Motor Trend experts are idiots....

[Mocoso]

Thought I would share this post I read in the corvette forum....
June, 2007 issue of MotorTrend.
Compares the handling of the following cars.
These cars are listed in their order of finish, per the "expert" testing of MotorTrend magazine:

1) Porsche 911 GTS - $115,700
2) Porsche Cayman S - $63,300
3) Lotus Exige - $65,100
4) Mitsubishi EVO IXMR - $37,424
5) Mini Cooper S JCWGP - $31,150
6) BMW 335i - $42,675
7) Honda S200 - $34,845
8) MazdaSpeed 3 - $24,550
9) Corvette Z06 - $70,000
10) Honda Civic Si - $21,885


Nice to know they included the MS3 in the list but to rate the Z06 Corvette below it and 9th overall is just lame... I find it amusing they go through great lengths to justify this ranking.... the fact that the Mini, 335i, and the MS3 are "easier" cars to drive doesnt make them "handle" better.... they also dont readily point out that the 911 GTS had frigin "sticky" tires with a treadwear rating of 80!!! And a BMW335 handling better than a S2000 is questionable... notice a Eurotrash bias to the ratings???

Given their list is BS I figures I would throw my WAG list out there... hell maybe Ill start a magazine given wild ass guesses seem to sell well...

1) Lotus Exige - $65,100
2) MazdaSpeed 3 - $24,550
3) Corvette Z06 - $70,000
4) Mini Cooper S JCWGP - $31,150
5) Honda S2000 - $34,845
6) BMW 335i - $42,675
7) Porsche 911 GTS - $115,700
(ugly ass cars shouldnt make it past last place so these tie)
10) Mitsubishi EVO IXMR - $37,424
10) Porsche Cayman S - $63,300
10) Honda Civic Si - $21,885


Ills tick to Road & Track thank you very much.... and Car & Driver gets a mention as well... they both rated the MS3 top in class(thumb)

 

[AntimonyER]

Well you are entitled to your WAG, but as it was a handling rating test, ugly ass cars can still handle better than pretty ones many times. And my buddy's Evo MR will kick my ass in every aspect of a handling test... As will a Cayman S.

From my autocrossing experience, here is my WAG, haha.

1. Lotus Exige
2. Porsche 911 GTS
3. Corvette Z06
4. Mitsubishi EVO MR
5. Porsche Cayman S
6. Honda S2000
7. Mazdaspeed 3
8. Mini Cooper S JCWGP
9. Honda Civic Si
10. BMW 335i

 

[speed3shon]

yea, i would probably place the s2000 ahead of the MS3, as well as the vette...

I think AntimonyER hit the nail on the head with his post...

 

[Chibana]

Read the article. It's all explained reasonably well in there. Personally, what I found funny was that there were any front wheel drive cars included in the test. Expecting a Mini or Mazdaspeed3 to compare well to rear wheel drive cars costing much more and designed from the start to be sports cars is absurd. It would have made more sense if they had broken it up into FWD and RWD catagories. Then at least the Mini and Mazdaspeed3 would have made some sort of sense.

 

[TheDutchGun]

Where's the Mustang in there??? Joking!

 

[desperado-c]

Read the article. It's all explained reasonably well in there. Personally, what I found funny was that there were any front wheel drive cars included in the test. Expecting a Mini or Mazdaspeed3 to compare well to rear wheel drive cars costing much more and designed from the start to be sports cars is absurd. It would have made more sense if they had broken it up into FWD and RWD catagories. Then at least the Mini and Mazdaspeed3 would have made some sort of sense.

Yeah, this is a bit of shock to see them in there with these great handling AWD/RWD cars. Also, wouldn't the lighter weight of the Mini put it above the MS3? And in AX, I would think the shorter wheelbase would really help it outhandle the MS3.

Of course, I'll just have to accept everybody's word for it that the MS3 is superior.(nana)

 

[Hikaru9]

I haven't read the article, but if I remember correctly I think numerous publications rate the Z06's handling to be tricky. That's not to say the car handles badly, but it just requires more of an expert driver to get the most out of the car without putting yourself in danger.

