Saleen S7 (/Twin Turbo) Why not?

[Amilo-D]

I was wondering why havent TopGear tested america's only supercar for quite a while (before Ford GT)? Saleen S7 Twin Turbo is supposed to be quite brutally fast and agile. And its quite a looker too, almost looks like Carrera GT, which is a gorgeous car.

So any thoughts why Topgear havent featured that car? Or atleast speak about it?

[TomCat]

Fear.

[watto]

Is the S7 even sold in the UK??

[Donington]

Originally Posted by watto

Is the S7 even sold in the UK??

No

[_HighVoltage_]

Originally Posted by Amilo-D

almost looks like Carrera GT, which is a gorgeous car.

Huh? I think it copies a lot from McLaren F1GT but Carrera GT???
To your question I really don't have an answer. The Saleen is a very powerful car, possibly faster than a Veyron round a track.
I really think they should test it. I am getting kind of sick with the Veyron - how many times more are they going to feature it on Top Gear? I think they have to move on, there are plently of other very potent supercars and Saleen S7 is just one of them.

[mathematica]

the only answer: this is a british show

[nist7]

Originally Posted by mathematica

the only answer: this is a british show

They have tested many non-British cars.


I see the absence of the Saleen S7TT as being primarily caused by:

1) Lack of support from the manufacturer (Saleen is a relatively small company based in America. The market for the car is extremely small, and it would not justify the effort/time/money spent getting the car featured on Top Gear, transport, insurance, etc. etc. to get a little more publicity that is primarily targeted at European audiences.....where the Saleen S7TT would probably never be sold)

2) Lack of vehicle availability (how many Saleen S7TT are there in europe?)

3) Lack of interest from Top Gear (for who knows what reasons.....)

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by Donington

No

I think that's the main reason. They'd probably test it if it was sold there.

[ahpadt]

Originally Posted by nist7

They have tested many non-British cars.

Yes, but the thing is that those car has been available to buy in britian.

[Hidden_Hunter]

Main reason?

It doesn't really have anything perticularly interesting about it for most people.

[American TG Man]

A better question: Mosler MT900. Why not?



It's Anglo-American (Designed and built in Florida, along with an assembly plant in England.) It can be registered under SVA rules in the UK. It's quite fast, lightweight, powerful, and priced about as much as an F430 (and about as fast, if not faster) There's also a future supercharged, 620-horsepower version being developed. So fear could be the deciding factor.

Is asking Top Gear to test the Mosler unreasonable?

[bartboy9891]

^ No but it has been around for a while, (Fifth Gear did test if you are curious about how it drives) and TG takes a while to review cars that more people are interested in anyway.

[poptya]

Originally Posted by TomCat

Fear.

thats my guess, along with the ultimate aero

[starfox07]

I think we have three contenders for setting the fastest lap (well besides the Caparo which will most likely slaughter it by many many seconds)

Saleen S7 TT
Mosler Mt900
Ultimate Aero

2 of those are proven on the track time and time again (unlike the ccx and a few others on top of the power lap times)

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by poptya

thats my guess, along with the ultimate aero

MASSIVE CONSPIRACY OMG OMG OMG

[Elmo187]

Originally Posted by starfox07

I think we have three contenders for setting the fastest lap (well besides the Caparo which will most likely slaughter it by many many seconds)

Saleen S7 TT
Mosler Mt900
Ultimate Aero

2 of those are proven on the track time and time again (unlike the ccx and a few others on top of the power lap times)

you forgot about the Ultima GT-R. which simply put, smashed the CCX's record around the track by 5 seconds.

+ YouTube Video

[kju]

because its desperately ugly!
why would u spend 525k $ on such an ugly car?

[GraemeH]

Because nobody gives a shit. They're small name cars by small name manufacturers. If they featured cars like the SSC, Ultima GTR and S7 they'd have to test every other car hacked together in sheds across the world and only sold on the other side of the planet.

Things like the Caparo, Atom, Noble etc. will at least be seen by people on the roads here. You'll never ever see an SSC, Ultima or S7 on the road, so why should Top Gear waste peoples time with it?

[the Interceptor]

Originally Posted by kju

because its desperately ugly!
why would u spend 525k $ on such an ugly car?

Now there's a sophisticated answer.

Anyway, I think the S7TT would at least be worth mentioning. It was featured in an acceleration comparison in the german car mag I read some time ago. It didn't last long though, there was a fault in the alternator which threw it out of the race. And they said due to the high downforce it produced, the front spoiler kept scrubbing over the ground above 280 km/h (175 mph). I think it would be a worthy competitor to lap the TG track for a great time, but I'd rather expect to find it in some kind of a "let's test some cars that might do the job"-report.

[Amilo-D]

A lot of good theories there. But i guess i understand what nist7 said. Lack of interest/support from Saleen would be really the main issue, combined with the fact they dont sell it here.

On other note, yes i think they should test Mosler. It really qualifies as a exotic sportscar. Ultima GTR however is just a trackday car made to run on road, and not really something one buys for normal use.

Another factor i guess is lack of will from manufacturers. They dont want their cars to be featured on topgear in case the boys dont like them that much or turn out bad handling around track (certainly the case with Veyron and possibly Mosler)