Motor Trend: Top 10 Best Handling Cars

[Daedelous]

I don't have a link to the article (surfed Motor Trend's website and didn't come up with the actual full-length article), but there's a real in-depth review in the most recent issue (as of today: 4 May 2007) about the top 10 most agile cars. I scanned through it...it seems like the Exige S usually finished close behind the Z06 which was second only to the Porsche GT3, which pretty much dominated everything. Anyway, check out the issue. It will advertise the article at the top of the cover. It's a good 10 pages long at least and has a bunch of agility tests with loads of charts and graphs. Good stuff.

[LARRY]

Best handling (skid pad):

Lotus:

Caterham, Elise, Exige.

Nothing even comes close.

[25psi_Elise_Killer]

http://www.motortrend.com/av/roadtes...best_handling/

[Andrikos]

Excellent article.
The most technical article I've read in a long time.
They do bemoan the Exige S slow and heavy steering.
It scored pretty well but the undisputed heavyweight (literally ) was the GT3.

They said they would have included an F430 in the test but the cheaper GT3 spanked it so bad they omitted it.
They weren't too high on the Z06 which I found interesting.

GT3 - Clear winner.

[codymac]

Meh...

I gave up on the article once I read something about setting tire pressures to the manufacturers' recommendations and then adding 5psi for track use. IMHO, that pretty much invalidates any testing done with the Exige S.

[keith86a]

Yup.. the GT3 is a clear winner hands down, it even beat the Z06 on track with 100 less ponies! And what's even better, the difference between 996 GT3 and 996 GT3RS was huge according to most comparisons I've read.... hopefully we'll see the same dramatic improvement with 997 GT3RS

[ljm12]

Look at the final spider charts. Lotus came in 3rd (35 score), barely beat by the Cayman S (35.9). The Z06 surprisingly(?) scored 2nd to last. Exige S was the only car to receive 3 perfect scores

[Westrock]

Originally Posted by codymac

Meh...

I gave up on the article once I read something about setting tire pressures to the manufacturers' recommendations and then adding 5psi for track use. IMHO, that pretty much invalidates any testing done with the Exige S.

That seems kinda counter productive to me. MFG would rate the tires for normal street use, but the high loads of track use would probably heat up the tires and maybe even give you that 5 PSI naturally.

I say that not being a track expert though.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by keith86a

And what's even better, the difference between 996 GT3 and 996 GT3RS was huge according to most comparisons I've read

It seems like most owners who've driven them can't tell the difference. I've no doubt the RS is a better drive, but I think most of the perceived gap is imagined.

[Overlander23]

It was a very technical article, but almost to a fault, IMO... Handling is one of those things that can't always be completely quantified. What works in one situation doesn't necessarily work in another. I'll concede that it can point out trends, though... and in general the article is fairly well balanced.

A subjective example from that article is steering weight. Of course, the Lotus was dead last due to its increased weighting the further off center you go... and in their tests this was seen as a negative. I think everyone here would agree that the Elise/Exige's manual rack is integral to the sublime handling feel of the car. So points off for that... but really?

Then you ask yourself, is the best handling sports car the one that goes around the track the fastest (in which case, power plays a big role), or is it the vehicle that is the most forgiving, or is it the one that involves the driver the most... It's all very subjective.

Out of curiosity... how fast do you think an Exige with the same power to weight ratio as a Porsche 911 GT3 would be around a track... in comparison with the GT3?

[jlee]

personally I'm amazed how good the current Z06 really is. each track event i attend the number of Z06s seems to multiply..its converting alot of other loyal marque owners..

I haven't driven one but it does look amazingly smooth and i've been told it feels great. for $30-$40k less than any GT3 it really does sound like a bargain.

jeff

[keith86a]

Originally Posted by Ram

It seems like most owners who've driven them can't tell the difference. I've no doubt the RS is a better drive, but I think most of the perceived gap is imagined.

On the street the difference between GT3 and RS is small, but on the track, its huge. GT3 is a whole different animal... according to Porsche the RS is 4 seconds faster around Nurburging than GT3, which is very significant difference. Here are some interesting times I've found for 996 GT3 and 996 GT3RS.

Nurburging:
GT3 RS: 7min 47seconds
GT3: 7min 54seconds

Top Gear Laptimes:
GT3 RS: 1.22.3
GT3: 1.27.2

Hokenheim Race TracK:
GT3: 1.14.9
GT3 RS: 1.11.8


EVO Magazine Bedford Autdrome track
GT3 RS: 1.23.85
GT3: ~around 1.25.0 (Can't find it in the back of current EVO issue, but it was around 1.25 if I remember correctly)

[JeffersonRaley]

Originally Posted by codymac

I gave up on the article once I read something about setting tire pressures to the manufacturers' recommendations and then adding 5psi for track use.

Right there with you. Adding pressure is right for autox, where you don't get enough time to heat the tires and inputs are much omore aggressive. But track use should have much lower pressures.

And honestly, anyone who can't get a new Z06 around the track faster than a GT3 doesn't know what they are doing. I'd personally rather drive a GT3 because they are more enjoyable (to me). But the Z06 is absolutely faster.

[keith86a]

Originally Posted by JeffersonRaley

And honestly, anyone who can't get a new Z06 around the track faster than a GT3 doesn't know what they are doing. I'd personally rather drive a GT3 because they are more enjoyable (to me). But the Z06 is absolutely faster.

In C&D comparison, Z06 was faster by a whopping 0.50 seconds... so its entirely believable that GT3 was faster on this track. Z06 vs GT3 is definitely a driver's race. GT3 RS, on the other hand, will dominate Z06 anywhere.

C@D March 2007
Z06: 2.01.00
GT3: 2.01.50

[Jack]

The 997 GT3 and RS share many similarities but there is a discernible performance difference. If interested, here's a
link http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...d.php?t=336645 to my comparo. Since then, I've taken delivery of my RS -- great car. Of course, I still prefer tracking my Lotus.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Val]

GT3 comes on normal road tyres, while GT3RS comes on semi-slicks, no?

[Jack]

Originally Posted by Val

GT3 comes on normal road tyres, while GT3RS comes on semi-slicks, no?

No -- both come on the same tires -- Pilot Sport Cups

[Val]

Mmm, surprising difference indeed then!

[keith86a]

GT3:RS is built on widebody shell (same as AWD 911's) which is 44mm wider across the rear axel. It also has a longer wheelbase for improved stability, as well as a split-rear suspension wishbones, stiffer springs, etc. In addition, aerodynamics are also improved, they modified front spoiler and added a massive carbon wing for improved downforce. I'm not sure on how much more downforce the RS has, but its reported to be much more stable at high speeds. Tires are the same, but you can probably fit even wider tires on RS since its a widebody...

P.S. There are also rumors that RS actually dynos 10-15whp higher than regular GT3....

[008]

Originally Posted by JeffersonRaley

Right there with you. Adding pressure is right for autox, where you don't get enough time to heat the tires and inputs are much omore aggressive. But track use should have much lower pressures.

And honestly, anyone who can't get a new Z06 around the track faster than a GT3 doesn't know what they are doing. I'd personally rather drive a GT3 because they are more enjoyable (to me). But the Z06 is absolutely faster.

Tires.