Picture Gallery: 2010 Testfest Gallery | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Discuss
 Click Image to Enlarge |
My first day at Testfest was certainly a lot of things: exciting, hectic, tiring and fun all rolled into one day that just flew by. I managed to drive 11 cars; had I realized dinner was at 7:00 and not 5:00 I would have probably driven 12 or 13 — live and learn! The weather forcast for today was for cloud and for tomorrow rain so I made a point of testing the convertibles today as well as the Prestige over $75k, so I spent my day in luxury cars… not bad.
Although it was a treat to drive the Audi R8, S4 and Porsche Panamera around the track (to name a few) it certainly makes for some tough choices when voting as you really are splitting hairs when it comes to things like interior confort, quality and design.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
The next set of cars I drove were in the Prestige over $75k category. This category, once again, is interesting, consisting of three large luxurious vehicles: the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, the BMW 750i and the Porsche Panamera, plus a lone wolf of a pure sports machine, the Audi R8 5.2 FSI (V10). The first three cars differ quite a bit, although one could argue the 7 Series and the Porsche have similar aspirations of sporting luxury.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
The Merc was just not my cup of tea, as it’s a very soft and large sedan that coddles but is also a technological wonder — too soft for my liking, although visibility was great compared to the rest of the vehicles I drove. The BMW 7 Series was a fun car to throw around on the track. With four-wheel steering it was very agile, more so than you would expect from such a large sedan. On the road, the BMW was nearly as comfortable as the Mercedes-Benz while providing a more sporty edge when asked for. As many would expect, the R8 was phenomenal on the track — extremely fast, perfectly balanced and easy to drive; on the road, it can be a cruiser as well, but it does have a hard edge to it. With respect to visibility, let’s just say you will be seen but you may not be able to see.
The Porsche Panamera was the surprise of the day. I expected it to be similar to the 7 Series as that seems to be its target. But it was not only as good as the 7 Series on the road; it was as good, if not better than, the R8 on the track. A double threat, the Panamera impressed everyone who drove it. Turn-in was incredible and the speed you could carry through the fast corners was unbelievable, but you can also drive your kids to school on Monday… amazing.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
I also grabbed the keys to the cars in the Sport / Performance over $50k category today. This category includes the Jaguar XFR, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and the Audi S4. After stepping out of the prestige category, this one was even more impressive, with vehicles for half the price that were only a hair shy from being as good. The Jaguar XFR, with an as-tested price of approximately $85,000, seemed like a bargain, with lots of power and quiet luxury on the inside. The highway drive was great, though the track drive not so much, as it felt too heavy and the traction and stability control systems were too intrusive. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe, at around $71,000, seemed even better at first; although the interior is not as luxurious as the Jag’s it is well put together. On the track, the Merc is fun to drive as well. The Audi S4 is a clear winner in my mind, with an as tested price of only $55,000. It was just screamingly quick on the track with an incredible chassis, and on the road it was quiet and refined!
Tomorrow I’ll be starting my day with the Sports / Performance under $50k category. These are the types of vehicles that driving enthusiasts buy, and they are more of what I suspect I and my readers are looking forward to most– although one can’t complain about the high-dollar fun that was had today.
to our site.
November 02, 2009, 05:17:29 pm
There is no joy either when kicking someone's car door. Unlike a certain other manufacturer where you can gain access to a locked car and steal them blind, all you get with a VW is a sore foot. I guess its safe to assume Mazda got that little problem fixed?
People don't target VWs for theft. They're too worried about getting stranded with electrical issues...
November 02, 2009, 05:42:00 pm
There is no joy either when kicking someone's car door. Unlike a certain other manufacturer where you can gain access to a locked car and steal them blind, all you get with a VW is a sore foot. I guess its safe to assume Mazda got that little problem fixed?
People don't target VWs for theft. They're too worried about getting stranded with electrical issues...
Ha ha, touche!
November 02, 2009, 05:43:40 pm My posting was not meant to be a jab at VW, just mt perception. If I wanted to be nasty I would have mentioned premature failing of Clutch cables.
Railton
November 03, 2009, 09:55:38 am I'm liking the Audi S4 more and more each time I see one.
At first, I dismissed it because of the lack of the V8...that sounded soooo good. Now, I see it won its category and I also see that Car and Driver picked it over the RWD 335i...pretty impressive.
Hey...I can also get one in Red with a Red tone interior...cool. $60,000...ouch...well...maybe not.
November 03, 2009, 10:14:00 am
Railton
An RX-8 owner talking smack about reliability?- only on the internet lol.
FYI The Rabbit is one of the most relialbe small cars according to Consumer Reports. The Mazda3 isn't even in the top ten.
November 03, 2009, 10:35:51 am Points should be deducted for any vehicle that does not connect the driver's dashboard instrument lighting to the rear lights. I'm tired of following Toyota/Hondas in stealth mode during the long winter evenings on the 401.
I'm surprised the Elantra Touring did not out-score the Mazda 3. Having test driven the former, I thought it represented an amazing value proposition.
November 03, 2009, 09:04:54 pm
There are ghost cars all over these highways!
