Rotor Convert

Well watched the Top Gear episode tonight and all I have to say is what are they on!

Compared Audi TT 2lt / Alfa Brera 2lt & RX8.

They gave it to the Alfa!! Do they know nothing? I am a bonifide Petrol Head, I own 2 Alfa's and have owned 6 in my lifetime so far....so that gives me scope to say what I am about to say.

I have driven the Brera...the V6 version and I can safely say that the Hyundai Getz we hired and were also driving during a holiday to Brisvegas had more torque than the Brera! I mean the Brera is awesome looking.....got lots of road appeal....well lots of people looked at it while I was driving but these were the things I found annoying:

1. The instrument cluster is polished aluminium and when the sun is out as it is here in Oz the roof lets so much light in the glare reduces your vision of any of the guages including the speedo!
2. I hit the revv limiter in 1st gear at 4500rpm.....
3. The engine does not sound like an Alfa....it sounds like a Commodore engine...WTF
4. The back seat is a waste of space unless you are going to be transporting people with no legs, dwarfs or very small children. Which I might add would be nigh on impossible as you can't get to the back seats unless you are a contortionist or you are married to a chiropractor!
5. The seats are designed to mimic an airline seat and remind me of the seat on a virgin blue plane, they are leather but that's all there is that's good. They are designed for big fat bottoms and offer no lateral support. Mainly because the car can't grip the road to go fast enough to need sportier seats!
6. The set up of the interior is not functional, looks ok but really it's hard to read the guages that matter due to the position Alfa have put them in.....chiro again.
7. Alfa IMHO has lost it's spirit, passion and performance.....they have produced a car that looks so good they seem to be hoping you won't want it to go as well as it looks.
8. Everyone will know you are driving a car that is a pr*@k tease.....that's not nice.
9. The price is astronomical for what you get... match that with the drop through the floor depreciation and I can hear the accountants of the world shreaking in horror!

The Audi, well it looks like a minimalist painting......boring and uninspiring...I don't have much of an opinion but I don't think the STIG drove the Mazda as well as the Audi round the track. Oh yes...can you actually get anyone with legs into the back without having the drivers seat actually under the steering wheel??? More research required here.

The Mazda well we know it;s the winner.....

What is going on with Top Gear where they paid to say they loved the Alfa and that it was the winner but they would not own or recommend anyone they like own one?

No I am sorry if Top Gear want to be taken seriously they have to stop faffing around on golf courses in silly clothes and get down to the nitty gritty. They need to come down from their silver lined veyron clouds and look at things more practically......

If I got the chance to get on Top Gear, or meet the 3 amigos I would certainly love to chase them up on this!

mdr

So I guess this means you are not going for a Alfa when you turn your 8 in?

DMRH

Was an excellent Top Gear story tonight despite being a repeat.

Loved how my little Angel was able to pick the RX-8 despite a different colour to our one. This was a first for her developing 3.1 year old mind where previously she would have required a match on the colour aswell.

Loved how little Hammond made the Rx-8 look roomy.

Loved how they gave the "fun factor" to the Rx-8.

Going for the Alfa in the end was expected for their European tastes. Still, the whole segment had "Rx-8 advertisment" about it so was all a big plus in my eyes

REgards

mx5geek

C'mon this is top gear! There's no logic, there's no common sense. Its cocking about at its finest and its about entertainment.

No offence but one thing can always be said about the boys from top gear and their opinions... its that they're never BORING! As much as you might disagree, it'll always be interesting to watch and that's why the show is so damn good!!!!!!!!!!

See that's the thing... I dont think they ever did want to be taken seriously! Practical nitty gritty = not at all interesting.

thisllub

Well that's because it basically is.
Try the back seats in the TT.
Only one of the cars could seat 4 people.
Then there is the Audi.
From a base of 69k RRP (try and get a deal on an AUDI - they would rather let them rot).
Another $5450 to bring it up to spec with the Mazda if you consider one power adjustable seat.
That is a 20k difference.

