Favorite Car Reviews

[DFB]

I started a thread with the same topic and title on another forum, it's always interesting to read about how certain car can influence us.

When I was a teen, there was no such thing as Youtube. Anyone who wanted to see cars on TV needed a cable subscription and to tune in at a set time of the week. I LIVED for Top Gear and 5th Gear night. Of course, these days car content is literally never ending, and a lot of those episodes that I devoured are now on Youtube for endless viewing.

At one point, I tended to favor 5th Gear over Top Gear, mainly because they were more informative rather than entertainment biased. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy Clarkson and Co at their peak.

The first video I want to share is this 2004 review of the then all-new Aston Martin DB9. This is the review that made me fall in love with the DB9, and Aston Martin in general.

The styling, one of the most beautiful and perfectly proportioned pieces of automotive styling in the history of the car. That long bonnet, the organic shaped headlights the perfect sweep of the roof into the deck. The styling still holds its own nearly 20 years later, and the interior has aged better than expected.

But it's the engine that sold me on Aston Martin. It may have started life as a Duratec V6, but it's one of my favorite car noises ever. I especially love that slurred upshift sound from the 6-speed ZF automatic. Later cars got louder exhausts, but it's the induction note I crave. The part where the reviewer, Tom Ford, repeatedly goes up and down the gearbox, I would have listened to 1000 time now.

 

[DFB]

The next video is this review of the BMW E60 M5 by Tiff Needel.

What a legend Tiff Needel is, someone who was once called the "Sultan of Slide". I think we would all love to have his crazy talented car control ability. I devoured his reviews, most of them of him on a track, going sideways in a cloud of tyre smoke and a howling engine.

This review of the then new 2006 BMW M5 is one of my favorites of all his reviews. The concept of driving a quiet, comfortable four door sedan across two countries, then taking it straight to the track and driving the wheels off the thing would be a dream for most car enthusiasts.

The drawcard for the E60 M5, like all BMW M-cars of this period, was the engine, a never-ending surge of revs, accompanied by the wail of 10 cylinders and the rorty induction note. At one point, he was sliding that car for like 3 separate corners at full opposite lock.

I of course would love to have a E60 M5. I was one of those who actually liked the styling of the E60...............but then I liked the AU Falcon too! But, like many I suspect, owning one would be terrifying. Time has not been kind to that era of BMW's, and the V10 cars are known to be money pits. But videos like this allow me to live my fantasy without having to endure the BMW reliability headache.

 

[DFB]

Another BMW, and another Tiff Needel review. Or shoot-out.............

The E46 M3 is arguably the best M-car ever, the CSL is probably the best BMW ever!

Again, another video that made me fall in love, this time that stunning 3.2 Inline 6. The standard version sounds bloody fantastic, but the CSL with the carbon airbox was and still is, orgasmic! This would have to be the best inline 6 ever made. Sure, there have been more powerful inline 6's, but I would challenge anyone that didn't go weak at the knees for one of these. Skip to 1.55 and 2.26 and listen to that thing sucking air on the down shift, spine tingling!

I want one, I want one, I want one. Of course, the CSL was sold in limited numbers, in fact you had to have CAMS license or sign a wavier to buy one due to the Cup tyres. A standard M3 would do me, and I would likely fit it with carbon airbox like many others have done. And I would endure any BMW-ness for this car, that engine!

Sadly, these cars are still too expensive, even examples with the SMG gearbox and high km's. This engine also appeared in the Z4M, which I love for the styling as well, but those are still commanding big money.

 

[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

Three great reviews there, I would have either car, but I'd probably have an M5 over the Aston. The M5 is one of my dream cars, so understated, almost a sleeper, based on looks, my favourite is the E39, the one that came with the 5.0 V8.

After watching the first video there was something I noticed, something we're losing with modern cars, the beautiful centre console. Everything new now has all these massive screens, which the average user is going to have covered in finger prints most of the time. There's just no style to them. Also, instrument clusters, I understand that the new digital screens are very versatile, but why aren't they hooded any more, I like a hooded instrument cluster.

I didn't mean to go on a little rant, but sometimes you just have to go where you go.

Edited to say I love the M3s as well.

Sent from my motorola edge 20 fusion using Tapatalk

 

[DFB]

Three great reviews there, I would have either car, but I'd probably have an M5 over the Aston. The M5 is one of my dream cars, so understated, almost a sleeper, based on looks, my favourite is the E39, the one that came with the 5.0 V8.

After watching the first video there was something I noticed, something we're losing with modern cars, the beautiful centre console. Everything new now has all these massive screens, which the average user is going to have covered in finger prints most of the time. There's just no style to them. Also, instrument clusters, I understand that the new digital screens are very versatile, but why aren't they hooded any more, I like a hooded instrument cluster.

I didn't mean to go on a little rant, but sometimes you just have to go where you go.

Edited to say I love the M3s as well.

Sent from my motorola edge 20 fusion using Tapatalk

Yeah, I hate simulated gauges as well, sadly this is where the industry has gone. I always make the analogy of a high-end watch, to the purist, a digital time piece will never be a replacement, even if it's probably better functionally.