November 03, 2009, 10:54:01 pm
There are ghost cars all over these highways!
Minivans usually...
November 04, 2009, 08:19:26 pm How hard is it, to turn on the lights?. It took me O' about a minute b/c if don't on MK8 Civic the dash is much brighter at night. On the Van I got out and checked. Simple pimple easy peesy.
November 04, 2009, 10:06:37 pm
My Corolla is much more obvious lights on versus off.... and it has a auto on/off system so I rarely even have to do anything.
November 05, 2009, 09:41:57 pm Did you know that the BMW Z4 was disqualified from the test?
From today's Toronto Star section on test fest:
Although the BMW roadster is available with an optional, much more expensive seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox from the M3 sports sedan, the Z4s BMW Canada entered in this year's competition were disqualified for showing up with six-speed manual transmissions while the other convertibles arrived with slushboxes. - John Leblanc
WTF? This whole thing is more messed up than I thought...I call BS on the whole thing.
BTW: Our man picked this up and described it as a rumour on his Blog of TestFest Day 2.
November 05, 2009, 09:53:45 pm
From today's Toronto Star section on test fest:
Although the BMW roadster is available with an optional, much more expensive seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox from the M3 sports sedan, the Z4s BMW Canada entered in this year's competition were disqualified for showing up with six-speed manual transmissions while the other convertibles arrived with slushboxes. - John Leblanc
WTF? This whole thing is more messed up than I thought...I call BS on the whole thing.
BTW: Our man picked this up and described it as a rumour on his Blog of TestFest Day 2.
So Wing, any special arrangements provided by Audi in Niagara? Afterall, it is the sincity of Canada...
November 05, 2009, 09:56:20 pm
From today's Toronto Star section on test fest:
Although the BMW roadster is available with an optional, much more expensive seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox from the M3 sports sedan, the Z4s BMW Canada entered in this year's competition were disqualified for showing up with six-speed manual transmissions while the other convertibles arrived with slushboxes. - John Leblanc
WTF? This whole thing is more messed up than I thought...I call BS on the whole thing.
BTW: Our man picked this up and described it as a rumour on his Blog of TestFest Day 2.
That is totally wrong. No Z4 in Canada today has the M3s DCT; in fact, at present, no other BMW has it. The new M5 will get this DCT type transmission but that's a year or two away. Where do some of these journalists get their info??
EDIT - I was wrong above, apparently you can get the 7 spd DCT in the 2010 Z4 35S roadster as a $1950 option.
November 05, 2009, 10:20:41 pm At the time it was a rumour when I wrote it, I have no inside news. Yes BMW was disqualified for sending a manual.
Apparently the rules state only manual transmission cars are allowed to enter in the sports performance categories and the prestige. I don't agree with the rule either, a lot of journalists were perplexed as well.
November 05, 2009, 10:24:04 pm Oh and ovr50, I believe John got his info from BMW's website where they clearly list a 7-speed dual clutch transmission as a $1950 option.
The A5 is a DSG I believe though not a slushbox either...
November 05, 2009, 11:04:54 pm Well, that is news to me (obviously). It does say that for the 2010 Z4 35S model. I did not know until now that BMW was using that transmission in any other BMW than the M3, plus coming in the M5. I was wrong.
November 06, 2009, 06:40:50 am
Does this mean another trip to the dealer to try some new
Be careful, have the wife carry the check book
November 06, 2009, 07:12:24 am I wonder what the folks at BMW were thinking? They have the rules and know what is eligible and yet they show up with the manuals.
Were they hoping to have the rules bent to accomodate or was it merely a case of the only product that was available were manuals? We will never know.
November 06, 2009, 09:12:42 am Yeah, Inco, heaven forbid a company promoting / presenting a legitimate sports car -- a proper roadster no less, would provide it with a manual transmission! Oh the horrors!
What a shame.
November 06, 2009, 09:37:20 am I think there's a UK variation of the Testfest or some equivalent which disqualifies automatics. Each to their own....
November 06, 2009, 09:54:43 am I think the Z4 would have won best convertible.
November 06, 2009, 12:35:05 pm
Just saw this post now. Mazda3 is the same as the previous model? Which part is the same? Everything from the body, to the glass, to the interior, to the wheels to drivetrain is new! What more do you want for it to be new?!
***
As for James' contention that the Z4 would've likely won the convertible category if it had been allowed, I'd like to believe that would've been the case too, though I would've thought the 370Z would've made a stronger competitor than the A5.
November 07, 2009, 11:04:59 am
What a shame.
Well now that cellphones are banned you have to wonder what's next. It may not be a problem for BMW and anyone else if distractions are applied to what we can drive. You just knew this was coming.....
http://www.wheels.ca/article/782846
November 07, 2009, 12:38:52 pm
Apparently the rules state only manual transmission cars are allowed to enter in the sports performance categories and the prestige. I don't agree with the rule either, a lot of journalists were perplexed as well.
IMHO rules like this make a mockery of the entire test.
November 07, 2009, 10:40:06 pm ..wot happens in Niagra Falls .....stays in Niagra Falls..................