Top Gear GT86 Review by Clarkson (Season 19, Episode 3)

[shawnperolis]

Doesn't Clarkson comment on the track being wet during the commentary? I'm pretty sure that he does. He didn't bother to label the time because he wasn't interested in that, he only cared how much fun it was.

[Captain_Awesome_Pants]

Originally Posted by shawnperolis

Doesn't Clarkson comment on the track being wet during the commentary? I'm pretty sure that he does. He didn't bother to label the time because he wasn't interested in that, he only cared how much fun it was.

I've thought a bit about this and I think they don't consider it a 'wet lap' unless the entire track is soaked or raining. Sure there were puddles, but I don't think that makes for a wet track in TG's definitions... or maybe to any resident of the UK where a couple of puddles is a down right summer's day.

[scottynoshotty]

ill say again that with some sticky rubber that would have been around a 1:29. Which is seriously quick. and the top gear track definetly a power track. they say that themselves numerous times. all in all a lap time we can all be very happy and excited about. this little car has massive potential.

[shawnperolis]

Originally Posted by Captain_Awesome_Pants

I've thought a bit about this and I think they don't consider it a 'wet lap' unless the entire track is soaked or raining. Sure there were puddles, but I don't think that makes for a wet track in TG's definitions... or maybe to any resident of the UK where a couple of puddles is a down right summer's day.

Yeah, it definitely isn't extremely wet. The car does slide a bit through one of the corners because of the wet though and Clarkson does say something about it.

Obviously the Top Gear car testing isn't the most scientific thing there is, but it is still a pretty good indication of how well a car is on the track.

[Captain_Awesome_Pants]

Originally Posted by shawnperolis

Yeah, it definitely isn't extremely wet. The car does slide a bit through one of the corners because of the wet though and Clarkson does say something about it.

Obviously the Top Gear car testing isn't the most scientific thing there is, but it is still a pretty good indication of how well a car is on the track.

Maybe if enough people write in they will re-test for next series with a completely dry track.

[SnapOv3st3r]

Originally Posted by blu_

I guess its debatable, but its 1.75 miles long, which I wouldn't call short. It has two sections that slow cars way down and the rest is various straights and sweepers, with some tight sections. No it doesn't have a mile+ long straight but a well balanced car with power that can get through chicago and hammerhead at a decent clip and is stable in the highspeed corners is going pretty damn fast compared to a momentum car. IMO There just aren't long sections of continuous corners to equalize a car like the gt86 with an M3.

Also, not sure how its not a track. Yes its basically a converted airstrip, but tracks don't have to be purpose built.

I call 1.75 short. Not short in terms the amount of corners there are and not much in the way of straights on it

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by blu_

He was a lot slower... Surprisingly slower actually. Also the track for the gt86 lap wasn't that wet. It was damp with a few puddles. They didnt even call it a wet lap. And that track favors power over cornering so it's a stretch to me that the 86 would be faster than a well balanced car that's a lot faster in a straight line.

Ok, how about you do this, when its damp, go find a corner on asphalt. Your back end will slide easily. Then go out to that same corner when its been raining all day... You'll find that you have more grip when the rain has washed the oil from the street

[blu_]

How about you go out and do the same 5hrs after it stopped raining and its damp again and you will have more grip than either :P

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by blu_

How about you go out and do the same 5hrs after it stopped raining and its damp again and you will have more grip than either :P

that inspires confidence, too much infact causing you to crash into another car.... ohh look theres oil on the ground again! lol

[Deslock]

Originally Posted by Captain_Awesome_Pants

I've thought a bit about this and I think they don't consider it a 'wet lap' unless the entire track is soaked or raining. Sure there were puddles, but I don't think that makes for a wet track in TG's definitions...

Compared to previous Top Gear videos, the GT86's conditions were at least "partly wet". As I mentioned above:

Originally Posted by Deslock

FWIW, Top Gear is inconsistant with its labeling.

Clarkson commented about how the track was wet when the Exige ran in S0401@51min (he even compared it to NSX and 911 wet times), yet he didn't mark anything on the Exige's time.

The Focus RS500 (S1604@31min) is marked wet while the DB9S (S10E07@25min) isn't, but the videos show similar conditions.

Also, watch S14E2@32min to see the Z1 and R8 go around a "damp" track (not nearly as wet as what the GT86 was on).

It probably would've gotten a bit sideways in the dry too, but it was especially sideways due to conditions. This was obvious both from the video and Clarkson's comments:

• "Skinny Prius tires scrambling for grip on the damp track... could make for some big slides." (Start)
• "He's keeping it remarkably tidy so far" (Willson)
• "And no surprise, the GT86 did go a bit sideways around Chicago"
• "Suspect it might oversteer here... yes, there it is! It is very very tail happy when it's greasy. Bet Stig's smiling though." (Hammerhead)
• "Looking a little bit out of shape there." (Follow-Through)
• "A little bit of opposite lock going in there to keep it all tidy." (Bacharach)
• "And now Gambon... and here he comes and guess what, he's sideways again!"

I'm not complaining that it was tested on a "damp/wet" track (may have been intentionally done to emphasize how much fun the car is).

[lazyluka]

Who's to say that the video they showed was the best time recorded?

I mean technically, nothing is stopping them from setting a good time, then picking out a video that looks "good".

[Deslock]

Originally Posted by lazyluka

Who's to say that the video they showed was the best time recorded?

I mean technically, nothing is stopping them from setting a good time, then picking out a video that looks "good".

Yep:

Originally Posted by Deslock

I'm wondering if that time was from another lap (when the track was a bit dryer). This car really shouldn't be faster than ~1:31, and I wouldn't put it past Top Gear to show video from one lap and a time from another.

[hmong337]

Thanks! Finally found the Top Gear review.

I'm thrilled to know that it ousted cars like the e46 m3, 350z, and the nsx on a slightly wet track with shitty Prius tires!

[pmdc]

New Stig is definitely faster than the old ones, but it's still impressive that he got it around faster than his predecessors took the s2k/rx8/m3 around. They weren't exactly bad drivers.

Jeremy's review also pushed me over the edge in my decision to buy this car... I'd already been seriously considering it/researching, watching all the youtube reviews etc. when I was surprised to see it featured on TG in February. I knew I definitely wanted one then.