Cardealeriss55 by James Baggott

Issue 55 | October 2012 | CarDealerMag.co.uk | £3.50

ROAD TEST YEAR OF THE

FAST

FASTER

Porsche 911 Carrera S Nissan GT-R Track Pack Aston Martin Vantage S Morgan Three-Wheeler Lotus Exige S Renault Twizy* Ford Focus ST BMW M5 * Yes, really

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Feature.

contenders Meet the

BMW M5

GT-R Track Pack

Vantage S

Lotus Exige S

Porsche 911

They are the best of the best launched in your showrooms in the last 12 months, brought together on our favourite Welsh roads for the ultimate showdown. James Baggott, James Batchelor and Duncan Chappell give their verdict on the class of 2012 Bag: It’s that time of year again. And I’m excited. Very excited. Our annual Road Test of the Year is our celebration of some of our favourite cars on sale in your showrooms in the last 12 months. The formula is a simple one: Mix some brilliant cars with some incredible Welsh roads and revel in the smell of spent super unleaded. You know these cars are amazing, we know they’re amazing: RTOTY is simply our excuse to work out which one we like the most. So here goes. Batch: We’ve got our hands on the new Aston 42 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

Martin Vantage S, Porsche’s new 911– here with seven-speed PDK – and to satisfy techno geeks, we’ve brought along the Nissan GT-R Track Pack. Standing for the National Anthem are the bonkers Lotus Exige S and the Morgan ThreeWheeler, and representing real-world motoring is the new Focus ST. Oh, and the Renault Twizy. We’re ecstatic about electricity don’t you know. Dunc: Every year we decide to return to North Wales. This is because we love the roads, well, two roads in particular – the A543 and the B4501

– better known as the ‘Evo Triangle’. If you like driving, we urge you to take a day and explore them. So what to drive first? It has to be the Aston. I love them. The sound, the looks and the experience. But they really need to sort a better gearbox to take the fight to the company we have here. Buy the manual is all I will say. James? Bag: I didn’t think the paddle shift box on the Vantage S was that bad. Yes, in Drive it is awful, but attack it in anger and use the paddles and it’s pretty good. Agreed, it’s no DSG, but it’s not completely useless. The 4.7-litre V8 sounds incredible and although the car feels heavy compared to others here it can still be hustled along sharply. I love the interior too, the love of the hand-crafting oozes out of the leather (sounds disgusting) and there’s no doubt the car looks

Pictures: Max Earey

Ford Focus ST Twizy (yes, really)

Morgan Three-Wheeler

stunning in black with the carbonfibre inserts. But problem is Dunc, the S is only available as an auto! Bit of a shock that one. Batch: No surprises here, but my lack of age meant the Aston was out of bounds. But that didn’t stop me hitching a passenger ride every other minute. At the risk of sounding like teacher’s pet, I also thought the gearbox wasn’t that bad. It’s no Porsche PDK, but it’s not that terrible when you’re really on it. Add in a sumptuous interior and devilishly good looks, and this is a real cad’s car. Which I like. Dunc: I hear what you are saying about the paddle-shift being better at speed, but at £102,500 I would like to think it would work well all the time? The rest of the car is sublime, though. At

the other end of the scale (in every sense) is the Lotus Exige S – no Bang and Olufsen stereo here. Just bare metal floors, bucket seats, a supercharged V6 and lots of fun! Bag: What. A. Car. The Lotus was the first of our line-up I drove and made me involuntarily shout expletives. A car that gives you Tourette’s is quite some achievement. It’s mind-bendingly fast, has astonishing grip, and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. But what’s with that prison-cell spec interior? And while we’re on the subject of moans I wasn’t keen on the loose gearbox and seriously heavy steering. Still a great car to drive on Welsh roads though. Batch: This was another motor which I had to grace the passenger seat of, and this car was

the biggest surprise for me. Why? Because, when it turned up at the office, its exhaust note interrupted an interview I was doing three floors up, and I wasn’t that taken with the white paint scheme. I thought it was a bit vulgar and not a traditional Lotus. But like nasty bacterium, it grew on me quickly. The way it attacks corners with such vigour is typically Lotus, and it even has heated seats. To understand how remarkable this is, think of Janet Street Porter with small teeth – it’s that unlikely. Dunc: I agree with James on every level here. Every opportunity I had to drive the Lotus made me feel like a racing driver and very excited indeed. It reminds me of a Caterham, but less scary. I’m not a lover of Lotus, but if I had the £50,000 spare and a back garden CarDealerMag.co.uk | 43

Feature.

