Autocar - "Best handling car" shock horror

[Mr John]

MikeE said:

I know I'll get flamed for this but......there was something very suspect about the lap times they published. I can not believe that an Elise 135 (or what ever it's called) would be anywhere near as fast as an R400 on either an twisty or power circuit. Similarly I find it hard to believe that a T350C would be faster than a Zonda on a power circuit, or faster than a GT3 on a twisty one. Something very suspect there. So consequently as I don't believe the times I don't believe there should be a direct correlation between these times and the 'winner'. Having said that I do believe the final result (MX5) was a total joke (any correlation between giving the winner away and the MX5 being the cheapest, no surely not!).

Hey the stopwatch doesn't lie.

I have read other reports of the Elise generating higher g and more grip than the Caterham before (I admit not a R400) but it was a std Elise aswell. The Elise is one of the most explorable and best handling cars ever in my oppinion. I have never driven a Caterham 7 (but would love the chance if you fancy letting me by the way) but have heard they can be snappy, is this true ?

As for the T350 it's road holding has astounded me. Having driven both Griffith and Chimera models, which can be brutal (but still great to drive) the T350 amazes. TVR have got it right with this set up and should be congratulated.

Maybe a different track would yield different results ?

Agree with you on the MX5 front though. Yes they are fun and nice to drive but no champion in the handling stakes. The £350,000 Zonda was never going to be allowed to win was it ?

[tuscansix]

on another thread I said:

Well having read the article it isn't a shock at all bearing in mind that the MX5 won back in 1990 as mentioned in the verdict. A different circuit every year has a tremendous effect on the eventual winner. In last years competition the Lambo was the winner around Goodwood and in 2001 the Lotus Elise won for the second time (previous 1996?) at a different circuit, this year the Lambo was off the pace and the Pagani struggled mightily as well. So differing circuits are the biggest single factor in the eventual winner. So overall not a shocking winner at all. A real shock would have been the Audi S4.

So that's my comment.

[blueyes]

To add insult to injury Mazda are now using this line in their T.V. adverts:

"Best handling car 2003" Autocar

To55ers