MOTORING
Our motoring man Thomas Falkiner chews over his best and worst drives of 2017 . . .
2017’s best & worst cars
HOT Porsche 991.2 GT3
I didn’t expect the new 911 GT3 to scramble my brains quite like it did. But I piloted it for hours along some of the finest roads of the Western Cape and was astounded by what an intoxicating driver’s car it is. A screaming 9 000rpm engine, telepathic steering, exquisite chassis and brakes that could stop a planet in mid-orbit are just some of the things that make it so sharp. And yet for all its dynamic sparkle the 911 GT3 remains a sports car you can use every day or even do some light touring in. The most focused all-rounder money can buy.
Lexus LC500
Intent on shedding its longstanding image of appealing only to beige suits and cantankerous pensioners, Lexus dropped a bomb in the shape of its new LC500: a sporting yet ludicrously comfortable Grand Tourer that looks like nothing else on the market today. In one fell swoop its predatory silhouette and radical angles made everything from Alfa to Zonda look conservative. It also bucked the status quo by forgoing turbocharged power in favour of a high-revving, naturally aspirated V8 — one that sounds similar to a Le Mans GT racing car at full chat. Good move, because it made the LC500 one of the most memorable cars of 2017.
Suzuki Ignis
Quirky. Gawky. Fugly. Call it what you will, the eccentric Ignis remains a cracking package that merges practicality and comfort with a generous chunk of driving fun. Not only is it well priced and equipped, it’s also light on fuel thanks to its low kerb weight and frugal yet peppy 1.2-litre engine. Every way you slice it, a damn worthy alternative to both the class-leading Volkswagen Up and Kia Picanto.
Aston Martin DB11 V8
Spoiler alert. Although my full review is yet to come out (expect it to appear on these pages next month), I have to say the new DB11 is nothing short of exceptional. In my nearly 10 years of motor journalism I have found that cars wearing the Aston Martin crest are generally all style but low on dynamic substance. Thankfully this has all changed. A new chassis and Mercedes-AMG power has done wonders for the Gaydon firm’s flagship; morphing it from remedial straggler to top-of-the-class superstar that can now compete with anything from Porsche, Ferrari or McLaren. The Empire is back.
Alfa Giulia
Although I’m not the world’s biggest Alfa fan, here I have to choke back a bit of humble pie and admit that the new Giulia is a truly remarkable effort. Not the rangetopping QV — I haven’t been in that yet — but the entry-level 2.0-litre Base model I drove earlier this year. For not only does it look great, it delivers a driving experience I think superior to that offered by comparable Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz rivals. Fine handling, a comfortable ride and some of the most direct steering I’ve sampled in years all help make it an excellent alternative. If only it was a little less expensive.
NOT Volvo S90
With its handsome styling and minimalist interior the opulent S90 promises much. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really deliver. For despite having a trick air suspension system, the ride proved harsh. The chassis didn’t seem very rigid and consequently the car quivered on anything but the smoothest bitumen. The twin-charged engine offered lots of poke but felt — and sounded — unrefined when out on the freeway or at speed. For the price, you can do better.
Audi Q2
The Audi Q2 is a fine car and architecturally it makes a bold statement — particularly about Audi’s design direction. But through my critical eyes it’s simply not worth the astronomical price (especially when you add in a few extras). An A3 Sportback will do everything the Q2 can for less (including carry more luggage with the rear seats folded), while the more practical Q3 will out-trump it for not much extra outlay. Q2. Pretty but pointless.
McLaren 720S
The 720S is an astonishing piece of kit. Around a racetrack not much comes close to the way it handles, accelerates and stops. Why is it getting a frowning face then? Well, at the international launch in Rome, McLaren was punting it as a supercar you can use every day. And it simply is not.
The cabin is cramped, the fiddly electric seats are hard and the ride — despite all the higher-grade suspension trickery — is uncomfortably firm at times. Although there is some kind of attempt at making a supercar with 911 values, the 720S is more at the other end of the spectrum. Only a masochist would drive one every day. And even then you might grow tired of it. So, for weekends only then? Definitely.
Volkswagen Golf GTD
“GTI performance from a diesel engine,” the marketers said. Yeah, right. Even an hour behind the wheel confirmed that the GTD is in no way as spritely as its petrol-powered sibling. With 39 fewer kilowatts on tap, it’s amazing such a slogan was even signed off. OK, I’ll admit that with the same suspension setup, the GTD felt like a GTI through the curves. But everywhere else it felt disappointedly tight-chested. Sorry to say, but a relic of the pre-Dieselgate era.
Abarth 595 Competizione
Sorry, you want how much? R443 450 for a car equipped with the world’s most uncomfortable and unsupportive Sabelt “racing” seats, not all that much power and rather limited usability?
Sorry, Abarth, your entry-level 595 remains an intriguing and fun proposition but this Competizione model is an overpriced joke sorely outclassed by everything else playing within the price range. So yeah, thanks, but I’ll save a whopping R100 000 and pick up a Ford Fiesta ST instead.
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