Having said that, some do it better than others. I like how S550 Mustang kept the hooded cluster design with the screen integrated within that shape. Very clean, more character.







Compare that to the new one, it's just a bloody screen glued to the dashboard.





But, you just can't beat a lovely set of dials...........................

 

[Desertnate]

I loved watching both Top Gear and 5th Gear. As time went on, the production value Top Gear was able to produce was stunning visually. These days, I find most YouTube content leaves me cold since the production quality might not be very good and the quality of the presenters is hit miss.

As for the virtual gauges, I don't get the lack of hood either. Mercedes is really bad with this and most of their screens are glossy/shiny too which makes them impossible to see in some lighting conditions. BMW is headed down that road too in some of their SUV's and when you combine the lack of hooding with BMW's horrible instrumentation lay out, its just a hot mess. Overall I don't mind the virtualization if they make the information easy to read with a quick glance. My BRZ is particularly good at this with track mode being really easy to read fast.

 

[DFB]

I found these videos waaay back in early 2008 while waiting for my XR6 to be built and delivered. At the time, the whole new car thing would be a new experience for me.

Have been a Chris Harris fan ever since!

 

[DFB]

I loved watching both Top Gear and 5th Gear. As time went on, the production value Top Gear was able to produce was stunning visually. These days, I find most YouTube content leaves me cold since the production quality might not be very good and the quality of the presenters is hit miss.

There is certainly a lot of crappy content on Youtube, typically from content creators that then have the cheek to ask "like and subscribe" for their mediocrity. But, there is some excellent stuff to be had, both in the content itself and the production values.

Although not always a "review", if I want to listen to an engine do its thing, I head straight to AutoTopNL. While they also do reviews, they spin off videos that focus solely on the acceleration and engine sound. No music, no rambling, just pure noise.
AutoTopNL - YouTube

The Smoking Tire has come a long way from where it started, he's certainly grown up and mellowed, and the production value is great.
TheSmokingTire - YouTube

I also like the quality from the likes of Henry Catchpole/Carfection, Hagerty, Jason Camisa, Harry's Garage...................

Carfection - YouTube
JasonCammisa - YouTube
Hagerty - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@harrysgarage

Speaking of Jason Camissa, this Icon's video on the Mustang is absolutely brilliant. Actually, the whole Icon's series is brilliant.

 

[DFB]

BMW, and Clarkson, at their best............

 

[DFB]

It's funny watching Clarkson get so frustrated with the iDrive system in this car, funny because most new cars are like that now. Too many functions that are controlled by a singular control point, not to mention offering so much adjustability that it's distracting.

"In M-Mode, this car stops being annoying and becomes............. just magnificent!"

"Amazing isn't it, that this is of the ugliest and most annoying cars in world, but at the touch of a button, it becomes one of the very best................it becomes an M5"

Very few engines make me weak at the knees, this BMW V10 is one of them. And I have to say, I never found the E60 ugly...................which is in complete contrast to the absolute garbage BMW make these days.

 

[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

I have to say the E60 has grown on me, I like it more now, but maybe that's because of how the new ones look.

 

[Desertnate]

As hard as I try, I still can't like the E60 or F10 generations of the 5-series.

I actually don't mind the G30 and G60's. They still have proportional kidney grills and look like a proper BMW sedan, unlike the 4 series and the 7 series. I test drove a G60 i5 at a promotional even a couple weeks and liked it. With the G60, I think you have to be much more careful with colors and trim choices. Unlike all the previous generations, going with the black, shadow line trim really doesn't do the kidney grills any favors. It makes them look too big and you lose the definition between them. A white car with the black grill is pretty awful.

Back to the reviews. The humor of the Top Gear trio always drew me in, especially in the earlier years when it seemed to flow more naturally. As the show progressed the visual production of Top Gear was pretty spectacular and was just amazing to see. I still appreciated Tiff and Vicki at 5th Gear for being more down-to-earth.

 

[PA DETAILER]

 

[DFB]

I promise, we don't all talk with a labored accent like this.

But its nice to see such an exotic vehicle being thrashed through the Aussie countryside. And THAT noise, those last 1000 rpm are to die for.

 

[DFB]

The Brillant Rory Reid and fabulous VBH playing with Ponies..................

"No vegan friendly interior......."

"........it sucks in this massive lung full of air and then fires it out, what a total joy to experience a naturally aspirated engine with no STUFF on it..............."

This is why I LOVE the Mustang. Even though Ford brought it into the modern age, at its core, the concept is the same.

 

[Desertnate]

This is why I LOVE the Mustang. Even though Ford brought it into the modern age, at its core, the concept is the same.

I think this is why it sells and is now the only pony car left in the US market.

Chevy came close with the Camaro, but I think the lackluster interior and poor visibility killed it despite being the better driving car by all accounts. Dodge took a one-trick pony and then rode it well past it's prime. Then they tried to modernize but lost their way and lost the customer base. Ford on the other hand has incrementally kept making the car better at a pace the market seems to tolerate, though there was the big uproar two generations ago when they ditched the live axel for an IRS.

