2005 Ford Mustang vs. F-14 Tomcat

Shooter likes the Corvette best. "The Viper's powerful and feels rigid, but I felt I was sitting too high. The Vette hasn't got the torque of the Viper, but its steering felt better at higher speed. I love the retro look of the Mustang, and it would be my choice for A-to-B driving." Race driver Poof prefers the Viper, saying, "It's the closest to a race car; you could just fit slicks on it and have a ball." Poof finds the Corvette a bit too sanitized but thinks the Mustang is "as much car as you could get for the money and a great way to get groceries in a hurry." Neut chooses the Corvette, saying, "Nice handling, like the HUD and the styling, seats are comfortable, and the engine sounds great. It also feels smaller and more nimble than the Viper. The Mustang doesn't feel as sharp but it's still a great American musclecar."

The best of the best? Well, the Viper steals the day on points, with the Corvette second and the Mustang third (all the pilots applaud the Ford for its terrific sound, authentic looks, and fantastic value for money). Surprisingly, fighter pilots don't always go for the hardest, meanest ride, which is possibly why the user-friendly F-18 is the TOPGUN instructors' favorite aircraft.

So, yes, TOPGUN's pilots certainly live up to their reputation of having an insatiable appetite for living life on the edge--albeit tempered by a large helping of discipline. We also confirmed that boys will be boys: Whether you're flying the ultimate military jet or driving one of the world's great sports cars, you're always jealous of the other guy's toy. n

Special thanks to Lt. Terrance "Spot" O'Neill for the great organization and even better hospitality.