I note Jeremy Clarkson was less than impressed with the 3.2 EOS in the Sunday Times slating the handling and scuttle shake. I've not noticed this in my 2.0T and wonder if this is a product of the bigger engine? Normally I would dismiss Mr.Clarkson out of hand (I remember him saying a Ford Probe could snap knicker elastic at 50 yards or some such rubbish) but have heard these mutterings in a number of other articles about the body rigidity. Views?
EOS Scuttle Shake
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I'm a bit mystified what he's talking about unless it's specific to the 3.2V6.
Not sure these motoring journos actually drive the cars they're writing about sometimes...
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dont think he is all wrong
this is my first convertable and i am noticing the scuttle shake!
not so bad with roof up though!
unless mine is faulty then other convertables must be horrific
this is my first convertable and i am noticing the scuttle shake!
not so bad with roof up though!
unless mine is faulty then other convertables must be horrific
It is the tendancy for the back end to shake differently from the front end. Usually, drivers/passengers notice this by watching the windscreen surround moving differently than they expect. It can also manifest itself by watching the dash in relation to the windscreen or doors, etc.
When you go over a particularly bumpy road, the windscreen will rattle side to side; some people are really bothered by this, and others are not. The fixed roof cars experience this too, but much much less visibly. Usually the fixed roof tightens things up a whole lot. Of course, in convertibles, other parts of the car are stiffened in order to try and make the car solid.
I used to drive (way way way back) a 1975 Alfa Romeo Spider convertible. I was constantly amazed that the windscreen remained attached to the car. It was a GREAT car to drive and I loved it, however, it shook and rattled more than any other car i've experienced. In comparison, the EOS is a solid piece of stone that is amazingly solid.
In a perfect world, the car itself would remain solid and the shocks and tires would handle any road bumps. That isn't possible, however, and the metals and structures within the car end up taking some of that by flexing and twisting a little. A little makes for a slightly smoother ride, but alot of flexing can be unsettling. Plus, the frame flexing that we are talking about here can affect handling and performance.
When you go over a particularly bumpy road, the windscreen will rattle side to side; some people are really bothered by this, and others are not. The fixed roof cars experience this too, but much much less visibly. Usually the fixed roof tightens things up a whole lot. Of course, in convertibles, other parts of the car are stiffened in order to try and make the car solid.
I used to drive (way way way back) a 1975 Alfa Romeo Spider convertible. I was constantly amazed that the windscreen remained attached to the car. It was a GREAT car to drive and I loved it, however, it shook and rattled more than any other car i've experienced. In comparison, the EOS is a solid piece of stone that is amazingly solid.
In a perfect world, the car itself would remain solid and the shocks and tires would handle any road bumps. That isn't possible, however, and the metals and structures within the car end up taking some of that by flexing and twisting a little. A little makes for a slightly smoother ride, but alot of flexing can be unsettling. Plus, the frame flexing that we are talking about here can affect handling and performance.
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Glad somebody else showed their ignorance on "scuttle shake". Thanks for an excellant explanation!It is the tendancy for the back end to shake differently from the front end. Usually, drivers/passengers notice this by watching the windscreen surround moving differently than they expect. It can also manifest itself by watching the dash in relation to the windscreen or doors, etc.
When you go over a particularly bumpy road, the windscreen will rattle side to side; some people are really bothered by this, and others are not. The fixed roof cars experience this too, but much much less visibly. Usually the fixed roof tightens things up a whole lot. Of course, in convertibles, other parts of the car are stiffened in order to try and make the car solid.
I used to drive (way way way back) a 1975 Alfa Romeo Spider convertible. I was constantly amazed that the windscreen remained attached to the car. It was a GREAT car to drive and I loved it, however, it shook and rattled more than any other car i've experienced. In comparison, the EOS is a solid piece of stone that is amazingly solid.
In a perfect world, the car itself would remain solid and the shocks and tires would handle any road bumps. That isn't possible, however, and the metals and structures within the car end up taking some of that by flexing and twisting a little. A little makes for a slightly smoother ride, but alot of flexing can be unsettling. Plus, the frame flexing that we are talking about here can affect handling and performance.
I think it has been referred to as "cowl shake". Owned a 1998 Toyota Celica conv. since 98'. The car was a "conversion" in that ASC took the car from Toyota and converted it to a ragtop. The thing shook very badly, doors, windshield, and driver.
