Road Test Review – July

Fastest-ever MINI and new GT-R turn up heat
One of the most memorable tests of the year began very early one July morning. You know a group is going to be exciting when you’re willing to jump out of bed at 4.30am with genuine enthusiasm. Then again, it’s not every day you have a new Nissan GT-R sitting on your driveway.

We couldn’t wait to see what the super-coupé had to offer. The questions were never-ending… Could it justify its price? Did it feel like a driving simulator? Was it really that fast? It fell to the road test team to find the answers. In the end, this was a shoot-out beset with minor disasters. One car locked itself with the keys inside, another picked up a nail in its tyre, and the GT-R attracted lots of attention from the Welsh constabulary!

The Nissan had been worth the wait. The GT-R wasn’t just good; it was epic. It soon became hot favourite to win October’s inaugural Performance Car of the Year shoot-out – until we drove the MINI John Cooper Works a couple of weeks later.

Getting behind the wheel of the new flagship MINI was like rediscovering what has made the Oxford-built model such a hit in the first place. Its cheeky charm and feisty handling had been turned up to 11! So, July brought us two of the most thrilling performance models of 2008. We couldn’t wait to put them head-to-head on the track in the autumn.

Ultimate hot hatches
MINI JCW vs Renaultsport Clio Cup vs Honda Civic Type R (Issue 1,022). It’s one of the most keenly fought sectors of the car market, so naming a new hot hatch class leader is a real milestone. And in Issue 1,022, the pace and character of the MINI JCW, plus its limited slip differential, left the Renaultsport Clio Cup and Honda Civic Type R looking conservative. Our only reservation was the baby Brit’s outrageous on-the-limit handling – but it was simply more fun at any speed than its opponents. The Honda picked up silver, while the top-value Renaultsport was third.

Estate shoot-out
Peugeot 308 SW vs Ford Focus Estate (Issue 1,019) Here’s a rare thing: a family Ford that didn’t win a twin test! When we got our hands on the Peugeot 308 SW for the first time, we were told it had the measure of the class best – and it did!

The key to the Focus Estate’s failure in this duel was value for money. We had chosen top-spec variants, and if you want luxuries, you’re better off opting for the better equipped 308 carrier. However, go for lower-spec models and it’s a different story. Strip the Peugeot of its kit, and deep down it can’t match the appeal of the Ford. Keen drivers would also choose the Focus for its top-class ride and handling.

Super-coupé head-to-head
Nissan GT-R vs Audi R8 vs Jaguar XKR-S (Issue 1,019). Choosing rivals to the GT-R isn’t easy. In the first of its two group tests in 2008, the Nissan met Audi’s most glamorous model and Jaguar’s fastest-ever XKR. To everyone’s amazement, it wiped the floor with them both. While we expected the Nissan to deliver devastating performance, we weren’t anticipating such incredible handling on both road and track. The immense charm of the R8 earned it a silver medal, while Jaguar’s grand tourer was outclassed in this thrilling company.

Supermini test
SEAT Ibiza vs Vauxhall Corsa vs Renault Clio vs Mazda 2 (Issue 1,021). July’s big verdicts kept on coming – this time with a supermini. The previous-generation SEAT Ibiza was showing its age, so the new version started with a clean sheet. It was immediately clear that the Spanish supermini offered space and value to spare, but the package lacked polish. The best it could manage was third place, pushing the petrol-powered Corsa into fourth position. Renault’s ever-impressive Clio claimed the win, while the engaging Mazda 2 took the silver medal. See Lesley’s tester’s notes (left) to read how our stunning pictures were taken.

Testers notes - All aboard for SEAT’s baby
I love a challenge – but when the idea of doing our photoshoot for the SEAT Ibiza group test on the deck of an Isle of Wight ferry was mooted, I was sceptical. Why the Isle of Wight? Well, the Spanish island of Ibiza is also known as the White Isle. Get it?

After an unearthly early start, everyone was on time – if a bit bleary-eyed – for our 6am sailing. The Red Funnel Ferry Company had got us pole position at the front of the boat (or should that be the aft?), allowing us more than enough room for manoeuvre. Photographer Matt Vosper directed us from the bridge. It’s safe to say the other passengers had never seen anything like it!

The ferry took 55 minutes to travel the 9.9 miles to East Cowes – which was plenty of time for Matt to get some brilliant shots. Our return journey was spent tucking into a well deserved full English on board. And how many people can say they’ve been to the Isle of Wight and back before 8am?
Lesley Harris
Road tester