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Hello, and welcome to FM-TG's new thread! It's still a work-in-progress, as I haven't yet finished updating the thread, but this is what we have so far. I'll be changing (and updating) some of the images, updating some of the text and will also be adding links to our more recent reviews and comparisons over the coming days. We have created a new thread because the poster of our original thread, Criminal Pilot, has been absent from these forums for about five months now, and the OP needed to be updated. Click here for link to original thread.

 

Welcome to...

 

 

 

This week in the automotive world. Brought to you by our very own tigernets!

Thursday - April 27th, 2010

Saturday - April 22nd, 2010

Sunday - April 11th, 2010

Saturday - April 3rd, 2010

Saturday - March 20th, 2010

Saturday - March 13th, 2010

Saturday - March 6th, 2010

 Saturday - February 27th, 2010

 Saturday - February 20th, 2010

 

 

 

Below, you will find all of our current reviews. For maximum viewing and reading experience, we recommend that you download the review in PDF format. You will require the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), and for some reviews you may require Windows Media Player and/or the latest codecs. Be sure to click on pictures labelled "CLICK TO VIEW" to view the video clip included.

reviews consist of everything from single-car reviews, to multi-car comparisons, to 10+ car mega-reviews.

Jaguar XFR - Criminal Pilot

Click Image to Read | Click HERE to Download PDF | Alternate PDF Download Link

Mercedes-Benz SLR Sterling Moss - porsche 9146

Click Image to Read | Click HERE PDF Download Link | Alternate PDF Download Link |

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV - SaS kemuri

Click Image to Read | Click HERE to Download PDF | Alternate PDF Download Link |

Ford Shelby GT500 - Criminal Pilot

Click Image to Read | Click HERE to Download PDF | Alternate PDF Download Link

Porsche Boxster S - SaS kemuri

Click Image to Read | Click HERE to Download PDF | Alternate PDF Download Link | 

Lotus 2-Eleven - porsche 9146

Click Image to Read | Click HERE to Download PDF | Alternate PDF Download Link | 

Corvette GrandSport - SaS kemuri

Click Image to Read | Click HERE to Download PDF | Alternate PDF Download Link | 

Saleen S5S Raptor - Criminal Pilot

Click Image to Read | Click HERE to Download PDF | Alternate PDF Download Link 

Devon GTX vs Dodge Viper ACR

Mitsubishi Evo X vs Subaru Impreza WRX STi

Spada Vetture Sport Codatronca TS 

*If you have any issues with downloading or opening/reading the documents, please let me know via PM. Thank you!

 

 

 

Click HERE to download the Official Lap Times Log

 

The above cars were driven around our test track by the "Stig" and began from a standing start. Each car got several laps around the track to perform the fastest consistent lap time. Only clean laps are posted on the board. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the lap times, or if you simply believe a certain car should be faster or slower than another, please let us know (with some valid evidence) and we will put the car out on the track once more for a final test.

Check back in the near future for more updates. Any time a car is reviewed or added to the power lap board, or requested by someone, a video clip will be uploaded highlighting the "Stig's" lap around the track.

 

 

 Stars

09k Chocobo

Click HERE for the Interview | Click HERE for the Lap

 

 

  

 

Click HERE to download the Official Lap Times Log

 

 

The car is an otherwise-stock Chevrolet Aveo upgraded with a Roll Cage. If you can't afford this car, we can find a way to help you out! The track is Catalunya National and your lap will be done online with one of our reviewers. All laps must be done from a standing start. A few warm-up laps are permitted. Make sure to save a replay so that it can be verified, and it will be added to our board promptly. 

 

 

 

 Those of you familiar with Top Gear will recognize this section of FMTG. Basically, the crew will be given a challenge where we will ultimately find and/or build a car of a certain spec to a maximum of a specified price. We'll put these cars to the test in a series of partially factual and partially random road and track tests to determine the ultimate winner of the crew challenge!

We are planning our first FMTG challenge, and we are asking for your help! Do you have some ideas you think would be great to have us do? We're looking for things such as "Who can build the best drift car for under 10,000 credits", or anything like that. Obviously does not have to be drift car, just random challenges we can compete against each other in. So, if you have any ideas, we welcome you to discuss your ideas right here in our FMTG thread, or feel free to PM any one of the current presenters with your idea! Thanks for your help and participation!

