Anyone seen today's Autocar handling test ?
Not surprisingly won convincingly by that "hairdressers car", the absolutely wondrous Lotus Elise (excuse the bias because I'm am owner).
Crappy old Scooby trailed in 14th, beaten by such illustrious vehicles as a Mini Cooper and a Toyota Celica.
Time for all you lot to trade in your tractors for sportscars methinks !
Even more embarassing, the Scooby (a UK 300 version) was slower round the track than the hairdryer-powered Lotus !
Sorry guys....

 

Results
1 Lotus Elise :-)
2 Noble M12
3 Mitsubishi EVO VII
4 Ferrari 360 Modena F1
5 Porsche 911 GT2
6 BMW M3
7 Mini Cooper !
8 TVR Tuscan S
9 Lamborghini Diablo
10 Ariel Atom 190
11 Jaguar X-type 3.0
12 Toyota Celica T-Sport
13 TVR Tamora
14 Subaru Imprezza UK 300
15 Renaultsport Clio 172
16 Mercedes AMG C32
17 BMW 325ti Compact
18 Renaultsport Clio V6
19 MG ZS180

 

Elise is built for the track (RWD, low weight etc) and without a doubt handles better than the vast majority of IMP's in those circumstances (Although Mr Croneys track day IMP should give it a go).

I think everyone knows that the new standard WRX isn't as good as it should be (without mods).

No need to feel sorry for IMP owners. Once the winter is with us I know what they'd rather be driving.

Just wondering if anything fell off the Elise during the test? Did it break down?

 

I like the look of number 15 myself.

And whats a Celica T Sport ?? I thought it was a Yaris T Sport or a Celica 190 ??

Funny how the Audi TT didnt get in the top 20.....lets start that one again !!!!!!!!!

Dave (happy new 172 driver)

 

Celica was a 190, but they call it a T-Sport for some inane reason in the test results

 

Thats because it's Autocar and it's s***e.

I can never forgive them after their artists impression of the new IMP got everyones hopes up.

 

How many are <B>affordable</B> and <B>practical</B> sports cars ?

Were the likes of Caterham not tested then?

Or Formula 1 cars

 

Where was the MX-5? this year?

That was the 'best-handling' car that I've sampled recently! Virtually no understeer, even when provoked. A bit piffless though, even in 1.8 6-speed guise.

 

Hanslow : Mini Cooper fit your bill ?
(That's the car that finished way higher than the Scooby)
Stephen : no MX5 - test made up of the cars they've driven this year.

[This message has been edited by HamsterWheel (edited 29 August 2001).]

 

..hhmm.. saloon cars against two seaters.. well thats a good comparision then..

 

Mini Cooper is a bit small for me, although a cracking car

Wouldn't say it would be ideal if you had kids though. Personally, and I ain't knocking the test - technology and motoring moves on over time, but I got my Scoob for the mixture of performance and 'four door family saloon'-ness. Easy way to convince the missus that it is a practical motor


...until she sees the petrol bill

 

Fully agree with the comment above 4 door saloons and 2 seater sports cars should never be tested against each other.

Just wondering why the Sti 7 was not used Scooby would then have been in the top 3 me thinks.

 

I seem to remember some Scooby magazine/site testing the Scooby against the Elise about a year or so ago - I didnt hear anybody complain then????

But of course you wouldnt because your home mag/site said the Scooby trounced the Elise in every handling department.

Oh how an un-biased publication can show a more balanced view......

 

I will have to do a test. It will include Mika Haks car, a couple of 2 seaters, 8 Scooby variants and mine.

Well I know that my car will be first of course. Everyone else will be left trailing.

Lists of the top 20 are pointless. How many people here would be able to tell the difference. The average Joe on the street wouldn't know. Just bragging down the pub.

What ciruit was used. A very twisty one no doubt. A Diablo etc would IMO be out classed.

Shame a 550 Maranello wasn't used. Widley regarded as the sweetest handling car in the world.

Personnaly I couldn't give a **** where the Scoob came.
Yawn, Yawn.

 

Any more excuses ?
Circuit used was Rockingham : hardly the twistiest !

 

Autocar is bank (say that with your fingers pulling your mouth wide apart)

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by DrEvil:
<B>..hhmm.. saloon cars against two seaters.. well thats a good comparision then.. [/quote]


Agreed!!! Did anyone see that road test a few months back on TV where they had Jason Plato (pushing it) in the Elise, V.B.Henderson (not trying) in a VX220 and some muppet in a Caterham??
That was a fair comparison too in the interest of journalism was it not??

Paul

 

One of the testers was Peter Wheeler : 'nuff cred for you Scooby boys ?

