RE: Ringside Seat: playing with the big boys

RE: Ringside Seat: playing with the big boys

Author
Discussion

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

197 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Enricogto said:
Regardin the A/C unit on the Zonda, that's perfectly normal, but you may be even more astonished to know that the same unit is used (as well as the complete conditioning system) in a series of farm tractors and is manufactured by Diavia.
It was choosen (like many others hidden components in that car) because as a small manufacturer it could not afford the developement cost of specific components while granting a good quality. The same applies for instance, with the traction control system that comes straight from Mercedes (AMG-connection) and is manufactured by Bosch.

Enrico
I think most understand that, but he could have used an HVAC system which has rotary dials so that at least the plastic dials could have been replaced by some nice machined alloy ones. It would have hidden the origin better.

It certainly surprised me given the almost obsessive nature in which he crafts his cars.

suffolk009

5,344 posts

164 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Dale Lomas said:
Those are the entry stickers for the Gran Turismo event:

Ah, oh, okay. But years ago, I used to do the ring and Spa with Wheeltorque. They gave us simple numbers to stick in the windscreen. Admitely not totally brilliant since I had a Caterham Superlight with black aeroscreen, but....

Obviously if I'd done the Mille, then I might want to keep the plaque, but an entry sticky on the car - not convinced.

I just think these rally stickers look a bit naff. Is it just me?

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
suffolk009 said:
Ah, oh, okay. But years ago, I used to do the ring and Spa with Wheeltorque. They gave us simple numbers to stick in the windscreen. Admitely not totally brilliant since I had a Caterham Superlight with black aeroscreen, but....

Obviously if I'd done the Mille, then I might want to keep the plaque, but an entry sticky on the car - not convinced.

I just think these rally stickers look a bit naff. Is it just me?
They certainly don't make your car look great. Like sticking a name badge on a designer shirt at a conference.

That Agera is a stunning machine though, I understand neither of them was really gunning on the final straight, but it certainly opened a gap on that Zonda.

tommy vercetti

11,486 posts

162 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Wow, would take the Agera though, not a fan of the Zonda, fk, I wish I was filthy rich.

mrclav

1,281 posts

222 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Nedzilla said:
Dale Lomas said:
You mean the Rover 45 climate control pictured here?


Genuine Pagani unit on eBay for comparison at a 99% discount...


wink
Mr Pagani should be ashamed of himself!!
Why? Because he uses a unit that has also been used in a much cheaper mass produced car? All cars, even ones expensive as a Zonda, are built to a price and a budget. As was said before, Pagani are a small company and with the costs involved of development of an all bespoke interior maybe the budget would have been diverted from the main important/oily bits; you know, things like suspension/handling development and the like. Looking at that it's obvious that they went to an awful lot of trouble to make it what it is and I'm sure the HVAC is hardly something a Zonda owner would ever notice having been used in a Rover; in fact I wonder how many Zonda owners would even know what the interior of a Rover 45 looks like!

If it were my car, the way I'd see it is that it's a reliable unit - something bespoke could potentially be more grief and although at that level I'd not have an issue with getting things fixed the inconvenience of having to do so would be annoying. Let's face it, super-cars haven't generally been known for their day-to-day reliability and having owned a Rover with those I never had any problems with the HVAC unit.

At the end of the day if you can afford to buy one then you can afford to have something custom made by the factory if it really irritates you that much...



J4CKO

41,287 posts

199 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Is it just me or was that a total non event ?

iva cosworth

44,044 posts

162 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
My mates arrived at Ring today and will be gutted they missed a chance to see those mega

motors........[if i dare tell them or send them a link to hereidea]

jetpilot

242 posts

155 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
The old Koenigsegg used Mazda RX7 rear lights, but who really cares, only on PH could someone find fault with such stunning cars, i bet you lot would cancel your order rolleyes

Streetrod

6,468 posts

205 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Nedzilla said:
Dale Lomas said:
You mean the Rover 45 climate control pictured here?


Genuine Pagani unit on eBay for comparison at a 99% discount...


wink
Mr Pagani should be ashamed of himself!!
Wake up in the back guys, this is such old news. Pagani has been using the same head unit since the first C12 built in 1999. The thing is it works, is reliable and fits in with the rest of the interior. As has been mentioned when the first Zonda's were being built the cost involved in developing and producing such a small number of controls systems would have been prohibitive and more than likely unreliable. Strangely I don’t know of any owner that has complained.

As for the Huayra, this time around he has developed completely custom systems as the money has been available.


Repent

358 posts

172 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
I think they should have at least molested the buttons, that couldnt have been that difficult again going with the wonderfully meticulous approach everywhere else. You wouldnt buy a £2million house and accept that despite the rest is fabulous, the toilets and sinks are the same ones you'd find in a shopping mall in Luton. Especially as your going to be looking and interacting with that unit quite a lot when driving given the places most of these cars will roam.

