AUII XR8

There has, for some time, been contention about what this mag wrote as an acceleration time (0-100), or what that one wrote about power, or similar. We have all read different times for the same car and there is a large range of results out there. Manufacturers at present have figures on things like fuel economy, etc, but none state what magazine readers like to hear - TIMES. Lots of discussion H vs F is about which mag said was best car vs time, handling etc.

Rather than rely on magazines to do the times, why doesnt Ford do them, and invite the journo's to view the data at the track on the day. That way you get a proper driver who knows how to launch the car, an unbiased trial, and good published results. Maybe have all the Holden AND Ford vehicles at the same track, same day, with each manufacturer nominating their own driver. Include dyno runs as well. Distribute results to all who want them. Most importantly - live with the result and go back and rectify any weaknesses identified. Also include tests like best speed into and out of corners, best braking etc. show us which car really handles the best. (H rave about how well their cars handle - eg new SS add, while F say the new Blade system is improved over old IRS)

Test gear of course supplied and certified from independant suppliers. Surely not hard to arrange and results can then stick.

To protect against cheating, maybe someone (a mag editor?) could go and borrow the test mules from a dealer, any dealer of his/her choice, where he rocks up with a truck, walks around the yard, and picks a car off the showroom floor. That way there could be no accusations later of 'rigging' - which has been stated before as reasons why some cars go better than they should (have heard this many times as an excuse why opposition cars have better times, where day to day the complainant reckons it isn't the case). New tyres same as each vehicle has as new should be fitted.

At the end of it, maybe Ford and Holden could then take the test vehicles and strip out the motors, gearboxes, clutches,tyre etc and restore them with new parts, thus returning them to the dealers as good (or better) than they were.

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AUIII XR8, Manual. Herrod Motorsport bits

XR8 Lamah

Not a bad plan :)
But I suspect that neither ford or holden would be keen to definitively end the argument - they might lose on the day ! :) I think both parties are happier with the status quo, roughly equal, and each able to claim supremacy / bag the others claim based on which set of blinkers they are wearing on the day

And while it might be interesting to know what's what, it would (I suspect) pose a serious risk of Gov't intervention ( as per late 70's ), if the makers were to get into a publicised speed / power / performance war . . .

460cixy

top idea and would sure cut the shit and prove who is better at what just a pitty it will never happen

xacoupe

as useless as some of the journos are, if they all drive the same cars they should all get the same crap times. If they are half a second off the pace in all cars then at least the difference between the cars is still apparent.. just not the full potential

bossxr8

I think Motor magazine is doing a Ford Vs Holden story next month with drag strip and handling times. They mention in the XR6 Turbo upgrade story that on the same day they got their first 13 second quarter from a GT.