the knowledge Model: Aston Martin Vantage S Price: £102,500 Engine: 4.7-litre, V8 Power: 430bhp, 490Nm Max speed: 189mph 0-60mph: 4.3s MPG (comb’d): 21.9

like North Wales, I could be converted. Even faster than the Lotus is the Nissan GT-R Track Pack. I’ve driven the standard car and was left breathless with the sheer pace of the thing, I wasn’t allowed to drive this one though (I wish I could say I was too young) but a passenger ride was easily enough to see that this is even more impressive than ever. Bag: Fortunately I was allowed to drive it – and that I did. I drove the GT-R all the way to Wales and all the way back again. Why? Because it was the most comfortable, had the most gadgets and was the fastest. Driving this car is hypnotic, it’s so blisteringly fast it doesn’t even feel real. I can’t think of anything that would touch it point-topoint. It’s a bit wide for some Welsh roads, but despite that, nothing came close to staying with it. I love the way the transmission grumbles at you, the whoosh of the turbos and the cacophony of noise every time you put your foot down. Batch: I was lucky enough to drive the 2012spec GT-R at Silverstone last November, so I can understand why everyone raves about this car so much. The Track Pack version is new for 2012 and is designed ‘for drivers who want an en extra edge on the race track’. So there’s lightweight alloys, extra brake ducts in the front bumper, revised suspension, no rear seats, sticky tyres and chairs trimmed in special grippy fabric. It’s mindboggling. But just because its 4WD doesn’t mean it’s a cuddly bear. Twitchy is the way to describe certain passenger rides... Dunc: It is true, this car is faster than anything I have experienced and you 44 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

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the knowledge Model: Lotus Exige S Price: £53,850 Engine: 3.5-litre, V6 s’charged Power: 345bhp, 400Nm Max speed: 170mph 0-60mph: 3.8s MPG (comb’d): 28

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the knowledge Model: Nissan GTR Track Pack Price: £84,480 Engine: 3.8-litre, V6 twin-turbo Power: 543bhp, 632Nm Max speed: 196mph 0-60mph: 2.8s MPG (comb’d): 24

the knowledge Model: Morgan Three-Wheeler Price: £30,000 Engine: 2.0-litre, two cyl Power: 80bhp, 140Nm Max speed: 115mph 0-60mph: 4.5s MPG (comb’d): 36 (est)

will get to wherever you are going before anyone else. But that won’t matter, because you won’t have any friends to talk to once you get there. It’s too techno geek for me – all gadgets and no soul. Who cares that it has special non-slip seats or lightweight alloys, I’d be falling asleep in my pint sat next to the owner of one of these in the pub. Something that does have a soul, the Morgan Three-Wheeler was a great surprise for me. What a load of fun! Bag: Ah, the Three-Wheeler. The biggest joke of a car I’ve seen this side of a Reliant Robin. At least, that’s what I thought until driving it. Batch insisted on bringing it along and I agreed, only because I knew it would rain and it has no roof. However, after a stint behind the wheel I stopped laughing and started grimacing. This thing is hard to drive – it’s all wind, and noise, and more wind (bit like a baby). It’s quick, and seriously tail-happy – and it’s an assault on the senses like nothing I’ve ever tried before. But £30k? You need to be a pretty good car dealer to convince someone to buy that with no doors, or roof, or stereo, or heater, or... Batch: ...or exhaust. That fell off 30 miles away from the factory when we were dropping it off. But I’ll ignore that – this car is totally glorious. If you’re reading this and thinking it’s an old car that’s unimportant to talk about, you’re very wrong. It may look like something from an ITV period drama – it is loosely designed on the Morgan Super Sports from 1936, after all – but it’s remarkably modern. The gearbox is straight from an MX-5 so its predictably snikkerty and precise, and the 2.0-litre V-twin S&S engine is torquey and smooth. And on Welsh twisty roads, it’s very ease to lean on and the heavy steering is direct, if lacking in feel. But if it rains, the precise handling 46 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

