Favorite Car Reviews

[DFB FGXR6]

So, this is not really a spoken review.

To get around embargo's that prevent journalists from publishing "driving impressions", in turn giving all outlets a fair chance, The Smoking Tire will often post a "just the noise" video. In that format, he is not breaking the embargo rules, but reaps the benefits of being an early publisher............especially on high interest cars like the Cayman GT4 RS.

Those last raspy revs between 8000 and 9000 rpm NEVER gets old.



I want one, for the engine alone. I don't care about the whole RS thing, I would never get close to its handling potential, and I also don't care for the tacky wings. For me, I would love this engine in a tamer suit, like what they do with the GT3 Touring, a more sedate looking beast but with all the good bits underneath.

[tbro4123]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

John Cadogan could learn from a lot of people! What a moron!

DFB, if you haven't got something nice to say, but your bloody right, if anything your insulting morons!


Terry

[DFB FGXR6]

This is a channel I have been liking a lot lately.

https://www.youtube.com/@AutoTopnl

While he does do spoken reviews, he also does a separate no-speaking version of each car. Sometimes, all I want to hear is the engine, not the reviewers voice or some sort of background music. It's as close as it gets to sitting in the car and listening to some truly amazing engines.

Of course, I can never get enough of 5.0 Coyote V8 goodness -

Listen to the induction note at 3min 46 on this Mach 1 -




The latest, a GT500 -




And a little 5.0 vs 5.0 -

[Bossxr8]

I'm really liking the Revelations by Jason Cammisa on the Hagerty youtube channel. Not technically reviews, but stories about how certain legendary cars came to be, and what made them so great. He then drives them for a couple of minutes at the end, just so you can hear them.

Some good subject matter like Ford GT, BMW M1, Lambo Miura, FD RX-7, Vette ZR1 etc. Even some oddball stuff like Taurus SHO.

[roKWiz]

What ever happened to John Wright ?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

What ever happened to John Wright ?

He was writing for Shannon's but I haven't heard from him in a while.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I'm really liking the Revelations by Jason Cammisa on the Hagerty youtube channel. Not technically reviews, but stories about how certain legendary cars came to be, and what made them so great. He then drives them for a couple of minutes at the end, just so you can hear them.

Some good subject matter like Ford GT, BMW M1, Lambo Miura, FD RX-7, Vette ZR1 etc. Even some oddball stuff like Taurus SHO.

Jason's content is brilliant, I share a lot of his sentiments with regard to how certain brands have abandoned their heritage in a physical sense, but still trade on it in the marketing department.

His podcasts are worth listening to as well -

https://www.youtube.com/@TheCarmudgeonShow/videos

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

He was writing for Shannon's but I haven't heard from him in a while.

Thanks, spent a lot of time mountain biking and boating with him years ago.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Thanks, spent a lot of time mountain biking and boating with him years ago.

No kidding!

I have always enjoyed his writing, he didn't seem to have the bias a lot of journalists have.

From memory, he also worked for Ford in PA during the AU years.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

No kidding!

I have always enjoyed his writing, he didn't seem to have the bias a lot of journalists have.

From memory, he also worked for Ford in PA during the AU years.

I remember him (temporarily) borrowing all my original Holden books and brochures to write a book but never found out whether he did write it.

Had some funny experiences.

[Interceptor]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWaNzBoGEyA

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWaNzBoGEyA

I remember watching that back when it was aired, what a waste of a Falcon.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWaNzBoGEyA

Just another day for the panel van.

This is what you get when a game show host, hosts a car show.
Thank god ol Burgo didn't cotton on to it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Such a shame this is the swansong for the Boxter and Cayman.

[anobserver]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

This is a channel I have been liking a lot lately.

https://www.youtube.com/@AutoTopnl

While he does do spoken reviews, he also does a separate no-speaking version of each car. Sometimes, all I want to hear is the engine, not the reviewers voice or some sort of background music. It's as close as it gets to sitting in the car and listening to some truly amazing engines.

This *1000!!

Whilst not a car review per se, i do like the sound of the gtf at full noise.

Driven by John Bowe, of course, very appropriate.




https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0zVTMAOiL-8

[jgmdat]

Originally Posted by anobserver

This *1000!!

