Michael Banovsky's best and worst 2008

BRIAN EARLY FOR THE TORONTO STAR

Audi R8.

MICHAEL BANOVSKY'S BEST

Dodge Sprinter

My top three cars would have to be the Nissan GT-R, Ford Mustang Bullitt, and Saab Turbo X. But the best vehicle? That goes to the Dodge Sprinter van.

First, the back story: each year I accompany my dad to the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. This year, we invited seven friends – with me promising I'd have something suitable for the drive.

We typically stay in Longueuil on the South Shore relative to Montreal, park on Ile Sainte-Helene each day, and walk across a small pedestrian bridge to the track, avoiding subway traffic.

To avoid taking separate vehicles, I booked a 12-passenger Dodge Sprinter van. It not only swallowed all of our luggage, but the efficiency of its diesel power plant meant we needed more pit stops than it did. Back in June, diesel was between $1.41 and $1.56 per litre – not inconsiderable with a 113L tank. With nine people and their luggage on board, we averaged less than 11 L/100 km. The total per person cost for fuel and parking: $40.

For helping to create a memorable weekend and being efficient, comfortable and safe at the same time, the Sprinter proves it's sometimes better to share the fun among your friends.

... AND WORST

Audi R8

Expectations, great expectations, that keen sense of anticipation that builds up within you, can often kill the moment.

And that's what makes the Audi R8 the worst car I've driven all year.

Sure, it makes you feel like a kid again. But I'm so young, I still remember what it was like to sketch exotic cars over my homework – and I drew them with better proportions than the R8. When Audi makes a supercar, it's supposed to stretch the boundaries of technology, like its racing efforts. Where's the diesel engine, the turbochargers with crazy Group B-style boost, or the proper dual-clutch gearbox (as opposed to a flawed, optional $10,000 unit borrowed from Lamborghini)?

Its design is derivative of a thousand other sports cars. In Europe, Audi sells a wagon that's faster.

Fitted with a fine-sounding 4.2 L V8 engine, the R8 sounds like an exotic. But when the same motor is fitted in the Audi RS4 sedan, it provides 95 per cent of the performance (and two extra doors) for $40,000 less. The Nissan GT-R provides 140 per cent of the performance for $50,000 less (and two extra seats), and I've watched the GT-R maul an R8 on-track.

My tip? Buy the rights to GT-R's design, put LED fog lights on the front, four rings and a wagon back on the rear: There's a supercar worthy of Audi.

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