Sunday 10th March 2002

Perfection

Building the perfect sports car - Robert Farago tells us how it should be done...

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[stevenrt]

Never heard of the NSX? Perfect ergonomics, ride (GM used to have one for ride quality comparisons with their crappy cadillacs), visibility, HVAC, yet supercar performance. Not a big fan myself, but it's existence (for over 10 years) does seem to make your article a bit moot...

[aclucas]

Usually I agree with your rants, but not this time. We own 3 cars, and the TVR (S3) is the most comfy. The rawness of it however, makes you more aware of what is going on around you - and I believe a better driver. I am sure of the speed at which I'm going because of the engine noise and wind speed.

The closest to a lux barge I have driven was a BMW 523 - for about 300 miles. I was constantly having to check my speed, finding myself travelling dangerously fast, and was feeling more drowsy than I would in the S3. The more insulated you are, the more invunerable you feel....

[CarZee]

quote:The closest to a lux barge I have driven was a BMW 523 - for about 300 miles. I was constantly having to check my speed, finding myself travelling dangerously fast, and was feeling more drowsy than I would in the S3. The more insulated you are, the more invunerable you feel....

Agree totally with this..

[thom]

quote:I have heard that NASA use a Noble M12 to study the effects of oxygen deprivation on hand-eye coordination.

[Roadrunner]

...err....Porsche 911.....practical supercar, blah, blah.....

[griffith]

Rant? That is all that was... waste of webspace... most disappointing thing was I actually read the whole article.

[CarZee]

Tell us what you really think, Griff!!

[cirks]

quote:Rant? That is all that was... waste of webspace... most disappointing thing was I actually read the whole article.

I thought it was an excellent amusing tongue in cheek(ish) article....and pretty close to the truth

[CarZee]

have to say, I don't reckon it was Mr.Mixed-Fodder's best work, but no worse than the sort of thing you get in most of the car mags and certainly can't be tarred with the same brush as most of the sh1te to be found on the Web.

[gazzab]

Maybe I am just so macho but I have never noticed that the clutch in either my old chimp or my cerbera are heavy. IS this a myth?

[CarZee]

Never noticed it when I drove a Griff either.. (granted, only for a day, but round a track, hard...)

Maybe he's just a big jessie who's far more at home in his Almeira..

[topcat]

[MattC]

quote:
fellatio ... aural ...

Think this chap is doing SOMEthing wrong...

[Roadrunner]

Who is Robert Farago anyway? Is he a journo for a mag / paper? Or should I have heard of him?

[DIGGA]

Name sounds like perhaps he may have been an actor in a 70's porno to me.

[PetrolTed]

Give the guy a break!

Robert Farago regularly writes for Autocar, has written for Evo and plenty of other mags around the world.

You may not agree with what he's written but there's no need for a character assassination!

[ErnestM]

Speaking for most Lotus owners... "ergonomics?! we don' need no stinkin' ergonomics..." (I noticed he listed Lotus twice in the lack of ergonimics area...) As long as I have a clear view of the gas (petrol) guage, that is the most important one. Comfort, bah, overrated - my wife's S-type puts me to sleep .

I want to do Mach 3 with my hair on fire!

ErnestM
98 (unergonomic) 'V8 Esprit

[CarZee]

I agree with Ted - okay I've been open and honest about what I thought of his stuff, but without resorting to name calling...

It's no fun or encouragement when you post your stuff and some muppets slag it off..

I still reserve the right to take the mick out of his name though...

www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=farrago

[robert farago]

Yes, it is true that Porsche is THE day-to-day supercar. But I couldn't really write: "Hey, all you sports car makers, build us a Porsche." Surely the other manufacturers can add their style and excitement to the Porsche standard of ergonomics and reliability. Can't they?

As a former TVR owner, I understand the inherent, mind-focusing advantages of driving a raw beast. But I also know the frustration, anxiety and fatigue created by trying to drive a Chimaera on the motorway in the wet. And a battery that wouldn't hold a charge. And shirt-soaking heat. And... well, let's just say if the car had been a little nicer to me I'd still own it.

As for my identity: I'm just a jobbing hack. See this week's Autocar (carjacking) and this month's Conde Nast Traveller (Great Drives). And yes, I am a tosser-- just not a complete one. My sex life keeps interfering...

[Roadrunner]

Excellent response! Only the usual PH banter, as usual!