Favorite Car Reviews

[Franco Cozzo]

[DFB FGXR6]

Two old 5th Gear reviews.

The first being the Mercedes-McClaren SLR. Heavily flawed, that 5-speed slusher really ruined the vehicle. But just look at the angle and amount of smoke old Tiff achieved on the track. I also love the duality of noise the SLR makes, a deep bellowing exhaust note accompanied by the shrill of the supercharger. But its interesting to see how twitchy and unpredictable it was, which is at odds with the slushy gearbox and Mercedes-ness to it.



The second being a quick review of the 2005 Ford GT................

[smoo]

I’m probably not really in a position to comment as I’ll never be able to afford or drive either, but I always thought for a super car both engine choices were half arsed. Fords is essentially a supercharged pick up truck engine while MBs is a supercharged engine from a then 5 figure E Class.

If there’s one thing the yanks can do better than anyone else it’s retro models.
These things still look awesome inside and out 20 years on.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by smoo

I’m probably not really in a position to comment as I’ll never be able to afford or drive either, but I always thought for a super car both engine choices were half arsed. Fords is essentially a supercharged pick up truck engine while MBs is a supercharged engine from a then 5 figure E Class.

If there’s one thing the yanks can do better than anyone else it’s retro models.
These things still look awesome inside and out 20 years on.

The SLR was never a favorite of mine, mainly because of its identity crises. I do remember at the time it wasn't very well received by the press, even the engineers admitted years later that it was a dud.

The Ford GT seemed to be the opposite. Most expected it to be a straight-line hero like every other American performance car. But what they delivered surprised many. The engine? It used an alloy block instead of the cast-iron truck block, so it sort of is and sort of isn't a truck engine. But yes, that's where they saved money by using a modified version of an existing engine. At least its bullet proof and parts readily available. Can't say that about a Ferrari or Lambo.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The SLR was never a favorite of mine, mainly because of its identity crises. I do remember at the time it wasn't very well received by the press, even the engineers admitted years later that it was a dud.

The Ford GT seemed to be the opposite. Most expected it to be a straight-line hero like every other American performance car. But what they delivered surprised many. The engine? It used an alloy block instead of the cast-iron truck block, so it sort of is and sort of isn't a truck engine. But yes, that's where they saved money by using a modified version of an existing engine. At least its bullet proof and parts readily available. Can't say that about a Ferrari or Lambo.

I can’t say I’ve ever followed that segment of the car industry too closely, as ownership and real world use is unrealistic to me.
But I get the impression the SLR is more of a AM Vanquish, Ferrari 575M competitor while the GT is more aligned with the Carerra GT, Enzo, Murcialago, Zonda?

At the time Ford played around with 351 and 427 cui V10 concept engines.
I think something like this would have been the icing on the cake.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/prot...-ford-mustang/

Likewise Mercedes had the option of their V12 variants like Pagani Zonda or AMG twin turbo spec. The twin turbo V12 had 200nm more torque. Instead opted for a relatively low tech V8.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by smoo

I can’t say I’ve ever followed that segment of the car industry too closely, as ownership and real world use is unrealistic to me.
But I get the impression the SLR is more of a AM Vanquish, Ferrari 575M competitor while the GT is more aligned with the Carerra GT, Enzo, Murcialago, Zonda?

At the time Ford played around with 351 and 427 cui V10 concept engines.
I think something like this would have been the icing on the cake.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/prot...-ford-mustang/

Likewise Mercedes had the option of their V12 variants like Pagani Zonda or AMG twin turbo spec. The twin turbo V12 had 200nm more torque. Instead opted for a relatively low tech V8.

I'm the same, always appreciated high end supercars, but they were never my "poster" cars. There are exceptions, Aston Martin and Jaguar for example, but very few Ferrari's and Lambo's float my boat.

The Ford GT always intrigued me for the styling, an unmistakable shape that looked fresh when it launched, and still looks fresh today. The engine was always going to be a V8, and supercharging was a very Ford thing for the time. I do wonder how the flat-plane Voodoo V8 would have gone down, that high revving nature would have suited the GT quite well.

Ford actually benchmarked the Ferrari 360 when during development, they even bought one and then famously put this sticker on the rear bumper. So, while it had the power and torque of an Enzo, it was aimed at the 360 instead.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I'm the same, always appreciated high end supercars, but they were never my "poster" cars. There are exceptions, Aston Martin and Jaguar for example, but very few Ferrari's and Lambo's float my boat.

The Ford GT always intrigued me for the styling, an unmistakable shape that looked fresh when it launched, and still looks fresh today. The engine was always going to be a V8, and supercharging was a very Ford thing for the time. I do wonder how the flat-plane Voodoo V8 would have gone down, that high revving nature would have suited the GT quite well.