Who knows though? I've never driven a Z06. *^_^*

 

[nondual]

I dunno about the Exige, but the Elise is my next car.

Yeah, I thought they were brainless ****-twats too. The Camparo was a real let-down.

With a CAI, my car is even more a monster than I'd expected.

 

[elderlycoffee]

meh

 

[whitey4311]

Where's the Mustang in there??? Joking!

Did you read how bad Car and driver slammed the bad ride and quality of the new shelby mustang?

 

[TheDutchGun]

Did you read how bad Car and driver slammed the bad ride and quality of the new shelby mustang?

Good thing I didn't spend $70k on a GT500 then eh? My car is good for what it's used for.

That joke was me acknowledging the non-light footed handling of my car in case you were trying to sneak a dig at Mustangs in there.

 

[whitey4311]

I am no car expert but I love the way a mustang sounds although from what I read they arent all that great of a car.

PS did you see the super snake they are going to doing a limited run of? Now that would be pretty sick since its hardly a ford anymore after all the mods.

 

[Mocoso]

Well you are entitled to your WAG, but as it was a handling rating test, ugly ass cars can still handle better than pretty ones many times. And my buddy's Evo MR will kick my ass in every aspect of a handling test... As will a Cayman S.

From my autocrossing experience, here is my WAG, haha.

1. Lotus Exige
2. Porsche 911 GTS
3. Corvette Z06
4. Mitsubishi EVO MR
5. Porsche Cayman S
6. Honda S2000
7. Mazdaspeed 3
8. Mini Cooper S JCWGP
9. Honda Civic Si
10. BMW 335i

Yes my WAG was intended as a joke.. yours is more in line with what I would expect...alebit I think the 335i would prob be 7th

 

[Mocoso]

I am no car expert but I love the way a mustang sounds although from what I read they arent all that great of a car.

PS did you see the super snake they are going to doing a limited run of? Now that would be pretty sick since its hardly a ford anymore after all the mods.

Mustang's have to have the meanest sound.. that they def. have going for them

 

[Mocoso]

I haven't read the article, but if I remember correctly I think numerous publications rate the Z06's handling to be tricky. That's not to say the car handles badly, but it just requires more of an expert driver to get the most out of the car without putting yourself in danger.

Who knows though? I've never driven a Z06. *^_^*

Agreed that the Z06 requires more than average skills to handle at the limit and frankly most cars in the "supercar" category do require some level of respect less they bite ya in the arse... but to rank a car lower in ranking because "average" drivers can get into trouble at the limit is idiotic... specially when the "limit" on a Z06 is so much higher than the other cars... bottom line is that your "average" driver is still going to be faster around the track in a "Z06" than a Mini, Beemer, or MS3 as the Z06 doesnt need to be taken anywhere near its limit to outpace the above cars in the track..

 

[Chibana]

Agreed that the Z06 requires more than average skills to handle at the limit and frankly most cars in the "supercar" category do require some level of respect less they bite ya in the arse... but to rank a car lower in ranking because "average" drivers can get into trouble at the limit is idiotic... specially when the "limit" on a Z06 is so much higher than the other cars... bottom line is that your "average" driver is still going to be faster around the track in a "Z06" than a Mini, Beemer, or MS3 as the Z06 doesnt need to be taken anywhere near its limit to outpace the above cars in the track..

That's not why the Z06 was ranked lower. I think every full review I've read of the Z06 has said that the handling is just not quite there--that it's twitchy or scary at the limit. There's no arguing that the Z06 is a raging supercar bargain, but it's simply not in the same handling league as some of the other supercars (yes, they're more expensive) on the market.

Personally, if I were in the market for a near $100,000 sports car, the Noble M400 would be very high on my list.

 

[AntimonyER]

I had a Z06 before my MS3, and was it a monster to drive on the track, had to have amazing throttle discipline, or else you will just lose the rear end. But i still beat out a cayman S in my class.