RE: Driven: Ginetta G40R
Discussion
Looks totally ideal to me, a Caterham with the majority of the issues removed (weather protection, 50's looks and a boot)
The performance looks perfectly acceptable as well, I'd be far more interested in how it gets from 30-60, 50-90 etc than 0-60 (which is not something I do often, whereas I often have to overtake, accelerate out of bends, roundabout, slips roads etc)
You can always b
h about the price of anything (and I certainly can't afford one of these) but looking at the performance, stats and the appearance I'd say it was fairly prices.
Most important piece of information not supplied- what does it sound like (Youtube clip anyone?)
The performance looks perfectly acceptable as well, I'd be far more interested in how it gets from 30-60, 50-90 etc than 0-60 (which is not something I do often, whereas I often have to overtake, accelerate out of bends, roundabout, slips roads etc)
You can always b
h about the price of anything (and I certainly can't afford one of these) but looking at the performance, stats and the appearance I'd say it was fairly prices.Most important piece of information not supplied- what does it sound like (Youtube clip anyone?)
scubadude said:
Looks totally ideal to me, a Caterham with the majority of the issues removed (weather protection, 50's looks and a boot)
Agreed, but it costs 50% more than a Caterham roadsport, and that has a better power-to-weight ratio (227bhp/tonne according to Caterham). I love the way the Ginetta looks, and that it aspires to be much more practical, but I'd have a hard time deciding it's 10k / 50% better than a Caterham.And no offence to Chris-R who has written a fine piece, but I personally find it hard to get an impression of what the car would be like, there's little comparison to anything else except when considering NVH. Does it drive more in the vein of a Caterham, or a 'lightweight' MX-5, for example? Is the ride entirely biased towards performance? Is it oversteer-y and nervous or planted and confidence-inspiring? I appreciate the set up is adjustable, but over what range? Diamond to concrete? Or steel to sponge? A lot is alluded to, but just can't help but feel some information is missing, I want to know more!!
Edited by RenesisEvo on Wednesday 3rd August 14:48
RenesisEvo said:
Agreed, but it's 50% more than a Caterham roadsport, and that has a better power-to-weight ratio (227nhp/tonne according to Caterham). I love the way the Ginetta looks, and that it aspires to be much more practical, but I'd have a hard time deciding it's 10k / 50% better than a Caterham.
And no offence to Chris-R who has written a fine piece, but I personally find it hard to get an impression of what the car would be like, there's little comparison to anything else except when considering NVH. Does it drive more in the vein of a Caterham, or a 'lightweight' MX-5, for example? Is the ride entirely biased towards performance? Is it oversteer-y and nervous or planted and confidence-inspiring? I appreciate the set up is adjustable, but over what range? Diamond to concrete? Or steel to sponge? A lot is alluded to, but just can't help but feel some information is missing, I want to know more!!
The Caterham comparison is inevitable but unfortunate as it offers so much performance for the money - I wouldn't be surprised if Tony Fernandes pushes Caterham down a similar route anyway, if the Ginetta meets its sales targets.And no offence to Chris-R who has written a fine piece, but I personally find it hard to get an impression of what the car would be like, there's little comparison to anything else except when considering NVH. Does it drive more in the vein of a Caterham, or a 'lightweight' MX-5, for example? Is the ride entirely biased towards performance? Is it oversteer-y and nervous or planted and confidence-inspiring? I appreciate the set up is adjustable, but over what range? Diamond to concrete? Or steel to sponge? A lot is alluded to, but just can't help but feel some information is missing, I want to know more!!
A better comparison might be with the MX5 as you say, or with Elise/Exige.
RenesisEvo said:
Agreed, but it costs 50% more than a Caterham roadsport, and that has a better power-to-weight ratio (227bhp/tonne according to Caterham). I love the way the Ginetta looks, and that it aspires to be much more practical, but I'd have a hard time deciding it's 10k / 50% better than a Caterham.
The p/w ratio is only 10% better for that Caterham, and if you take account of a 75kg driver that gap drops to 6%.Also relevant is my earlier question about the aerodynamics - if the Ginetta is reasonably slippery, its performance above 60mph is likely to be noticeably better than the Caterham, so the price difference may be looking more reasonable when taking that into account.
Very PH.
Almost like a TVR and an MX5 got together in a very loving and special relationship and had a bouncy little offspring. I would be worried if they were using another crate V8 and claiming thousands of units a year, but the price and production number sound very reasonable indeed. A good traditional front engined 4-cylinder RWD little lightweight machine with unfussy looks, I think it will sell itself.
Almost like a TVR and an MX5 got together in a very loving and special relationship and had a bouncy little offspring. I would be worried if they were using another crate V8 and claiming thousands of units a year, but the price and production number sound very reasonable indeed. A good traditional front engined 4-cylinder RWD little lightweight machine with unfussy looks, I think it will sell itself.
Shnozz said:
They were parked up in Leeds on Monday night down by The Calls. Looked very nicely finished.
I saw LNT 3 a month or two ago outside a new care home that had just opened in Meltham. The MD of Ginetta must own it or be involved in it then.I remember thinking 'what the hell is that' good luck to Ginetta
braddo said:
Also relevant is my earlier question about the aerodynamics - if the Ginetta is reasonably slippery, its performance above 60mph is likely to be noticeably better than the Caterham, so the price difference may be looking more reasonable when taking that into account.
I can agree with your comments - don't get me wrong, I've loved the G40 ever since I first set eyes on it. I suspect by the time I'm in a position to consider a Caterham, there may well be second hand examples that would prove very tempting. Plus it's a bit rarer and a bit more special in my eyes - e.g. at the Silverstone Classic, there were dozens of Locaterfields, but only 3 Ginettas.RenesisEvo said:
I can agree with your comments - don't get me wrong, I've loved the G40 ever since I first set eyes on it. I suspect by the time I'm in a position to consider a Caterham, there may well be second hand examples that would prove very tempting. Plus it's a bit rarer and a bit more special in my eyes - e.g. at the Silverstone Classic, there were dozens of Locaterfields, but only 3 Ginettas.
At 100/year it'll stay a lot rarer than Caterhams (50+ years of production) and the replicas (anyone going to bite? 
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