Little Clanger

Just made a purchase of this DVD, purely on the strength of a head to head between an FQ300, STi8 with PPP and the new Audi S4. I was shocked to say the least. Jezza said the Evo was a better car for fun by a very long shot, the Audi was the best everyday car, and the Scoob came somewhere in between all this, lurking in the background. All three were taken on a drag up an airstrip. The Evo won easily (too easily it looked to me) and the Scoob came last. (****!!!)

Now I know I may be biased as an STi8 owner, but I remember the last little head to head that Jezza did, between a Carrera 4 and a Yammy R1. The R1 "lost" apparently but after very close scrutiny by many a person in the know, enquiries were made as to the authenticity of the result to which it transpired that the test was rigged because Jezza hates bikes and thinks their riders are poofs. Who is biased now I wonder?

Should I beleive what I watched painfully on my new DVD, or merely put it down to Clarkson and his willingness to massage his presentations?

What do you lot think? C'mon, I was nearly in tears last night !!!!

johnfelstead

keep crying i am afraid. The UK spec STi understeers like a pig which is why it's so slow on track, limit understeer doesnt help lap times but it is safe for Mr Average.

Little Clanger

But John, what about the straight line drag on the airstrip? Is it true? Is Jeremy correct or just a big hairy tw@t?

Dont worry about the handling, Gatwick Group Subaru dealers does a fully warrantied handling upgrade pack which (i have been told by those who have had it fitted) totally transforms the car>

Old_Fart

Believe everything Jezza says.
Chuck
(Only 'cos in an earlier video they show a 22B out-dragging an Evo6 LOL)

sammyh

iTrader: (1)

And thats being polite it worse than that! Get geometry done at one of the well know specialists on here and its like a different car!

It is VERY good even JF would like it

The other thing that people neglect to mention are the standard fit tyres, the only good thing about them is that they are round and black put a better tyre on and things improve somewhat

johnfelstead

It still understeers at the limit even with good geometry, but it can be improved on in a big way compared to factory spec.

sammyh

iTrader: (1)

John do you like it or is it poor in your opinion? just out of interest.

johnfelstead

Do i like what exactly?

tonym

Clarkson changes his mind every week. Does anyone take him seriously?

Franx

Kind of depends what car he's talking about. If it's something I like, then yes. I respect what he knows, but I'm sure he twiddles some of the results to account for his feelings on the car.
Remember the Escort Cossie/STI5 race on one of his videos? A dead heat

Franx

But think of it another way - say you drive a car in certain conditions - perhaps around a track, one week, and it's no good. You might then go elsewhere & drive the same car along the M6, and it's spot on, just coz it's better suited to the comditions. You'd change your opinion, right?
I suppose he's as entitled to change it as anyone - it's just that people buy cars, going on what journalists think of them, up to a point. Would you buy a skyline if Tiff, Clarkson & everyone else said it was no good? ...er yes

sammyh

iTrader: (1)

John - A STI 8 with geometry done correctly

Little Clanger

I can "sort" of handle the FQ300/STi8 comparison, but what p1ssed me off was the attempt to put the Audi in a better class than the STi. I have had Audi's and there is no contest - quattro and 339bhp or not. I still maintain that a PPP'd STi8 will stuff an Audi, and properly too. Sure, a straight line drag may be tough but point to point accross country?Do me a favour.

As for Jezza, we all know that if it is Jap or less than 500bhp he slates it so he can **** off as far as I am concerned.

johnfelstead

i wouldnt buy one sammy. I would go for a Spec C, mainly because of the handling you get as a result of the DCCD transmition and the lighter weight.

I am spoiled with my own car, every STi8 PPP i have been in feels really slow and cumbersome, its too damn heavy, if they fitted the DCCD-A to this car as standard it would be so much better balanced which would help address the issue.

The USDM STi is pretty damn good, walks all over the STi TypeUK which is just plain wrong! The UK spec STi should be the dogs bollox with the driving enthusiasts we have in this country, such a shame it's the poor relation.

sammyh

iTrader: (1)

So you are saying I should sell mine then and get spec c?

johnfelstead

No, if you like it why should you? The Spec C is a better car for me, its a pity the UK car doesnt get the parts that make the cars special and would enable it to kill the EVO8 in any comparisons, as they do in Japan and the USA.

sammyh

iTrader: (1)

Only joking Its has to be said though that as much as I love my car and driving it, I feel there is something lacking from from it, i'm just not sure what

Jza

Cue Mike Wood ref PPP'd STI....

"Heat Soak".... LOL

Jza

S Page

Little Clanger

I bought this dvd back in November and asked the same questions on the forum, i was asking for tuning advice on the STi8 because of its peformance against the Audi & Evo, some replies just said buy an Evo, my thread was :
http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/thread.asp?Threadid=272186

But clarskson can be very biased, as was said about the porsche and yamaha R1 boll##ks.
The Audi is £10k more standard and about £20k more when you have ticked a few options boxes.

jmk

Didn't Clarkson also do a review for Top Gear (3 months ago maybe) between and Evo and STi in Scotland. He (and the short bloke) said that the Evo was quicker and more fun, but that they'd take the STi every time if given a choice between the two. They couldn't aticulate why, they just said the Subaru was better.

Perhaps he filmed his DVD review in the spring / summer before the Top Gear review; drove the cars longer for Top Gear; or he just likes to cause a good argument (and that's why he's such a good journalist and presenter).