ABDC 2017: The FAQs

So you’ve been engrossed in the continuing adventures of Australia’s Best Driver’s Car 2017 and remain flabbergasted your favourite model didn’t get the chocolates.

Here are some answers to questions which may be lingering.

Q: What defines a ‘driver’s car’?
A: Outright performance and driveability are givens, but the most important factor is how a car makes its driver feel.

Around Hobart’s twisty Baskerville race circuit, a few cars set good lap times, but simply weren’t enjoyable to drive. And out on the road, those same cars were often just as uncompromising. In contrast a true driver’s car is one which goes hard, handles, stops, steers and talks with its pilot without the driver haemorrhaging internally.

So to contend at ABDC, a car needn’t be hard-riding and noisy, but definitely should be very competent getting from Point A to Point B by the longest route…all the while making a great noise and leaving its driver grinning.

A good driver’s car is one we can’t get enough of – regardless of when and where we’re driving it.

Q: Why go all the way to Tasmania?
A: That’s easy – Tasmania has some of the world’s great roads. It’s also scenic (for videos and photos), there’s an abundance of different terrains in close proximity, two racetracks, the natives are friendly and, with the peak summer tourist season gone, there’s relatively little traffic. The ability to (relatively) readily close a road in parts of Tassie is also a plus. Compared to mounting similar hard-core fact-finding missions on the mainland, Tasmania has also proved to be cost-effective.

Q: Who are the reviewers?
A: Most of the motoring.com.au full-time review staff boarded the Spirit of Tasmania for ABDC 2017 and were joined by freelance contributors and Cricky. Their combined experience evaluating new cars exceeds 200 years. Both sexes were represented, and the ages ran from mid-20s to mid-70s.

<a href="https://motoring.li.csnstatic.com/motoring/general/editorial/ABDC_Day_1_05-65cp.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-csn-inline-image wp-image-214040" src="https://motoring.li.csnstatic.com/motoring/general/editorial/ABDC_Day_1_05-65cp.jpg?height=427&width=640&aspect=fitWithin" alt="" width="640" height="427"></a>

>> In search of Australia's Best Driver's Car 2017

Some of the cars in the final field were variants or upgrades of pre-existing models, like the Abarth 124 Spider (based on the latest Mazda MX-5), BMW M140i, BMW M3 Competition, Ford Focus RS, HSV GTSR W1, Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe, Nissan GT-R and Volkswagen Golf GTI 40 years.

Others were all-new, like the Alfa Romeo Giulia QV (frustratingly the QV was the the first Alfa on ABDC as the 4C was unavailable in previous years), Audi S5 Coupe, Infiniti Q60 Red Sport and Porsche Cayman S.

Q: How is ABDC relevant with a price ceiling of $250K?
A: There are plenty of cars in the field costing less than that. Our cheapest car (the rear-drive 124 Spider) is priced just over $40,000, the front-drive Golf GTI 40 Years costs just under $50,000 and the all-wheel-drive Focus RS is a relative bargain at just over $50K.

Besides, if you’re in the market for a ‘driver’s car’, you’re not looking for a cheap car as much as one you’ll enjoy driving. Our guess is you’re willing to spend a bit more for the pleasure.

Q: Why don’t you go into more detail in your videos?
A: Our research shows the vast majority of video viewers switch off after less than two minutes, which is what we generally limit our single-car video reviews to. Some run longer, but only fans will watch right through a 10-minute video, which is why we only do a few.

Q: Why does the ABDC assessment of my favourite car not align with motoring’s previous comments?
A: ABDC is different. In our regular road tests and new model launch reviews we always measure how a car stacks up against its peers – direct competitors in the same market segment. At ABDC, cars are compared back-to-back according to strict criteria, based only on testing over the exact same public and private roads.

We believe there is no other way to fairly compare cars as disparate as an Abarth 124 Spider and a Nissan GT-R. And despite the gulf in price between these two cars, both are fun to drive for different reasons.

ABDC is not a straight-forward comparo. Yes, there is a winner, but every car taking part is already a finalist and won’t disappoint any potential owner.

Q: My favourite car performed well on track, so why did it place so low in the overall rankings?
A: Rankings were based on the points scored by each of the 12 reviewers, for each of the 12 cars, after driving on the roads of Tasmania. While the lap times and acceleration data assisted the reviewers, equally important was the daily brainstorming round-table discussions. Times from the race circuit and drag strip were included for reference (and because readers demand them) but played no definitive part in the final judgement.

Q: My favourite car performed poorly on track, so why did it place so well in the overall rankings?
A: See above.

Q: Why did another media outlet achieve faster performance times than you for my favourite car?
A: We can’t speak for the other media outlet, but maybe they had a nice warm, dry track surface and a cool day. Perhaps they were using launch control. Maybe they only had a jockey at the wheel and no passenger on board to record the data. They may have fitted brand-new tyres, stickier/softer tyres or lowered the tyre pressures. Perhaps they applied drag racing sticky VHT to the road in launch area. Did they use a drag strip’s timing equipment, which doesn’t measure rollout (the distance a car travels between a standing-start take-off and the timing beam)?

We don’t do any of the above things (except this time using launch control where available) but we do use a professional racing driver.

We also test each car back-to-back in the same conditions on the same surface on the same day. We apply manufacturer-recommended tyre pressures on standard tyres (as per the tyre placard) and ensure the same (relative) fuel load is in each car.

Finally, we also make sure each car has enough runs to extract its best time.

Q: If I’m unhappy with the results of ABDC, what should I do?
A: Build a bridge and get over it. If you still can’t move-on, post a comment, or make your feelings felt on our Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram pages. But be prepared for Sinkers’ reply – it might sting…

ABDC 2017
>> 1st - HSV GTSR W1
>> 2nd - Porsche Cayman S
>> 3rd - Ford Focus RS
>> 4th - BMW M140i
>> 5th - BMW M3 Competition
>> 6th - Audi S5 Coupe
>> 7th - Mercedes-AMG C 43
>> Track test - The fastest ever
>> A sideways glance at ABDC
>> 8th - Volkswagen Golf GTI 40 Years
>> Stats never lie – ABDC by the numbers
>> Not ranked - Alfa Romeo Guilia QV
>> 10th - Abarth 124 Spider
>> Quarter-mile bragging rights
>> Meet the judges
>> 11th - Nissan GT-R

>> In search of Australia's Best Driver's Car 2017