The Motor Forum

Turbonutter · Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:17 am Post subject: Autocar 22nd July

Full road test of the Ferrari California
9.2 seconds to 100.
More entertaining on the wet circuit than dry apparently.
Don't really like the 'stacked' Lexus IS-F type exhausts myself.

Some blurb on the 8C Spider ( and perhaps a forthcoming 8C GTA )

An article on tailgating.

Richard Bremner's Yesterday's Heroes column about the early 911 Turbo.

And on page 12 an example of a disguised new 5-series....2 examples of which were on the M54 near junction 7 at about 4:40pm yesterday afternoon with the black and white 'scroll-y' disguise on

Matt · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

The 'wood' in that Mondeo...

Hehehe!
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"him" · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: Autocar 22nd July

DaveGibson · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: Autocar 22nd July

Turbonutter · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject:

Gooner · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject:

how did that Mondeo rack up 100k in just 2 years?! If it was a diesel I'd understand but what business user runs a 2.5 petrol Mondeo?

I also get the feeling the better driving articles will end up doing more patronising than offering decent advice.
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Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:55 am Post subject:

Mark · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:02 am Post subject:

I'm probably alone, but I find the Ferrari California the most tacky thing the company have ever produced - apart from maybe putting their name on a laptop. Just.

The Arabs will love it.

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:14 am Post subject:

You are not alone.

Given how lukewarm the piece was, I am flummoxed as to how it came out as the top car in the list of five at the end.
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"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Guitar Zero · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:43 am Post subject:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es...ture=2007&vehicleRegLetter=07

100k in 2 years in a 2.5T

Pah - amateur
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2006 Focus ST 2.5
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"him" · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:46 am Post subject:

Bloody hell, that is good going!

...though it looks like you are getting a full tank of fuel as part of the deal!

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Boxer6 · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:15 am Post subject:

Mark · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:08 am Post subject:

TimR · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject:

Isn't the California Ferrari's Cayenne?

Not exactly in line with what they do but a welcome evil to raise funds to do more exciting stuff (or in Porsche's case the hideous Panamera)?

Anyway remember Ferrari have a past history of droptop boulevard cruisers it's just that for the past 35 years they've been a bit more hardcore.

Scouse · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:00 pm Post subject:

Am I the only one who finds Ferrari's insistance on providing a test driver and a team of mechanics for their cars road tests a bit, well, underhand? I know that the roadtester's do the set of figures but even so...
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Mark · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:07 pm Post subject:

Parm · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:23 pm Post subject:

Pkh72 · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:57 pm Post subject:

DaveGibson · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 3:07 pm Post subject:

It was also interesting that they provided two cars. One with very few bits of FG, which was used to get the performance figures and another which had various extras and was photographed. I see that the weight of extras on the second (120kg) increased the 50-70mph time (in fifth) from 3.9 to 4.6 seconds.

TimR · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject:

gonnabuildabuggy · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject:

PhilD · Running In Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 406

franki68 · Petrolhead Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2382

In the flesh it looks superb,and has an superb interior.
Evo also gave it a much better review than autocar.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:50 am Post subject:

Just read the issue, some strange things. The road test was fairly enthusiastic, and even put it top of their top five (ahead of the Gallardo Spyder), but Sutcliffe basically said Ferrari had cocked it up. I know this is Sutcliffe talking about an Italian car, but still ...

Had to laugh at the option prices, e.g. 560 quid for an iPod connection. For that money, I'd expect to be able to leave my iPod at home and have the car communicate with it wirelessly.

Interesting to compare with the 8C Spyder which was also tested. A far nicer looking car than the Ferrari, and probably quicker too given its CF body.

And finally, to be controversial, to the tailgating article. I know tailgating is not big or clever, but I can't help thinking that all the people who voted for it as the worst driving behaviour are the same people to be found hogging the outside lanes of motorways and dual carriageways. To paraphrase Tony Blair, we need to be tough on tailgating, and tough on the causes of tailgating.