This is how cars should be tested/reviewed - GTR vs EVO X vs R8 vs Subaru STi vs Elise vs 911

Gibbo · 2 Mar 2011 at 22:49

Hi there

A cracking video this:-

Can't beat that, test them on the race track and then hoon them A-B on a twisty bumpy road timing them.

The EVO X does very well considering thats the tame US MR varient with just 291BHP and the GTR just dominates, the Subaru really is crap.

Cristian · 2 Mar 2011 at 23:11

completely agree with the testing methodology but the car selection seems a bit... weird?

I mean you get the GTR and an R8 and put it against a regular 911? there should be a turbo there. And what about some other cars? m3? some american muscle like corvette zr1?
At the same time a wrx or evo are in significantly lower price brackets than the R8/GTR/911, aren't theny?

hurfdurf · 2 Mar 2011 at 23:14

Edmunds does kind of own some times but its hard to take Americans seriously a lot of the time when it comes to cars, maybe that is just me being dumb though

Maximum Triceratops · 2 Mar 2011 at 23:28

Still love the Evox but it is the worst looking evo of recent times imo of course, not as bad as the Subaru though.

rjk · 2 Mar 2011 at 23:46

so when you getting a GTR Gibbo?

Lashout_UK · 3 Mar 2011 at 07:19

Cristian said:
completely agree with the testing methodology but the car selection seems a bit... weird?

I mean you get the GTR and an R8 and put it against a regular 911? there should be a turbo there. And what about some other cars? m3? some american muscle like corvette zr1?
At the same time a wrx or evo are in significantly lower price brackets than the R8/GTR/911, aren't theny?

Been done!

Was sitting in the ZR1 again yesterday and having a good poke around. I'd still have one, without a single moment's consideration. They're such ace cars in the flesh.

MOOGLEYS · 3 Mar 2011 at 09:16

Nissan.. meh, Corvette oh yeah.. GTR really does nothing for me its just a computer on wheels The corvette is where my money would be.

Gibbo · 3 Mar 2011 at 09:19

MOOGLEYS said:
Nissan.. meh, Corvette oh yeah.. GTR really does nothing for me its just a computer on wheels The corvette is where my money would be.

Ive driven both for large periods of time, well the Z06 anyway.

I agree with the review, though I think on the GTR they only tried 0-60 and 1/4 mile once and went with first result as I've driven GTR down the 1/4 mile and it recorded 3.5s 0-60mph and 11.5s 1/4 mile at 117mph.

But on a racetrack with equal drivers I'd back the Z06/ZR1 as its far lighter, more powerful and due to this can stop and turn quicker. However it takes a huge amount more driver skill to get the best from the Vette.

Still it does not mean the GTR can be driven fast by anyone, in race mode the car still needs common sense and an element of skill to push it hard which is rewarding.

But on a UK road the GTR I'd say is probably untouchable by any car, its closest rivals will be 997 Turbo and Mitsubishi EVO FQ-400, I can't see any other car even coming close on a UK road to a GTR.

Gaygle · 3 Mar 2011 at 09:22

Cristian said:
completely agree with the testing methodology but the car selection seems a bit... weird?

I mean you get the GTR and an R8 and put it against a regular 911? there should be a turbo there. And what about some other cars? m3? some american muscle like corvette zr1?
At the same time a wrx or evo are in significantly lower price brackets than the R8/GTR/911, aren't theny?

lolamericans.

MOOGLEYS · 3 Mar 2011 at 09:36

Gibbo said:
Ive driven both for large periods of time, well the Z06 anyway.

I agree with the review, though I think on the GTR they only tried 0-60 and 1/4 mile once and went with first result as I've driven GTR down the 1/4 mile and it recorded 3.5s 0-60mph and 11.5s 1/4 mile at 117mph.

But on a racetrack with equal drivers I'd back the Z06/ZR1 as its far lighter, more powerful and due to this can stop and turn quicker. However it takes a huge amount more driver skill to get the best from the Vette.

Still it does not mean the GTR can be driven fast by anyone, in race mode the car still needs common sense and an element of skill to push it hard which is rewarding.

But on a UK road the GTR I'd say is probably untouchable by any car, its closest rivals will be 997 Turbo and Mitsubishi EVO FQ-400, I can't see any other car even coming close on a UK road to a GTR.

But the Corvette is just such a machine. I had an Evo 6 and a P1 scooby they were fun but not a patch on my Lotus Carlton. It had something that was and I feel has been missing from all the Jap computer controlled stuff and that's the pure driving experience. You can drive the Evo, GTR etc faster but it's just not the same in my opinion. The best of both Worlds would be the 911 but I would still get the Corvette...

Gibbo · 3 Mar 2011 at 10:02

MOOGLEYS said:
But the Corvette is just such a machine. I had an Evo 6 and a P1 scooby they were fun but not a patch on my Lotus Carlton. It had something that was and I feel has been missing from all the Jap computer controlled stuff and that's the pure driving experience. You can drive the Evo, GTR etc faster but it's just not the same in my opinion. The best of both Worlds would be the 911 but I would still get the Corvette...

I don't know really, having owned cars like S2000, Mustang, EVO X yes they are all different but to say they are computer controlled I think is a bit too much, because turning the computers off to a degree is a button press away.

The EVO X with ASC off is an absolute ton of fun to drive and its chassis is so well setup it changes direction quick, it will hang the rear out and do superb drifts round corners.

