Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Final 4 in our January Madness (yeah, doesn't work without the alliteration). As the updated bracket to your right indicates, your winners from the first round were the Chevrolet Corvette, Ford SVT Raptor, Ford Mustang and in the only close contest, the Ford Flex. Either way, big wins for Ford with only one car standing in the way of a grand Ford off.
But that car is of course a doozy, and representing it is an owner. Senior Automotive Editor Brent Romans donned his forever-classy Wild Horsepower Out in the Barn T-Shirt and defended the Chevrolet Corvette, the oldest and arguably the most storied nameplate in this competition. However, the argument could be made that the vehicle he's facing off against is even older, or rather the F-150 truck upon which the SVT Raptor is based. Wearing a Vince Carter jersey for the occasion is Executive Editor Paul Seredynski who survived accusations of pervasive anti-GM bias to arrive once again facing another car from the General. Good luck.
Voting for this competition end Tuesday, January 26 at 2 p.m. PST. The Tournament Finals will go live Thursday January 28.
Opening Statements
![2010_chevrolet_corvette_actburn_fe_111609_717[1].jpg](http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/2010_chevrolet_corvette_actburn_fe_111609_717%5B1%5D.jpg)
Brent Romans for the Chevrolet Corvette
Alright, Paul, you have had an easy time defending Ford's Raptor against Josh Sadlier, who apparently forgot to take his medication before mustering his defense of the Buick LaCrosse. But now you're up against the Chevrolet Corvette, a car that's not only the best motorboat for French girls (thanks Magrath) but also America's best and most desirable car.
First, a recap. You get your choice of Americana pushrod V8: Impressive (base car's 430-hp 6.2-liter), Kick Butt (Z06's 505-hp 7.0-liter) and Absolutely Awesome (ZR1's 638-hp 6.2-liter). From this, you get performance that will humble just about any other performance car out there, with the ZR1 taking just 11.5 seconds to clear the quarter mile. The Corvette flies through the corners, too, with tenacious grip and better steering feel than most people give it credit for. Finally, the Corvette is a model unto itself -- remove the trick parts from the Raptor and you're looking at a workaday F-150 with silly side graphics.
I'll admit a Corvette isn't cheap; a base model has an MSRP of about $49,000. But it's still within the reach of a hard-working soul with a decent job. And that's just the thing. Unless you work for the U.S. Forest Service, you're likely going to be driving on pavement to get to work. And on pavement, the Raptor's off-road strengths disappear. For the best American car, there can be only one: the Chevy Corvette.
Paul Seredynski for the Ford SVT Raptor
What we're dealing with here is essentially the same vehicle, but for different venues. As long as you're willing to limit your automotive thrills to: reasonably level pavement; travelling with no more than one passenger; having only a small amount of luggage room; and living where it rarely snows, the Corvette rocks. If you want a Corvette for the dirt, and a wildly useful, all-season, five-passenger extended cab 4WD pickup truck the rest of the time, the Raptor is pretty much awesomeness formed in steel.
On dry paved roads, the Corvette takes it. But if you're even mildly utilizing the Vette's full potential -- acceleration, top speed, grip -- you'll likely land swiftly in jail or with a calendar full of traffic court dates. In the Raptor, anywhere roads stop you can still drive as fast as you dare, do donuts 'til you fall over and jump over Corvettes if you feel like it (at only 49 inches, a low bar...), all without worrying about the po-po, loss of license or incarceration.
Sure you can pay extra to take the Vette to the track on the weekend, but good luck putting it to use during the week taking your kids to school, towing a boat or picking up a load of mulch. Save some extra step-in height, the Raptor is a practical workaday family hauler, that also happens to haul in the dust like nothing you've see this side of Dakar. Even tarted up with the 6.2-liter V8 and options galore, the Raptor would still come in under the Vette's $49K base price, and you get three cars in one: pickup truck, all-weather five-passenger family car, Baja-prerunner.
Rebuttals:
Romans:
Three cars in one, eh Paul? That sounds like a deal I'd find on a late-night TV infomercial. Do I get a free bed extender for calling in the next 10 minutes, too? But okay, sure, I can see the appeal of having a do-all pickup. But as for not being able to enjoy the Corvette on the street -- heck, you can get in trouble driving Warren's Ford Fusion Sport at less than 10/10s these days. The Corvette is always doing what it does best, even if it's not dialed up for max attack. Can't say that about the Raptor. Plus, this is the Corvette we're talking about; it's got nearly as much iconic heritage as Uncle Sam himself. The Raptor, meanwhile, is just a freshman-year F-150 that's only appealing to people who actually know what the Baja 1000 is.