 

 

 

 

This whole idea started (and snowballed) in the Hot Holidays DLC Spy Shot thread (sorry for the off-topic discussion T10!) around the end of November 2009. All these crazy car enthusiasts clamouring for free cars by guessing what car is featured in an obscure photo... something like this was inevitable. We wanted to test out the brand new cars Turn 10 was giving us and showcase them, create photos, reviews, and even videos, of these cars against the clock and against each other.. sometimes against their drivers. The idea expanded further to include many other cars within Forza Motorsport 3 (as opposed to just DLC cars) because we required more competition for our new toys.

Then we thought about doing lap times and challenges, and everything started to point towards Top Gear from there.

As long as you like Forza Motorsport and/or Top Gear, you will enjoy this! We've got reviews, comparisons, challenges for the crew, and even a "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment where a member of the community will be interviewed and will run a lap in our FMTG Chevrolet Aveo.

Each presenter will review a car and afterwards, it will be driven around our lap (Catalunya National) by our "Stig" to be put on the Power Lap Times Board. This will be a great base comparison for the cars found in Forza Motorsport, as well as a great source of fun!

 

porsche 9146 (Presenter)

ONP kemuri (Presenter)

tigernets (Presenter, News)

gamefanhasxlive (Presenter)

????? (Forza-Stig)

 

Criminal Pilot (Presenter, Race Driver (retired...?))

 

We are a team of car enthusiasts within Forza Motorsport 3 that are going to get you the latest and the greatest on cars in the game, with a focus on DLC when released. We all love Forza Motorsport, and we love cars even more!

 

 

 

 Give us a shout any time right here in our thread! You can always PM any one of the FMTG Crew via the forums, as well.

now-defunct pages (could return if criminal pilot comes back):

Twitter

Youtube

Google Documents

Gmail

Hotmail

 

 

Would you like to participate? We have many opportunities available in the future if you'd like to enter challenges with us, or be extra's in our street-challenges (and videos). Do you want to be a presenter? Let us know! We may have a spot for you sometime in the future, show us what you've got! Do you think you are fast? Why not tackle the SIARPC board? Let us know and we'll see if we can set up an interview and get you in our car on our track!

If you have trouble downloading or viewing any of the reviews or any content, please let me know ASAP via PM.
Thank You!

Stay tuned for updates! Comments and constructive criticism is always welcome!
Thanks for viewing!

 

 

 

**NOTICE TO READERS**

Forza Motorsport Top Gear (FMTG) and its associated persons are in no way affiliated with Turn 10, Turn 10 Staff, nor the development of the Forza Motorsport series. FMTG is in no way affiliated with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Top Gear, Top Gear Staff, nor the development of the Top Gear series. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please contact the author of this message via PERSONAL MESSAGE within the FORUMS. Do not hesitate to contact administrators for further contact information where necessary.

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Dan Wheldon, you will forever be missed.

I'm tigernets, current news corespondant and author of the Spada Vetture Sport Codatronca TS review, Viper ACR v. Devon GTX comparison, Cadillac CTS-V Coupe review and Ferrari 599 v. Nissan GT-R v. Corvette ZR1 v. Porsche GT2 comparison. Current projects I've got to work on are a review of the McLaren MP4-12C and a news coverage story of the Paris Motor Show. Feel free to read any of the news stories or reviews and comparisons and give us your thoughts. We survive on feedback, willpower and determination.

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FMTG | My Gallery
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ONP Kemuri here! Im the author of 2010 Chevrolet Corvette GS, 2010 Porsche Boxster S, 2009 Lamborghnin Murcielago LP670-4 SV, 2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage reviews and 2008 Mitsibushi Evo X vs 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STi comparison. I am a huge drift enthusiast and have a passion for muscle cars. This doesnt mean I cant race though managing a 7:45 around the nurburgring in Corvette ZR1 without a rolling start I thought was moderately impressive (moderately lol) I am unbiased and respect anyones opinions. I am most definately a huge petrolhead and aspire to be a journalist in later life. Enjoy your stay here at Forza Motorsport Top Gear! I hope you stay a while!

