Forza Motorsport 4 Reviews

Sticker Shock
via Europeancarlove

Let’s just get this out of the way now: The 2007 European market Honda Civic Type-R is a weird looking car. That is not an insult, per say; the car is just different.  And different is a lot better than beige. So when Mugen had a go with the Type-R in 2010, they made something pretty special: Enter the Mugen Civic Type-R 3D. Powered by a demonic 2.0L inline four cylinder, the Mugen pushes out 237 horsepower to the front wheels; and manages zero to sixty in 5.9 seconds.

At Hockenheim, the Mugen is a precision track weapon. Grip is almost infinite once the corner has been entered; it was even hard to even tell that the Mugen was a front wheel drive Honda Civic. Part of this comes down to the miniscule weight (2,718 pounds), and the small amount of power. It is very easy to go full-throttle through a corner, and not feel any of the front wheel drive’s negative effects. Hondas have always had less powerful cars than their competitors, and they have always handled better; this Mugen is no different. It’s closest competitors the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, and Seat Leon Cupra R both have more than a thirty horsepower advantage; but the Honda can drive circles around both.

However, the Mugen falls flat on its face in the price department. At 55,000Cr, it’s the second most expensive front wheel drive car; behind only the Seat Leon Supercup, which is a mental little racecar. 55,000Cr is a lot to ask for most rear/all wheel drive cars in the first place, and it is more than insane to price a Mugen that high. The car is more than twice as much as the Cobalt and the Cupra R mentioned earlier. If it’s a front wheel drive car one is after, use the “built not bought” mentality; there are much cheaper, and better ways to hit Vtec..…yo.

Pass or Purchase? Pass.  

Tourette’s Syndrome
via Europeancarlove

Affectionately coined the “Fax Machine” by Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson; the McLaren MP4-12c most certainly has the name of one. And what a fax machine the McLaren is. Do not however, mistake that for a compliment, the McLaren is quite the handful. Powered by a 3.8L twin-turbocharged V8, the car pumps out a whopping 592 horsepower and 443lb-ft of torque through a seven speed dual-clutch transmission. That power along with the McLaren’s 3,031 pound curb weight propel the car towards sixty in a scant 3.3 seconds. It’s noticeably quicker than it’s main rival, the Ferrari 458. 

At the track, the McLaren drives like a schizophrenic ballerina. It’s a mess; this car has some serious handling issues. On turn in the car feels like the steering wheel is not attached, the McLaren will plow through corners every time. Once the car is under control and exit is approaching, it’s back-end swings wide. It feels as though the McLaren is driving on a thick sheet of ice. The brakes are not much better either; they have a low threshold before they lock up, and force the driver to brake sooner to compensate. The McLaren’s only redeeming quality is it’s sheer speed; it leaves the Ferrari 458 for dead on any portion of the track that involves a straight line.

To be blunt, 220,000Cr is a lot to ask for a car that is trying to kill you. The Ferrari may not be the best handling car in the game, frankly it’s a mess as well; but it feels a million times more planted than the McLaren. The Ferrari may also cost 20,000Cr more than the McLaren, but it is the much more well-rounded car of the two. However, if a car that ingests cocaine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner sounds enticing, give the McLaren a try. If not, buy the Ferrari.

Pass or Purchase? Pass.