Repair-It

Too bad the Challenger Hellcat backed out. Would have loved to see how unusable it is on a track like VIR. Probably would have run a time in the ballpark of the Mustang GT.

Seemed like too many luxury brands/cars. No SS, no Chrysler/Dodge, no Camaro, I mean what about the 6 cyl coupes? I know they break it down by price but there should be more cars under 60K. Maybe it was an off year due to new models coming out in the fall. I know some of these cars were already run in previous Lightning laps.

No Honda (could have done the Civic or V6 Accord coupe)
No Nissan (Altima, Z, Maxima)
No Toyota (Ok nothing really but the V6 Camry is supposed to be "more" sporty") put up or shut up!
No Subaru
1 Chevy and it is 100K, thanks.
No Buick
1 Mazda
2 Fords but both Mustangs, how about the SHO?
VW was represented fairly, but I don't care about them - at least I am honest

Maybe if they threw in more random cars like the new V6 Impala, it would show that it is better than expected, or push for an Impala SS that was adequate to wear the SS badge.

I know the formula, they use cars that won in a segment for the lightning lap (usually) but those comparisons aren't on a track. Maybe they should stop eliminating some of those cars since sometimes they win on stupid stuff like cargo room. That means nothing on a track.

Get more normal cars on the track.

It's because there is a big difference between something that is fun on backroads (or worse "feels sporty" which is meaningless) and something that actually can make its way around the track without overheating fluids and destroying tires and brakes.

Normal cars come with tires that are completely inappropriate to run on a track at 10/10ths. In fact, even the GTI was said to be:

more gratifying on an unfamiliar back road than when pushed to its absolute limits at your local circuit

And that's supposed to be a car that has actual performance, at least in the hot hatch segment.

Really, it would be highly entertaining but would inform nothing. It would be like testing a Civic, Corolla, Sentra and Cruze off road. Entertaining, but doesn't help somebody buy a car.

From the earlier lightning laps I think we learned that you have to really have something to be ready for track use off the showroom floor. Look at the older Nissan 350Z. Woefully inadequate braking yet it was supposed to be high performance. It's not like a V6 Camry is going to turn out to be better than a V6 Camaro on a track like this. Not going to happen.

Same goes for the Taurus SHO. It's not a real performance car.

It's not like a V6 Camry is going to turn out to be better than a V6 Camaro on a track like this. Not going to happen.

Same goes for the Taurus SHO. It's not a real performance car.

It isn't going to beat a V6 Camaro, but you would see what it would beat within it's segment and might get surprised. Maybe the Camry beats the Maxima or something. Or the SHO beats the Accord V6. If you are shopping for a mid sized "family" car but like to drive, you might care. Or the Fusion V6 beats whatever...

Some people need a 20K family friendly car but might want the most performance oriented one. Maybe it is the Mazda6...

Maybe they keep this format and add another dynamic performance only test for cars people can afford.

I just don't think it's worth the resources, unfortunately. I think they already do a fine job reporting how cars that you mention feel in more pedestrian (and realistic) circumstances. It's a curiosity. I don't think it helps someone buy a car if a Maxima is 1 second faster around VIR than the V6 Camry, when there are 19 other factors that have a greater influence on the buying decision. If there weren't, then there are absolutely better cars to be looking at in the first place. At least, this is my argument.

I do agree the variety was wider in previous Lightning Laps. I mean they had one where there was an LL-PIG price tier in which the Charger and Caprice PPV were tested. They definitely should have tested an SS because even though the influence on sales would be admittedly very small, it's a legit car and unlike the cars at the 2015 LL, both spacious AND affordable (relatively).

The red line on the lower left represents the cars with the best performance per dollar at VIR. Here is the list (the leading number is how fast the car is in the absolute rankings):
#2-2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (only thing faster was the Porsche 918, and then only by 1.5 seconds)
#14-2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
#22-2014 Chevrolet Corvette Z51
#30b-2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
#37-2010 Chevrolet Corvette Gran Sport
#54-2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE

Come on, that's impressive.