duPont Registry awards top exotics
Some of our earliest childhood memories are peppered with trips to the newsstand where we'd drop our hard earned coin (from yard chores performed under duress) on a copy of the duPont Registry. It was a special treat, allowing us to begin memorizing all the vitals and prices of the exotics of yesterdecade. Want to know the color combos of a Diablo VT or the exact displacement of an F40 or even the HP figures of the '91 LM002? They're stored somewhere in the dark recesses of our minds.
To be honest, we haven't picked up a copy of the mag for at least 10 years, but that may change when duPont releases their new issue on September 26th. The editors of the exotic sales guide will pick out the eight best exotics for 2007, with the awards focusing on performance, value, style and also the pros and cons of owning and operating these high-powered, high-priced machines.
The award winners are listed after the jump, and although some of the choices are predictable, we're interested in what duPont's learned connoisseurs have to say about each of their selections. Keep an eye out for the upcoming issue, donning a Saleen S7 Twin Turbo on its cover.
[Source: The Auto Channel]
Best Exotic: Lamborghini Murciélago LP640
Best New Exotic: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Best Luxury Sedan: Maybach 57 S
Best Performance Sedan: BMW M5
Best Performance Coupe: Porsche 911 Turbo
Best Luxury Coupe: Aston Martin DBS
Best "Bang for the Buck": Ford Shelby GT500
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
xmnr 4:04PM (10/17/2006)
what a cr*ck. that's loaded with advertiser dollars... gt500's command more than msrp because of gouging and "collectability".. A z06 commands higher amounts because its WORTH IT.
best luxury coupe is the dbs? that car's not even for sale! how on earth could they know. It's going to be a sporting-tuned db9, which, because they started with a heavy car, means they ruined the ride. so does that still make it a better luxury coupe than a cl500? Certainly blingier...
The prevalence of these meaningless awards is what dilute leit mags' findings
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J 9:27AM (9/21/2006)
i thought the Z06 would be under the best "bang of the buck" as it seems that everyone else is calling it that when compared to the exotics.
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Graham Lunn 9:29AM (9/21/2006)
I wouldnt argue with any of those, doesnt that 599 look fantastic!
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rwdmtparkingonly 9:56AM (9/21/2006)
Value as a criteria? What is this, consumer reports? A least put a Veyron on the list somewhere. Most of the list is debatable but the Maybach 57 S is a particularly bad choice.
If you have to explain a joke it isn't funny. If you have to explain the ultra prestigious tradition of your marque then it isn't ultra prestigious (especially if it looks like an S-Class).
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Gunnar 9:49AM (9/21/2006)
The Maybach - are they joking? What's up with the Registry?
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
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Salman 10:36AM (9/21/2006)
Saleen or Enzo ferrari? Or I guess that picture is not the cover hehe.
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Vinay Menon 11:24AM (9/21/2006)
No Veyron? No CCX? And a Mustang chosen over a Z06. I have been picking up Dupont Registry issues since 1988, and this list is BOGUS. They might as well have included the Saturn Sky!
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Adam Singer 11:28AM (9/21/2006)
Maybach?!
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Brett 11:30AM (9/21/2006)
I don't know if I believe this article. They could at least have proofread it once. A 55,000 pound Bentley? That's one pudgy ragtop. I also would love to have a new M5 for the cheap as free price of $82. Although I guess you make up for the low cost of purchase on your first trip to the gas pump for that 50 liter V10. Let's hope the Registry itself is a little more thorough.
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seabasstin 11:33AM (9/22/2006)
Bentley continental GT
Veyron, CCX, Zonda, Ford GT
there seems to be a bunch of missing items on this, although I am assuming that the actual article has all the runner ups for each category and why they didn't make it.
This would be the only way I would feel better about this.
The most interesting thing for me would be understanding the criteria used for judging these cars into those positions.
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Felipe Lobon 1:25PM (9/21/2006)
im actually angry that they didnt include the Lotus sport exige, if you want to talk in term of best bang for the buck then you need not look any urther than the elise and exige sport. this is ridiculous. The lotus family matches the ferrari F430's mph to mph and the price tage, try about 300,000 less.
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scosol 2:24PM (9/21/2006)
Hahah and that's a picture of a Cayman, not a 911.
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scosol 2:45PM (9/21/2006)
Oh it *is* a 911- missed the "Turbo" part-
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Andy 3:29PM (9/21/2006)
This was a poor choice of cars. The $70,000 Corvette Z06 can outrun a $90,000 Viper SRT-10 coupe and keep up with a $150,000 Ford GT. The Shelby hasn't been so praised in the press. While Motor Trend lauded the new muscle car, Road & Track and Car & Driver were disappointed by the weight and speed numbers that were the same or little better than the previous SVT. The Maybach is the most boring luxury sedan on the European continent. The Aston DBS? It's not even on the market.
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Mike Gonzales 4:37PM (12/22/2006)
When it comes to rating a cars true speed, it really does depend on the type of driver as well. It took Chevy years to catch up to Dodge as far as the American cars go, yet if you get a true SRT 510HP Viper driver he can usually outdrive any other car on the racetrack. The latest Dodge Charger SRT-8 SuperBee with it's 550HP engine and lighter body weight can even outpace it's Viper. So much keep advancing!
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