quality issues (seriously GM?), the wretched interior, or the professionals-only handling.