EVO Car of the Year 2021

Big applause and big joke

 

maybe EVO team hate hybrids? is SF90 not Prius on steroids?

 

CAR magazine begs to differ: https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/comparison/2021/sports-car-giant-test-2021/

 

I’ve never heard of Chris Chilton or Jamie Chadwick. In any case, it would seem that the calibration of SF90s are not consistent across test cars used by motoring publications. The 296 will surely benefit from the SF90 development but I’ll sit and watch from the sidelines for now.

 

They are both well known amongst petreolheads. Chadwick is the Formula W champion for 2 years running now.

 

EVO is known for that. Im not sure they just enjoy doing that bc i highly doubt they would, at the end of the day, walk away with the keys to a Civic vs to an SF90

 

Very strange, though not entirely surprising opinion from EVO. They are very firmly in the n/a > turbo, manual > DCT and raw > easy club. I think most people here would resonate with that too. The odd thing about their findings is the inconsistency they experienced from turn to turn in the same car. There has been a lot of use of the word ‘inconsistent’ among journalists where the SF90 is concerned, between different cars - incorrectly in my view for reasons I’ll explain in a moment. Here though, they have picked on the same theme but in the same car. They talked about how the low temperatures make the car difficult when the tyres are cold and I can very much attest to that. However, is this car really designed to be driven hard in cold temperatures on factory-supplied tyres, like a Hyundai or BMW would have to be? No doubt it can be but for 1,000hp hybrid Ferrari is it unreasonable to expect an owner to have to put suitable tyres on if they want to sling their car around wet, cold roads at high speed? In temperatures above 15 degrees C where the tyres can get properly warm there is no inconsistency of response. Just the most unbelievable ability to put down 1,000hp with a level of control, feedback and reward that I have not experienced in any other car. It feels to me like the journo crowd have applied an ‘inconsistency’ label to the SF90 and feel safe with that theme, perhaps fitting a narrative of “new type of Ferrari, trying to make us enjoy a car whose principles go against what we know and love, they obviously can’t get it right first time can they?” Safe ground.

I think they have a principle objection to a high-power, hybrid Ferrari which influences their thinking, though I don’t doubt what they wrote is what they found. I just think they don’t bother putting in much effort to try and understand the car, simply “on this day, in this weather, we didn’t like it”. Is that really fair on the car or the reader? I can see that they can only call what they find but I think their review is misleading.

Our car is an AF car and I have not driven a non-AF car, which might explain some of the inconsistency they are talking about (from turn to turn in the same car as opposed to between different cars) but accepting the AF car is consistent and the non-AF car isn’t doesn’t really seem a reasonable explanation even if it is possible from my perspective because I haven’t driven the standard car. A few journalists have mentioned it now so I’m not sure what’s going on here. Chris Harris mentioned inconsistency (when comparing his non-AF Top Gear TV drive to a subsequent drive of an AF car) which seemed a strange criticism at the time given those two cars need to be inconsistent with each other, otherwise what is the purpose of the expensive AF pack and its trick new (for Ferrari) dampers?

I can’t speak for differences between different cars, I’ve only driven ours. But very few owners have had even an average reaction to their car on fchat. The vast majority find as I have; the car is brilliant to drive. If journalists’ ‘inconsistency’ comments started from comparing the different types of SF90 and a narrative has formed among them, this does not seem to be reflected in what Ferrari are actually supplying. The key element here seems to be what they themselves said; the weather was too cold to switch the tyres on, I guess a 1,000hp Ferrari with huge instant torque would be a little unsettling then (in fact I know from experience). And this is where I just think they don’t feel inclined to allow the SF90 hybrid the room to be considered in conditions for which its chassis/tyre combination was designed. In the end they would obviously argue that they have to speak as they find and they don’t get to choose the weather on the day or the tyres supplied. All reasonable points. The fact the car was Italian registered suggests to me they were struggling to get a car to include and maybe Ferrari press should have thought a bit more carefully about how they prepared the car, i.e. tyres? There is another point here. We all need to remember that 1,000hp and huge torque should command respect with even perfect road and grip conditions. We, including journalists, have become very accustomed to skilled engineers being able to make 500-600hp, a figure that seemed unbelievable and excessive just a few years ago, seem manageable and heroic when you are able to drive such a car to the full. Is it reasonable for us to expect a 1,000hp Ferrari to feel as benign and fun in cold temperatures as, say, a 500hp GT3?

