General GP Sporting Top Gear Group Test

[jonnyk]

I wasn't deriding the review but merely stating that IMO they had mismatched the test. Some of the items they complained about would have been addressed on, say, the 1.3 Mjet Dynamic and it would have been even cheaper.

Some of the comments on the GP Sporting are justified, for example, body control on any of the Fiat Group cars isn't great as their sporting marque, Alfa Romeo, suffers the same problem.

Peugeot did a sporty diesel 206 and I assume they'll do the same with the 207, Skoda have the Fabia VRs and Fiat have the Grande Punto Sporting. Renault AFAIK don't have an overtly sporty diesel Clio as yet but if they did it would join the cars mentioned as being in a similar grouping for magazine test purposes.

I know the GP has it's shortcomings but at least have everyone on the same playing field for fair comparison.

 

[Honzus]

I wasn't deriding the review but merely stating that IMO they had mismatched the test. Some of the items they complained about would have been addressed on, say, the 1.3 Mjet Dynamic and it would have been even cheaper.

Some of the comments on the GP Sporting are justified, for example, body control on any of the Fiat Group cars isn't great as their sporting marque, Alfa Romeo, suffers the same problem.

Peugeot did a sporty diesel 206 and I assume they'll do the same with the 207, Skoda have the Fabia VRs and Fiat have the Grande Punto Sporting. Renault AFAIK don't have an overtly sporty diesel Clio as yet but if they did it would join the cars mentioned as being in a similar grouping for magazine test purposes.

I know the GP has it's shortcomings but at least have everyone on the same playing field for fair comparison.

Of course no car is perfect, but in case of GP shortcomigs are very minor and complex is GP very balanced. Cant say about clio nor P207....

 

[Bob in disguise]

I just stood in a shop and read the whole review, thought i was gonna get told this isnt a libary! I dont really see what all the fuss is about its not a bad review and its hardly slating the car either.

I've read quite a few reviews on this group of cars now, mainly from before my car had been delivered. Was mainly just to look at the pics of it, cause i was getting sooo annoyed waiting. The GP seems to have got mixed reviews, ive seen good ones, average ones and bad ones and i'd say the TG review is average.

Auto italia magazine didnt like the sporting too much because it was a diesel, but now fiat have put a petrol in the sporting as well so have to wait and see....
Auto car said it was the best car in its class and is their choice.....
Look at channel 4's website review it says its not a class leader in any respect.....

Reviews are more peoples opinions rather than fact and everyone has theyre own preferences. To base buying a car just simply on these reviews from magazines would just be stupid...

but as i said before if your happy thats what counts

 

[jonnyk]

I just stood in a shop and read the whole review, thought i was gonna get told this isnt a libary! I dont really see what all the fuss is about its not a bad review and its hardly slating the car either.

I didn't say it was a bad review, just that it was mismatched.

There was also a short test of the GP Sporting on last nights Fifth Gear. Tom Ford drove it and was very positive. They spent more time seeing how many people they could cram in. The record is 21 in a new Mini and they managed 22 into the GP. Guinness records wouldn't recognise it as they only allow "iconic cars" :shakehead:

Anyhow, wifey picks up her new Sporting tomorrow evening

 

[Sporty]

I also agree that by reading too many different reviews one can only be confused and nothing else. An example for the above :

the last 2 days I managed to find in two different magazines the same test:

GP 1.4 16v Vs Seat Ibiza 1.4 16v

You want to know the result? One magazine said that GP is better overall (despite a bit slower than Ibiza) and the other one that the Ibiza is better overall.........These people will get us crazy....:bang:

So, in order to find out the truth, there is only one way......those who ordered it already,....enjoy it and those who are still thinking abt it go test driv or order one.....

But must always remember what is actually a car,....and what areas are the really important....All those people who are critisizing the hard plastics of the interior of the GP (not the building quality though)....obviously cannot find any better drawback in other aspects (handling, brakes, running quality, steering, etc).....and at the end .....how much of difference it makes if instead of hard plastics you have soft plastics ??? I don't thing anybody driving an amusing car will be touching the dashboard all the time.......

And after all those experts will always find a reason to complaint......in the 207 where the interior is soft plastic the car weights abt 1300 kg empty......and even the 110 hp engine is not enough to give very good performance.....and all the critics say: "is very heavy now, etc"......

 

[The Trooper]

What do you mean? When I'm driving along I'm constantly smothering the dashboard materials with one hand, whilst one is on the wheel It really is silly, I remember my old Uno, that had cheap plastics inside, but the dashboard never fall out of the car whilst I was driving along. I think car revierwers get confused with perceived quality and real quality.

 

[Honzus]

What do you mean? When I'm driving along I'm constantly smothering the dashboard materials with one hand, whilst one is on the wheel It really is silly, I remember my old Uno, that had cheap plastics inside, but the dashboard never fall out of the car whilst I was driving along. I think car revierwers get confused with perceived quality and real quality.

Youre right and look at these tests and nobody writes, P207 has hard plastics (it has of course) , Clio has hard plastics (it has of course), but why they need to tell us, that Fiat has hard plastics?? Its just normal in this class of cars. Of course higher (very very expensive and rarely sold) versions of P207 and Clio have soft plastics, but only on the top of dashboard (why ?????) and your legs are enjoying contact with rock hard plastics, is there some new mode of licking top of the dashboard ??? :devil:

 

[H2DaE]

Bit off topic but did you read the 'Lifers' section? The guys Fiesta ST got put on bricks lol

 

[ChrisUK]

Bit off topic but did you read the 'Lifers' section? The guys Fiesta ST got put on bricks lol

ROFL^.

 

[bomber1961]

Hi all,
Who wants a ****ty yaris or pisyou I think punto's rock, I'am 6'1 and the Punto has loads of head Room try a yaris or pisyou,
And for the price well nough said.