VIDEO: MotorTrend pits Corvette ZR1 against F/A-18 Hornet
Click above to view the video after the jump
The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has dominated everything in its $100,000 price range, and quite a few supercars that double or triple its MSRP. With just about everything with four wheels subservient to the ZR1, MotorTrend decided to forgo cars and trucks for something with a bit more boost.
MotorTrend's Aurthor St. Antoine thought a more credible contender against the ZR1 would be an F/A-18 Hornet from the Blue Angel squad. So it was Blue Devil vs. Blue Angel, with one vehicle doling out 638 hp and able to hit 60 in 3.3 seconds, and the other capable of mach 1.8 and packing 32,000 pounds of thrust. It doesn't exactly sound like a fair fight, but the race is pretty simple: the first to the one-mile mark wins.
Hit the jump to find out who comes out victorious in the battle of the bow tie vs. Navy fighter jet. If you're not into all the hoopla surrounding the ZR1 and the Blue Angel F/A-18 and you just want to see the race, skip to about eight minutes in. We're pretty sure this race was just an excuse for St. Antoine to get in the cockpit of an F-18, but we can't say we blame him.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
rwcmick 11:09AM (6/24/2009)
I remember as a kid that '80s auto mags loved these comparisons: 'vette vs jet, helicopter vs mustang, let's take a zamboni for a test drive. Sigh. I just can't get into these comparos, it just seems like rehash. Maybe after my first cup on coffee I'll feel better about this one, but I doubt it.
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Steven 11:43AM (6/24/2009)
Your avatar looks like it was pulled from your Match.com profile.
BigMcLargeHuge 11:48AM (6/24/2009)
I guess that begs the question... how is it that you know this, Steven?
Clay Garland 10:22AM (6/25/2009)
@steven Oh no, it's a snake, snaaaaaaaaaakkke.
On a note more related to the video, I'd rather watch an HIV positive hooker shave with my razor than have to listen to that asshole narrate another video.
Aero 11:18AM (6/24/2009)
Beautiful plane, and beautiful car.
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Will 12:06PM (6/24/2009)
Both made in America.
nbarry 11:18AM (6/24/2009)
After Motor Trend lost (I can't remember for sure, but I want to say Mark Williams) as their editor-in-chief the mag has gone steadily downhill. Articles are boring and lack any sort of engaging language/wit/humor. All the good writers fled to Car and Driver, though one left for Consumer Reports (why?!).
Car and Driver is where it's at when it comes to physical media, but Autoblog has a very good editorial staff and that is where I get my daily (or hourly) car fix.
Either way, MT has done numerous comparison tests like this and I don't find them very engaging. But maybe that's just me.
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dsharp23 11:42AM (6/24/2009)
could that host be a bigger douche? I love planes...and obviously cars, but I can't watch the video because of that guy...
Avinash machado 11:22AM (6/24/2009)
Remember Top Gear had done a race between a Japanese Bullet Train and a Nissan GT-R.
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Sofa King Fast! 2:01PM (6/24/2009)
Top gear did this exact race with a Veyron (vs a fighter jet).
Pretty damn lame of MT to copy it the concept if you ask me.
Top Gear's Veyron race was much better.
Randy915 4:26PM (6/24/2009)
I think Motor Trend should do a amphibious car race across the Gulf of Mex.... oh wait nvm Top Gear did it already.
caddy-v 8:37PM (6/24/2009)
And I'll bet the bullet train's transmission did'nt blow up.
Rob 12:51AM (6/25/2009)
Simpsons did it!
verytuscan 11:26AM (6/24/2009)
It would be fair to compare the ZR1 with the Audi S4 or BMW M3 and you will see how the ZR1 folds. Reality is the Autobahn!
:)
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Danimal 11:43AM (6/24/2009)
Trollitis is a horrible disease... I hope it clears up soon.
Mr.Oak 11:45AM (6/24/2009)
The Z06 is is too much for either car that you mentioned. Neither the M3 or the S4 could carry the ZR1's jocks.
Eddy Alvarez 11:56AM (6/24/2009)
you must be on some very trippy lollerskates, Tuscan. CTS-V can beat those cars and you think a ZR1 will 'fold' to them?
BigMcLargeHuge 12:04PM (6/24/2009)
... I'm trying to figure this out, since your cryptic message implies reality is the road, not the track, so in the real world you think the ZR1 won't hold up?
What specifically about the autobahn/highway/off-track were you referring to? Stop-and-go traffic? Poorly paved surfaces?
In that case, I wouldn't use the autobahn as my example. You might have been better off saying "I feel more comfortable in an S4 or an M3 on a country road or gravel with a light mist." Then maybe I could see your point.
But unless you are using some criteria other than outright performance, I don't know how any person that likes cars can say the ZR1 'folds' to those mentioned.
tuxchown 12:30PM (6/24/2009)
Stop smoking that crap, verytwuntscan.
xmdfmk7x 12:34PM (6/24/2009)
Stop abusing drugs.