Value isn't the first thing that comes to mind when talk turns to the Chevrolet Corvette, but the Corvette is one of the best bangs for the buck when it comes to high performance. For the price of a midsize luxury sedan, the Corvette delivers supercar performance. It's easy to drive on a daily basis, and maintenance costs are not exotic.

2008 brings an all-new V8 engine for the Corvette Coupe and Convertible. The new LS3 V8 is larger, at 6.2 liters versus the previous 6.0-liter LS2 engine. Output is now 430 horsepower, an increase of 30. An optional dual-mode exhaust system raises horsepower to 436.

Indeed, the 2008 Corvette can lap a racing circuit nearly as quickly as the previous-generation Z06, a legendary car. The new LS3 engine rumbles wonderfully, and the acceleration it produces is intoxicating.

We love the standard Coupe, with either the manual or Paddle Shift automatic. It quickly infuses a driver with confidence. Its brakes are fantastic. And, it's blazingly fast. The six-speed automatic transmission works great and lives up to the advanced technology in the rest of the car; it can be shifted manually with levers on the steering column.

And the convertible is plain wonderful. Drop the top on a nice day, pop in your favorite CD, and you might have what psychologists call a peak experience, a moment where you revel in being alive. It's a fantastic feeling, and at those moments the Corvette more than justifies its price. The aural sounds of the burbling V8, the body-colored trim that surrounds the cabin, the feel of power beneath, it's automotive heaven.

The Corvette can be a reasonably comfortable daily driver in most locales, for at least three of the four seasons. The latest-generation Corvette is not a crude car, and its performance does not exact a painful toll on driver or passenger. It gets an EPA-rated 26 mpg Highway, better than most SUVs.

The Corvette Z06 is a true supercar for a price that's merely expensive, as opposed to insanely expensive. The Z06 gets the 505-hp LS7 V8, a lightweight chassis, and upgraded brakes. If any $70,000 car can be called a bargain, this is the one, at least in terms of raw performance. The Corvette Z06 accelerates faster, grips better and stops shorter than European sports cars that cost twice as much. And we find it easier to drive than a Viper. It takes an expensive machine to compete with a Z06.

For 2008, Chevrolet Corvette gets more standard features, including OnStar tele-aid service, XM Satellite Radio, an auxiliary audio input jack, and auto-dimming mirrors. A more luxurious leather package has recently been added as well.