Luckily it has bluetooth standard because you have to put your phone and wallet in the back seat. There is no storage in the front. The car has all the ambience of driving around inside Ned Kelly's helmet.

The turbo feels pretty good but no better than in the GTI Golf.
I think the R32 would be a better investment.

thisllub

My nephew is 3 and he picks them out everywhere "Thats Uncle Michael's car".
He is already a car nut.

Revolver

Julia - chill pill required.

mx5geek said it best - this show is about having a laugh and a car perve. Those relying on it to make purchasing decisions would do just as well watching Survivor for their holiday plans.

And those who have read Clarkson for a while will know that he is a card-carrying Alfisti (and not short of prejudicial opinions, however lacking in factual basis). He will only require the most threadbare justification to plump for any Alfa and let's face it - being provocative is 90% of his act.

Anyway, having taped the show whilst making my cold worse on a rainswept Sydney Harbour last night (I hate summer colds!!), I'll watch the episode tonight knowing I'm in for a treat.

Revolver

BTW, I like the new TT but the lack of any kind of a functional back seat was a dealbreaker for me too. I optimistically wedged the male mini-terrorist into it at the motor show before last while hordes of phone camera wielding westies waited impatiently to rub their sweaty mitts all over it but one look at his tortured expression told me that I just couldn't do it to them.

I also tend to agree that, like the Alfa, it is over-priced. But you can say the same thing about most Euro cars...

timbo

As said above. Actually, I agree with Clarkson in that when I see an Alfa, in black, with tan leather, it does stir the loins. Fortunately, I and most people here tend not to let those feelings actually influence a buying decision!

Rotor Convert

Dear Friends it was a tongue in cheek post. Should have made that more appareny maybe!! LOL....I love the looks of the Alfa don't get me wrong..... I love the show....don't get me wrong here.... I loved the 8 with Hamster driving.....yes I agree he did make it look BIG on the inside....

I was just in the mood to pound the keys as is my want!!!

I did like the Veyron bit......very much. I looked at Bruce and said he could have anything if he would buy me one ....he sighed and said "One day Princess"

No I enjoyed watching the show, just think that their grip on reality for the REAL people is slight.

BTW I sat in a Saleen Ford Mstang at Sanctury Cove on the weekend....now that is a car I would buy! Didn't get to drive it but would buy it all the same! It's front end means business....no-one would take me on along our freeway!! And ...and guess what it gets the same economy on the sticker as the 8!!! Marketing hey!

mikeyr

Hmmm...neva got the whole "brera is sexy" thing.

Don't think it is particularly groundbreaking, the RX8 is not exactly a stunner in the looks department either (benchmark Vantage) but does stand out!

Audi is an Audi and there are better models

You go Julia, we need more rants !!

Revolver

You're getting perilously close to that 1K mark Mikey . This recent bout of loquacity better stop!

Revolver

He should have taken you up on that and bought you a matchbox series version.

A deal is a deal...

Tim Tam

Gotta love the Stig in the 8 though, nice and sideways when ever possible! I'll bet he hopped out with a big smile on his dial. How boring would a FWD be on a track in comparison? (off you go now Timbo......)

DrGonzo

My opinions:

Looks are subjective. All 3 cars looked the goods but IMO the Alfa really stands out in this case. Audi is my least favourite, but I'd still rate it rather highly. RX8s looks have always been a love it or hate it thing.

Both the Alfa and the Audi are much newer than the RX8 which will work in their favour. The Audi in particular uses a lot of technology which wasn't 'mainstream' in 2003.

I haven't driven the TT or Brera so can't form a real opinion, but I assume that it would be a very difficult choice either way and teh Brera has been on my own list since it first came out.

