Debriefing the Testers Behind Motor Trend’s Best Driver’s Car 2012

When Motor Trend crowned Porsche’s Carrera S as 2012’s Best Driver’s Car, we figured a lot of Teamspeed members would be pleased. But regardless of how much hot hardware gets assembled, or how many expert opinions are sought, competitions like this are bound to create just as many arguments as they solve.

Some drivers won’t dream of a sports car with only two pedals, and think electronic nannies are a sign of the apocalypse. But others embrace technology and think that anything that makes for faster lap times is a worthy addition. Who’s right? Well, that’s always be somewhat subjective, so to give us a little more insight into the reasoning behind this year’s verdict, Motor Trend assembled the test team for a loose conversation about the competition, and the resulting footage is pretty interesting.

I was kind of surprised at how much trash was talked about the Lambo…

2012 Best Driver's Car Roundtable: The Aftermath - The Downshift Episode 32 - YouTube!

 

Surprised how the Lambo's brakes didn't hold up for them at all?

 

not a drivers car, but it is sexy. It's a Lambo.

 

Lamborghini Aventador all the way . I am surprised they were speaking negatively about it.

 

Why not Ferrari 458?

 

If I understood correctly Ferrari just didn't give them one... They also declined to give them the spyder

 

Listen to the video, they said ferrari wouldn't give them a car.

 

really, the car is a toy for 500k.

 

This is just my opinion but I've always thought the term "drivers car" was silly and subjective. What defines a "drivers car" anyways? The term is nebulous at best. And even if one were to appropriately define the term, does having a "drivers car" actually mean anything? Why can't we just buy and drive the cars we like regardless of what they are labeled?

Case in point, the buffoons over at Motor Trend (does anyone even read Motor Trend anymore?) clearly dislike the Aventador because its obviously not enough of a "drivers car". To simply disregard a car like the Aventador for not fitting their idea of a "drivers car" is puerile. The Aventador is a thing of beauty and engineered masterfully and will be a future purchase as well. I would never consider not buying it simply based on the fact that it's not a drivers car. Anyone who would have the capacity to do that is doing themselves a great disservice.

 

Well I find all this very interesting to the point where they start talking about the Mclaren.

In the beginning they go on and on about how the most important thing is how fast a car performs. That a double clutch system is better and so on. So clearly about being fast, not about how the car makes you feel as a driver. Than when it comes to the Mclaren they start trashing it for having too little emotions.

One thing they left out in the context is how they feel about the electric steering of the 911, which was the biggest problem in a lot of the recent tests.