Not much mention of the new ginetta's
Discussion
surrey7er said:
Yeah ok. What do you think it should cost? Remember, Ginetta are trying to make a profit... What else is out there that undercuts it by so much?
I ought to point out I don't work for Ginetta when I say I think the G40 is actually underpriced. If my assumptions are correct, the road car is basically the race car made road legal.Manufacturers always charge a premium for this spec of car because supply is limited and demand is sufficiently high.
A huge amount of engineering development is required to produce a reasonable road car to today's standards amd there are dozens more components on a road car compared to a race car, so the fixed and variable costs are much higher. The difficulty comes when you try to market your base road model for significantly more than your track day special costs. I'd be surprised if G are making any money on this latest offering and I personally would have pegged it nearer to 40k than 30.
If the business isn't financially viable, then it won't be around for too long and that would be the worst thing for all of us who love the marque.
The spec is good and having a full safety cage is a bonus imo. However, 30 grand for a gel coat finish against a proper paint finish (an option!) is a minus in my view.
The real problem Ginetta will have in selling this car will be the price. We all know the history but to the masses it is still not well known in the road car sector. People still look at the residuals of model, even specialist ones. If it had a Lotus badge on the front would it still sell in today's market? Some have just commented it should be 40k. I'm confident if it was 40k they might as well change its name to Evora!
This is only my opinion but price is still everything and even more so today in this area of the market. Does it have any competitors? In this area I suppose it would be Caterham and Lotus yet they are finding it difficult. You could say that Ariel Atoms sell at 30-40 grand, but look at the publicity they receive! Also it's hardly a road car. IF the G40R gets the publicity it probably deserves, say Top Gear and them extolling its virtures then it could be good news. But will it get an airing?
A long time ago, as we know, when the G15 won the day it was almost solely on its price compared to its competitors, it was a no-contest and of course you could take the option of assemble the final part of the jigsaw to save even more £s in those days.) If Ginetta had priced the G15 at the Clan price, which they could have done, the production figures would probably have ended up similar between the two marques. The G15 cornered its market predominantly on price (a specialist market, of course) so much so that Clan even lied about their production figures - they, and others, could not compete with it.
Another problem in today's market is that there is much available at this price, or under it, new (you can even get an hardly used Porsche Cayman) to make people in that money area part with it elsewhere.
Another minus in my book is the power plant but that's only personal. I know many of the specialists love the Ford Duratec (the 1.8 Zetec, originally specced was far too long in the tooth for a 'new' car, and would have killed it before it started imo). The Ginetta site gives mpg as 29mpg. Is that average, if so, what will it do when 'driven hard'?
I'd prefer a smaller but just as powerful unit. My Mini JCW is only a 1.6 - but its twin-scroll turbo, superb Getrag box and transmission and all in a steel shell puts out 211 bph, 0-60 in a tad over 6 secs and has a top speed of virtually 150 mph!
I need something to tempt me other than just being different, to make me spend another 8 grand.
Nonetheless, I await the proper launch and hope they get the publicity.
The real problem Ginetta will have in selling this car will be the price. We all know the history but to the masses it is still not well known in the road car sector. People still look at the residuals of model, even specialist ones. If it had a Lotus badge on the front would it still sell in today's market? Some have just commented it should be 40k. I'm confident if it was 40k they might as well change its name to Evora!
This is only my opinion but price is still everything and even more so today in this area of the market. Does it have any competitors? In this area I suppose it would be Caterham and Lotus yet they are finding it difficult. You could say that Ariel Atoms sell at 30-40 grand, but look at the publicity they receive! Also it's hardly a road car. IF the G40R gets the publicity it probably deserves, say Top Gear and them extolling its virtures then it could be good news. But will it get an airing?
A long time ago, as we know, when the G15 won the day it was almost solely on its price compared to its competitors, it was a no-contest and of course you could take the option of assemble the final part of the jigsaw to save even more £s in those days.) If Ginetta had priced the G15 at the Clan price, which they could have done, the production figures would probably have ended up similar between the two marques. The G15 cornered its market predominantly on price (a specialist market, of course) so much so that Clan even lied about their production figures - they, and others, could not compete with it.
Another problem in today's market is that there is much available at this price, or under it, new (you can even get an hardly used Porsche Cayman) to make people in that money area part with it elsewhere.
Another minus in my book is the power plant but that's only personal. I know many of the specialists love the Ford Duratec (the 1.8 Zetec, originally specced was far too long in the tooth for a 'new' car, and would have killed it before it started imo). The Ginetta site gives mpg as 29mpg. Is that average, if so, what will it do when 'driven hard'?
I'd prefer a smaller but just as powerful unit. My Mini JCW is only a 1.6 - but its twin-scroll turbo, superb Getrag box and transmission and all in a steel shell puts out 211 bph, 0-60 in a tad over 6 secs and has a top speed of virtually 150 mph!
I need something to tempt me other than just being different, to make me spend another 8 grand.
Nonetheless, I await the proper launch and hope they get the publicity.
John has said it all, really. For that money (even without the options, whatever they are) you could have an Elise, MX5, RX8, MINI Cooper, Caterham, Nissan 370Z, Morgan, even a basic BMW 5 Series for under 30 grand. All these are known quantities to the buying public, which unfortunately the Ginetta is not.
