Road test comparison article

[Pod]

(blatantly lifted off the SRS forum )

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/11755/the-lightning-lap.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.caranddriver.com/features/11755/the-lightning-lap.html

Car and Driver took a bevy of cars to Virginia International Raceway to see which ones performed best around the 4.2 mile road course.

The test includes a Charger SRT8, Mustang GT, Mustang GT500, Chevy Corvette, Chevy Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper SRT10, and Ford GT.

[Roadkill]

we mounted a Racelogic DriftBox GPS data logger on the windshield to record lap times

Those things get everywhere, now, don't they ?

[Roadkill]

The rotary engine lacked punch coming out of the corners, even when we freely used its 9000-rpm capability.



The 190-hp Lotus Elise was the quickest of the five cars in this class, narrowly besting a 400-hp Corvette, a result that will surely strengthen the Lotus's mystique as a giant killer capable of blowing past clumsy high-horsepower beasts.



The Shelby GT500 felt as if a horsepower thief were operating in the area. During our first stint, the 500-hp engine ran out of steam over 5000 rpm and came in at a disappointing 3:11.0. Thinking that the 95-degree heat had sapped its energy, we gave the Shelby another shot later in the day, but the power loss felt even more pronounced, and its laps slowed.

[Shifty]

What a load of trash, any journalist who can only find one car to put in a class (LL4) needs to be fired.
I can think of at least 3 other cars that fall within that price bracket that would totally dominate the GT40.
Although this makes for a little bit of an entertaining read I wouldn't trust it what so ever, EVO magazine does tests like this all the time on the road and track and their outcome is certainly different to this articles outcome.

[55starchief]

Quoting: Shifty

What a load of trash, any journalist who can only find one car to put in a class (LL4) needs to be fired.
I can think of at least 3 other cars that fall within that price bracket that would totally dominate the GT40.
Although this makes for a little bit of an entertaining read I wouldn't trust it what so ever, EVO magazine does tests like this all the time on the road and track and their outcome is certainly different to this articles outcome.

Car and driver is one of the most respected magazines around mate, they were the first magazine to do these types of testing, they even have their own TV show in the states that shows the testing

[Pod]

Quoting: Shifty

Although this makes for a little bit of an entertaining read I wouldn't trust it what so ever

Why not?
(I really am curious, not just being argumentative)

Because someone elses results are different?
That's always going to be the case. Tyres, weather, track, driver and car tune are the most obvious possible differences I can think of.

[Shifty]

Then they have obviously lost their way, as aforementioned anyone who can only think of one car to put in a class (LL4) presumably hasn't seen that many cars in their life.
And in farness having researched it a little now I can find more cars that will fit into all the classes, and they would stir things up a bit.

[55starchief]

Quoting: Shifty

Then they have obviously lost their way, as aforementioned anyone who can only think of one car to put in a class (LL4) presumably hasn't seen that many cars in their life.
And in farness having researched it a little now I can find more cars that will fit into all the classes, and they would stir things up a bit.

Again without knowing which companies they approached you cant be certain of what cars were usable. It may have simply been that manufacturers you have found decided not to partake. It happens a lot that some companies wont put their product against some one elses

[55starchief]

What cars would you have added remembering that they would need to be both available in the US market place an california poloution acredited. I know of a guy in the US who has the only mclaren in the USA it cost him $1m for the car and $500,000 to get it to meet regulations in california

[Pod]

They tested 17 cars, which is quite a lot in one go. They also said they will add cars to the list later on.

I can't see any reason why this test is any less valid than anyone elses. What about the Top Gear lap charts? Similar idea there.

Quoting: article

We asked the people who supplied the cars (all of them unmodified production vehicles) to send the models that are equipped with all the performance options available — things like bigger brakes and stiffer suspensions.

and

Quoting: article

Once or twice a year, we'll return to VIR with various cars and update the lap-time database. We won't run every car at VIR that comes our way, but we will have a go at performance-oriented cars

[Shifty]

Quoting: Pod

Why not?
(I really am curious, not just being argumentative)

Because someone elses results are different?
That's always going to be the case. Tyres, weather, track, driver and car tune are the most obvious possible differences I can think of.

Having read and viewed many of these types of articles for many, many years now (quite and interest of mine) you get to know what the class leaders are.

For instance in the GT40 league (LL4) in every other article I have ever seen and read since its release it has always come further down the field than the Porsche GT3 RS but obviously the readers of this article wouldn't know that because there was only one car in the race so to speak.

UK price
Porsche GT3 RS £84K
Ford GT40 £125K

And that's just for starters, Fords track record with the GT40's build quality and reliability certainly doesn't do the brand any favors, and for what £41K more. I know which one I would buy, the porche wins hands down in every way possible.

As for the other leagues (LL1, LL2 and LL3) I don't have enough time to correct the whole article, sufficed to say there are better cars in all of them for the same amount of money.
Maybe I should apply for a job there and give the readers (viewers) a complete test.

[55starchief]

Quoting: Shifty

Porsche GT3 RS £84K

well for a start it looks like that model is not available to the US market only the standard GT3

[55starchief]

also the GT3 is $107 without any extras in the USA and the Ford GT is $137 loaded

[Jamieg285]

Quoting: 55starchief

also the GT3 is $107 without any extras in the USA and the Ford GT is $137 loaded

That's cheap, I'll have 2.  

[Pod]

Quoting: Shifty

As for the other leagues (LL1, LL2 and LL3) I don't have enough time to correct the whole article, sufficed to say there are better cars in all of them for the same amount of money.

They aren't saying that the cars they have tested are the best of all available cars. They are comparing those that have been tested to each other.

What's wrong with that article, just taking into account those cars they tested?

[Pod]

And anyway, I'd take the Ford GT over any Porsche every time. The GT is cool.

[Titsy]

Quoting: Roadkill

we mounted a Racelogic DriftBox GPS data logger on the windshield to record lap times

Those things get everywhere, now, don't they ?

[Shifty]

Quoting: Pod

They aren't saying that the cars they have tested are the best of all available cars. They are comparing those that have been tested to each other.

Again there is only one car in the league (LL4) so how can it be a comparison.

Quoting: Pod

And anyway, I'd take the Ford GT over any Porsche every time. The GT is cool.

Thats right the GT looks cool from the outside (not) and the interior is realy something Ford should be proud of (looks 5h1t).

I'll stick with the Porsche, better looking, better handeling, better performance on and of the road, better build quality, conciderably better name than Ford (pulling factor). Infact i cant think of one thing the GT has over the GT3 RS.

To be perfectly honest i wouldnt have either of them, for les money there are, quicker, better looking, just as well built cars that turn more heads.