Evo Car of the Year
Author
Discussion

Megaflow

Original Poster:

10,708 posts

245 months

Yesterday (11:59)
quotequote all
This sort of relates to the 2025 version, but is also generic to all years. Apologies if there is already a thread running, but I couldn't find one.

A fit of boredom saw me compile some data, here is the 1998 Car of the Year averages:
  • Power = 248bhp
  • Torque = 225lb.ft
  • Weight = 1212kg
  • 0-60 = 5.4 seconds
  • Top Speed = 149mph
  • Price = £42,377 (inflation corrected £83,058)
That to me sounds like an attainable car, given that a Golf GTi is now has a starting price of £42k, that sounds like a lot of fun.

Fast forward to 2025:
  • Power = 603bhp
  • Torque = 510lb.ft
  • Weight = 1656kg
  • 0-60 = 3.4 seconds
  • Top Speed = 188mph
  • Price = £210,847
That to me sounds like a car that is not useable on the road and very people can afford.

Just what target market are the manufacturers after these days and when are they going to stop the 'More = Better' approach?

Rant over.

Oh, and if anyone is interested, the 911 GT3 in 26 years has gone up as follows:

  • Power = 360 > 503
  • Torque = 273 > 332
  • Weight = 1350 > 1461
  • 0-60 = 4.5 > 3.9
  • Top Speed = 187 > 194
  • Price = £76,500 (corrected £147.7k) > £158,200
And here are the graphs:





I did say I was bored...

nerd

Edited by Megaflow on Wednesday 3rd December 12:09


Edited by Megaflow on Wednesday 3rd December 12:19

WCZ

11,229 posts

214 months

Yesterday (12:17)
quotequote all
we're still a few years away from the more is better thing ending, especially with high end sportscars

atm people still want more and more power

DMZ

1,921 posts

180 months

Yesterday (20:52)
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Maybe I will feel differently once the video is out but I found this year’s eCoty to be quite boring. It was just a bit predictable or something. Lots of very quick cars going quickly and lots of electronics to keep them in check. Which is nicely summarised by the stats in the first post.

Comparing with let’s say Top Gear that picked a restomod as the winner and concluded that everything else was too heavy, too fast, too inert, too boring.

Terminator X

18,834 posts

224 months

Yesterday (21:02)
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Like the data, thanks for that. Interesting to see power and weight and price all climbing!

Cars need to get lighter with average power imho.

TX.

RDMcG

20,215 posts

227 months

Yesterday (21:14)
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I have had four GT3RS ( still 3 in garage) from this period. and completely understand the numbers which are correct.

I would contend that Porsche has not really played the power game, and the Turbos, GT2 cars do that better than any GT3.


From experience I would suggest that the big advances have been in handling, aerodynamics rather than power. I have had all of them at the Nürburgring and Spa and there is a marked difference from a 997.1RS to a 992RS, in particular wet handling. In general I have not sought the most powerful cars ( and there are certainly well down in power compared to the competition of the era.

You are very right that the prices have become insane. I do not pay a penny more or less than list, but my 2023 992 was more than twice the price of my 2008 997.

itcaptainslow

4,335 posts

156 months

Yesterday (22:38)
quotequote all
DMZ said:
Maybe I will feel differently once the video is out but I found this year s eCoty to be quite boring. It was just a bit predictable or something. Lots of very quick cars going quickly and lots of electronics to keep them in check. Which is nicely summarised by the stats in the first post.

Comparing with let s say Top Gear that picked a restomod as the winner and concluded that everything else was too heavy, too fast, too inert, too boring.
Indeed. I usually devour ECOTY but this year I pretty much skim read it and struggled to really get into the story. The only car I felt more than a flicker of interest in was the Alpine (which itself isn't exactly attainable!).

Inbox

1,023 posts

6 months

Yesterday (22:42)
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Does anyone take any notice of the Car of the Year awards?

They just don't seem very relevant.

Mr Tidy

28,279 posts

147 months

Yesterday (22:50)
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Inbox said:
Does anyone take any notice of the Car of the Year awards?

They just don't seem very relevant.
I don't think it has ever been that relevant when horrors like the Chrysler Alpine, Renault 9 and Scenic were past winners of the ECOTY!

T1547

1,205 posts

154 months

Yesterday (22:51)
quotequote all
Power = 248bhp
Torque = 225lb.ft
Weight = 1212kg
0-60 = 5.4 seconds
Top Speed = 149mph


Those stats sound like a recipe for a great road car tbh.

Not a million miles from my GR86.

Not fussed about 600bhp and 1600+kg.

Maxym

2,613 posts

256 months

Yesterday (23:00)
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I tend to think that 200 bhp in a car weighing about 1.25 tonnes is enough, particularly if the motor is torquey. Actually my 180 hp 320i gets me along briskly enough.

80sMatchbox

3,953 posts

196 months

Yesterday (23:05)
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It was only a few days ago that I realised that I drive the first Ecoty winner.

You can probably guess what it is if I tell you that they started how they meant to go on. biggrin

ITP

2,345 posts

217 months

Yesterday (23:10)
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Sadly it’s becoming very ‘meh’ these days. Don’t know what wins, but when they are all basically unattainable, even in a few years when secondhand, probably all auto (although I guess M2 and 911 could be manual) I already know I won’t be that interested anyway. Plus, a defender?

In their defence, I guess it just shows there are virtually no affordable, fun, lightweight cars available new now to include. And even if there were, everything is ruined now by constantly having to deal with electronic nannies/touchscreens. Some impressive cars there though even though totally out of reach for most.