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A WILD KNITWEAR WEARING YETI

Aston V12 Vantage review:

Le Mans has always been a legendary track. Famed for the incredible high speeds reached by the dare-devil drivers and the danger that doing so pursued. Thankfully I'm not on that part of the le mans layout. I'm on the shorter (and frankly more fun) Bugatti layout. Why am I here? One reason. Doctor Ulrich Bez, the CEO of Aston Martin and his ingenious idea to put the 6.0 V12 from the DBS and plonk it straight into the body of the smaller and lighter Vantage. This mouth watering concoction of possible motoring nirvana could only result in one thing. The V12 Vantage.

Aston has always looked beautiful and I think for one reason. Simplicity. The bodies of all Astons were louvre-less and featureless. But this Aston breaks that general rule. The rear has a carbon fibre diffuser, the bonnet is festooned with count air vents and the front bumper has had an extension with a Carbon Fibre front lip. Its still grit your teeth gorgeous but it looks too race related, like aston is trying to implicate their racing division into their road cars. Whilst none of the additional body modifications are truly bad, they make the car look fussy and clustered. I suggest a darker colour to hide the carbon fibre additions. Make no mistake though, its an agry looking thing. The car equivalent of the expendables.

I will give you some stats to drool over now. 0-60 in 4.2 seconds, 0.1 of a second faster than the DBS. a top speed of 190 mph, 510 bhp and a kerb weight of around 1600 kg. If you are not in need of tissues, you probably aren't human. The interior somewhat reminds me of a posh kitchen. Very clean, organised and quintessentially modern and British. A genuinely lovely place to be. Now its time to drive the British brute. As I predicted the 6.0 V12 rumbles into life and roars with that distinctive Aston martin throatiness. It sounds like a lion having a crisis. Which is good by the way. The acceleration is simply brutal, feeling much faster than 4.2 to 60. Its a constant surge of power and torque, you ride a wave of force and aggression that is utterly addictive. Then before you know it there is a corner. Good thing, then, that the car is fitted with carbon ceramic brakes the size of a small yachts wheel. Instant power and more responsive than the DB9's. Through the corners it feels as though the car is pivoting around your hips, like you are at the center of the car. Its magical and instantly usable but if you extend your right foot too far, the back end will nap out instantly into snappy over steer. There is a subtle rage to the car in that its calm and easy to drive but when you let it loose it goes berserk. Its utterly intoxicating.

I love this car. I do. Its so aggressive and banzai it just leaves you with nothing but floods of admiration for Aston Martin. However if I were to get V12 engined Aston martin, I would get the flagship model. The DBS. Why? It looks more beautiful, has the same engine, has a nicer interior, is just as much fun without the danger and whilst only being slightly slower, costs 260,000 cr as opposed to the V12 Vantages 275,000 cr. There is one other reason aswell. Character. The DBS is as loveable as an old dog, the Vantage however is like an over-excited puppy. It barks, bites and can be a bit of a handful. You love it, but sometimes it can be a little much. Thats the difference. The love never ends in the DBS. We brits may not be the last word in sophistication, but we sure do know how to make a bond.

Aston V12 Vantage - 17/20

+ Aggresive, loud, fast, hugely entertaining

- Its bigger brother 

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OP addition please

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A WILD KNITWEAR WEARING YETI

Submited for your OP adding nomination.

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2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

If the regular CTS-V sedan was a ZR1 with two extra doors, than what is this?

To find out the answer to the above question, I journeyed to Maple Valley Raceway (BTW, I'll be sending the expenses bill soon). Before I even started it up, I knew one thing. It is a beautiful car. The three factory colors are good-looking, but this Satin-Black Mettalic example here, it's just gorgeous. In my honest opinion, this car is just as good-looking as a DB9. The chrome bits aren't as eye-pleasing, but the rest is great.

Knowing there would be some hard thrashing around Maple Valley's Full Curcuit, I grabbed a 6-speed manual version and immediatley turned off TCS and STM. I wanted to see what was this car's limit. Going into the first turn, I knew this thing was fast. The supercharger just whined all the way through, the car pulling despite it's near two ton weight. And credit where credits due to the chassis designers and tire selectors. The Magnetic Ride Control suspension was doing a great job of putting the power where it needed to be. And the big, wide Michelan Sport PS2 tires are extremely grippy. But with 556 BHP and 551 lb.ft of torque, nothing can stop the wheels from spinning. Smoking starts and oversteer comes free with the two-door package.

Speaking of cost, at 60,000 CR, it is 12,000 more than the sedan. But for that money, you lose a few pounds, better weight distrabution is acheived and, let's be honest, it just looks cooler. The PI shoots up from B 483 to A 511.