The GT3 would also have suffered with the same tyre heating issue on Cup 2 tyres, however, this car is less complex, much less powerful, lighter. The lack of grip from the conditions can even help this more simple platform deliver its fun where it clearly doesn’t for the SF90. In the end what should be the conclusion? If you want to consider an SF90, read what owners (almost all of them familiar with, or even owners of, many other Ferraris and many other supercars) have to say about how this car compares. Secondly, remember there should be a difference between AF and non-AF cars - this cannot be labelled ‘inconsistency’. Thirdly, consider carefully how you drive in colder temperatures or be prepared to change tyres. And lastly, perhaps a private opinion, that EVO seemed all too happy to place the most expensive, highest powered car, from the most famous brand, in last place and behind a Hyundai. I think they enjoyed the opportunity to be so controversial.

 

Just watched that. Their description of the SF90 is exactly what I feel in our car - no inconsistency there. Interestingly the spec of the UK press car is very similar to ours and it is equipped with the AF pack.

 

I guess I’m not a petrolhead. I typically follow Catchpole, Bovington and Sutcliffe.

 

Wasn’t clear in the CAR magazine video but the Porsche and Ferrari were their top two. Here’s a couple of excerpts from the magazine article. Hard to argue with the outcome even though the Ferrari didn’t win, at least based on their criteria. Incidentally, CAR magazine was the precursor to EVO and many of the original journalists came from there I seem to recall. It has always had the same petrolhead vibe. It is pretty hard to reconcile the CAR results to the EVO results, especially since most owners have had a similar experience to the CAR journalists.

Apologies, don’t know how to order the pictures but the bottom one is first.

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When a magazine raves about a car one owns, it is a great review with the reviewer being hailed as an expert. Conversely, a negative review is deemed faulty with the qualifications of the reviewer being questioned. Super car owners are a highly insecure lot who constantly require the reassurance of glowing reviews to calm their pervasive doubts. All that should matter is the personal satisfaction and pleasure derived from the car owned regardless of what others may think. Lukey instantly springs into a long winded defence of his SF90 in reponse to any negativity or criticism directed at the SF90. If he is so enamoured by the car , and it is the object of great joy, why should it be of any consequence to him what others' opinions may be?

 

Because one might be persuaded against acquiring such a vehicle therefore depriving themselves of the pleasure of owning and enjoying (in Lukey’s view) it following such review which based on Lukey’s personal opinion is not akin to reality of living with the SF90, personally I appreciate reading positive and negative opinions, I generally learn from both.

Same question can be asked of you, why do you feel the need of criticising his decision to express his opinion?

 

So, here's the real pity.

In 5 years all we are going to get are hybrids. So EVO better get used to it.

In 10 years all we are going to get are pure electric and they can argue who has the best AI simulated V12 sound.

We are at the end of a era and we don't want to admit it.

 

Unfortunately you missed the point of my post. Everyone is entitled to voice their opinion freely and frequently . It can be edifying, prior to making a buying decision, to apprise oneself of available car reviews and elicit opinons from owners of said car. However, subsequent to the purchase and after one has been thoroughly enamoured by their purchase, why is it so relevant for car reviews to validate and reinforce the wisdom of that purchase? Therein lies my bewilderment.

 

However, the bright light that will continue to shine since all the existing ICE super cars may remain in the possession of current owners and other ICE cars will be possible to be purchased.

 

Very happy to inform you that I have not missed your point, I know exactly what you meant although one can't be blamed considering your Shakespearean flavoured english writing style sermons you always deliver which on car forums, IMO, is akin to showing up at a beach party in a tuxedo, top hat and sporting a monocle.

You might be an English literature professor and without intention you are “bringing your work home” so to speak, of course you are well within your rights to express yourself in whichever manner you see fit, I value everyone’s freedom of speech and expression but I would like you to consider that these forums are international and lots of members are ESL, just like myself, and based on your writing style you can not blame one if your point you are trying to make is misconstrued, very hard to get or even totally missed.

This isn’t an attack, you do you, I have no issues with that but there is a time and place that’s all I am saying, I love simplicity it soothes and relaxes me but hey if that’s your style I have no objections to it, I just thought I would express my opinion.

I also think I am remembering you, because of your characteristic writing style, from a McLaren forum I was doing some research on when I considered buying a 765LT, if I am not mistaken I think you own a 765LT or some other sort of McLaren, I did read a bunch of your posts trying to learn from an enthusiastic owner and enthusiastic you were about your ride.

The best value I find on car forums is reading directly from enthusiasts who have first hand experience with the car itself not some biased journalist who might’ve gotten a free lunch to say whatever and spent less than 2 hours with the car in most cases in controlled predetermined environments, not saying these journalists were biased or they have no freedom of expressing themselves, I am sure you get my point.

I know that car owners, due to their financial interest/commitment in the car itself and love for the brand, aren’t totally unbiased but if you have half a brain you can filter that out and absorb the nuggets of information you want; time with the car using it in various ways/conditions and different environments is more telling than what a journalist has to say, after all I am looking at the same experience and commitments as an owner makes, that’s more impactful and relevant to me.

