What's Your Favorite New Car Of 2008?

With 2009 just days away we thought it best to ask you what new car you loved the most this year. To help, some of the staff has put together their answers below.

If you haven't noticed, we're a somewhat eclectic and eccentric bunch of car nuts, so deciding on one vehicle was impossible. Instead, we've got some favorites from a sampling of our staff. To make things easier on our more literal readers, we've divided the question into your favorite car on sale this year and your favorite car which debuted this year but may or may not yet be on sale.

Ray Wert: 2009 Corvette ZR1 / 2010 Pontiac G8 ST, 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, 2010 Honda Insight
I'd go with the 2009 Corvette ZR1 as my favorite new car of 2008. GM has brought high horsepower to the masses, with the power, cornering ability and exterior looks able to make any supercar fanboy happy. The car revealed this year that's got me most excited is a three-way tie — the 2010 Pontiac G8 ST, the Chevy Camaro SS and the Honda Insight. The first two are obvious. The third? Because it does the exact opposite of the ZR1 — it brings high fuel economy to the masses — and that's pretty cool too.

Matt Hardigree: 2009 Skoda Superb / Ford Transit Connect
Can you say Twindoor? I've made a references few to loving the Superb I fear some may have taken as a joke. It was no joke. The Czech-built, VW Passat-based Superb is an exceptionally well-conceived car. Europeans crank out tons of boring sedans for the mid-level executive and while some of them, like the 2009 Opel Insignia, are getting better, we think the Superb is the most thoughtful. The design is flawless, elevating the boring Passat to a level of stealth luxury only paralleled by the Phaeton. Even better, the Twindoor system finally combines the usefulness of a hatch with the lines of a sedan and the ease of a working trunk.

Though the Ford Transit Connect is old news in the Old World, I think the vehicle offers the kind of multipurpose design and compact size missing from America's commercial fleets. The prospect of an electric Transit Connect is also appealing

Wes Siler: 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX / 2010 Ford SVT Raptor
The new WRX is the right blend of price, practicality, under-the-radar looks, involvement and ridiculous pace. You could use it to haul manure, take road trips, carry friends or blow the doors off most supercars. It'd be a bargain at twice the price, but at $24,995 it's the best bargain on offer today.

Why the Raptor? Because deep down, I've come to terms with my inner 909. Anyone recommend a good place to get a tribal neck tattoo?

The Auto Insider: 2009 Corvette ZR1 / 2010 Ford Mustang

2009 Corvette ZR1 - I'm thoroughly impressed with the ZR1's capability to take on the worlds best at half the price and twice the speed. I like my cars like I like my women, cheap and fast.

2010 Mustang - Ford has done a great job with the updated Mustang and it still proves to be a great performance value.

Ben Wojdyla: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V / 2009 Nissan 370Z

CTS-V: 556 HP, six speed manual, godlike handling, obscenely badass interior.

2009 Nissan 370Z: The first car in recent memory to actually get smaller than its precedessor. It's more powerful, better looking, and more Z. What's not to like?

(QOTD is your chance to answer the day's most pressing automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you've got a suggestion for a good "Question Of The Day" send an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)

Send an email to Matt Hardigree, the author of this post, at matt@jalopnik.com.

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