Racing around Maple Valley, it was amazing. The shiny paint reflecting the brown and red colors from the trees, the sound coming from the supercharged 6.2 liter V-8 that is as American as Clint Eastwood, and the sound of rubber being turned to smoke as I applied throttle halfway through a turn. It was great.

The competitors of this big, brash coupe are, as expected, the Audi RS5, the BMW M3, and the BMW M6. Mercedes' CL65 is in a different league, and the RS5 hasen't appeared in Forza. So can the two Bimmers keep up? Not really. Neither make as much horespower, neither look as good, and neither can compete with it's PI rating. The M6 is competeley destroyed as it cost more and performs worse. The M3 at least as the advantage of price. But that doesn't mean anything when you finish 2nd.

So exactly what is this Caddzilla? A reminder of Cadillac's hot rod days. It is also a look at what is to come from Cadillac, a future, which I can confidentley say, is looking bright.

Scale:

Looks=4/5

Power=5/5

Handling=4/5

Price=3/5

Competivness=5/5

Overall=22/25 Truly a standard for the world.

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FMTG | My Gallery
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Would you guys happen to have an open spot anywhere on the staff at the moment?

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Well Since i have to wait near the future,

  I will be more then happy to know if i can sign up for the presenter spots.

there are currently no presenter spots available, sorry.

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Dan Wheldon, you will forever be missed.

jsut taking pictures of the 458 italia and will have a review up soon! 

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A WILD KNITWEAR WEARING YETI

Stallion Power - Ferrari 458 Italia review

The Amalfi coastline. Beautiful, stunning, bewitching are words you would use to describe this place. The town looking as though it was carved out of the rock nestles by the ocean where the road twists and turns to the point of insanity. Much as america is famed for its straight roads, Italy is famed for its twisty ones. A good place to try out the new Ferrari 459 Italia, the love child of the previous F430 and the Enzo Ferrari. So who will win? Car or wall?

The 458, finished in lurid brown on this hot Italian summers day, seems to look better in the flesh than it does in pictures. The lines curving and diving around the car and forms into something unfamiliar. Its been a long time since we have seen a good looking Ferrari. The 430 was too fiddly and had a silly grin, the California is too fat at the rear and too thin at the front. Its a relief but to me it still isn't beautiful. Its too fiddly for me with the silly vents next to the headlamps emphasize this. Mind you, its not a boring looking thing, it certainly strikes you when you see it and has a little bit of panache to it. A long cruise awaits me now, time to get in. The has a very contemporary and digital feel to it. Full of irregular quadrilaterals and polygons it looks... good actually. The speedometer is very sharp and is generally a pleasant place to be. I always criticized the F430 for sounding tinny in comparison to the gallardo's meaty and barking V10. Heres hoping for a less buzzing engine.

The road ahead is begging for some mercy in the form of driving, so I start her up. Hmm the auditory difference from idle is pretty minimal. I prod the throttle open a little and it immediately hits the rev limiter. Urgent is how I would describe it. And disappointing also. It still buzzes but at least its lost its tinny whine. Engage 1st. lets go. Pulling away with throttle wide open and there is no wheel spin at all. Bare in mind this is 560 horsepower mid engined rear wheel drive super car. It grips like a gecko to Greek villas outside wall. Then comes a corner and, unsurprisingly, you go round it. But not ordinarily. With such a haste and aggression that makes you wonder if the car is rear wheel drive at all. Its all very... easy. Very play-station like, not raw and visceral like the Corvette ZR1. The gearbox is a DSG unit which makes cog-machinations incredibly quick and balanced. The brakes are powerful and assure you that there wont be a mess in your seat if you overcook the straight. But I have one problem with this car. Its personailty. yes its brilliant and an amazing performance machine, but it lacks that character and insanity that is so key to making a super car a super car. Take the Murcielago LP670-4 SV. Its completely mad. Its unnecessary and brutal but its things like those that makes you fall in love with a car. Its got a living breathing personality that even the least perceptive of us can recognise.

 

So is it a disappointment? No, not by any stretch. Its better than the F430 in pretty much every single department, speed, handling, style the lot. But what price can we put on soul? Its a subjective matter but I will say this. What would you rather have, a dog thats good at everything, is clean, never barks and walks itself or a dog that makes a mess, runs around happily and is pretty bonkers? The latter of course. You see what I mean? A car that is no show but very much go can do the opposite of its primary function. But be in no doubt this is a great car. But its lack of pastiche and true Italian spirit, questions whether you think it can take the fight to the Mclaren MP4-12C soon...