Im sure Horatio thought of that and it was unfeasible blah blah blah, but as said with a product at that price and a key claim on its individuality and custom build thats a bit of a shocker! Still ones of the most desirable cars on the planet though.

Edited by Repent on Saturday 7th April 06:05

Streetrod

6,468 posts

205 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
The thing with any low volume car manufacturing is that people often fail (including the people who are building the cars) to realise the cost of what at first glance look like minor things. Switches and control systems are notoriously expensive to develop and tool up for. TVR gave it a good stab but we all know how that went initially. And it’s often these little things that let down an interior on a low volume car. Does anyone remember the old Ford switch gear and Volvo sat nav on recent Astons?

So before you were informed of the origins of the Zonda's climate control did you think it looked low rent? Having had the pleasure of sitting in the drivers seats of one of these rare beasts I can’t say it bothered me at all

madda

40 posts

171 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
LukeBird said:
Bloody hell! thumbup
Good to see the PH choice participating as well, there's a Mk2 MX-5 following the Koenigsegg onto the track around 1:25!
We might have overtaken it too. biggrin

Full write up from me, a relitively poor Welshmans perspective who was lucky enough to attend the event coming soon.

55+ laps in the turbo Mx5 and we are heading home along the M20 as I type this. The event was beyond our wildest dreams and I will find a way of going again next year.

NGK210

2,867 posts

144 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Nedzilla said:
Dale Lomas said:
You mean the Rover 45 climate control pictured here?


Genuine Pagani unit on eBay for comparison at a 99% discount...


wink
Mr Pagani should be ashamed of himself!!
At least it's been dressed up with some shiny metal and blends in with the rest of the dash, unlike the 'borrowed' column stalks in the Aston One-77... irked

rohrl

8,712 posts

144 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Repent said:
I think they should have at least molested the buttons
Eh?

Nice cars. I think I'd like a little more run-off room than the 'ring affords personally if I were behind the wheel of either but then I'm not a gazillionaire.

LukeBird

17,170 posts

208 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
madda said:
LukeBird said:
Bloody hell! thumbup
Good to see the PH choice participating as well, there's a Mk2 MX-5 following the Koenigsegg onto the track around 1:25!
We might have overtaken it too. biggrin

Full write up from me, a relitively poor Welshmans perspective who was lucky enough to attend the event coming soon.

55+ laps in the turbo Mx5 and we are heading home along the M20 as I type this. The event was beyond our wildest dreams and I will find a way of going again next year.
Awesome, can't wait to see the write up! smile

vetteheadracer

8,271 posts

252 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
bosscerbera said:
Loving the Easter 'Egg.
TEEHEE Phil

Davey S2

13,075 posts

253 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Great to see these cars being used in anger but I can't help thinking that I would rather have the keys to a Caterham R500 or a V8 Atom at the Ring for a few days.

veevee

1,455 posts

150 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
Streetrod said:
Nedzilla said:
Dale Lomas said:
You mean the Rover 45 climate control pictured here?


Genuine Pagani unit on eBay for comparison at a 99% discount...


wink
Mr Pagani should be ashamed of himself!!
Wake up in the back guys, this is such old news. Pagani has been using the same head unit since the first C12 built in 1999. The thing is it works, is reliable and fits in with the rest of the interior. As has been mentioned when the first Zonda's were being built the cost involved in developing and producing such a small number of controls systems would have been prohibitive and more than likely unreliable. Strangely I don’t know of any owner that has complained.

As for the Huayra, this time around he has developed completely custom systems as the money has been available.
Not an excuse in a car at this price point. You wouldn't have to develop a whole new unit, just a facia would be fine?

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
Is it just me or was that a total non event ?
Not just you. The entire event has only been saved by the genius spot of a Rover 45 AC unit.

Whoever thought that would be a highlight. biggrin

Davey S2

13,075 posts

253 months

Friday 6th April 2012
quotequote all
veevee said:
Streetrod said:
Nedzilla said:
Dale Lomas said:
You mean the Rover 45 climate control pictured here?


Genuine Pagani unit on eBay for comparison at a 99% discount...


wink
Mr Pagani should be ashamed of himself!!
Wake up in the back guys, this is such old news. Pagani has been using the same head unit since the first C12 built in 1999. The thing is it works, is reliable and fits in with the rest of the interior. As has been mentioned when the first Zonda's were being built the cost involved in developing and producing such a small number of controls systems would have been prohibitive and more than likely unreliable. Strangely I don’t know of any owner that has complained.

As for the Huayra, this time around he has developed completely custom systems as the money has been available.
Not an excuse in a car at this price point. You wouldn't have to develop a whole new unit, just a facia would be fine?
The facia is different?