takahashi

Top Gear Clip of the VW R32 and BMW 130i


I have the clip to the megaupload.
Wait for 45 seconds and there is a link up there.
I uploaded it last night but I dunno how long it will last in their server.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IJ3NUOBY

xxup

Taka,

Do you know if Topgear ever reviewed the Audi A3 Sportback?? It was one of the cars we considered before we decided to buy the 8.

takahashi

I will give it a search. I dun't think so but if I find it I will put it up in the same way. Easy.

Any more car review request?

takahashi

PS. Adrian....

I search the detailed guide of Top Gear from the Finalgear.com website.

There is a short description of A3 1.6 with 5 other cars

Mercedes A class diesel
Citroen C4
Mitsubishi Pickup
Renault Clio
Audi A3 1.6
Volvo Station Wagon

Want this... maybe not

mikeyr

Great clip Taka, nice to see you put the R32 round the track quicker than the beemer and of course 0.1sec slower than the 8.
That little golf is tidy!

xxup

Thanks Taka... I was hoping that they looked at the 2.0 FSI, the turbo or the V6....

Anyway we will have the 8 for another two years - many more cars will arrive in that time... By then there will be a series II Rx-8 and the CX-7 would have been on the road for a year..

EZZY

dont think so...
check the TG picture guide out...
http://www.angelfire.com/ex2/orangep...de-topgear.htm

xxup

Thanks Ezzy - that site is an easier guide to all the episodes...

Revolver

Scotty - Jan Wheels has a review of the Brera (regrettably in 2.2 litre 4 cylinder mode). Reviewer manages to muster up some lukewarm enthusiasm but he hits the nail on the head when he compares it directly to the 8. 150kgs more, 40kws less, FWD and $25K more than the 8 - I don't think so.

And just think, the 4x4 V6 version will be even heavier, dearer and more nose heavy.

Yet again, Alfa makes something that is good to look at but everyone except Alfisti will walk straight on by.

Revolver

Speaking of the Jan issue - Timbo, check out Carey's comments on turbo diesels on p43.

Otherwise agreed that BMW rip you off with extras. Check out the on road price of the 130i that Taka tested - no way would anyone sane spend that kind of money on a hatchback. FFS, you can buy an Evo IX for that kind of dough.

Also agreed Mazda needs to get its finger out. Won't be long before other stuff is released that will put the 8 in the shade. 450Z anyone?

<chuckles dementedly at the thought more people will jump in to deride the Datsun>

Revolver

Like the acronyms Nick - good one.

I've been told if you test the Exige for an hour you want one but live with it for a week and you want to give it back.

Great track car though if you can afford something else as a daily driver.

Revolver

I'm interested to see the CX7 in the metal. I'm tipping practical space will be heavily compromised by the styling and it ain't pretty enough to buy just for the looks.

xxup

Fair comment, but it is still worth the look... The Saaaaannnnnnggggyyyyyoong I am not even goind to glance at!!!

rotarenvy

I wasn't going to get in to this thread but 195kw and 1300kg's

I reckon 30 sumthing people would buy it. stuff the back seat I don't have kids. it has more power than the 8 at a similar weight. it costs less than the 8 and if you can get them to throw in the extras then it has better features at a lower price.

it makes the 8 look like a overpriced, underpowered hairdressers car. so what if I can fit 2 fat *** adults in the back seat; I then need to park in a disabled spot to get the front doors open wide enough to get the rear passengers out!

I love light cars and the 130I is light and small which would make it a really fun drive.

if it wasn't for the handling I'd be packing my bags and ditching my mazda. I hope mazda bring out a real sports car again

Revolver

Just check the pricing a little more carefully and I've never known BMW to give you ANYTHING for free. Although the list price is competitive, I reckon by the time you load it up with some fruit you're looking at over 70K on-road.

So the 8 is still pretty good value.

All they need to do is give it 20-30 extra kws.

ARE YOU LISTENING MAZDA??!!

