RE: Driven: Artega GT

Author
Discussion

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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V8 GRF said:
kambites said:
I don't really understand why it matters who owns companies? In practice most are ultimately owned by a variety of shareholders from around the world anyway.
It doesn't, but you replied to a comment I made about money only coming from foreign investors for UK originated projects. I was bemoaning the lack of inward investment from UK investors in UK car projects. smile
Ah, oops. I meant to reply to the comment that you were replying to. smile

I still think it holds that things tend to be done with Foreign money in the UK though, not in foreign lands.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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Skater12 said:
Evora crossbred with a Cayman.
I really like it, and as long as it gets a suitably sized UK dealer network, and is priced accordlingly, I reckon it'll steal some sales from both marks.
It will rattle Ginetta's cage in some style as well. I know which one of the four I'd prefer.

Mikeyboy

5,018 posts

234 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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I'll say it again. These cars are too expensive. They may as well be Ferrari prices.

the Evora, Ginetta and Artega all want to appeal to the Audi TT driver who actually likes to drive but can't actually afford to buy in stock at levels that make these cars appeal to that audience.

Why was the original Elise a success? Not because it drove well, lots of cars can do that. It was a success because people could actually afford it.

These will always be mostly second cars and at 60k even the owners of Merc S classes would think twice about this for the weekend.

So they remain cars we see at motor shows or hear are really good to drive but know of no-one who owns one.

stworld

16 posts

187 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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stworld said:
Isn't that the top half of the dash from the 05-08 Audi A4...

Oh, yes, so it is! Still not a bad choice imho - always thought it was one of the best dashes designed (if a little lacking in excitement...)
Having thought some more- could it be the dash from the last gen passat prior to the relatively recent update?

Still looks good for the type of car and method of build if you ask me...

peter450

1,650 posts

232 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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Front headlights give it a slightly cross eyed look

Hellbound

2,500 posts

175 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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LordGrover said:
Lotus produce some good sports cars but I don't know enough about Ginetta to make a worthwhile comment. What I do know is I don't like them - they look a bit tacky and cheap, no flourish or eye-catching nuances to grab my attention. I'm sure they have a passionate following, but they don't do it for me.
This Artega GT however, is very pleasing on the (my) eye and reading the review sounds pretty good. If I had £60k to spend on a sports car it would be on my list. Unfortunately, I'm struggling to justify £6k. paperbag
I'm not a fan either, and we're both brave for saying so as there's quite a following for Ginetta. From what I've seen, they look cheap, the styling is uninspired and all this going back and forth with testing and tweaking just screams amateur to me. Clearly building race cars is easier than going into mainstream road car production at this level.

GTRene

16,369 posts

223 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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The last time that I was there I drove the green car the PB A 3152 wich was much easier then I suspected, it felt good and easy like say when you drive the elise 111R you felt one with the car so to speak.
That green car had all white/creme leather wich looked good I must say, but I'm more a fan of black interior with lots of alcantara.





the interior of that showroom car was also nice with lots of alcantara above and on the sides,
pictures are bad and do it justice I must say.






JonRB

74,393 posts

271 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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I just love the compact dimensions of this car and that it is based on mainstream VAG running gear. Plus, of course, I have a soft spot for the VR6 engine. smile

Would love to see it come here at a reasonable price point. However, for Sagaris money I'd want Sagaris performance and I fear it would be nowhere near. frown

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Friday 18th November 2011
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GTRene said:
That looks a lot different from my local Lotus dealer. They've got a row of brand new Evoras lined up outside in all weathers priced at £68,000 each! Looks like some crummy backstreet trader, not a purveyor of specialist sportscars. For even half that money I'd expect to see my new car gleaming in the showroom.


BSC

341 posts

281 months

Friday 18th November 2011
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kambites said:
Ah, oops. I meant to reply to the comment that you were replying to. smile

I still think it holds that things tend to be done with Foreign money in the UK though, not in foreign lands.
Artega used to belong to Paragon, a company that supplies dashboards to the automotive industry. some time ago Artega went out of money and was sold to a Mexican company that grew up from a brewery to one of the biggest players in middle America. So Artega is mmexican now. And Lotus belongs to Proton that is malaysian and not korean.

The seats of the Artega are the same as in the Evora. Can't understand why it should be easier to enter the Artega than the Evora, the scuttle of an Evora is much higher.

The interior design is a matter of taste. I personally don't like it. Too many gimmicks that didn't work and gave Artega a lot to rectify, rework and redesign. You can bring the Artega MY 2011 to MY 2012 standard but you will have to fork out another 8,000 Pounds for it to be done.

Not many Artegas on the roads in Germany, but a fellow ex-Elise driver has bought one some month ago and just had the car amended to the MY 2012 standard. One of his statements about the car was that in city traffic the car seems to be too wide. Irritating?

ktm301p

746 posts

188 months

Saturday 19th November 2011
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RudeDog said:
These are exactly my thoughts
+1!

TheOrangePeril

778 posts

179 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
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Very 4C profile, would be a tough call between the two!

GrahamFarthing

213 posts

158 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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Is that sat nav map on the door mirror?

Mikeyboy

5,018 posts

234 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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GrahamFarthing said:
Is that sat nav map on the door mirror?
rear view mirror I think.

N3V4N5

14 posts

148 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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The back looks like Sylvester Stallone hehe

gary_de_tam

448 posts

215 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
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Any UK stockists ?

GTRene

16,369 posts

223 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
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nice color


JonRB

74,393 posts

271 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
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Well I really like it. If it were more affordable (or I had more money) I'd have one as a daily driver in a flash.

GTRene

16,369 posts

223 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
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a nice video with lots of sounds R36 Artega GT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axH6Soh9THE&fea...

also like this color





also here you can see how compact it is, looks chunky in the flesh


LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
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Pretty. Poise. Presence.
Liking this more and more...