Interestingly they are now running a GT3 spec version of the car in race series all over the world and in the WEC and IMSA it's going head to head with 911's, Corvettes, Ferrari 296s, BMW M4s, Aston Martin Vantages, and Lamborghini Huracan. Who could have seen that coming?!

 

[DFB]

I think this is why it sells and is now the only pony car left in the US market.

Chevy came close with the Camaro, but I think the lackluster interior and poor visibility killed it despite being the better driving car by all accounts. Dodge took a one-trick pony and then road it well past it's prime. When they tried to modernize but lost their way and lost the customer base. Ford on the other hand has incrementally kept making the car better at a pace the market seems to tolerate, though there was the big uproar two generations ago when they ditched the live axel for an IRS.

Interestingly they are now running a GT3 spec version of the car in race series all over the world and in the WEC and IMSA it's going head to head with 911's, Corvettes, Ferrari 296s, BMW M4s, Aston Martin Vantages, and Lamborghini Huracan. Who could have seen that coming?!

There is no doubting the Chevy had the superior chassis. From what I understand, the lack of visibility caused a lot of rental fleets to avoid the Camaro and stuck with Mustang and Challenger. Now, the private buyer will tolerate the narrow rear vision, and it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me personally, but rental fleets need cars that are a) cheaply priced, and b) universally drivable for any and every renter.

As much as the Mustang/Camaro/Challenger community likes to believe that these cars are made purely for muscle car fans, the reality is the companies behind them need healthy volume to make them possible.......................... Ultimately, what killed the Camaro is what has made the Mustang a success. Without rental fleets, there would be no Mustang.

The funny thing is, what makes the Mustang special is a byproduct of Ford's stingy product development and production-line budgets. Almost every car company has replaced the V8 with a turbo 4 or 6-cylinder engine, hell, even Ford have done that themselves by using EcoBoost V6's on high profit margin models like the F-series. Of the car companies that have retained the V8, they have downsized the capacity and added turbos, which makes the unit cost very high. Ford keeping the Mustang naturally aspirated is purely for cost control reasons............................but for once, I'm happy about they went cheap.

 

[Desertnate]

There is no doubting the Chevy had the superior chassis. From what I understand, the lack of visibility caused a lot of rental fleets to avoid the Camaro and stuck with Mustang and Challenger. Now, the private buyer will tolerate the narrow rear vision, and it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me personally, but rental fleets need cars that are a) cheaply priced, and b) universally drivable for any and every renter.

I personally know a couple people who turned down the Camaro due to the visibility and bought Mustangs. I also went a similar route. I started shopping for coupes with the Camaro and never took it for a test drive. Just sitting in it felt like driving an APC or a tank via the periscope. I looked at the Mustang as well, but ended up with a BMW 4-series for a few other reasons.

At my local autocross events we have a couple people who bought some of the last SS's off the lot. They love the way the car gets around the course, but the absolutely hate trying to see out of them. One of those guy bought the car with the intent to drive it daily, but ended up having to buy a beater car for that role after only a few months.

The funny thing is, what makes the Mustang special is a byproduct of Ford's stingy product development and production-line budgets. Almost every car company has replaced the V8 with a turbo 4 or 6-cylinder engine, hell, even Ford have done that themselves by using EcoBoost V6's on high profit margin models like the F-series. Of the car companies that have retained the V8, they have downsized the capacity and added turbos, which makes the unit cost very high. Ford keeping the Mustang naturally aspirated is purely for cost control reasons............................but for once, I'm happy about they went cheap.

Interesting perspective. I know Mercedes is really regretting turning the C63 into a turbo four supplemented with a plug-in hybrid motor.

 

[Texchappy]

Haven’t watched recently but used to watch Regular Guy reviews on YouTube.

 

[DFB]

Interesting perspective. I know Mercedes is really regretting turning the C63 into a turbo four supplemented with a plug-in hybrid motor.

You could see the outcome of that decision the moment they announced they were making the C63 a turbo 4. People were buying C63's because they sounded like a muscle car, the older 6.3's in particular. Removing the C63's most attractive feature, did AMG think buyers wouldn't notice the lack of a V8 soundtrack? It was a silly decision and one they are paying the price for.

It's kinda like the EcoBoost Mustang. Compared to a GT, the lower weight over the front axle makes it dynamically superior, and with the 2.3 engine, its fast too. But.....................................the vast majority of the Mustang's alure is the sound of the engine, or to be precise, the V8 engine.

Back in 2016 when the right-hand-drive S550 first went on sale in Australia, dealers were only allowed to register EcoBoost Mustang's as demonstrators because every single GT that Ford was importing were pre-sold. After I had ordered my car, I was given the keys to the demo EcoBoost. All the Mustang hallmarks were there, the long hood, the low seating position, the drop-dead gorgeous styling, the retro interior, hell, it was fast too. But had there not been a V8 option, I don't think I would have bought a Mustang. Despite being fast, the engine was so boring, I especially didn't care for the fake engine noise pumped through the speakers. And like most small turbo 4's, it didn't have much of a top end, whereas the V8 GT lives for revs.