Having driven EVO's and Scoobies they have two levels of driving. The first point is where most people think the limit is which is still quick by any cars standards. Then there is the next stage where you drive the car on its limit and because they are so benign/controllable at that limit and flatter the driver they are fun, it just takes confidence to push them there. In the Subaru's its harder due to understeer unless you've got a Spec C JDM, but the EVO X out of all EVO's and Scoobies Ive driven is easily the best in the handling department.

ubersonic · 3 Mar 2011 at 10:10

MOOGLEYS said:
But the Corvette is just such a machine. I had an Evo 6 and a P1 scooby they were fun but not a patch on my Lotus Carlton. It had something that was and I feel has been missing from all the Jap computer controlled stuff and that's the pure driving experience. You can drive the Evo, GTR etc faster but it's just not the same in my opinion. The best of both Worlds would be the 911 but I would still get the Corvette...

Isn't the ZR1 over £40,000 more than the GTR? it must be one hell of a machine if your take it over the GTR lol

Gibbo · 3 Mar 2011 at 10:19

ubersonic said:
Isn't the ZR1 over £40,000 more than the GTR? it must be one hell of a machine if your take it over the GTR lol

It is but the Z06 is the far better value car and has a better engine.

MOOGLEYS · 3 Mar 2011 at 10:21

Gibbo said:
I don't know really, having owned cars like S2000, Mustang, EVO X yes they are all different but to say they are computer controlled I think is a bit too much, because turning the computers off to a degree is a button press away.

The EVO X with ASC off is an absolute ton of fun to drive and its chassis is so well setup it changes direction quick, it will hang the rear out and do superb drifts round corners.

Having driven EVO's and Scoobies they have two levels of driving. The first point is where most people think the limit is which is still quick by any cars standards. Then there is the next stage where you drive the car on its limit and because they are so benign/controllable at that limit and flatter the driver they are fun, it just takes confidence to push them there. In the Subaru's its harder due to understeer unless you've got a Spec C JDM, but the EVO X out of all EVO's and Scoobies Ive driven is easily the best in the handling department.

100% agree mate just my opinion the Evo was by far the best handling car I have owned but it just did not exite me like the Carlton did ? It might be the expectation, the Evo is known for its road holding and you expect it, the Carlton was a monster to keep in a straight line when pushed hard. Personally I would get far more driving pleasure from the Corvette but then again I now own two family Diesel cars so i'm probarbly not the best Judge its been a while since I have owned anything meaty...

Gibbo · 3 Mar 2011 at 10:30

MOOGLEYS said:
100% agree mate just my opinion the Evo was by far the best handling car I have owned but it just did not exite me like the Carlton did ? It might be the expectation, the Evo is known for its road holding and you expect it, the Carlton was a monster to keep in a straight line when pushed hard. Personally I would get far more driving pleasure from the Corvette but then again I now own two family Diesel cars so i'm probarbly not the best Judge its been a while since I have owned anything meaty...

EVO 6 is very raw in comparison to an EVO X but I find the EVO X handles better, is a better ride and more fun when pushing hard as its got more neutral handling leaning towards oversteer wheras older models leaned more towards understeer.

Yes driving a Corvette fast takes more effort and skill, but sometimes because of that you never really drive them that hard in case they bite which I find can de-tract from the fun. Wheras in the EVO X I can drive it full pelt because I know on the limit the car handles superbly well and it inspires confidence to push the car that hard because its got both grip and great handling.

Out of all the RWD drive cars I've owned the only other car I drove really hard was the M3 CSL because it on the limit was a pussy cat too. Wheras the S2000 and Mustang could bite and you were going so damn fast, well you'd not want them to bite at such speeds.

I've been in the EVO sideways at 140mph under control, thats how bloody good it is.

merlin · 3 Mar 2011 at 15:03

Have you considered two cars Gibbo - a £5k commuter and then perhaps an Exige or something for kicks?

Gibbo · 3 Mar 2011 at 15:41

merlin said:
Have you considered two cars Gibbo - a £5k commuter and then perhaps an Exige or something for kicks?

I've kinda always thought about that mate, thing is though I love driving my car everyday and driving it in a fun manner. I have considered the thought of maybe sticking with the EVO and looking at something like a Westfield/Caterham or whatever they are called, but I know little about them and on the road would it actually kill me haha. Because I'd only ever at most do two trackdays at year so my car is used primarily on the road.

lemonade · 3 Mar 2011 at 18:16

MOOGLEYS said:
But the Corvette is just such a machine. I had an Evo 6 and a P1 scooby they were fun but not a patch on my Lotus Carlton. It had something that was and I feel has been missing from all the Jap computer controlled stuff and that's the pure driving experience. You can drive the Evo, GTR etc faster but it's just not the same in my opinion. The best of both Worlds would be the 911 but I would still get the Corvette...

Ever driven an NSX?

Also you do know that the 911 is full of trick gadgetry too? well much like most modern cars...

rypt · 3 Mar 2011 at 18:24

Um, besides Scoobs aren't that computer littered

TBH, someone needs to make a full on AWD rocket that is purely mechanical and correctly designed to maximise handling

Gibbo · 3 Mar 2011 at 19:01

rypt said:
Um, besides Scoobs aren't that computer littered

TBH, someone needs to make a full on AWD rocker that is purely mechanical and correctly designed to maximise handling

Surely an R8 with everything switched off or an EVO X with everything disabled comes pretty close to this?

If I disable traction completely in the X, if you throw it into a corner its you controlling the slide and how much you destroy the tarmec/tyres.