Hornet to me. when it came out it was impressive, a mix of phantom, crusader and F-5. I have some data on the test performed by the Spanish Air Force when we where to choose a new fighter in the early 1981, and it was better than any other aircraft of its generation. Better in strike and survivability than any other fighter in the western 4th generation, being considered for the program all the Teen Series, plus the Tornado, Mirage 2000 and Tigershark. It was estimated that a Hornet batch of 72 aircraft was worth a force of 96 Falcons (back then, 10 years before the AMRAAM) and could beat a Tornado IDS in strike.
Maybe it has not the best speed, nor the best range, maybe not the best in anything, but simply a combat aircraft wich can accomplish anything. It served well my country, and maybe i´m biased, but in proved well in anything, as CAP, SEAD, strike, air defence in the Balkans War and the crisis with Morocco, so F-18 for me