All that said, I love my RX8 and would be very hesitant to let it go for a lot of cars this side of 911. It's a fun car and only it's lack of torque lets it down IMO (I can live with the fuel and oil consumption, and the wife's car has the space if I ever need it). I love the way The Stig drove it around the track and it would be awesome if we were to hear his opinions. I reckon it was the most fun for him to drive of the 3, despite the TT being marginally quicker.

takahashi

I admir them bring a car back from a more than 2 year old review previously.

The stig dropped his time by 2/10th! Do you realise that!

Revolver

I agree. I wish the local motoring rags would use the RX8 in comparo's against new coupe models a little more - I bet they'd find it's still very competitive.

I think it was Clarkson who said it best though about wanting a car with the Brera's looks that drives like the RX8 but is built like the Audi. There's always a compromise when car shopping unfortunately (unless money is no object and even then you're usually trading something for more of something else).

BTW, I'm in love with the Veyron all over again - what a machine!!

Rotor Convert

I agree with you all. Thank you Mikeyr for your comments.....I love a good rant sometimes!!

I have driven te Brera and didn't like it......I wanted to really badly.....even the salesman said I would be disappointed.. now that's saying something.

I didn't realise the Stig had dropped his time...wow what a drive and it did look like they were both enjoying themselves as well!!!!

I agree that car styling is very personal....hey some people love the P76!!

Front wheel drives have always annoyed me but I have owned quite a few, they have their advantages.....and disadvantages......

I was interested to see how SNAPPY the Audi was in cornering......it looked top heavy to me and very direct.......(assumes German accent) We will go 'dis vay and dat vay but ve vill do it my vay"!! The Alfa "lolled" around the corners and sounded laboured to me all I have felt first hand and all mad me sad. My 1986 2lt would be quicker and sharper to drive. Nope I would not have the Brera on my list......it's the cow in the tracksuit....or is that leisure suit???

I think Mazda could do more with this model, make more noise about it.....don't let it fall behind the new Mazda 2 which they will now flog due to it's car of the year award.....still can't get my mum to even look at one!

Would be nice if they added it into the campaigns in a more dominant way...but then "sigh" they have the CX7 and CX9 to sell to the surburban warriors now.... the safe options with maybe not as many re-calls, unhappy customers and lower overheads to make and look after.....

Incidentally, I will not be giving the model Veyron idea to Bruce..... not until he thinks of it..... I would love to have a go in one though.......to be able to go that fast....the track that follows the curvature of the earth......5 miles of red mist.......engine breathing what I breath in 30 minutes every second........oh that would make me a happy girl....and loved that interior..........

Revolver

Mazda 2 did very well in Wheels COTY too - runner up to Merc C class winner. So, if you need a cheap little city runabout, that seems to be the current journo favourite.

Hahaha about the Veyron. 'Er Indoors commented on the interior too, making yum yum noises. She then lost points for asking why you would buy one, even if we could afford it/register it/etc. I told her she was mad!...and replayed the segment as punishment.

Tim Tam

Taka, you mean his new time was 2/10 SLOWER, right? He did a 1:32 the other night, and a 1:31.8 originally.

http://www.topgear.com/content/tgonb...times/thestig/

takahashi

oh yeah... I just realise what I have written... thanks for clarification.

I am looking forward to what Clarkson has to say to the new RX-8 design. I am sure there will be comment about the same engine, the same power.... blah blah

midlife crisis

I thought it surprising that they even included the 8. It isn't like the 8 is a hot, new model.
That said they picked the weakest of the 3.

Tim Tam

True, our baby is pretty well aged compared to those other two, but it sure did put up a good fight! Especially when you factor in the price differences between them over here.

ASH8

Extra time because he spun the rears for about 1.9856 seconds before the 8 took off!

As for Clarkson he LOVES EVERY FORD MONDEO Model ever built, he never bloody stops Mondeo this Mondeo that

As for the 3 car test, what bloody test it was a Sunday Drive, did they swap drives?? it appears not, I would have preferred their evaluations after they had each "driven" the 3...and left out the bloody Golf!..

Cromax

Mondeos are very good cars!