so when is GRM testing a ATS-V?

Lot of money, but it looks on paper like a lot of car...

Can verify. It's obnoxiously fast, looks awesome, rides awesome, and is generally just... awesome. It's not just fast in a straight line. I may or may not have witnessed one leaving some well-prepped Miatas for dead in some of the twistiest roads on the US.

Is there like a tab I am missing when I go to GRM new car reviews? Because the main content on the website is so light. It's usually like 2 paragraphs maybe with context about how the car relates to others in its class and then the staff views which are generally ok but do not assist in making a purchase decision. I expect reviews to provide me with input I can use to make a vehicle purchase. I want the reviews provided by GRM to be the best source for my purchase since they seem to care about the same things I car about but have loads more time to drive new cars. Instead in the last 2 vehicle purchases I've made reading the GRM review and going "that's nice now where is some input I can use?". They used to be better a lot of years ago but it seems as the " blog/social media" style of reporting has taken hold the GRM reviews have followed suit. I thought early in it was just going to be a few reviews but now they are all that way. It's to where I don't really care if GRM drives/reviews a exciting new car. Maybe it's just me?

nocones -

It's not just you, the reviews have been light on real content lately.

We used to post longer reviews, it's true.

Lately, we've refocused our efforts on making a great sports car magazine, and there are only so many hours in the day. We didn't want to spend too many writing about Versas.

Swank Force One wrote: Can verify. It's obnoxiously fast, looks awesome, rides awesome, and is generally just... awesome. It's not just fast in a straight line. I may or may not have witnessed one leaving some well-prepped Miatas for dead in some of the twistiest roads on the US.

Was it Maroon with some bald ass tires in the mountains of NC/TN by any chance?

unk577 wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: Can verify. It's obnoxiously fast, looks awesome, rides awesome, and is generally just... awesome. It's not just fast in a straight line. I may or may not have witnessed one leaving some well-prepped Miatas for dead in some of the twistiest roads on the US.

Was it Maroon with some bald ass tires in the mountains of NC/TN by any chance?

Maaaaaaybe. The tires weren't bald before he showed up.

Yeah, saw him. Outer edges were worn off. I really like that drivetrain and have some evil thoughts running through my head

Wow, didn't even know they were building that. If I had the $$ that would be awesome.

I intentionally haven't let myself check msrp on one. It might be the only thing that'd keep me from picking up a focus rs in 2 years. That much fun in a grown up package that doesn't ooze boy racer shouldn't be legal.

Tom Suddard wrote: We used to post longer reviews, it's true. Lately, we've refocused our efforts on making a great sports car magazine, and there are only so many hours in the day. We didn't want to spend too many writing about Versas.

How about a "standard" GRM car review rating list. Take 10-20 items and rate them 1-10. Car gets a total score. Could be done in 5 min.

In reply to dean1484:

Because they know we really want valuable in depth insight and opinions on how the car feels and the response and feedback it provides and how it communicates with the driver. Any number of near useless automotive blog-o-sphere sites could prescribe to that predetermined formula and dole out the numbers with little additional insight for validation needed to generate content and views. I'm thankfully that GRM staff doesn't do this.

Two interesting things:

First, I was worried that they didn't give it enough front tire as a lot of sport sedans/coupes aren't. (ie the new BMW 235i only comes with 18x7's on front, that's a half in narrower than the outgoing 135i). Gladly, I found that the ATS-V comes with 18x9's up front and 18x9.5's in rear and beefy enough 255 Michelin PSS all the way around.

Also, since the PSS isn't a runflat I wonder if that means that the car actually comes with a spare tire.

So make the list specific to GRM things. The key is to get the list defined.

Solution: GRM can just hire me to drive super sedans all day and write relevant stuff about them. I know it would be a miserable job but somebody's gotta do it.

If I want to read about new cars that dont start with M and end in either -iata or a number, I'll go to the dentist and read Road amd Driver Trend.

drdisque wrote: Two interesting things: First, I was worried that they didn't give it enough front tire as a lot of sport sedans/coupes aren't. (ie the new BMW 235i only comes with 18x7's on front, that's a half in narrower than the outgoing 135i). Gladly, I found that the ATS-V comes with 18x9's up front and 18x9.5's in rear and beefy enough 255 Michelin PSS all the way around. Also, since the PSS isn't a runflat I wonder if that means that the car actually comes with a spare tire.

If they're like the CTS-V they will come with a compressor filled with goo.
I expect the ATS will fit a square 9.5 with 275's. Should be even more fun.

You know the minute they post a Cadillac review, someone is going to start whining about it it isn't grassroots enough.

captdownshift wrote: I intentionally haven't let myself check msrp on one. It might be the only thing that'd keep me from picking up a focus rs in 2 years. That much fun in a grown up package that doesn't ooze boy racer shouldn't be legal.

You'd be better off anyway with a ATS-V than a Focus RS

While we're at it, has GRM done a test on the Chevrolet SS. I don't recall seeing one. I took a short test drive a few weeks ago & was very impressed.

Type Q wrote: You know the minute they post a Cadillac review, someone is going to start whining about it it isn't grassroots enough.

Like when they swooned over the 335i? Or was it after the new Mata review came out? Oh wait that one doesn't count because Maita can do no wrong here

I've recently been in both a 335i and an ATS-V and I must say the world is a good place to be right now if you have the income.

Advertising allows magazines to bel made and GM isn't pushing the SS or the ATS-V towards the right people. Hell GM isn't pushing the SS towards anyone at all! It's expecting all its advertising to come from NASCAR or Cop Cars! Needless to say there are still issues in Detroit but I'll happily drink the ATS-V kool aid if I win the lotto tonight.

BTW I believe the ATS-V is using the LFX motor with turbos that was in the CTS-Vsport as well which V8 roadsters now has a miata swap to drop that LFX into a miata. 300hp NA before turboing.

Swank Force One wrote:

unk577 wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: Can verify. It's obnoxiously fast, looks awesome, rides awesome, and is generally just... awesome. It's not just fast in a straight line. I may or may not have witnessed one leaving some well-prepped Miatas for dead in some of the twistiest roads on the US.

Was it Maroon with some bald ass tires in the mountains of NC/TN by any chance?

Maaaaaaybe. The tires weren't bald before he showed up.

Was this the one I saw slinking around Fontana Village at Miatas At The Gap?

HOLY E36 M3, it's available as a coupe, and a good looking coupe at that.

SO MUCH WANT!!!