Whilst not a car review per se, i do like the sound of the gtf at full noise.

Driven by John Bowe, of course, very appropriate.




https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0zVTMAOiL-8

That supercharger whine, god I miss my GS.

[roKWiz]

This should stir the haters up.

No Toy boy but got to admire an old school design built around a non turbo mechanical diesel.

[rare ss]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

This should stir the haters up.

No Toy boy but got to admire an old school design built around a non turbo mechanical diesel.

BRING BACK THE 1HZ!! god they were bulletproof compared to the V8

[DFB FGXR6]

The Worst Car In the World -




These guys seem to think the car has aged well, I disagree, it's still hideously ugly.

[Swordie]

Harry's Garage

Taking my Jaguar XJC V12 on a 1200 mile road-trip special to the best roads in N.Ireland


Cool car. Manual v12 XJC

[DFB FGXR6]

I needed an F-Type fix!

RWD F-Type R -

" a lot of works folks, a lot of work!......" ".....it's got personality............."

Check out how "busy" he is at the wheel on this one..........




AWD F-Type SVR -

".......most improved Jaguar........" "by far the best handling Jaguar, ever......"

Now notice the more stable steering inputs on the AWD model............

[DFB FGXR6]

The fabulous VBH reviewing the less-fabulous looking updated F-Type..........I like the original the best. However, British Racing Green on "1970's brown leather" is the expert spec.





For me, the pre-facelift F-Type R Coupe with AWD would be my ultimate car for a few reasons -

- The perfect blend of proportions and the most gorgeous curves going. No car on sale now does this for me. Ian Callum was a master, nearly everything he designed I have adored.

- The engine, the engine, the engine. The growl they engineered into the exhaust (it's a big cat after all) and the whine of the supercharger. Having driven one, the thing doesn't let up, even at 240 kph it's still pulling hard!

- It's got a real, proper torque converter automatic. I know that might sound like a drawback, but to me this gearbox suits the car perfectly. Slushy around town and low speeds, snappy enough when the going gets loud. And eight speeds are just the right blend of shortness for snappy response, without the constant shifting like a 10-speed Mustang exhibits.

- You can actually use that engine because of that AWD system.

- Unlike VBH, I actually like Jaguar steering.

-I love the interior, plain and simple with REAL gauges. I don't care about "dated" infotainment.

I've been told the RWD supercharged V6 is the superior driver's car. When I drove the 4 cylinder, V6 and V8 back-to-back, while the V6 sounded good and went more than fast enough, I just didn't LOVE it. The AWD V8 felt more planted and gave me confidence to drive it harder, even on a damp, slippery Sandown track.

I still want one, perhaps I should be digging deeper and buying this instead of an S650.

[DFB FGXR6]

F-Type R vs V8 Vantage vs 911 Carrera S with Chris Harris. Which would you choose?

[smoo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The Worst Car In the World -




These guys seem to think the car has aged well, I disagree, it's still hideously ugly.

Not the best looker but like the AU Falcon not a patch on the new **** today. I followed a new Forester the other day, ugly awkward tail light design that doesn’t flow or align with the rest of the car, same deal with one of the new Hyundai SUVs with tail lights that look like two claws sticking down, or the new Mitsubishi Outlander that has a whole lot of contrasting lines and shapes on the front end. do people buy this **** and think it looks good…

Lexus SC dash is a rip off of the Jaguar XK8. But minimalist for the day, nearly all high end interiors in the early to mid 2000s were loaded with an eye sore of buttons/switches and dated integrated infotainment set ups. Worst offender Land Rover Disco 3 and L322 Ranger Rover/Sport.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by smoo

Not the best looker but like the AU Falcon not a patch on the new **** today. I followed a new Forester the other day, ugly awkward tail light design that doesn’t flow or align with the rest of the car, same deal with one of the new Hyundai SUVs with tail lights that look like two claws sticking down, or the new Mitsubishi Outlander that has a whole lot of contrasting lines and shapes on the front end. do people buy this **** and think it looks good…

Lexus SC dash is a rip off of the Jaguar XK8. But minimalist for the day, nearly all high end interiors in the early to mid 2000s were loaded with an eye sore of buttons/switches and dated integrated infotainment set ups. Worst offender Land Rover Disco 3 and L322 Ranger Rover/Sport.

