SDNR

There are some cars which are completely overrated and others which never get the praise they totally deserve.

Here are two to start with.

Overrated: OK - this will be a very controversial choice - I'm scared of the consequences; the "Three-Pointed-Star Mafia" are pretty ruthless, but here goes:

Mercedes-Benz SLR
- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

It's not that I think it is a bad car (anything but), it's really that it is a compromise - it's not a true and pure supercar, which is what it was supposed to be afterall.

Underrated: This is a fabulous car, quietly stylish and very refined - technically it is very hard to fault.

Volkswagen Phaeton
- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Jono171

I agree completely rnds! Although I am part of the Mercedes Mafioso, I can see that the SLR is as you say compromised. The styling is too busy - F1 themes, vents, gills, and angles everywhere. A supercar should be beautiful. IMO the SLR is just aggressive and eye-catching.

The Phaeton is elegant, the quality of ride is supurb, the interior is beautiful (although motorised timber panels covering the air vents is a bit excessive) - the only problem with it is that it is wearing the wrong badge.

For me, the most overrated is the Ford Mustang. Apart from the latest generation, every other Mustang has been complete garbage (maybe apart from the engine), and yet people buy them in spades.

As far as underrated cars go, I would probably select the Audi brand as a whole, as there are many great cars in the range over the last few years that have been dismissed by journalists and consumers due to misconceptions and past experiences

Snake Vargas

I don't really count myself part of any brand's mafiosi.. but I'd still like to come out to bat for the SLR, in a minor way.

Maybe I'm just being picky with your wording, but to me, 'compromised as a supercar' would really depend on your definition of supercar. Picking on you both, since there are only two posts here (and not flaming mind you)..

Performance wise, if that's the issue, it's not exactly slow, and neither is it too lardy. Sure it's not the best, but what's the cutoff for "supercar"? Or is it cos I is black? Er, I mean, is it cos it has an auto?

Looks wise, I agree that it looks aggressive and eye-catching and not particularly good, IMO. But, similar to what Voltaire was rumoured to have said, I disapprove of its looks, but I'll defend its right to look it - and to be called a supercar nevertheless (in another mangled French allusion - to eat its cake and have it too). Surely there have been uglier supercars, and will be. Besides, there seem to be some who truly think it looks good, though I don't know what possessed them to do so. Just kidding, sort of. Not bad, but not good.

---

Well, as for overrated, how would it please you guys if I said McLaren F1? About how, for all its purity of purpose, its time has passed and it doesn't even look as great as it once did, being a good decade or so old. I'm sure that'd get all the other mafiosi in and we'd have a right royal romp in here. So maybe I won't, eh..

I'm ever for thinking that any car that people rave over is overrated. That's just me - whether it be Subaru WRX, Nissan Skyline GTR, BMW M5, McLaren F1 or whatever. I just get annoyed when people start idolising and stop thinking.

As for underrated, I might also say Audi.. otherwise, perhaps Lexus. I'm not saying its abilities are the same as other cars, in terms of dynamics, but there must be some reason why it's popular in America, and it's not because they're cheap (they're not). It could be the service, or whatever.. but the total package appeals. Maybe Americans have different priorities. Whichever, I also get sick of hearing Lexus bashing. Some people have their preferences, but IMO, 9/10 times, I'm just hearing the sound of closed minds.

martinbo

Yes, I'm with you in that respect, whilst the SLR might not be the nth word in supercar drama from an all out driver's perspective but it is very special and dramatic in it's own right. First of all, it must be the most classically beautiful of the supercars, a Zonda is too overdone for most tastes (not mine mind you), a CGT looks like a supercar pickup truck, particularly with its roof on and an Enzo, well, it might be dramatic looking but it's hardly pure of line.
The SLR is simply as beautiful as it is aggressive. And it looks fabulous in the tin :

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Secondly, the SLR must rate as having the most easily accessible performance of the breed (I did hear that a Zonda is a peach to drive) by virtue of its auto transmission and loooong gearing. It might not be the fastest but it's right up there and any regular joe can squeeze it to the limit.

Rumours are that the SLR's main bug-bear namely over-servoed brakes have been sorted so there isn't much to hold against it.
---

Philistine! C'mon B, you can't possibly say that the F1 isn't still one of the finest looking supercars ever... now you're just being controversial. :p

I agree, a WRX is overrated. An STi on the other hand isn't.

This car has to be one of the most underrated cars in the world:



It's a brilliantly interactive, capable and downright gamely enthusiast's car. The fab Legacy 3.0R Spec B.
It's no ordinary Legacy and I just can't work out why the journo's aren't going gaga over it. Erm, maybe because it's not as good as a 330i...?

Overrated? notic is going to murder me, but it has to be the VW Touareg. I'm very disappointed in this car and its on-road manners.

SDNR

Outrageous!

martinbo

Jokes aside, I'm being fairly serious. The CGT is a masterpiece of engineering but it's only attractive from certain angles and doesn't photograph well...

Look at the side profile shots, doesn't the roofline of the car look a little truncated?

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SDNR

I see what you're saying martinbo but as a Porsche-man yourself, surely you are not suggesting that you would choose the SLR over the CGT, are you?

martinbo

Well that'd be difficult for me to say rnds...
I guess if I were in the market for a hypercar like the SLR, Zonda or CGT I'd have to drive each to make an informed decision. So for now I can only comment based on info I've read from motoring scribes in various publications.
As you're aware, I'm not much of a stickler for car-styling - I prefer function over form - but I can appreciate a beautiful car and whilst the CGT certainly is arresting, the SLR is on a different plane when it comes to breathtaking looks. I love it.

I think the SLR might just be a fabulously good "all-rounder" car that's usable in urban driving as well as for weekend country sorties... The CGT is very focused and driver-centric and, imo, is strictly a weekend car. Being a manual it must be the more interactive experience and in that lies the clincher for me. The CGT gets it but the SLR is closer than you would ever have expected from me...

Centurion

I can't agree with you more RNDS. Evnthough the SLR is one of the most unique and aggresive looking cars on earth, it is kind of over rated since the CGT, Enzo and Zonda are better sports cars but still the SLR has it's own niche which is that it has a boot and can be used for daily driving unlike an Enzo and Zonda.

The Phaeton is infact as good as the S-class(ww220), A8 and 7er. If you are albe to look beyond the badge, the phaeton is a very competetive cars and offers the same quality as the other big sedans.

Alx

Phaeton is just really heavy!

But nontheless, a good car, as for SLR, im not crazy about it, but i do feel it is a supercar to the fullest extent of the word.... i mean its rare, expensive, exotic, super fast, and extremely unique. Let alone you never see one on the streets either.... at least thats my definition.