Compared to that the EOS is solid as a "rock". I like the solid feel of this car so I don't notice any shake compared to the car I used to drive.
Compared to that the EOS is solid as a "rock". I like the solid feel of this car so I don't notice any shake compared to the car I used to drive.
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I think he was just trying to be funny. That would be the only reason for saying the things that he did. Either that, or someone swapped the Eos badging with the Ford badging.
Maybe he wasn't driving an Eos at all?
Maybe he was. But ALL convertibles suffer from some element of scuttle shake, some much more than others.
JC is very influential and to give the Eos 3.2V6 only 2 stars out of 5 could have consequences.
I'm surprised really because just about every other comparison I've read says the Eos is much better than the Focus CC but Jeremy says it's the other way around. Of course he does have some kind of special relationship with Ford, having been granted one of the new Ford GTs (which he then rejected and Ford were forced to fix every single noise in it to satisfy JC, because he was blanket-reporting its every foible).
Maybe JC feels the need to be kind to Ford. Maybe VW or Audi have upset him?
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Jeremy Clarkson talks total shite! All his pieces (on the tv show at least) seem to be scripted, and are aimed at being comical rather that informitave. Top Gear has lost the plot totally, about 5 minutes out of every show has any acurate content and it just about Jeremy thumping his chest driving what he wants to drive, letting everyone know who's show it it and just being a big kid. I wouldnot take anything hes says seriously, yet it would infact seem that he is quite influential somehow.
Personally I think that if you really like a car, you'll probably buy it no matter what anyone says. Obviously if a car has a serious flaw that would sway somewhere else, but Jeremy just tells you what he (personally) thinks of the cars. And who cares what that fat old badly dressed balding knob end thinks. He should spend less money on cars and more money on getting his teeth sorted out!
Personally I think that if you really like a car, you'll probably buy it no matter what anyone says. Obviously if a car has a serious flaw that would sway somewhere else, but Jeremy just tells you what he (personally) thinks of the cars. And who cares what that fat old badly dressed balding knob end thinks. He should spend less money on cars and more money on getting his teeth sorted out!
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Erm, .......NO!
He's no longer a credible motoring journalist. He just waffles and tries be to funny, when he's just not. Topgear has turned into a chat show, loosly based on cars. The star driving a reasonably priced car thing has been flogged to death, those features with caravans, making boats out of cars and driving places faster that public transport just for the sake of it are just stupid. Its all aimed at padding out a program thats an hour long because not that much obviously happens in the motoring world from one week to the next so theres not actually an hours worth of decent content. Therefore, just make it half an hour again, fill it with proper test drives of current/new models for everyday people as well as the hot stuff, and get rid of the bell end that presents it. Then it will be good again.
Unfortuneatley 5th gear is heading the same way.
He's no longer a credible motoring journalist. He just waffles and tries be to funny, when he's just not. Topgear has turned into a chat show, loosly based on cars. The star driving a reasonably priced car thing has been flogged to death, those features with caravans, making boats out of cars and driving places faster that public transport just for the sake of it are just stupid. Its all aimed at padding out a program thats an hour long because not that much obviously happens in the motoring world from one week to the next so theres not actually an hours worth of decent content. Therefore, just make it half an hour again, fill it with proper test drives of current/new models for everyday people as well as the hot stuff, and get rid of the bell end that presents it. Then it will be good again.
Unfortuneatley 5th gear is heading the same way.
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Totally agree with you. I haven't watched Top Gear for some time for exactly the same reasons. It's no longer aimed at car enthusiasts but is a general entertainment programme. 5th Gear filled the gap but after watching it a couple of weeks ago (for the last time) I also decided that it was trying to emulate Top Gear with some rubbish about how fast you could go in reverse before destroying the car or something hence has lost its interest for me too.
We need a serious car programme again; trouble is there just aren't enough enthusiasts to warrant making a programme for and liking cars is so non-PC these days that none of the pseudo-intellectual programme makers will ever consent to bow so low as to do anything oriented towards us.
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Autotrader is quite good on discovery channel with that Mikes Motors geezer, he's also a bit of nob but Ithink thats just what you have to be to buy and sell cars. However it is informative and gives good tips for buyers and sellers alike about a wide range of cars for the everyday guy.