Seredynski:
Oh, young Brent, have I taught you nothing? In its limited sphere, the Corvette is without a doubt an amazing piece. But once you meet your first speed bump, you're reduced to a crawl like any other low-profile sports car. The Raptor laughs off the worst our deteriorating road system can throw at it, making any road (paved or not) fun to drive. If you've got the means, only one friend, and can pick and choose the roads and season you travel, the Vette is a blistering bargain. But for the rest of us who live in the world of potholes, car pools, rotten weather and Home Depot runs, the Raptor is the most well-rounded and useful performance machine yet.
So which is the better American car?
By ahightower
on January 18, 2010
05:54 AM
I'm not buying the practicality argument for the Raptor. It would work in a pinch, but "five-passenger family car" is a real stretch. I vote Corvette. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to have one of each. But I agree with Romans, that the Raptor is just a common F-150 that went crazy with an aftermarket catalogue. That seems to be Ford's M.O. - bolt-on performance parts, fancy stickers, and BAM!, another special edition Mustang! It's cool, but anybody could do that. You could start with any other pickup (Silverado or Tacoma would be my preference) and build your own Baja pre-runner. The Raptor is very well integrated, reasonably priced, and warranteed. But still, it's a pretty humble origin. Whereas the Corvette is its own unique platform that literally has no American competitor. Ford has a great pony car, and Dodge has a nice, fat cruiser. But neither of them makes a real sports car.
By dougtheeng
on January 18, 2010
06:09 AM
Corvette - its the penultimate American vehicle. It wins simply based on history alone. Now if you'd picked just a regular F-150, not a Raptor version, I think we might have a more interesting discussion here. The F-150 is certainly the backbone of America and is completely American in the eyes of the rest of the world.
Since you went specific with the Raptor, it has to be Corvette ftw.
By 08_miata
on January 18, 2010
06:41 AM
Utility is overrated! :)
Give me a rear wheel drive 430 hp V8 sports car any day of the week.
Corvette is my vote, obviously :)
By gharry
on January 18, 2010
06:59 AM
The Raptor will spend most of it's life as a parking-lot queen at the local Sonny's Real Pit Barbeque, while it's offroad experience will be limited to driving on the median as to get to the turn lane.
Give me a Corvette any day!
By brn
on January 18, 2010
08:00 AM
I'm kinda pissed that I have to choose between these two. Both are cool as hell and neither is practical, in completely different ways.
I think I'm more likely to find an opportunity to take advantage of what the Raptor has to offer than the Corvette.
I vote Raptor.
Maybe I could put a plow on the front of it?
By rick8365
on January 18, 2010
08:04 AM
Raptor.
By hoops26
on January 18, 2010
08:52 AM
Raptor.
Both are a ton of fun, but the fact I could use that Raptor in a practical sense puts it on top.
By windsor5
on January 18, 2010
10:18 AM
my vote RAPTOR
@ahightower
The raptor is not just an f-150 with performance parts. The frame is stretched an extra 7 inches to allow for 11.9 inches of travel in the front and 12.4 in the rear. The shocks designed by both Ford SVT and FOX not available for purchase to the general public except for a lift kit for the raptor which maintains these amazing TRIPLE Bypass shocks.
Simply put this is the BEST off road truck you can purchase brand new out of the dealership and go offroading joy. not to mention the upgrades it would take to make this truck aftermarket the price would skyrocket way above 49K
By jriz
on January 18, 2010
11:00 AM
"Now if you'd picked just a regular F-150, not a Raptor version, I think we might have a more interesting discussion here."
I actually agree with this given how long the F-150 has been sold and how long it stood at the top of American sales charts. So a more interesting discussion perhaps, a tougher decision perhaps, but I'd still go with the Corvette.
By auto4fun
on January 18, 2010
11:48 AM
I love both of these vehicles, and this is essentially the championship for me. As much fun as driving the Raptor off-road would be, I have to bow to my sports car bias and vote for the Corvette.
By sabastian
on January 18, 2010
11:50 AM
Corvette. Truly an American classic.
By heffling
on January 18, 2010
12:50 PM
I'm a huge American sports car and muscle fan, but I have to give the nod to the Raptor in this one. I really feel that Ford is pushing the F-150 in a direction that no American (or really, any production car sold in America) has gone in a long time.
And yes, I realize that some vehicles like a Land Rover or a Wrangler are designed with off-road somewhat in mind, but neither are as uncompromising as the Raptor about it.
By estreka
on January 18, 2010
01:38 PM
The Raptor is everything the Wrangler should be.
Raptor.
