2011 GTR on top gear test track

[AJC13B]

Once again another person that says its not engaging to drive, but the reasoning is because its too quiet

I wonder if a simple exhaust could disban the rumors.....

Also the amount of crashed r35's lead me to believe they don't drive themselves as much as people say...

I don't remember saying that it wasn't an engaging drive because it was quiet. I dont recall giving a reason for my opinion that it was un-engaging actually!

Would an exhaust fix it? No.

In my opinion, the R35 is the Lara Bingle of the car world. You'd thrash the crap out of it, and your mates would want a drive too, but would you take it home to keep? Probably not. Id put the Veyron in the same category. Essentially, they have technology muscle (Figuratively speaking); point and shoot quick, damn quick!

Now something like the Zonda, Mac F1, Fez F40, Caterham R500, Ariel Atom, 599 GTB, Porsche GT2/GT3. Hell even my old RX7 + others cars I have driven. Cars with character, cars you need to wrestle a little bit. Cars that engage all your senses.

Now that I think about it....Whats the difference between the R35 and cars that were engaging for me? The engaging cars I knew I was going fast in them.

Is the (rumoured?) higher crash rates of R35 because they are a hard car to drive, or because people are overestimating their ability in a car thats 'easy to drive'? I would wager its the later more than the former.

I would agree the R35 is realtively 'boring' on the street. Totally agree. The fact is a $40k manual V8 commodore is a more entertaining drive for everyday duties... the sounds, the box, you can use more of what the car/engine has to offer... (not to mention practicalities of a sedan). God knows i've had a lot of v8's, my family car is a VE (V8) right now. I Love them.

However, if you judge the R35 by simply driving on the street, that's almost laughable. All i can say is you haven't begun to understand what this car is about. Whack on a set of decent track tyres, and throw yourself into T1 at EC or the kink at WP going as fast as your bum tells you is possible, that just might give you an idea. It's a road going track car. A car that can keep pace with RACE GT3 times (have you actually seen what these porsche race cars look like... they are full on race cars) then remind yourselve these are 1700kg luxury road cars.

The R35 are simply amazing things for the money. But, if i wanted a flash car for mostly road duties, i wouldn't buy one.

You agree with people who (have driven one) say thats its a boring daily, yet shit can them if they havent driven one on a track to compare, and then say you wouldnt buy one if you are only after a flash road car?? Mood swings much! I tend to agree though. If I wanted a car to go damn fast around a track in, an R35 would be at the top of the list.

[333pg333]

I'd be betting that the reason that there are many crashed ones are that:

1)You hear/read/see them more due to their notoriety.
2)There are a lot more rich guys out there than good drivers.
3)They are easier to drive fast but when you go faster you have less time to react and therefore have bigger accidents.

Can't see why people are getting their panties in a bunch over this. 10 pages in must mean something. They're an astounding car whether you like them or not. I'd love a go and salute them for building such a car. Given a choice I'd take the new GT3 4.0 though.

[35R]

I don't remember saying that it wasn't an engaging drive because it was quiet. I dont recall giving a reason for my opinion that it was un-engaging actually!

Would an exhaust fix it? No.

In my opinion, the R35 is the Lara Bingle of the car world. You'd thrash the crap out of it, and your mates would want a drive too, but would you take it home to keep? Probably not. Id put the Veyron in the same category. Essentially, they have technology muscle (Figuratively speaking); point and shoot quick, damn quick!

Now something like the Zonda, Mac F1, Fez F40, Caterham R500, Ariel Atom, 599 GTB, Porsche GT2/GT3. Hell even my old RX7 + others cars I have driven. Cars with character, cars you need to wrestle a little bit. Cars that engage all your senses.

Now that I think about it....Whats the difference between the R35 and cars that were engaging for me? The engaging cars I knew I was going fast in them.

Is the (rumoured?) higher crash rates of R35 because they are a hard car to drive, or because people are overestimating their ability in a car thats 'easy to drive'? I would wager its the later more than the former.



You agree with people who (have driven one) say thats its a boring daily, yet shit can them if they havent driven one on a track to compare, and then say you wouldnt buy one if you are only after a flash road car?? Mood swings much! I tend to agree though. If I wanted a car to go damn fast around a track in, an R35 would be at the top of the list.

It's pretty simple.

As a road car the R35 is very sedate, and relatively boring; you just can't use what the car has to offer, and what it's all about.

All i am saying is that people who write off the car on the basis of farting around on the street make me laugh. It's like having Lara Bingle as a GF and you dump her because she doesn't do the dishes just right.

[35R]

I'd be betting that the reason that there are many crashed ones are that:

1)You hear/read/see them more due to their notoriety.
2)There are a lot more rich guys out there than good drivers.
3)They are easier to drive fast but when you go faster you have less time to react and therefore have bigger accidents.

Can't see why people are getting their panties in a bunch over this. 10 pages in must mean something. They're an astounding car whether you like them or not. I'd love a go and salute them for building such a car. Given a choice I'd take the new GT3 4.0 though.

> You hear/read/see them more due to their notoriety.

That's all it is IMO. There is no evidence whatsoever people crash these more than any other car. Just a bunch of hyped up peeps posting essentially the same pics all over the interweb of the same small number of banged up dattos.

[clutch-monkey]

It's pretty simple.

As a road car the R35 is very sedate, and relatively boring; you just can't use what the car has to offer, and what it's all about.

+1
i only drove one on the street, and it just wasn't possible to open it up at all, or even touch on it's abilities.
had much more fun driving an original mini around at 110% on a really tight mountain road.
but imo the same criticism can be directed at any supercar (or even high end sportscar).

in the end i'm much happier with my choice of car, just because i CAN get more out of it more frequently, and it is much more raw. but that's simply a personal choice.