Once again, we came away dazzled by the Z06. It may not be the fastest or the cheapest, but when it comes to putting it all together into one package, there's no comparison. It not only gives you the raw performance you expect, it delivers the little extras you don't — the sound, the confidence in the corners, the comfort around town. It's these kinds of intangibles that leave us shaking our heads every time we drive one, and so when it came time to choose a winner, the Corvette Z06 took the prize once again.

The Viper's move to second place (it scored third in our last comparison) was largely a result of the SRT-10's more refined nature. It hasn't gone soft by any means, but it has gained a measure of civility that renders it considerably more livable than ever before. When it comes to scaring the pants off unsuspecting passengers, the Viper reigns supreme, and the new look certainly maintains the car's unmistakable presence. If having the biggest and baddest car on the block is your chief concern, then the Viper is the hands-down favorite, but if you want a car that doesn't require an SCCA background to get a handle on, the Viper isn't the best choice. There will always be those who consider the Viper the only true "American exotic" but if that's the case then we'll stick with our good ol' American sports car.

The Mustang may have fallen to last place, but that doesn't mean it's any less of a contender. Like we said before, the fact that the '03 Cobra offers Z06-like power in a car that costs $20K less than the Corvette is a remarkable feat for SVT. With a price like that, it's hard to expect the Cobra to challenge cars like the 'Vette and the Viper in a head-to-head contest. Even without a comparable level of performance, the Cobra is one hell of a thrill ride that will satisfy all but the most discerning sports car enthusiasts.