goes to pot – it understeers with aplomb – and you get very damp. Dunc: The biggest laugh of the trip was seeing Batch climbing into the Morgan with his specially-purchased Spitfire-style leather hat and goggles. “What have you come as?” was used quite a lot. But, as soon as he was in, and driving it, it looked, well, right. It is an occasion driving this thing, but one best left to a dry warm day (I take my hat off to Batch for driving it in the rain at night). For the rich aristocrat, it is a great toy to have, but for £30k I would at least like another wheel. Jumping straight into the M5 was like fast forwarding 80 years. This is a properly good car. Bag: Agreed. The M5 is positively spiffing, to coin a Morgan-ism. To be honest I was worried about the loss of two cylinders when they announced this car, but the turbo-charged V8 is beyond brilliant. In this company, the big Beemer felt portly, but still performed on the tight roads. The gearbox rifles through ratios with ferocity and the bark it makes as it changes up is Haribo-addictive. The interior is Five Star hotel comfy, it looks stunning in this blue and (can you tell I loved it yet?) if it wasn’t for the £100 fill-ups I’d be tempted. If I had the cash, of course... And Batch, a car you could actually drive – now there’s a shock. Batch: I know, and what a car to be able to drive. When we tested this very same one back in June at a rainy Rockingham, I was bitterly disappointed I could not drive it. But after some pleading with BMW, the Germans finally let me. And what a car it is. Stepping from the Morgan into this is like driving around in a shopping mall. It was a trifle too large for twisty roads strewn with sheep. But the V8 soundtrack, the comfy seats (as opposed to the church pew in the Morgan) and a variety

Feature.

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the knowledge Model: BMW M5 Price: £73,065 Engine: 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo Power: 560bhp, 680Nm Max speed: 155mph 0-60mph: 4.1s MPG (comb’d): 28.5

of adaptive things like steering and suspension, made this a very special treat. Dunc: I am glad that you got to drive this Batch – everyone should experience an M5 at least once in their lives, and you got to drive the best yet. Yes, it is a bit aircraft carrier, but get to grips with it and it goes like the planes that fly off it. It is silly-quick. The head-up display is a Godsend for keeping your licence. At least you can see when it hits three figures without moving your eyes too much (not that I did that, of course!). This will keep anyone and their passengers entertained for hours (interrupted by those all-too-frequent fuel stops) and take their luggage. For drivers who can’t stretch to the £73k for this saloon, there is the real-

world alternative of the fantastic Focus ST. Bag: Ah yes, the ST. In our recent hot hatch test the ST lost out to some older cars but of the new models we tested it was the highest placed, hence its inclusion here. This is the first time I’ve driven it in right-hand drive guise and it’s all the better for it – for a start I wasn’t trying to change gears with a water bottle in the door bin. It makes a cracking noise and the 2.0-litre engine is powerful enough to entertain. It feels like it sits a bit high though and the interior is nasty – there’s too much colour, the dash is fussy and it’s cramped compared to the old model. Batch: You’ll probably remember I gave the ST

a bit of a panning last month. What with its German plates, grey alloys and the steering wheel on the wrong side, it really annoyed me. Not that I could drive it. For RTOTY, Ford’s insurance company still refused my pleas, but the ST really grew on me. With a set of Brit plates and some silver alloys, the ST just looked so much better. And the ST really put its stamp on Wales. Driving to our location, I was in the M5 and couldn’t for the life of me shake off the Focus. It’s cramped, a bit too over-the-top and garish. But it’s a cracker. Dunc: I think the ST is such good fun for the money, and is practical too. With the seats down, it took care of all of our luggage and still kept up with the convoy. It is a playful

the knowledge Model: Ford Focus ST-2 Price: £23,495 Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cyl turbo Power: 247bhp, 340Nm Max speed: 154mph 0-60mph: 6.3s MPG (comb’d): 39.2 CarDealerMag.co.uk | 49

Feature. the knowledge Model: Porsche 911 Carrera S PDK Price: £81,242 Engine: 3.8-litre, six-cylinder Power: 400bhp, 440Nm Max speed: 187mph 0-60mph: 4.1s MPG (comb’d): 32.5

50 | CarDealerMag.co.uk

the knowledge Model: Renault Twizy Technic Price: £7,400 Engine: Electric Power: 17bhp, 57Nm Max speed: 50mph 0-60mph: N/A Range: 50 miles

Poles apart: The Morgan is a blast from the past and the wacky electric Twizy looks like it’s landed from Mars little thing on the twisty stuff, perhaps not as planted as other hot hatches, but the way it delivers fun in big-gulp servings is brilliant. A bit garish in Tangerine Scream with matching interior but no less fun than some £100k supercars. Speaking of which, what about that new 911 then Bag? Bag: Oh my, the 911. It’s hard to talk about the Porsche without sounding gushing, but it is really, really good. I think the design is one of the best executions of the 911 ever, the interior is another level compared to its predecessor and my word is it good to drive. I wasn’t looking forward to driving the PDK version, but it’s brilliant and the launch control is savage. It is the benchmark supercar yet again. My only complaint is the price – £98k for a 911 is A LOT of money. Batch: Again my paltry years meant I couldn’t drive this one, but I have pushed it to its limits at Porsche’s Experience Centre at Silverstone. I

