2012 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car
#16
08-23-2012 | 04:52 PM
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The fact is that most people can not get these cars anywhere close to the limit so what each person finds best is clearly subjective. My wife would most likely prefer the Jag while I am a Porsche fan.
You can't play down the arrival factor of the Lambo, or the outrageousness of this car. I was thinking the other day that, while I sometimes walk the line, I have led my whole life being correct in leading a clean organized life with no real slip-ups; often in the past working the 80+ hr work week. I would bet that most people who can afford these toys are most likely the same, so the Lambo offers us a chance to feel like a real BAD BOY............ If it puts a smile on your face it may be worth the price of admission.
You can't play down the arrival factor of the Lambo, or the outrageousness of this car. I was thinking the other day that, while I sometimes walk the line, I have led my whole life being correct in leading a clean organized life with no real slip-ups; often in the past working the 80+ hr work week. I would bet that most people who can afford these toys are most likely the same, so the Lambo offers us a chance to feel like a real BAD BOY............ If it puts a smile on your face it may be worth the price of admission.
BTW, discussing track prowess and track based comparisons, I found this data on Nurburgring times of various cars and saw a few surprises...
For what it is worth...
http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html
Nordschleife, Germany (20600 m)
This is arguably the most popular most demanding and also longest track for road-car track-days, magazine tests, prototype testing and race events. Originally, the track featured four track configurations: the 28.265 km long Gesamtstrecke ("Whole Course"), which in turn consisted of the 22.810 km Nordschleife ("Northern Loop"), and the 7.747 km Sudschleife ("Southern Loop"). There also was a 2.281 km warm-up loop called Zielschleife, around the pits area. Between 1982 and 1983 the start-finish area was demolished to create a new GP-Strecke, and this is currently used for all major and international racing events. However, the Nordschleife is still in use; nicknamed The Green Hell by Jackie Stewart, it is widely considered the toughest and most demanding purpose-built race track in the world.
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Lap times (273)
Pos Make / Model Time Speed (km/h) Year Power (hp) / Weight (kg) Driven by
1. Radical SR8LM 6:48.00 182 0 455 / 650 Michael Vergers
2. Radical SR8 6:55.00 179 '05 363 / 650 Michael Vergers
3. Gumpert Apollo Speed 7:11.57 172 '09 700 / 1200 Florian Gruber
4. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 7:12.13 172 '08 600 / 1536 Dominik Farnbacher
5. Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package 7:14.64 171 '12 570 / 1509 Akira Iida
6. Donkervoort D8 RS 7:14.89 171 '05 350 / 600 Michael Duechting
7. Porsche 911 GT2 RS 7:18.00 169 '10 620 / 1370 Timo Kluck
8. Radical SR3 Turbo 7:19.00 169 '03 320 / 500 Phil Bennett
9. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 7:19.63 169 '08 647 / 1530
10. Nissan GT-R 7:21.00 168 '12 550 / 1736 Toshio Suzuki
11. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 7:22.68 168 '11 512 / 1394
12. Gumpert Apollo Sport 7:24.00 167 '07 700 / 1200
13. Nissan GT-R 7:24.22 167 '11 530 / 1736
14. Maserati MC12 7:24.29 167 '04 632 / 1335 Marc Basseng
15. Pagani Zonda F Clubsport 7:24.65 167 '05 650 / 1230 Marc Basseng
16. Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 7:25.00 167 '11 700 / 1575 Horst von Saurma
17. Ferrari Enzo 7:25.21 167 '02 660 / 1365 Marc Basseng
18. Nissan GT-R 7:26.70 166 '08 479 / 1740 Toshio Suzuki
19. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 7:27.00 166 '11 500 / 1360
20. Ferrari 458 Italia 7:28.00 166 '09 570 / 1485
21. McLaren MP4-12C 7:28.00 166 '10 600 / 1434 Horst von Saurma
22. Porsche Carrera GT 7:28.71 165 '03 612 / 1380 Marc Basseng
23. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 7:30.00 165 '11 500 / 1360 Horst von Saurma
24. Mercedes SLS AMG GT 7:30.00 165 '12 591 / 1620
25. Porsche 911 GT2 7:31.00 164 '07 530 / 1440 Walter Rohrl
26. Porsche 911 Turbo S 7:32.00 164 '10 530 / 1585 Walter Rohrl
27. Pagani Zonda F 7:33.00 164 '05 602 / 1371
28. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:33.00 164 '10 450 / 1400
29. Koenigsegg CCX 7:33.55 164 '06 806 / 1456 Marc Basseng
30. Koenigsegg CCR 7:34.00 163 '04 806 / 1418
31. Audi R8 GT 7:34.00 163 '10 560 / 1520 Horst von Saurma
32. Nissan GT-R Spec-V 7:34.46 163 '09 492 / 1680
33. RUF RT12 7:35.00 163 '05 650 / 1573
34. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:38.00 162 '06 480 / 1585
35. Lexus LF-A 7:38.00 162 '10 560 / 1609
36. Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera 7:38.00 162 '10 570 / 1430 Horst von Saurma
37. Ferrari 430 Scuderia 7:39.00 162 '07 510 / 1402
38. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 7:40.00 161 '06 640 / 1805
39. McLaren Mercedes SLR 7:40.00 161 '03 626 / 1693 Klaus Ludwig
40. Porsche 911 GT3 7:40.00 161 '09 435 / 1376 Walter Rohrl
41. Porsche 911 Carrera S 7:40.00 161 '11 400 / 1415 Porsche
42. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 7:41.27 161 '12 588 / 1838 Mark Reuss
43. Porsche 911 GT3 7:42.00 161 '06 415 / 1395 Walter Rohrl
44. Radical SR3 7:42.00 161 '02 205 / 495
45. Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce 7:42.00 161 '09 670 / 1664 Horst von Saurma
46. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 7:42.90 160 '05 513 / 1437 Jan Magnussen
47. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:43.00 160 '03 381 / 1360
48. Pagani Zonda C12 S 7:44.00 160 '02 555 / 1250
49. Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI 7:44.00 160 '09 525 / 1620
50. Mercedes CLK 63 Black Series 7:45.00 159 '07 507 / 1745 Berndt Schneider
51. Gardner Douglas GD T70 Spyder 7:45.00 159 '10 710 / 900 Dario Margutti
52. Porsche 911 GT2 7:46.00 159 '00 460 / 1430
53. Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera 7:46.00 159 '07 530 / 1520
54. Mercedes C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series 7:46.00 159 '11 517 / 1748 sportauto
55. Jaguar XJ220 7:46.37 159 '92 549 / 1470 John Nielsen
#18
08-23-2012 | 05:30 PM
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The Cayman S won in 2009. I thought the Boxster Spyder was up there one year as well.
