evo #070

[Coventrysucks]

This months evo is a cracker.

News:
New TVRs, new Nobles, new Marcos,

Driven:
Farboud GTS, VXR220, Monaro VXR, Impreza STi ( ) BMW 120i, DMS 911 Turbo, Porsche 997

Group Tests:
DB9 vs Conti' GT vs 996 TT vs SL55
997 vs 996 vs Noble M12 GTO-3R vs 645 Ci
Z4 3.0 vs 350Z vs S2000 GT vs Tamora vs Boxster S vs SLK350

Features:
Morgan and TVR to Le Mans, Le Mans race report, Track day COTY (Radical SR3 Turbo, Jaguar JP1 Evo, Radical SR4, Ariel Atom 275, Noble M400, 911 GT3 RS, Grinnall Scorpion IV, Caterham R500 Evo, Exige, Deronda F400, VXR220, Elise 111R, Clio 182, 360 CS),

I may be gone some time...

[UK CARS]

I'll get it, im intrested on reading about that Farboud GTS, i herd the guy couldnt buy an Enzo so he built one himself (supercar).

[Niko_Fx]

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

Z4 3.0 vs 350Z vs S2000 GT vs Tamora vs Boxster S vs SLK350

Can you please tell me how this comparison ended up?

Thanks

[Coventrysucks]

In summing up, the verdicts are as thus:

BMW Z4 3.0 (4/5)
"... has one of the truly great engines but it lacks that BMW magic that normally sees them getting better and better the harder you push. Instead the Z4 starts to fall to pieces, scrubbing into understeer, tramlining and sending confused messages through the steering. It is far from a bad car but it's been out-BWM'ed by the Mercedes."

Nissan 350Z Roadster (grey import) (4/5)
"The Nissan suffers in extremis too, but rather than getting ragged it simply gets a bit loose and wallowy. The killer blow is that it looks bloated and saggy where its coupe sister is sharp and toned.

S2000 GT (4/5)
"... that beautifully designed engine is its downfall. It feels like a chore rather than a joy to get the best from it and the thrashy soundtrack quickly becomes tiresome. I think it could be great on a racetrack but on these tricky roads its lack of torque and slightly suspect rear end ultimately make it feel like a car trying to puch above its weight.

SLK350 (4.5/5)
"The Mercedes transformation from dodgy make-up counter girl's best friend to a serious drivers car is as unexpected as it is remarkable. Pair the sweet chassis and decent pace... with fabulous looks and that roof and it's clear the SLK will sell by the bucketload.

TVR Tamora (4.5/5) and Porsche Boxster S (5/5)
"I'd love to give the nod to the TVR for its blood-curdling engine and no-nonsense agression but the Porsche is simlpy too good to usurp. The way it sucks you in and encourages you to use every last rev, to commit to every corner like it's your last, and the rewards it dishes out when you do, make it the best car here."

A few other good quotes:

(TVR)"bellowing above the others under full power and sounding like heavy artillery on the over-run"
"Of course the Tamora is still a very physical car to drive quickly; sniffing out cambers and never really settling over bumpy roads, but you really feel like you'll be able to make its performance advantage count"

(SLK) "we can save you at least £1770... by recommending that you don't go for the optional 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox. I can't help feeling that this Merc's auto 'box won't help its cause against the hardcore competition."

(350Z) "there's the same natural balance (of the coupe) and it's only when the road gets really tough that the structure gets a bit wobbly."
"it feels more comfortable stroking along at seven-tenths than trying to hang onto the back of a hard driven Tamora."

"Even so, the Z4 has its work cut out against the surprisingly nimble and assured SLK and the competance of the Boxster. And when you push beyond the comfort zone it just fails to gel together, gradually getting more scrappy as you up the pace and forcing you to rein-in your enthusiasm and simply enjoy the fantastic engine rather than the very edges of the chassis' abilities."

(S2000) "bouncing off the limiter once again the big Nissan seems to just amble effortlessly into the distance."