drove the seven-speed manual Carerra S and can report I prefer the PDK – it’s really that good. I’ve never really been a 911 fan but this version has converted me. It’s just so unutterably good in virtually every area, it’s made me think why would you need another car? It’s beautiful, comfortable, luxurious and is even good at pottering around. A masterclass. Dunc: I am left speechless at how good this 991 model is. It looks beautiful, sounds amazing, goes like stink and has the best gearbox I have ever used. The latest PDK ‘box is what a flappypaddle set-up should feel like. Milisecond-quick to change, yet smooth as silk. Maybe a little overkill with the settings – normal, sport, sport plus etc – but it is just a perfect blend of class, sporting pedigree and technology. This is, without doubt, the best car I have ever driven. Bag: Cars don’t get any more different than the 911 and the Renault Twizy. The all-electric car is

here because we like the fact it’s quirky, weird and a laugh to drive. Ok, so it had to be delivered to Wales on a truck because its 60-mile range would have meant it would have taken seven weeks to get there and it’s not exactly thrilling. But I like the fact it’s a bit different. Renault, and its Alliance partner Nissan, are trying to change things. And the Twizy certainly changes things. It attracts loads of attention, even among these cars, but some people don’t get it. One of our video team asked if it was ‘some kind of elaborate joke’... Batch: The Twizy is hugely flawed. That range of 60 miles is unreasonable, it’s expensive and you have to pay extra for doors, for heaven’s sake. But you can’t hate this car. To use that cliched saying it really is like a puppy and you can’t kick puppies (I think that’s the saying?). The Twizy makes me smile because it’s one of the reasons why we all love cars – it’s genuinely interesting, and while it doesn’t really take the game on any further, it’s a reminder of how dull every other car is. CarDealerMag.co.uk | 51

Feature. Dunc: Now I know the world needs to be more thoughtful, and I am a firm supporter of that, but this isn’t the way forward. The Twizy is as good as giving Greece a quid – it’s doesn’t go far enough. I can see it being used in built-up cities for pizza deliveries, but as a serious solution to the state of our planet? Not so much. Batch: I could only drive two cars so my verdict is a little skewed. In last place it has to be Renault. Next it’s the Focus – the fact that it’s here is something to be proud of – and shows that the hot hatch is still very much alive and kicking. Strangely, the Aston sits in sixth. The Vantage S just isn’t quite as good as I thought it was going to be. Next it’s the GT-R and it only resides in fifth because it’s just a bit too much, and then, the biggest surprise of RTOTY for me was the Exige. It’s both stunning to look at and to be a passenger in, and for £55k seems rather cheap. If I could have driven it on public roads, the 911 would have won, but I couldn’t, so it’s third. Second belongs to the Morgan – it’s terrific and makes a Caterham seem boring. But the M5 wins for me. Yes it was too large for those Welsh roads but nothing combines power and rationality in such an accomplished manner. Dunc: This is the easiest decision I have ever made. The new 911 is in a class of its own. Even at £98k, this is great value for money. Second is the brilliant Lotus Exige S. A little pricey but if I had the money to spend on something to take to a track once a month, this is where my £50k would go. The M5 is close to the Lotus for fun value, plus you can take your mates to the track in complete comfort and nearly as quick too. Next up is the bonkers Nissan GT-R Track Pack. For the real world, the Focus ST makes a great fight and beats the (not-so-real-world) Aston Martin to fifth. I’m sorry, but the Morgan just doesn’t cut it for me. I understand the heritage but think cars should be about progression, not reminiscing. The Twizy? Sorry, but it’s last. Bag: For once, Dunc and I agree on something! The new 911 takes my number one spot too. It is intoxicating to drive, sounds superb and looks brilliant. In second place is the Exige. I loved every drive in that car, it’s just the interior is a bit Borstal. Third goes to the GT-R. It’s mind-warpingly fast and clever too. Fourth is the Aston. I love the looks, the sound, the interior and that gearbox is good if you’re pressing on. Fifth goes to the M5 – a storming car, that I can’t really fault, it’s just I like the others more. The Morgan’s next. It’s great fun to drive but about as practical as a soluble rain coat. The ST slots into sixth and the Twizy is last. But let’s not forget, simply getting picked to be included in RTOTY is an achievement in itself. There were some great cars launched in the last 12 months – but these are the greatest. And the 911 is the top of the pile. Business as usual then. [CD]

AND THE WINNER IS...

BAG

BATCH DUNC

Total

1. Porsche 911

2. Lotus Exige S

3. BMW M5

4. GT-R TRack Pack 12 5. Three Wheeler

6. Vantage S

7. Ford Focus ST

8. RENAULT TWIZY

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