It's just a test of 'new' or significantly changed cars. Perhaps the 981 Boxster didn't get released in time? Or they didn't want to compare the two?
#19
08-23-2012 | 05:42 PM
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YES! I wonder why it didn't make it to the finals... Perhaps only one car per manufacturer can make it to the finals, and the 911S was voted in???
(see my conspiracy theory for more ideas why)
The LF-A is not new or refreshed for 2012. But what do you mean 3rd party? Motor Trend is sort a 3rd party, no?
(see my conspiracy theory for more ideas why)
The LF-A is not new or refreshed for 2012. But what do you mean 3rd party? Motor Trend is sort a 3rd party, no?
#20
08-23-2012 | 07:46 PM
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No, in 2011 they had two Porsches - a GT3RS and Cayman R. The 3RS just barely beat the Cayman R.
The Cayman S won in 2009. I thought the Boxster Spyder was up there one year as well.
It's just a test of 'new' or significantly changed cars. Perhaps the 981 Boxster didn't get released in time? Or they didn't want to compare the two?
The Cayman S won in 2009. I thought the Boxster Spyder was up there one year as well.
It's just a test of 'new' or significantly changed cars. Perhaps the 981 Boxster didn't get released in time? Or they didn't want to compare the two?
Understood.
#22
08-23-2012 | 09:08 PM
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I'm looking forward to test driving a BRZ. Looks like fun and a great value. Give it more power and good tires and it could make trouble for cars costing much more.
And especially looking forward to the 991 GT3.
#25
08-24-2012 | 07:32 AM
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The real story here is the 4th place finish of the 2013 Subaru BRZ! I mean $25K!!! Now thats an engineering feat! We all will spend that much on insurance and oil changes. To bad its not available as a Cab! 
#28
08-24-2012 | 11:57 AM
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My buddy went to Vegas and hit up their dream car drives thing down there. He drove the MP4-12C and liked it, but said it was pretty boring to drive. He then drove the 458 Italia and was in love. He got 5 laps in each and is an autocrosser, so he was going at a pretty good clip.
Last edited by JETmn; 08-24-2012 at 12:07 PM.
#30
08-24-2012 | 06:52 PM
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Hi I have read the full review and it is amazed me that 991S has a very little body roll's figure of 0.4 degree with highest avg. lateral g of 1.03 in the testing. The other cars usually have body roll's figure around than 2.0 degree (Mclaren is second best with 1.3 degree and Aventardor is third with 1.5 degree). Is this because of PDCC?
Motortrend even comment in the article that
"The chassis is totally composed over bumps," says Evans. To me, the suspension is the unsung hero of the new 911 story. I can't remember ever driving a car so well-damped. Maybe the Ferrari 458 Italia, but that's a big maybe. When Kim Reynolds measured the roll angle, the number he got back was so low (0.4!) that he thought his equipment was broken. It wasn't -- the Porsche's suspension is just that good. Sublime, really. Everything about this car is sublime. From the brakes to the throttle response to the seats, the Porsche 911 Carrera S is everything we look for in a driver's car. I'll let Evans have the penultimate word, as his comment typifies our thinking about the latest and greatest from Porsche: "I just can't think of anything this car does wrong." However, notes Pobst, "I don't like the interior color."
Motortrend even comment in the article that
"The chassis is totally composed over bumps," says Evans. To me, the suspension is the unsung hero of the new 911 story. I can't remember ever driving a car so well-damped. Maybe the Ferrari 458 Italia, but that's a big maybe. When Kim Reynolds measured the roll angle, the number he got back was so low (0.4!) that he thought his equipment was broken. It wasn't -- the Porsche's suspension is just that good. Sublime, really. Everything about this car is sublime. From the brakes to the throttle response to the seats, the Porsche 911 Carrera S is everything we look for in a driver's car. I'll let Evans have the penultimate word, as his comment typifies our thinking about the latest and greatest from Porsche: "I just can't think of anything this car does wrong." However, notes Pobst, "I don't like the interior color."
Last edited by iambon; 08-24-2012 at 07:02 PM.