I wrote this thread back in 2020, with a focus the trend of over-designing in an attempt to garner attention. Sadly, that trend is at the expense of classic proportions and subtle beauty.

https://www.fordforums.com.au/showth...ghlight=design

"With car companies focused on the demand for SUV’s, sales of sedans have plummeted over the last decade. With that, of manufacturers that have continued to make sedans, they have tried to style them in a way to grab the attention of the buyers and perhaps distract them from the pumped-up SUV on the other side of the showroom.

Some car companies have been successful to a degree at injecting style into an otherwise boring vehicle. Mercedes Benz hit the bullseye on the original CLS but in an attempt to keep it fresh, they over-designed it. And its the over designing of cars, and sedans in this case, that bugs me. Some cars have so many body lines and creases that they look like they have been in a fender bender".

[smoo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I wrote this thread back in 2020, with a focus the trend of over-designing in an attempt to garner attention. Sadly, that trend is at the expense of classic proportions and subtle beauty.

https://www.fordforums.com.au/showth...ghlight=design

"With car companies focused on the demand for SUV’s, sales of sedans have plummeted over the last decade. With that, of manufacturers that have continued to make sedans, they have tried to style them in a way to grab the attention of the buyers and perhaps distract them from the pumped-up SUV on the other side of the showroom.

Some car companies have been successful to a degree at injecting style into an otherwise boring vehicle. Mercedes Benz hit the bullseye on the original CLS but in an attempt to keep it fresh, they over-designed it. And its the over designing of cars, and sedans in this case, that bugs me. Some cars have so many body lines and creases that they look like they have been in a fender bender".

Ah yes, good thread.
Not really on topic but since I did mention 2000s interiors, I think the high end B series dash in Fairmont onwards (option on FPV and XRs I think) and Territory Ghia is one of the cleanest designs for that era and still look good today.
They definitely aged better than most of the Euro stuff that did as you say and over designed to attract attention. W211 Mercedes interior is probably the better Euro for that era, like the B series not OTT. Although quality is nowhere near the pre millennial cars.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by smoo

Ah yes, good thread.
Not really on topic but since I did mention 2000s interiors, I think the high end B series dash in Fairmont onwards (option on FPV and XRs I think) and Territory Ghia is one of the cleanest designs for that era and still look good today.
They definitely aged better than most of the Euro stuff that did as you say and over designed to attract attention. W211 Mercedes interior is probably the better Euro for that era, like the B series not OTT. Although quality is nowhere near the pre millennial cars.

I've always loved the W211 E-Class interior, and depending on spec, still looks good to this day.





Given the choice, I tend prefer colored interiors over black-on-black. However, I think in this case, the grey and caramel W211 interiors really age the car.

[smoo]

Yeah that brown/beige combo belongs in the 1990s, it was a popular choice on the w140 S Class and W210 E Class and is more suited to them IMO. Also seen a few VT Commodore/Calais WH Statesmans with the same beige/brown combo, look ok.
I picked up an X5 a couple of moths ago, colour combo help me seal the deal. Better than black or a drab soul less grey.
Not a fan of the tapered off flat dash but it’s not too busy, there’s worse designs out there.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by smoo

Yeah that brown/beige combo belongs in the 1990s, it was a popular choice on the w140 S Class and W210 E Class and is more suited to them IMO. Also seen a few VT Commodore/Calais WH Statesmans with the same beige/brown combo, look ok.
I picked up an X5 a couple of moths ago, colour combo help me seal the deal. Better than black or a drab soul less grey.
Not a fan of the tapered off flat dash but it’s not too busy, there’s worse designs out there.

image

I really like that X5, most of them would have been black.

Always loved when Ford got adventurous with interior colour choices, but Aussies seem to be very conservative with sort of thing and just order black.













I factory ordered the Streetwise Blue interior on my XR6, you hardly see many thus equipped.







I just wish Ford Australia would have the balls to offer the colored interiors on Mustang that the US gets access to.









Sorry, off topic.

[DFB FGXR6]

Tiff Needell's review of the Jaguar XKR back in 1998............