Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4

157 MPHMitsubishi 3000GT VR-4Do you imagine top speed as a glorious, ecstasy-producing experience? Hate to burst your fantasy, but instead of delivering nirvana at 160 mph, this level of top speed is like kissing a tigress: extremely dangerous but not terribly rewarding. Unlike the gratifying thrill of hanging it out to the edge while hot-lapping a racetrack, top speed feels like Russian roulette: Do you feel lucky today? However, thanks to its all-wheel drive-the only such drivetrain in this test-and its high-downforce bodywork, the 3000GT VR-4 softens the fear of bouncing down a narrow road at 157 mph. Unlike some of the others-both faster and slower-in this group, the Mitsubishi was stable and poised at maximum velocity. Such stability plus its 18-inch tires/wheels helped it record an awesome 68.9-mph run in our slalom test, topping a previous example by 5 mph. In the past, we've criticized the 3000GT VR-4 for being too stable on the racetrack, but being rock-solid is a blessing at 157 mph.

157 MPHPontiac Trans AmA country song filled my mind as I flashed down Mrs. Orcutt's driveway in the Trans Am: "Goin' 90 miles an hour down a dead-end road. What's the hurry, son, where ya gonna go?" And I kept updating it until reaching "Goin' 157 miles an hour...." Partly because its 275-horsepower V-8 was almost at the 5700-rpm redline in fifth gear, the Trans Am had the highest interior noise at top speed. Bystanders said they could hear it before they could see it-more than a mile away. Save for the RX-7's rotary, the 5.7-liter LT1 that powers the Corvette, the Camaro, and the Trans Am is the only engine in this test that doesn't employ dual overhead cams to open its valves. Instead, it uses a single block-mounted camshaft, pushrods, and rocker arms. This venerable technology produces results: The LT1-powered cars all easily topped 150 mph. The Trans Am wasn't the easiest car to drive at this pace: Although well-behaved over the smoothest portions, in the bumpiest sections it hunted from side to side.