Ferrari 458 Italia

Power: 570 horsepwoer

Torque: 398 Ib ft 

Weight: 1485 kg

Rating: 16/20

+ incredible grip, brakes, overall performance package

- lacks overall spirit and soul 

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A WILD KNITWEAR WEARING YETI

Nice review kemuri! Implying anything with that last statement?

Sorry I haven't been on top of my news and such. Real life complications. You guys understand, right?

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FMTG | My Gallery
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although we usually cover the automotive side of the forza motorsport series here at FMTG, I'm willing to bet that most of the people who follow this thread are forza fans, too. as I already spend far too much time looking into the cryptic messages turn 10 gives us on the future of the forza motorsport franchise, this will be the first of what I hope will be many segments about the news surrounding forza motorsport. be warned, this segment will mostly be overly-optomistic, rampant speculation until things are officially announced.

as most of you know, turn 10 studios announced a "platinum hits" edition of FM3, which will contain all of the previously-released DLCs, ten "exclusive" cars and a few top gear-themed extras, alongside the entire original game. this situation alienated a few of turn 10's loyal fans, and, to clear some things up, a few members of turn 10 studio released a podcast today. here's what you need to know

the ten "exclusive" cars will probably be released as DLC, but the pack won't be released for at least a few months.

more DLC is coming in the near future.

the partnership between turn 10 studios and top gear will include more than just "the obvious stuff", but "the obvious stuff" will be added too.

a few of the employees at turn 10 studios attended a rallying school.

"the next big thing" is deep into development

that's what was directly stated, but far more was implied than stated. I would suggest that you listen to the podcast for yourself and draw your own conclusions, but here's the conclusions I've drawn.

the forzalopnik pack is coming soon (turn 10 mentions that "future DLC" is coming soon, we know a few of the cars are modeled already)

the top gear test track will come to the forza motorsport series eventually (turn 10 states on multipe occasions that "the obvious stuff" from top gear will also be included in the forza series eventually, what's more obvious than the top gear test track?)

forza motorsport 4 will introduce rally into the series, release holiday 2011 (dan greenawalt, director of turn 10 studios, stated that he's gone to track driving schools to help develop the series, then stated that this was his first drive in a rallying car, the "next big thing" is heavy into development, and the last time turn 10 used the phrase "the next big thing" were the months leading up to the announcement of FM4, turn 10 states that "the FM3 ultimate collection is intended to put the game back into the spotlight for the 2010 holiday season, but says that this will be the only time such an action is performed with FM3, as they should have a new game to market by the next holidays)

well, that's the end of the first of what I hope to be many editions of the "forza motorsport report".

as I've said before, I suggest you take my analysis with a grain of salt and draw your own conclusions. click here to listen for yourself.

DISCLAIMER: porsche 9146 is a far too optomistic and his speculation should be taken with a grain of salt.

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Dan Wheldon, you will forever be missed.

nice porsche! 

here is a very loud, astonishing and incredible video of the SLS GT3 being tested. Sounds incredible

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNSeZU2MymI&feature=player_embedded#! 

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A WILD KNITWEAR WEARING YETI

after that clarification by Porsche and that video from Kemuri (vid is currently playing on the background as i type this. dat sound) i have another video to show.

it's a highspeed battle between the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV and a McLaren SLR. both stock of course.

 

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3 Liters, 12 Cylinders

wow thats insanely close!

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A WILD KNITWEAR WEARING YETI

Also inspiration for my K-Bomb comes from inside this video link ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq--vw0Srsc

favourite car in the world, including production cars 

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A WILD KNITWEAR WEARING YETI

that was pretty cool. i like the design it has.

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3 Liters, 12 Cylinders

Sterling moss... sigh... Well, back to track with my Myrcedes SLS... Anyway, this is great thread especially that power lap leaderboard. Def my favourite thread from now on, two thumbs up for you.

VoodooBunion:

Well, back to track with my Mercedes SLS...

Lucky....

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My Storefront | Corvette Info Center | ALMS Discussion

I'm currently working on my MP4-12C review. Unfortunatly the servers are down so I can't get all my pictures. Expect it soon.

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FMTG | My Gallery
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