I’ve been negatively influenced by journalist reviews on more than one occasion, twice I have bought winners of COTY and both times I was left disappointed and wanting more subsequently sold both cars, the third time, my biggest regret, was not purchasing a Senna.

Many other times I drive cars which were reviewed thinking that I almost completely disagree with various journalist's opinions and wondering what exactly were they talking about because I am not seeing it, as a result I now treat journalists as entertainers nothing more nothing less, they have no value in my decision making process.

I value the opinions of car enthusiasts whom have first hand experience and live with the car I am interested in, that’s the reason why I want to hear everyone’s unobstructed opinion in order to select the information I find most valuable and relevant to me, that's why we research on brand bias forums, I am not researching McLarens on Ferrari or vice versa.

Happy New Year and apologies for the long post.

 

Your meandering diatribe has the focus and direction of a pin ball machine. I certainly will not
chastise your writing skills for being excessively esoteric, supercilious or overly articulate.

In your valiant struggle to express a semblance of rational thought, while researching many diverse sources of information pertaining to the car of interest is helpful in making a purchase decision, in order to avoid the disappointment you experienced on two occasions, nothing can substitute for an actual test drive whenever possible.

Since it is abundantly clear that your celebratory activity for the New Year began prior to your post, wishing you and everyone a joyous, healthy year ahead and living life with endless wonder.

 

Your furor loquendi is as exciting to read as watching paint dry, you must be fun at parties unfortunately I am not impressed by your words salad please save your tongue twisters for someone who cares because I sure don’t.

Test drives, what an ingenious novel idea, whom would’ve thought of that? Have you considered the fact that ordering limited run cars doesn’t come with the option of test driving before buying? Rhetorical question, please don’t bother replying I have no interest in reading any more tongue twisters.

 

Er, isn’t that how forums work? It’s the holidays and I have the time, in the same way you repeatedly defend the 765, it’s fun to talk. I have lots of other things I could do with my time so if I didn’t enjoy it I wouldn’t bother. Fact is, the EVO test is very different to other equally respected publications. And my own experience of far more miles than they each did is very different. As also seems to be the case with most owners writing here.

 

…and to answer your other question about being bewildered around post purchase rationalisation, get over it. I am a long-time buyer of expensive cars, some I loved, some I liked, some were merely ok and some I disliked. Satisfy yourself this is PPR if you like, it fits your narrative of dismissing a car you haven’t driven. I simply wish to make the counterpoint to a magazine concluding something about a car I know well that I don’t believe to be correct - an enthusiast does that. Other magazines have found exactly as I have, as have other owners, therefore my opinion is not even an outlier. I have never driven your beloved 765 so you will not find any of my posts criticising it. I’m very happy owning the SF90 and not a 765 when there is also a Pista and GT2RS in our garage. And the SF90 is a very good car, actually astounding. If someone is thinking of buying, they should read press reviews with some care, and owner reviews with some care too but at least owners rate the car as an owner. All you need to do is go figure if a particular owner sees things the way you would. EVO always talk about grading the cars on which they would like to drive the long drive home in. So they obviously all would have picked up the keys of the Hyundai before the Ferrari? Right. It’s actually pretty funny.

 

Coincid’s comment about test driving is hilarious. What on earth does he think an owner’s comment is? It’s an extended test drive report, usually from somebody very familiar with buying and living with many different types of similar car. It’s about as close as a prospective owner can usually get to driving a £500k car before ordering. Yet when such a ‘test review’ disagrees with his held view that has not been substantiated by actually driving the car, it is no longer a test but an attempt to justify a purchase and therefore biased. Except in the case of the 765 of course.

 

Due to individual preferences and priorities when it comes to super cars, test drives of sufficient duration when available, will minimize the occasions of disappointment. Clearly test drives are not an option on limited editions cars but they are on virtually every regular production super car. I test drove every Porsche, F430, Gallardo Balboni, 580-2 Lamborghini, Performante, F8 prior to placing an order. I also test drove the 360, 458, 488, 610-4, EVO AWD, RWD, Mclaren 570S, 720S and thankfully I did since they all disappointed me and were not worthy of a purchase. The 765 was the only car in recent menory that I purchased without the opportunity of a test drive due to its limited availability and it has exceeded my most optimistic expectations by a wide margin.

I am in no position to praise or criticize the SF90 driving dynamics since I have never been afforded the opportunity to drive it. Likewise, I will never offer my opinion on any car's driving prowess if I have not driven it. My point in this conversation, is simple. If the car brings pleasure and joy to the owner, any other opinion is of no consequence. Not a reviewers, those on forums or anyone else.