The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T (Vol XVI)
Discussion
GarageQueen said:
I agree, Surprised they weren't that successful, I'd have one.
Really?Flaky build, humble off-the-shelf engine, shonky kit, a company on its knees with with shaky after-sales support... Need I go on? frankly it's a miracle 500 people were brave enough to invest their hard-earned.
GreatPretender said:
Really?
Flaky build, humble off-the-shelf engine, shonky kit, a company on its knees with with shaky after-sales support... Need I go on? frankly it's a miracle 500 people were brave enough to invest their hard-earned.
It's nowhere near that bad. Perhaps you're conditioned to the correct answer only ever being Porsche or BMW. Porsche and BMW are the best in the world at what they do, but it doesn't mean choosing something else is crazy.Flaky build, humble off-the-shelf engine, shonky kit, a company on its knees with with shaky after-sales support... Need I go on? frankly it's a miracle 500 people were brave enough to invest their hard-earned.
The Evora offers a different set of compromises to the Porsches. Niggles at the beginning of an all-new model's life (like nearly every manufacturer suffers), infotainment that isn't as pretty looking and integrated as everyone else's, but offset by peerless ride/handling and exclusivity (couple of thousand made per year MAX).
Humble engine comes with reliabilty and longevity versus Porsche's engines, which are more characterful.
Busy day today. Went with a friend to Grange Aston Martin so he could test drive a couple of Vantages. While he did that, I wandered nextdoor to the Jag dealer, and ended up driving a couple of XFs - a 2.7d and a 3.0d. The 3.0d was by far the nicer tractor lump, although engine aside they seem like nice cars, if you can get over the touchscreen looking like a mid-game Outrun menu.
After that I took a 10-plate V8 Vantage Roadster for a little drive. Had the later 4.7 engine and the Sportshift 'box. Three things stood out - firstly, it rode beautifully. Secondly, it really didn't feel fast at all. And thirdly, that gearbox is woeful. It probably didn't help that I'd brought the 911 to work today, but my God. The knock-on being that I definitely don't want an SMG M3, which makes me wonder if I want an M3 at all now.
After that I took a 10-plate V8 Vantage Roadster for a little drive. Had the later 4.7 engine and the Sportshift 'box. Three things stood out - firstly, it rode beautifully. Secondly, it really didn't feel fast at all. And thirdly, that gearbox is woeful. It probably didn't help that I'd brought the 911 to work today, but my God. The knock-on being that I definitely don't want an SMG M3, which makes me wonder if I want an M3 at all now.
braddo said:
Perhaps you're conditioned to the correct answer only ever being Porsche or BMW
Not at all. Like I said, I love the Elise (and its Exige brother). Rather, it's the huge gulf in quality versus entry fee which caused me to take a wide berth.I work in an industry where a 'that'll do' attitude tends to kill people. Ergo, I won't compromise on quality. I don't care how well a car handles, if it's not screwed together properly, I'm not interested.
Ironically, I actually found the Exige I nearly bought to be very well nailed together, but I couldn't say the same about the Evora. Very disappointing and nowhere near quick enough.
I can't question your logic GP, and quality is likely to be second to the Germans, but I too quite like the Evora. It was EVO car of the year in 2009, so must be a half decent steer, and an attractive alternative to the default.
Other notable contenders were:
- AM V12V
- 997 GT3
- Gallardo Balboni
- LP670 SV
- Clio 200 Cup
Would you buy one instead of a GT3, of course not. Instead of a C2, maybe.
Other notable contenders were:
- AM V12V
- 997 GT3
- Gallardo Balboni
- LP670 SV
- Clio 200 Cup
Would you buy one instead of a GT3, of course not. Instead of a C2, maybe.
GreatPretender said:
I work in an industry where a 'that'll do' attitude tends to kill people. Ergo, I won't compromise on quality. I don't care how well a car handles, if it's not screwed together properly, I'm not interested.
Fair enough, but the quality issues for the Evora are superficial in the context of its primary purpose of being a sports car. It would be a bit* like closing down an oil rig because the office furniture is naff and flimsy.(* not really)
Output Flange said:
After that I took a 10-plate V8 Vantage Roadster for a little drive. Had the later 4.7 engine and the Sportshift 'box. Three things stood out - firstly, it rode beautifully. Secondly, it really didn't feel fast at all. And thirdly, that gearbox is woeful.
The manual V12 Vantage is the one to try. 
It rarely feels slow.
joesnow said:
I can't question your logic GP, and quality is likely to be second to the Germans, but I too quite like the Evora. It was EVO car of the year in 2009, so must be a half decent steer, and an attractive alternative to the default.
Other notable contenders were:
- AM V12V
- 997 GT3
- Gallardo Balboni
- LP670 SV
- Clio 200 Cup
Would you buy one instead of a GT3, of course not. Instead of a C2, maybe.
I remember the test well. I also remember the rumours of a hoofing great brown envelope addressed to Evo Towers with a Hethel post mark Other notable contenders were:
- AM V12V
- 997 GT3
- Gallardo Balboni
- LP670 SV
- Clio 200 Cup
Would you buy one instead of a GT3, of course not. Instead of a C2, maybe.
I actually did buy a C2(S) over the Evora. I found it to be an order of magnitude more competent than the Lotus in every conceivable area with perhaps exception to the damping, which in the Lotus was quite remarkable. Despite the infamous engine maladies which have afflicted the boys from Zuffenhausen, the 997 felt like it would do a convincing quarter of a million miles. Every switch, handle, panel felt built to last. And the GT3 feels the same.
braddo said:
GreatPretender said:
I work in an industry where a 'that'll do' attitude tends to kill people. Ergo, I won't compromise on quality. I don't care how well a car handles, if it's not screwed together properly, I'm not interested.
Fair enough, but the quality issues for the Evora are superficial in the context of its primary purpose of being a sports car. It would be a bit* like closing down an oil rig because the office furniture is naff and flimsy.(* not really)
And I don't agree at all: our GT3s are sports cars, but they're also properly made.
I'm not anti Lotus. But if they want to make it in this world, their product needs to be of a quality buyers expect. That's why TVR went tits up (who by way of comparison, didn't even know what engineering was).
Output Flange said:
braddo said:
Fair enough, but the quality issues for the Evora are superficial in the context of its primary purpose of being a sports car.
Not at £30k they're not.Does anyone here ever go to the Winchester drinks?
Gold star if you can guess the sticker price for this:
http://www.jdclassics.co.uk/showrooms/Porsche-356-...
http://www.jdclassics.co.uk/showrooms/Porsche-356-...
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