By auto4fun
on January 18, 2010
02:48 PM
The Raptor and the Wrangler are targeting different people. The Wrangler is all about go anywhere offroading (technical trails, rock crawling, etc.), whereas the Raptor is meant to go as fast as possible over rough 'roads' but is really too big to be used for some trails.
By greenpony
on January 18, 2010
03:20 PM
Why would I purchase a Corvette? Awesome acceleration & speed, respectable highway fuel economy, beautiful looks. Why would I purchase a Raptor? It's badass and unique, and can accomodate my family of three. But other than off-roading and the 6.2L V8 option, what makes it any better than a plebian F-150?
But then, we're not comparing the Raptor to the base F-150. We're comparing it to the Vette. In a world of potholes, snow, and bumper-to-bumper traffic, I honestly think I'd have a safer, more fun drive in the Raptor, which makes it more deserving of my money.
Though it makes me cringe to pass on the Corvette, I have to vote Raptor.
By 3ricchu
on January 18, 2010
05:26 PM
Corvette.
By mptlptr
on January 18, 2010
06:27 PM
Corvette
By boxermike
on January 19, 2010
09:07 AM
If i'm not going to win, the guy that beat me had better.
Corvette.
Plus, on the road the Raptor sucks. Not enough motor. Too big. So desperate for attention it even makes Corvette owners uncomfortable.
-magrath
By deagle13
on January 19, 2010
10:24 AM
Corvette.
By misterfusion
on January 19, 2010
10:53 AM
Corvette vs. Ford pickup? You might as well say "Washington vs. Jefferson", or "Bullss vs. Bearss" (to a Chicagoan).
Aww, hell -- Corvette it is.
By lvranger
on January 19, 2010
04:20 PM
You guys are killing me.
The Corvette is my all time favorite car. The reason for that is I love every year it was made. I'd take a C1 with a blue flame, a C2 with a fuelie, a C3 with horrible build quality and an emissions strangled engine, a C4 with cross-(mis)fire injection, C5, C6 it doesn't matter good or bad I would drive it all.
The problem is I also love trucks. The F150 has been building America since 1948 when the Corvette was just a glimmer in Harley Earl's eye. Now this #1 best selling workhorse gets a chance to seriously play in the dirt? This is no 4x4 sticker job, the suspension is sorted and ready to go right out of the box. Who am I to deny this stalwart king amongst trucks a prestigious Edmunds award?
I vote Raptor!
By subytrojan
on January 19, 2010
06:16 PM
My vote is for this vehicle:
Transports up to 7 or 8 Americans (Canadians, too)
Active fuel management for traveling from sea to shining sea
Heartbeat of America
OnStar's omnipresence
Easy installation of dubs, spinnas, bling-bling, dawg!
By nomercy346
on January 20, 2010
03:48 AM
The Raptor isn't just a regular F-150 with some parts anyone could buy at AutoZone. Its even got a different frame compared to the standard fare f-series. All of this great package comes with a full factory warranty. That sure is a nice ride I'd love to own but I don't buy into it's everyday capabilities. Towing and hauling is reduced from a regular F150 and I bet it doesn't have exactly the same on-road manners, either. So the 3 cars in 1 is definitely stretching it.
This is a tough decision. The Corvette is just as cool and has the history the Raptor doesn't.
IMO the Tahoe should have won anyways.
I vote for the Corvette. + At least then there is a chance of something other than a Ford winning.
By cruiserhead1
on January 20, 2010
08:04 PM
RAPTOR!
This is a landmark development and that alone should give it the nod over the 'vette
It is exotic production vehicle as no one else has done-
The engineering is fantastic and successfully executed.
As enticing as the gold-chain geritol image of the vette is, the Raptor offers Up an American exotic that is niche, affordable and uniquely American
Sports car? 1 can do a lot better than the vette. Everyone knows it.
Compete agaist the Raptor on its turf? Not one other Vehicle.
In a class of its own. Desirable. Rare.
Clearly Raptor wins.
By siarizona
on January 21, 2010
07:57 PM
Corvette all the way...
By crowb
on January 22, 2010
07:57 AM
Raptor
By lostandfound08
on January 25, 2010
09:27 AM
Vette
By fordfan16
on January 26, 2010
04:22 PM
RAPTOR!!!! Corvettes been around forever, and doesn't represent any really outside the box thinking, exactly what GM needs right now, but the Raptor does, and thats exactly why Ford's where they are at now.
By mozzz77788
on January 26, 2010
04:51 PM
Corvette!!
By krysm
on January 28, 2010
04:54 PM
I didn't realize there was any competition for the Corvette!!!!