Scotty

Perhaps we will have to wait for the Mazda Kabura
http://www.autonet.ca/Spotlight/Conc...4/1352934.html

Ciao

Pity its a four banger . Give me rotor power anyday!!......Turbo rotor power that is he he !!

Ciao

Dave

Revolver

I wonder if the 4 cylinder engine is just a blind or cheaper to engineer into the concept car.

As we all know, if that can fit, a rotary will fit easy.

Not too sure about the 3+1 business though???

rotarenvy

compared to the 8 it seems to come comes std with everything apart from the 18 wheels which I would buy aftermarket.

all the options are things you only dream of getting on in the 8! like the nav we don't get; the revision mirror we don't get; the sun roof I didn't have the option of; fancy side mirrors we don't get. etc

Revolver

I couldn't resist dragging this old horse out of its grave for another flogging.

The current issue of "Motor" has a comparo between the RX8, 130i and 350Z and guess what, the 130i wins.

Mind you, the reasoning of the conclusion is a tad baffling.

The 130i wins because it is a "proper performance car". Que? And the 350Z and RX8 are not? The 130i is beaten on the strip and there's bugger all between the 3 of them so far as power to weight goes. Of course, there's also a big hardcore of enthusiasts who'd suggest that none of them are proper performance cars when compared to more serious metal but I'm not going to get into that.

The 130I "has four proper doors and four proper seats - no gimmicks". I doubt the scribbler actually sat in the back of both the RX8 and the 130i. I have and I know which one I'd pick for passengers I actually liked. As we know, the RX8 is deceptive in this dept and many people assume it has less space in the back than it actually does. As for the door thing, I'd suggest that if you measure the width of the door opening for rear passengers in the 130i the aperture is hardly large whereas the suicide doors of the RX8 make for easy access.

The really weird reason though is that the 130i "doesn't stand out too much, or at all in this company but if you wanted to pick a fight you can give a good account of yourself". WTF? Since when was that a clincher? Is the scribbler a Q-car fanatic? If so, he should declare that (subjective) interest so that his reading public can judge how much it skews his determination. This subjectivism was highlighted by his unnecessary styling critique in which the RX8 was unfavourably compared to a "robot in disguise" . Please, compare performance, handling, features, amentity, etc all you want but we've got eyes and you've got photos - we can assess for ourselves which is the more attractive.

In the text of the test he also reckons the RX8 can't live with the 130i through corners because it gets "swamped by the 130i's mid-range punch on the way out". I'd suggest that if the 130i beat the RX8 out of the corner he had the RX8 in the wrong gear (a common mistake for those used to more low-down torque than the 8 offers).

Every time I compare something new to the RX8, it makes me realise just how hard that is to do. It remains a unique vehicle for plenty of reasons and is still the best fit for my wants and needs.

ILIV48

Me thinks maybe BMW is being nicer to Motor and in particular that reviewer. Time for Mazda to start sending them more free stuff

Maybe a driving lesson should be the first freeby

deano

The lease on my RX8 is up in February.

I'm researching the Lotus Exige S at the moment - it looks like the goods to me.

I want something that gets driven to and from work, and that is suitable for club and track racing.

The RX8 has been okay, but its nearly time for a change.

Anyone else looking at the Lotus?

Revolver

Well, you'll certainly be the goods at the track but you need to ask yourself whether you can live with the thing as a daily commuter.

Big price jump too.

deano

I think I can deal with it as a daily driver as long as I have air con - I'm over the whole leather pack experience. I love the nice interior on the rx8 but when you compare it to some of the other cars out there they can make it look pretty standard. One of my clients has the 4wd Porsche - I think its a cayanne or something like that - they have a nice interior!!

This is a car I will want to test drive before laying down my money though.

The RX8 I didn't test drive - I knew I wanted it, walked in and bought it.

I'll let everyone know my thoughts after I've had a run but on paper, very keen.

Revolver

I wasn't so much talking interior - more ride and drivetrain harshness. I suppose it depends what your run to work is like but I couldn't imagine commuting in Sydney every day in such a car.

As for test-driving - for me, that's a must (even for cars I'm not buying ).