CocoPops
Honorary ///Member
EVO Mag puts them to the test.
"The Verdict
THAT this has been one of the most enjoyable group tests I can remember speaks volumes for the quality of the cars in the test. All are so different in concept and character, yet they’ve all proved close in terms of point-to-point pace, with each delivering memorable moments in the process.
Predictably it’s the TT RS that’s the first to fall. On paper it seems churlish to reject the Audi so readily. That terrific five-cylinder engine is as seductive as it is effective, hurling the TT down the road with an addictive blend of easy-going tractability and full-boost rage. There were also times when the TT’s stability, traction, grip and pliancy shone brightly enough to question the doubts and disappointments felt on earlier drives. Trouble is, these moments were fleeting and relied upon a very specific type of road: one that relentlessly squirms, dips, crests and ducks and dives and generally keeps the chassis on its toes without challenging ultimate limits of grip. On such a road it feels alive, but on anything less it makes anodyne progress and feels rather less than inspiring. Perhaps the best way to describe the TT RS is to say it’s a high-performance car, but not a sporting car; it does the job of going fast, but derives little joy from the process.
Next up is the Nissan. We’ve always enjoyed the big-hearted Zed and were fascinated to see what improvements the GT Edition’s new Euro-spec suspension had made to an already appealing package. The answer is rather a lot. It now works with the road, rather than feeling like it’s fighting it, and that means increased pace and an added sense of connection and cohesion. No, it doesn’t compensate for the drivetrain’s lack of class compared with the German trio, and while it can’t quite match the on-road pace of the BMW in particular, the 370Z remains a rapid – if rather gruff – machine. At £35K, it’s also a relative bargain in this company.
The BMW and Porsche were always going to be the stars of the test, but it would have taken a braver man than I to predict a winner before we began. The Cayman R has been widely – and rightly – praised for its commitment to mass reduction and subsequently brilliant handling. Truth be told we were all under its spell for the first day of the test, dazzled by its brilliance and mesmerised by its purity and fitness for purpose. As photographer Jamie Lipman said while shooting details: ‘They can even paint it a hideous green and stick a stupid spoiler on the back and I still want one!’
However, the longer we spent with it and the more times we swapped to and from the 1M, the greater the admiration and affection we felt for the BMW. It’s not that we fell out of love with the Cayman, far from it in fact. Indeed, our guest tester, sports car racer Andy Wallace, almost had a tear in his eye when he proclaimed it ‘the best-handling road car I think I’ve ever driven’. Both Catchpole and I were with him on that, yet the charms of the 1M were proving impossible to resist.
No, it doesn’t have the immaculate polish and homogenous tactility of the Porsche – the brakes are over-assisted at road speeds and it lacks the remarkable pliancy and supple body control of the Cayman – but it counters with scintillating overtaking ability, greater levels of mechanical grip and a handling balance that’s almost as sweet. Emotionally the clincher is its unique character and thoroughly up-for-it attitude. Factor-in its four useable seats, on-track ability and a £16K price advantage in as-tested spec and it’s clear the 1M sets a new benchmark for only-car, multi-purpose, real-life ability and desirability. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re delighted to say M’s new baby is more than worth the wait."
Full Article here: http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/car..._porsche_cayman_r_audi_tt_rs_nissan_370z.html
Video:
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/car..._porsche_cayman_r_audi_tt_rs_nissan_370z.html
// M Power.
"The Verdict
THAT this has been one of the most enjoyable group tests I can remember speaks volumes for the quality of the cars in the test. All are so different in concept and character, yet they’ve all proved close in terms of point-to-point pace, with each delivering memorable moments in the process.
Predictably it’s the TT RS that’s the first to fall. On paper it seems churlish to reject the Audi so readily. That terrific five-cylinder engine is as seductive as it is effective, hurling the TT down the road with an addictive blend of easy-going tractability and full-boost rage. There were also times when the TT’s stability, traction, grip and pliancy shone brightly enough to question the doubts and disappointments felt on earlier drives. Trouble is, these moments were fleeting and relied upon a very specific type of road: one that relentlessly squirms, dips, crests and ducks and dives and generally keeps the chassis on its toes without challenging ultimate limits of grip. On such a road it feels alive, but on anything less it makes anodyne progress and feels rather less than inspiring. Perhaps the best way to describe the TT RS is to say it’s a high-performance car, but not a sporting car; it does the job of going fast, but derives little joy from the process.
Next up is the Nissan. We’ve always enjoyed the big-hearted Zed and were fascinated to see what improvements the GT Edition’s new Euro-spec suspension had made to an already appealing package. The answer is rather a lot. It now works with the road, rather than feeling like it’s fighting it, and that means increased pace and an added sense of connection and cohesion. No, it doesn’t compensate for the drivetrain’s lack of class compared with the German trio, and while it can’t quite match the on-road pace of the BMW in particular, the 370Z remains a rapid – if rather gruff – machine. At £35K, it’s also a relative bargain in this company.
The BMW and Porsche were always going to be the stars of the test, but it would have taken a braver man than I to predict a winner before we began. The Cayman R has been widely – and rightly – praised for its commitment to mass reduction and subsequently brilliant handling. Truth be told we were all under its spell for the first day of the test, dazzled by its brilliance and mesmerised by its purity and fitness for purpose. As photographer Jamie Lipman said while shooting details: ‘They can even paint it a hideous green and stick a stupid spoiler on the back and I still want one!’
However, the longer we spent with it and the more times we swapped to and from the 1M, the greater the admiration and affection we felt for the BMW. It’s not that we fell out of love with the Cayman, far from it in fact. Indeed, our guest tester, sports car racer Andy Wallace, almost had a tear in his eye when he proclaimed it ‘the best-handling road car I think I’ve ever driven’. Both Catchpole and I were with him on that, yet the charms of the 1M were proving impossible to resist.
No, it doesn’t have the immaculate polish and homogenous tactility of the Porsche – the brakes are over-assisted at road speeds and it lacks the remarkable pliancy and supple body control of the Cayman – but it counters with scintillating overtaking ability, greater levels of mechanical grip and a handling balance that’s almost as sweet. Emotionally the clincher is its unique character and thoroughly up-for-it attitude. Factor-in its four useable seats, on-track ability and a £16K price advantage in as-tested spec and it’s clear the 1M sets a new benchmark for only-car, multi-purpose, real-life ability and desirability. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re delighted to say M’s new baby is more than worth the wait."
Full Article here: http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/car..._porsche_cayman_r_audi_tt_rs_nissan_370z.html
Video:
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/car..._porsche_cayman_r_audi_tt_rs_nissan_370z.html
// M Power.