I know we all want to see cars we could never afford doing the fastest time round a track etc etc, but just generally telling people what a car is like to drive and live with every day should appeal to more people so I cant understand why there arnt more programs that cater for this.
Oh yes, theres only one other person loosly related to cars that i really really hate, infact i'd really REALLY like to hurt him, its that total TWAT Tim Westwood who presents Pimp My Ride UK, where is he from and why does he talk like that? And whats with all the hand gestures, does he think he's some kind of gangster from south central LA or something? Mind you alot of people do these days dont they, it must be cool or something to talk like your retarded, and wear clothes that are 3 sizes too big for you.
I know we all want to see cars we could never afford doing the fastest time round a track etc etc, but just generally telling people what a car is like to drive and live with every day should appeal to more people so I cant understand why there arnt more programs that cater for this.
Oh yes, theres only one other person loosly related to cars that i really really hate, infact i'd really REALLY like to hurt him, its that total TWAT Tim Westwood who presents Pimp My Ride UK, where is he from and why does he talk like that? And whats with all the hand gestures, does he think he's some kind of gangster from south central LA or something? Mind you alot of people do these days dont they, it must be cool or something to talk like your retarded, and wear clothes that are 3 sizes too big for you.
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I'm afraid just the title "Pimp My Ride UK" puts me off completely and I've never seen the programme. Nor do I intend to! Different kind of car interest entirely..
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Just read the Times eos article myself and was amazed to discover that the first two thirds of mr clarksons wurblings is devoted to whether men over 45 should wear jeans
Later on he describes the front and rear of the eos as being connected by plasticine. I think he just says things for the sake of it, his only saving grace is that he can occasionally be quite witty. Peronally I think he is a complete idiot, well passed his sell by date and dont believe a word he says.
not that I'm bitter of course.
Later on he describes the front and rear of the eos as being connected by plasticine. I think he just says things for the sake of it, his only saving grace is that he can occasionally be quite witty. Peronally I think he is a complete idiot, well passed his sell by date and dont believe a word he says.
not that I'm bitter of course.
personally I fidn the car to be solid compared to the other convertables that have driven in the $30-40K US range.. I get no creaking from the chasis when driving over uneven ground. There is, however, the knocking one gets from the trunk separator which can jiggle around in its fasteners... This may lead to the perception that the car's tail is connected to the fronmt with plasticine... but its only a hinged component of the trunk, not the entire rear of the car...
I think there are enough reviews of the car out there to guage a resonable summary. Also the car, when test driven buy regular buyers, tends to sell itself.
another interesting note is that often the car gets like a 7 from professional reviewers who have driven ALOT of cars AND have taken the Eos to the track. meanwhile, the buyers themselves, in consumer reviews, have given the car a 9 or 10 because their point of reference isn't other cars that are 20-40K more, nor do the spend the majaority of the time on the race track or drifting on canyon roads. they spend it commuting to work everyday. As the video review for Fifth gear stated: the eos is "a nice place to be"
I think there are enough reviews of the car out there to guage a resonable summary. Also the car, when test driven buy regular buyers, tends to sell itself.
another interesting note is that often the car gets like a 7 from professional reviewers who have driven ALOT of cars AND have taken the Eos to the track. meanwhile, the buyers themselves, in consumer reviews, have given the car a 9 or 10 because their point of reference isn't other cars that are 20-40K more, nor do the spend the majaority of the time on the race track or drifting on canyon roads. they spend it commuting to work everyday. As the video review for Fifth gear stated: the eos is "a nice place to be"
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I think there are enough reviews of the car out there to guage a resonable summary. Also the car, when test driven buy regular buyers, tends to sell itself.
Agree totally - Clarkson is not a motoring journalist, he is a MOR TV presenter in the 'entertainment' category. He means nothing to me and I draw my opinions from real life rather than 'reality tv'!! The whole point about the Eos is its absence of scuttle shake, more than just about every other convertible. This is agreed on so far by both serious journalists and the people wot drive 'em every day!! I don't think it will hit Eos sales in the UK one iota, [and the fact that Clarkson is in the Times really shows how far that paper has fallen since it became partners with The Sun - 'nuff said!]
Paul
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