 

Funny. Just over a year ago Autocar done an article on finding the best handling car.
Does anyone remember it?
It said that the Elise was fundamentally flawed. That it tended to spin out violently whenever it was close to the limit.

The Impreza pissed all over all the competition.

What has changed in the past year?

How did the Elise suddenly become such a brilliant car?

Or am I just being ignorant?

Oh. and if it is time to trade the scoob in, then I'll be looking at an Evo.
NOT a weekend toy. That's what the motorbike is for.

 

QUOTE:
'It said that the Elise was fundamentally flawed. That it tended to spin out violently whenever it was close to the limit.'

Its called lift off oversteer - its the result of bad driving. The Elise is prone to lift off oversteer because it doesnt rely on electronics to correct a drivers mistake - it just relies on driver skill.

The limits in an Elise are way beyond the point a Scooby already crashed and burned......

The Scooby was the trendy press favorite last year - therefore got good write ups. It happens. Dont you remember Autocar saying the ford Cougar was better than the Fiat Coupe - trendy car of the moment always wins.

The real cars win or score consistantly high year after year.

 

As a Scooby owner and and ex-Elise owner (http://www.elises.co.uk), soon to have both again hopefully, I have to agree with the 1st place for the Elise.

Compared to the Scooby it's streets ahead in the handling department, but not that far ahead when it comes to performance (comparing standard unmodified cars). The Elise is quicker and more fun and is much better at continuous track type driving.

As soon as the rain comes out though the sure-footedness of the Subaru makes it my choice 9 times out of 10. It is a great all-rounder where the Elise is simply good at one thing, practical two-seater, drving pleasure.

Both cars are designed with very different objectives in mind which is why in an ideal world we would all love to own both of them, despite the bitching going on in this thread.

Rob C

 

Dustbin : Err....perhaps it's because Lotus launched the completely revised Series 2 Elise at the end of 2000 ?

 

If only they had used a real Subaru!!!

 

Of course we all know the Exige is a superior drivers car to the Elise (what with it's wider track and greater downforce and more power) -- unless you're a hairdresser and want a top-down car.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by HamsterWheel:
<B>Celica was a 190, but they call it a T-Sport for some inane reason in the test results[/quote]

Its right There are three Celicas now, the normal one, the 190 and the T-Sport. The T-Sport is essentially a 190 with some extra bits like bigger alloys, bodykit, T-Sport motos, better interior etc. Its Toyotas idea to have a T-Sport version of all their cars......

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by ScoobyJawa:
<B> Its right There are three Celicas now, the normal one, the 190 and the T-Sport. The T-Sport is essentially a 190 with some extra bits like bigger alloys, bodykit, T-Sport motos, better interior etc. Its Toyotas idea to have a T-Sport version of all their cars......[/quote]

A T-Sport Yaris Verso on the horizon. Nice motor !!

 

Funny, particularly Autocar! They one minute decide one car is fabulous and then the next rubbish it. EVO thought the Clio 172 was not very good for ages until they had the geometry reset and then they thought it was wonderful. Autocar thought the P1 was better than the EVO and then changed their minds. EVO thought the RB5 and P1 were better than the Evo - sometimes. Cars often show very variable figures on 0-100-0 testing, and lap times are often not produced in a repeatable fashion. Scoobys have never been particularly good for handling - more for grip with OK handling and reasonable adjustability. But they could never be said to be the last word in finesse like an Elise (or Ferrari - not tried - I wish). In a recent EVO, they though that the RB5 and P1 were still amongst the best cars in the real world.

At the end of the day they are all good. However, it has to be said that the old shape Impreza never took such a beating in the motoring press. Make of that what you will.

There is no shame in the UK300 coming behind the very capable cars it does apart from the Mini Cooper and Celica which it really should be beating.

[This message has been edited by john banks (edited 29 August 2001).]

 

Hamster Wheel

Why don't you go and do something sensible like nibble your nuts

And no I don't think the Elise is better than the Scoob, or the Scoob better than the Elise.

Nathan.

BTW Autocar is Cack.

 

Celica T-sport, pah !

You need a Celica Cruising Deck



With 2 seats on the rear deck for posing (note the headrests on the rear spoiler)

(No this isn't some dodgy aftermarket lashup, it really is made by Toyota)

[This message has been edited by DavidBrown (edited 29 August 2001).]

 

Hamster wheel,
Arguing on the internet is a lot like competing in the special olympics.
If you win or if you lose you're still retarded.
this is a scoobyboard. do us a favour and pi$$ off.
astraboy.
(proud Cossie owner )