Ford actually benchmarked the Ferrari 360 when during development, they even bought one and then famously put this sticker on the rear bumper. So, while it had the power and torque of an Enzo, it was aimed at the 360 instead.

image

Did the price align with the Ferrari 360?
That have put it in the same league as 911 Turbo, AM DB9 and Corvette Z06?
It have mauled them all.
Same sentiment with Ferrari, the only one I lust after is a manual 550/575M. Big V12 coupe with good lines.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by smoo

Did the price align with the Ferrari 360?
That have put it in the same league as 911 Turbo, AM DB9 and Corvette Z06?
It have mauled them all.
Same sentiment with Ferrari, the only one I lust after is a manual 550/575M. Big V12 coupe with good lines.

Price when new was a mixed bag, its hard to know where it lined up. I came up with the following via Google using MSRP in USD.

Ford GT - MSRP $149,995 USD
Ferrari 360 Modena - MSRP $176,287 USD
Porche 911 Turbo S - MSRP $131,400 USD

And same, the mid-engine Ferrari's never did it for me, I much prefer the front engine V12 cars like the 550/575M, the big 612 Scag, or 599.

[DFB FGXR6]

Another class act by Jason Cammisa, this time the Lexus LFA.

[smoo]

MB 500E. Great looking sedan.

[onemanempire]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The full spectrum of Miami noises in this video, from the barking exhaust to the delicious supercharger noise, all accompanied by lashings of tyre squeal. That track was just too small for the big Falcon GT though. I will concur with the reviewers comment about the worst aspect of the car is going slow, these engines really do love working the mid to top end of their rev range.

John Bowe takes the last GT for a flog to try and crack 3 hundeee.. Nearly.
I love the sound of this.. one Happy, Angry thang... Daaauuumm




One Man

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by onemanempire

John Bowe takes the last GT for a flog to try and crack 3 hundeee.. Nearly.
I love the sound of this.. one Happy, Angry thang... Daaauuumm




One Man

That high pitched supercharger noise! I could listen that all day long!

John Bowe was a splendid brand ambassador for Tickford and FPV. The years where he was part of the development team showed in the chassis excellence of those AU and BA/F era cars.







Look how effortlessly he has the big Falc dancing.

[onemanempire]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

That high pitched supercharger noise! I could listen that all day long! John Bowe was a splendid brand ambassador for Tickford and FPV. The years where he was part of the development team showed in the chassis excellence of those AU and BA/F era cars. Look how effortlessly he has the big Falc dancing.

The last video reminds me of the monaro I used to own. Watch the video from the 1min mark.. having traction issues in 3rd gear.. FRICKIN LOVE that sound. Thanks for posting those vids. Hadn't seen any of them before.

Cheers.

One Man.

[DFB FGXR6]

Probably my favorite Ferrari, the 575m.................



For me, it would naturally have to be Rosso Corsa red with the tan interior, not that hideous grey interior in the video. Why American's find grey interiors appealing is beyond me. I could take or leave the F1 gearbox.

That rear three quarter view of the 550 / 575m is probably why I love the S550 Mustang, those broad hips give it such presence. And that looong hood, so special. What's remarkable looking at a 550 or 575m is the thinness of the A and C pillars, no way that would happen now.

I also like subtly of the 550 / 575m, both in the way it looks and the way it sounds. These had an older V12 design, which had a mellower tone to the induction note compared to the dentist drill that was the Enzo V12 which powered this cars successor, the 599.

The whole idea of a grand-tourer being a coupe has never made much logical sense. I mean, wouldn't having four doors and more seats make it grander? But there is something so special about a big coupe with a long hood and a big engine under it. These 550 / 575m cars, and my beloved Mustang, will always have a place and always make their owners feel a million dollars looking down that long hood and commanding a killer engine.

[smoo]

You could also add the MB 560SEC and BMW 850i to the list of exclusive long bonnet large engine grand tourer coupes.

I bought a 560SEC when I was 17 in 2004 for $7200.
These days the same vehicle could probably fetch $40k.
NZ new which for some reason were the same spec as UK cars, it was the full 300hp unlike the de tuned Australian models with around 250hp. Made 167kw on the dyno and could walk away from an AU3 XR8 (not much to brag about but it is a product of the ‘80s hah).
Blue interior not the drab depressing grey many late 1980s - ‘90s Mercedes were optioned with.

[smoo]

[onemanempire]

Originally Posted by smoo

Thanks for posting that. I had totally forgotten about them, as, like the man in the video said, you just don't see them. I have seen about 2 in my life.
A friend of mine was laying on this chick for a few months, and her dad was loaded... like for example, when he got married, their was Grange Hermitage on every table, all night. Johnny walker Blue label etc and I'm talking about 1991 here.
He owned one, an 850 that is. My friend said it was the coolest car he'd ever been in because when you locked the car, all the windows, including the sunroof would close, then it would lock the doors. Man, I thought that was the ducks nuts hearing that back in 1991.

The other thing I read about a few years later was something called traction control. They (BMW) had a 850 on a concrete incline. One half of the incline was wet plastic (vertically divided), the other normal dry concrete. They tried to do a hill start with out traction control, not good. With TCS, not a problem. Climbed the incline as if it was a boat ramp.
Keeping in mind the era I'm talking about here.
Nice thing, great video. Thanks for the memory.

One Man