JWD: Well, just scanning the threads on the Corvette forum looks like the FGT is the hands down favorite amoungst the Corvette faithful also.
While CC is a Ford orientated forum it is not the
www.fordgtforum either. Its obvious what the results there would be. They are so in love with the FGT on the fordgtforum that any cross word about the FGT (if one exists) brings an attack akin to shoving a stick into a hive of killer bees. The are fanatical fans of the FGT and I believe rightly so.
The FGT is that rare kind of car that just crosses brand devotion boundries and zeros in on the core of what the car enthusiast loves (performance, heritage, drop dead gorgeous looks, collectibility etc...) regardless of brand devotion. It has soul and character that allows it to cross boundries and make even Corvette guys want one over the ZR1.
But would I love a ZR1 too. Heck yeah. Awesome car.
PS: Clarkson I believe did re-acquire a FGT. Any issues he may have had were clearly out of the norm. The Top Gear test of the FGT with Jermey Clarkson is one of my favorite episodes. No doubt he LOVED it. His words in the Top Gear test that "This car is epoc" is a classic. The FGT has gained a reputation as phenominal car in both driving experience and reliability. I have friend that has 40 thousand miles on his '06 FGT, tracks it all the time (going through 4 sets of tires over the last few years) and drives it home from the track and uses it to go to Shop Rite and in the rain no less. It still runs and looks like a champ. Its certainly no garage queeen (like mine
)
BTW: Based on the tracking of the attrition of FGTs over on the fordgtforum there are approximately only 3000 FGTs left in the US. The rest have been lost to accident or overseas shipment.