Car & Driver's Opel Speedster Article

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Anyone else happen to catch the article in the March issue of Car & Driver on the Opel Speedster? They abolutely *hated* the car. Too narrow of an interior, very few adjustable items, slower than the MR-S, no power locks/windows, and generally not enough of anything to make it viable for half its price. Only one of the three knobs on the car came off and they considered that a good thing for a British car...

They put it on more or less even ground with the Miata, and had the less-expensive MR-S rated higher. Other notes included "spend a few thousand more for an S-2000" and "spend $X more for a base-model Boxster" and "don't spend any more and get a Mustang convertible."

I was pretty shocked at how bad the car came off in the article and was wondering if anyone had the opportunity overseas to drive either it or the VX220 (essentially the same car) and if they had any opinions on it?

As a final note, one of the first things they mention is a kid noticing the car and knowing it for an Opel Speedster. The reason why he knew it? Gran Turismo...
 
I'd be interested to read that, given that most of the UK mags, particularly the more hardcore driver oriented ones, have considered it to be almost the equal of it's close relation, the Lotus Elise.
 
Ya I have that article. It's a nice looking car, but they are right, it doesn't seem worth it to buy it if it came to the states.

But it's pretty funny how a kid knew it was an Opel Speedster just because of GT3.
 
and also they have the M3 GTR, that car 0-60 in 3.4 SEC, 444HP and redlines at 7500 RPM, and the value..................................................................



$300,000
 
I just read that article myself, I think the real point they were trying to make was not to set around wishing for the Speedster when there is already several cars available here that are just as fun.

Do you know the definition of the Lucas 3 position switch?
off, dim, and flicker :D

For those who don't know, Lucas makes electrical components for British cars.
 
I have built replica Cobras and worked in a shop hand building custom British motorcycles, so I am all too familier with that Lucas cra....

But one thing you can say good about it, it is substancially better than the spaghetti they use in Italian electronics. Anyone here ever seen the reaction when someone tows a Fiat with an electrical problem to an auto shop? In a couple of days the workers might stop laughing.
 
i have driven the VX220 once and have to say that the actual car is very good to drive, BUT it looks and feels like a bunch of monkeys put it together. the handling is very similar to the lotus elise but there feels to be a bit more power and and acceleration (mainly because of the larger engine)
 
Yes, I happened to have read that article too (subscriber to C/D for over a year now).

From driving the Speedster in GT3, I have also developed somewhat of a dislike for it... it feels sluggish, and definetly needs a lighter flywheel to make it more competitive (it revs so s l o w l y . . . )

BTW, there was another article by C/D bashing the Speedster about a year ago... I can't remember the month though...
 

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