I have to agree with both of you that for the vast majority of people, buying a Ginetta right now will not make any sense at all, and I would include myself in that. The G40 has not wowed the public with its looks, though it is nice, it doesn't have 600hp or sound like approaching thunder, it's not a technological tour-de-force or handle like a mountain goat on speed. To my knowledge, it doesn't have any features to differentiate it in the market or even a convertible roof.
However, I stand by what I said because this is their very first road going car (excluding the F400) and by their own admission, they only want to sell a limited number of them. Given the G40's impressive racing credentials I reckon they would have been far better off selling this as the stripped out high power no compromise model for a premium, and then backing off the cost to say 30k for an Elise or Caterham competitor, once they had engineered out all the expensive racing components that don't acyually benefit a good road going car.
Ultimately, the longevity of the company will come down to costs vs selling price vs sales and at 30k, I can't believe their making any money on the current car. Perhaps it is a loss leader, but as someone very wise once said. "It's easy to make a small fotune in the car business, you just have to start off with a large one.."
However, I stand by what I said because this is their very first road going car (excluding the F400) and by their own admission, they only want to sell a limited number of them. Given the G40's impressive racing credentials I reckon they would have been far better off selling this as the stripped out high power no compromise model for a premium, and then backing off the cost to say 30k for an Elise or Caterham competitor, once they had engineered out all the expensive racing components that don't acyually benefit a good road going car.
Ultimately, the longevity of the company will come down to costs vs selling price vs sales and at 30k, I can't believe their making any money on the current car. Perhaps it is a loss leader, but as someone very wise once said. "It's easy to make a small fotune in the car business, you just have to start off with a large one.."
In my opinion the styling is bland and lacks " well anything really. I have seen one in real life parked next to normal cars and it really does lack any panache, charisma. The wheels are too small, the sculpted lines down the side just look kit car like, all in all it just misses that thing that makes you want have one. Maybe I am just missing it, but I don't think I am alone unfortunately, I had noticed Ginetta were advertising for a car designer recently, I hope they get one soon. This all sounds very negative which isn't my intention but just my thoughts.
sketch pad said:
In my opinion the styling is bland and lacks " well anything really. I have seen one in real life parked next to normal cars and it really does lack any panache, charisma. The wheels are too small, the sculpted lines down the side just look kit car like, all in all it just misses that thing that makes you want have one. Maybe I am just missing it, but I don't think I am alone unfortunately, I had noticed Ginetta were advertising for a car designer recently, I hope they get one soon. This all sounds very negative which isn't my intention but just my thoughts.
It's a very personal thing I guess. I visited the factory and saw the light blue one they had. I thought it was a very pretty little car. The wheels were ok by me, but then my 7 runs on 13 inch wheels and I actually prefer smaller wheels from a driving perspective...
jazzyjeff said:
Ginettas.
My understanding was the G40 wasn't being put on sale until the autumn.
As for the G400 the price does seem ambitious (as it was when the car was a Farbio). Perhaps dropping the carbon fibre construction and switching to a cheaper GRP option would help this?
I rang the factory nearly 2 weeks ago about the G40R. Though I have never owned a Ginetta before the G40 really got me excited, especially its track ability, light weight and reasonable power to weight. I have owned many cars, and for the first time in my life I was considering buying my first brand new one.My understanding was the G40 wasn't being put on sale until the autumn.
As for the G400 the price does seem ambitious (as it was when the car was a Farbio). Perhaps dropping the carbon fibre construction and switching to a cheaper GRP option would help this?
I let the phone ring until I got an answer machine ....... I thought this a little bizarre.
Anyway I left a meaasge and indeed someone did ring me back and this time they got my answer machine. They informed me that I could either call back or email them with my enquiry.
I emailed mainly to make sure my interest was noted, asked for options on colours, specs etc and that it was a serious enquiry.
To date I have not had a reply.
surrey7er said:
Wozy68, that hasn't been my experience and I really think you've just been unlucky. Maybe give them another chance, as they were great with me. I even had LNT himself show me around the car... Don't write em off just yet IMHO...
Will do. It looks like it would be a great car for the fast, twice yearly Spanish mountain driving that I so enjoy. 
sketch pad said:
In my opinion the styling is bland and lacks " well anything really. I have seen one in real life parked next to normal cars and it really does lack any panache, charisma. The wheels are too small, the sculpted lines down the side just look kit car like, all in all it just misses that thing that makes you want have one. Maybe I am just missing it, but I don't think I am alone unfortunately, I had noticed Ginetta were advertising for a car designer recently, I hope they get one soon. This all sounds very negative which isn't my intention but just my thoughts.
Saw a G40 on the road today for the first time, following an F400 up the M1 just north of Leeds and I have to say it looked at bit odd, and not at all like the staged pics I have seen in the press. From the front three quarter view I had, it made the car look foreshortened, almost squat in its stance and distinclty inelegant. I was very surprised as I have not got this impression from any of the photos and had always considered the styling competant. I guess if they are recruiting a new designer, they're taking steps to fix the problems which is good.Gassing Station | Ginetta | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff