Thanks!! I appreciate that and im glad you like it.
1987 Renzo Moreno GLX 1.9
When the average person thinks âItalian carâ, they will typically think of gracious supercars that go as fast as open-wheelers; The first thing that pops into somebodyâs mind however, is not typically a fairly dull estate car with alloy wheels and a whiff of chrome, doesnât matter though, as for every 1 Italian supercar, you get 10 cars like the âMorenoâ.
It certainly isnât fast, 0 - 60 of just over 10 seconds isnât surprising, given the 1.9 I4 under the bonnet and the FWD powertrain means this car is incredibly dull to drive aswell, with a more fun experience coming from driving a ferry instead.
But itâs Italian, so atleast it has that bonus of knowing youâre supporting the local industry as you sit on the side of the strada statale for the 6th time this month, waiting for the tow truck you know on first name terms to arrive..
6 Likes
1987 Yukiwa Kensho CD 2.0
Technical Specifications
| Length | 4.70m |
| Width | 1.66m |
| Wheelbase | 2.62m |
| Weight | 1141KG |
| Chassis | galvanised Steel Unibody |
| Front Suspension | double wishbone, mono tube dampers |
| Rear Suspension | double wishbone, mono tube dampers |
| Front Brakes | 250mm solid discs, single piston caliper |
| Rear Brakes | 250mm solid discs, single piston caliper |
| Steering | rack and pinion with hydraulic assistance |
| Front Tyres | P185 70R15 96(U) radial |
| Rear Tyres | P185 70R15 96(U) radial |
| Engine | 1994cc flat four |
| Transmission | five speed manual gearbox |
| Power | 107bhp@5500rpm |
| Torque | 161NM@3600rpm |
9 Likes
Constellation N3 2.0M
Look, itâs a Constellation. So itâs nothing much to look at. Itâs mostly engineered to be perfectly âfineâ as a daily driver. It has less than 90 horsepower from an engine with a 2-barrel carb. It has a 5-speed manual. Itâs milquetoastâone that blends in with the crowd of other family wagons.
So why buy the N3? Because it has an engine built to go over 480,000 km, on average, without a mechanical failure. A gearbox built for over 650,000 km. And the rest of the car to hit over 370,000 km, on average, without a mechanical failure. You donât buy a Constellation because you want something fun and trendy; you buy a Constellation because you want something you can count on.
6 Likes
Submissions Closed
Submissions are now closed for QFC 73. I have received submissions from -
@yangx2
@mart1n2005
@HyperMud
@superbiirdd
@abg7
@DuceTheTruth100
@Knugcab
@Dog959
@Ch_Flash
@Capri78
@Ananas
@ThatEpicBob
@moroza
@oldmanbuick
If you do not see your name on this list, please message me.
4 Likes
14 entries doesnât sound like a lot, but the quality is still there judging from the screenshots of the entries - Iâm seeing more genuinely good designs here than I thought I would!
QFC 73 - Round 0/1
Matteo and Sofia get home after a long day at their respective jobs, and decide to start their car search over a glass of wine..
QFC 73 - Round 0 (Instabins)
@HyperMud - Argon Tulsa GX
End Result - Instabinned for using a hatchback body, not a wagon body. Even if it had used the correct body style, it very likely would have been eliminated in the next section due to very low reliability, unimpressive fuel economy, poor safety, a high purchase price and very high service costs.
QFC 73 - Round 1
@ThatEpicBob - Kuruma Glissando 1.8 DX4 Wagon
First on Matteo and Sofiaâs shortlist was the Kuruma Glissando. First impressions werenât strong, with neither Matteo or Sofia enjoying the overall design. Reading a review on the Glissando in Auto & Motoring Italia, Matteo and Sofia found that the Glissando isnât very easy to drive nor was it very comfortable, and returned poor fuel economy, and the only positive attributes it has are a low purchase price, and a good safety record. Unconvinced by the Glissandoâs overall package, Matteo and Sofia take it off their shortlist.
End Result - Eliminated. Overall I find the Glissando to be unimpressive across the board, with a bland and simple design (that at least has the decency to look like a product of this era, but nonetheless) and poor engineering to boot, with well below average drivability, reliability, fuel economy, and comfort. That being said, it is very safe, the purchase price is low, and raw practicality isnât too bad. Despite those successes, it simply doesnât succeed in enough areas to move it into the finals.
@Dog959 - Wentworth Falmouth 1.6L PrLXi+
Next on Matteo and Sofiaâs shortlist was the Wentworth Falmouth, which Matteo and Sofia found more impressive looking than the first car, but still felt it was a little too plain for their tastes. Reading a review, they found that the Wentworth was similarly difficult to drive, not the safest, and itâs one of the more expensive cars in consideration. That being said, raw practicality is rather high, likely due to the 6-seater configuration. Talking it over some more, both Matteo and Sofia agree to take the Wentworth off the shortlist.
End Result - Eliminated. The Wentworth overall isnât the worst entry, but I find the design to be too simple and lacking a lot of depth, and outside of practicality (which was the highest in the entire challenge, likely due to its 6-seater configuration), the actual cargo and passenger capacity amounts are solidly average, drivability is well below average, safety is below average, and at $19,000 itâs unfortunately above average in purchase price, and while service costs are below average - they are still among the highest overall. In general, not a bad effort - but not one that succeeds in enough places to justify a spot in the finals.
@Ananas - F&N Babbo XLi
Next on Matteo and Sofiaâs shortlist was the F&N Babbo XLi. First impressions are mixed, with neither Matteo or Sofia immediately disliking the design, but struggling to find it exciting. Reading a review, Matteo and Sofia learned about the Babboâs unconventional powertrain layout, a 2.0L DOHC 12-valve I6 producing less power than some comparable I4 engines. Reading on, while Matteo and Sofia learned that the Babbo is easy to drive, it isnât the most practical, and the Babboâs expected reliability and fuel economy are among the lowest in the segment, and even at the low price of $14,000 - the Babbo simply doesnât do enough for Matteo nor Sofia, and thus they take it off their shortlist.
End Result - Eliminated. Overall the Babbo is fine, but there are some weird realism concerns - a teeny tiny DOHC 2-valve I6 making less horsepower than some similarly sized I4s in the competition namely. The design is alright, but I find it to be kinda tall, and I wish it had more surfacing or detail to help hide the visual height somehow. Engineering is overall uninspiring, with below average practicality (though the actual interior cargo capacities are very solid), great drivability, but well below average reliability and fuel economy, just average safety, but the purchase price is the lowest in the entire challenge, comfort is above average, but prestige is just average, and itâs the most expensive car that wasnât instabinned to service. Overall not the worst, but not successful enough to earn a spot in the finals.
@abg7 - HPG HB20 5MT Estate
Next on Matteo and Sofiaâs shortlist is the HPG HB20. First impressions were unexciting, with both Matteo and Sofia both finding it boring and visually uninspiring. Reading a review, they learn that the HPG is relatively practical despite limited interior and passenger space, and that itâs easy to drive, and affordable both to purchase and service. Despite those strengths, the HPG doesnât have the best reliability track record, a poor safety record, and a harsh, uncomfortable ride. Ultimately, Matteo and Sofia decide to take the HPG off their shortlist.
End Result - Eliminated. The HPG is generally okay, but I find it to be extremely bland and appliance-like visually, but itâs well proportioned and thereâs nothing technically wrong with it. Engineering wise, the HPG has good raw practicality but low passenger/cargo capacity, solid drivability but just below average reliability, good fuel economy but the worst safety in the entire challenge, a low purchase price but the worst comfort in challenge, well below average prestige, but the HPG does have below average service costs. Overall, while it isnât a bad effort, it is an inconsistent one, which is what keeps it out of the finals.
@DuceTheTruth100 - Axxus Sabre Wagon LE2
Next on Matteo and Sofiaâs shortlist was the Axxus Sabre. First impressions were strong, with both Matteo and Sofia liking the overall design, but both agreed that it could have used one element more somewhere to fully tie it together. Reading a review, they learn that the Axxus is relatively practical but not particularly spacious, and it isnât the easiest to drive or the most efficient. Combine that with the expensive $21,000 purchase price, it becomes a lot harder to justify, and thus Matteo and Sofia remove it from their shortlist.
End Result - Eliminated. The Sabre is generally handsome and well designed, but I find the overall design just a hair flat, and needing another element to really tie it together. Engineering wise the Sabre has below average but relatively solid raw practicality, but the interior cargo capacities are well below average. Drivability and fuel economy are below average, reliability is just average, and at $21,000 with the displacement tax applied itâs one of the more expensive entries. All around, it isnât a bad entry, just one that gets overtaken by other higher scoring entries.
@Knugcab - IP Celestia 2000DC Wagon
Next up on Matteo and Sofiaâs shortlist is the IP Celestia. Initial impressions are strong, but Matteo and Sofia agreed that the lights seemed a little too large, and the overall car felt somewhat tall. Reading a review, they found that it wasnât the most practical, nor was it the easiest to drive, the most comfortable or the nicest quality, but it is very reliable, and cheap to buy and service. All of that being said, neither Matteo or Sofia felt like it was the best choice, and ultimately they chose to remove it from their shortlist.
End Result - Eliminated. The Celestia looks good, but I find the lighting elements (especially the headlights) to be a little too large, and I think itâs perhaps a little too tall. Engineering at its core is fine, but raw practicality is somewhat below average, and passenger space is below average. Cargo capacity is above average, reliability and safety are above average, but drivability, comfort and prestige are all significantly below average. Purchase cost and service costs are both below average, but overall it just gets edged out by other entries, and thus it doesnât advance to the finals.
@oldmanbuick - Constellation N3 2.0M
Last on Matteo and Sofiaâs shortlist was the Constellation N3. First impressions were fine, but both Matteo and Sofia felt that it was a little simple and lacked depth. Reading a review, they found that the Constellation had excellent reliability, excellent real world practicality and plenty cargo space, but on the flipside - passenger space is on the lower side, it isnât the easiest to drive nor is it the most comfortable, and it has a poor safety track record. Not feeling overly confident in the entire package the Constellation offers, Matteo and Sofia took it off their shortlist.
End Result - Eliminated. The Constellation is nicely designed generally speaking, but I find it to lack detail and depth, and I donât find it to be as interesting as some of the top scoring entries. Engineering is generally strong, with challenge leading reliability, excellent raw practicality and above average cargo capacity, with a very low purchase price and low service costs to boot. That being said, passenger capacity is well below average, as is drivability, safety, comfort, and prestige. Overall, while the Constellation has a lot of strengths, it has too many other weaknesses to justify moving it into the finals.
Advancing to Phase 2
9 Likes
Constellation: The car that wonât die even though you kind of wish it would so you could get something nicer. 
Mission accomplished.
Sounds like my entry might have been more competitive in a higher trim level with an automatic, premium interior, and upgraded safety features. But hey, if Iâm not going to make the finals, I will take the consolation prize of coming up short in a way that is extremely on-brand.
Thanks for hosting and for the quick turnaround on the reviews!
2 Likes
I wonder if the budget was a bit on the higher side in the end. I kind of aimed for not-a-Pintara, which is a bit above most of the inspirations after all, yet it left a fair bit of budget, but I kind of feared to quality spam it any more than I already did 
QFC 73 - Round 2 (Finals)
After a long day of narrowing down their search, Matteo and Sofia landed on 6 potential options to try out, and decide to spend the day in the city - and come home with their next car..
@Ch_Flash - Fulmino NS 1.9B
Arriving at the first dealership, Matteo and Sofia are led over to a beige Fulmino NS in 1.9B spec. Taking the key from the salesman, they load into the Fulmino and roll into the road. First impression of the driving experience are good, feeling about as easy to drive as the Avezia did, but both feel that the Avezia felt significantly more comfortable and nicer quality than the Fulmino does, but the Fulmino is quite a bit cheaper than the Avezia at just $18,300. However, even at that price, both Matteo and Sofia feels that it comes across as a little cheap. Pulling into a parking structure, Matteo and Sofia try out the back seats of the Fulmino, finding the headroom and legroom to lack in comparison to the Avezia, with it feeling somewhat cramped. Looking at the rear cargo area, Matteo and Sofia find it to be reasonably spacious (though slightly smaller than the Avezia), but the Fulmino makes better use of the limited space out back. Returning to the dealership, Matteo and Sofia discuss what they learned in a review of the Fulmino - namely the very low expected reliability, the poor safety performance, and that itâs reasonably more efficient than the Avezia. Still - with 4 more cars to test, Matteo and Sofia head off to the next dealership.
@superbiirdd - Avezia Nysse Attivita IE Valore
Arriving next at the Avezia dealership, Matteo and Sofia are greeted by a saleswoman and brought to a maroon Nysse Attivita. Taking the keys from the saleswoman, Matteo flips the Aveziaâs ignition on, and rolls out into the street. On the road, the Avezia is relatively well controlled and smooth, and the plush interior and soft suspension lend themselves to a very comfortable ride. Additionally, both Matteo and Sofia felt that the Avezia was very well made, and felt more premium than its $22,000 price suggested. Stopping in a nearby car lot, Matteo and Sofia opened up the tailgate to check out the rear cargo space, and came away impressed with both the amount of space, and how the Avezia makes use of the available space. They also tested out the back seats, whick offered good amounts of leg and headroom. On the way back to the dealership, Matteo and Sofia spoke about what they read in Auto Digest Italia, that the Avezia is very safe, good but not amazing on gas, and reliability is expected to just be average for the segment. However, not wanting to be too hasty, Matteo and Sofia returned the Avezia to the dealership, and headed out to the next one.
@Capri78 - Renzo Moreno GLX 1.9
Arriving at the Renzo dealership, Matteo and Sofia are lead over to a red Moreno in GLX 1.9 spec. Taking the key, Matteo and Sofia load in and head out from the dealership. On the road, Matteo and Sofia both find the Renzo to be one of the nicest driving cars theyâve been in so far, with a well controlled ride and communicative steering. They also found the Renzo to be quite comfortable - though perhaps not as comfortable as the Avezia they tested earlier in the day - and they found it to be relatively nicely made and high quality, but not to the same standard as the Avezia. Pulling off to test out the back seats, Matteo and Sofia found that the Renzo offers excellent passenger space, with lots of legroom and plenty of headroom. The rear cargo area was quite large as well - but strictly speaking, the Renzo didnât make the best use of the space it offered compared to some of the other cars Matteo and Sofia had tried up to this point. Returning to the dealership, Matteo and Sofia discuss the Renzoâs pros and cons, liking that the Renzo is very reliable and extremely safe, but not liking the very poor fuel economy, nor the high $21,000 purchase price. That being said, Matteo and Sofia arenât quite ready to make a choice - so off they go to the next dealership.
@mart1n2005 - Yukiwa Kensho CD
Arriving next at the Yukiwa dealership, Matteo and Sofia are led over to a gold Kensho in CD spec. Taking the keys, Matteo and Sofia climb into the Kensho and head out into the busy streets. Driving on the busy streets of Rome, both Matteo and Sofia enjoy the Yukiwaâs driving experience, finding it to be the easiest to drive yet, with excellent steering feel and tight yet not uncomfortable suspension feel. Speaking of comfort, both Matteo and Sofia find the Yukiwa to be very comfortable and full of high quality materials, overall making for the nicest place theyâve been in thus far. Pulling off to explore the back seat, both Matteo and Sofia find the passenger space to be ample, but still smaller than the Renzo they tested earlier. The rear cargo area is reasonably sized, but it doesnât make the best use of the space. Returning to the dealership, Matteo and Sofia discuss what they read about the Kensho in a review, namely the very high expected reliability, the sub-optimal safety, the just okay fuel economy, and the high expected annual service costs. Returning the keys to the saleswoman, Matteo and Sofia head out to the next dealership.
@moroza - ADAZ 70285
Arriving at the ADAZ dealership, Matteo and Sofia walk over to a grey 70285, and are handed the keys by a saleswoman. After listening to the marketing spiel, Matteo and Sofia roll out into the streets of Rome, coming away impressed with the ADAZâs pleasant and controlled driving dynamics. Ride comfort is good, but both Matteo and Sofia agreed that it wasnât as comfortable as the Yukiwa, Renzo or the Avezia, with the ADAZ feeling a touch firmer than any of those did. Pulling off the road to test out the back seats, Matteo and Sofia were both very impressed with the amount of room the ADAZ offered, feeling the most spacious so far. This carried over to the cargo area, but the layout of the rear area felt somewhat compromised, and not as practical as some of the other cars theyâd driven so far, strictly speaking. Returning to the dealership, Matteo and Sofia discuss what else they learned about the ADAZ in a long-term review they read, liking that the ADAZ was very reliable, very fuel efficient for its size and very safe, but they both had some qualms with the material and build quality of the ADAZ compared to some of the cars they had driven earlier in the day, and they were worried about the somewhat expensive predicted annual service costs. However, with one final car left to test, Matteo and Sofia returned the ADAZ to the dealership, and headed off to the next.
@yangx2 - Hirasawa Fugue Idylla 2000
Arriving at the final dealership, Matteo and Sofia were led over to a silver Hirasawa Fugue in Idylla 2000 spec. Taking the keys from the Hirasawa salesman, Matteo and Sofia load up and head out on their final test drive. Driving on the ever-busier streets of Rome, both Matteo and Sofia came away impressed with the Hirasawaâs driving experience, with it being the most compliant and controllable car theyâd driven all day, with only the ADAZ coming anywhere close to what the Hirasawa was capable of. Ride comfort was on the weaker side, with Matteo and Sofia finding it to be one of the most uncomfortable cars theyâd been in all day, and the material and build quality of the Hirasawa was another weakness, feeling worse than even the Fulmino they had tested first. That being said, the Hirasawa has a huge back seat with tons of space for passengers, second only to the ADAZ, and the rear cargo area was just a little smaller than the ADAZ, but made better use of the space out back - thus making the Hirasawa feel more practical subjectively. Returning to the dealership, Matteo and Sofia discussed the Hirasawaâs other strengths - particularly the excellent reliability, very good fuel economy, and the lowest predicted annual service costs out of every car they had driven today. However, they also discussed the Hirasawaâs downsides - particularly the Hirasawaâs less than optimal safety performance, the aforementioned low comfort and weak material quality/build quality, and the high $22,000 purchase price. Returning the Hirasawa to the dealership, and head home to make a final decision.
After a restless night of discussing the pros and cons of each car, Matteo and Sofia make their decision, and arrive at the dealership the next morning, cash in hand..
Finishing Order
Finalists -
1st - @yangx2 - One of the first cars to be submitted and held a commanding lead all the way to the finish, and while it may be one of the more expensive cars submitted, and not as comfortable or prestigious as the others - it makes up for those areas with an impressive design, strong performances in reliability and drivability, and excellent practicality.
2nd - @moroza - Another strong entry, but it takes 2nd due to a weaker design, worse raw practicality, and while it leads the Hirasawa in comfort and safety, the Hirasawa easily bests it in nearly every other scored area for the same money, and thus, the ADAZ just comes up short.
3rd - @mart1n2005 - A similarly excellent entry that was neck and neck with the Hirasawa until the ADAZ came along, with a solid era appropriate exterior design, excellent reliability, comfort, and prestige, but serious losses in raw practicality/interior cargo capacities, fuel economy, drivability, and service costs drop the Yukiwa to 3rd overall.
4th - @Capri78 - One of the best overall entries Iâve recieved from you - great design, generally good engineering (drivability, reliability, raw practicality, and safety in particular) though not chart-topping engineering, but ultimately for what the Renzo costs and that it sports the lowest fuel economy among the finalists, itâs hard to justify it earning a podium spot.
5th - @superbiirdd - A strong entry with a good exterior design and generally solid engineering, but an entry that gets overtaken by the top entries in nearly every area, be it raw practicality, drivability, prestige, and so on. That being said, the Avezia does have strong safety, and excellent comfort and prestige, but as those are lower priority stats - itâs hard to see it moving higher up in the pack from those stats alone.
6th - @Ch_Flash - A decent car, but one thatâs marred by flaws - some minor (forgetting to recolor the red areas on the hood intake), and some major (the lowest reliability among the finalists, poor safety, low comfort and safety, and high service costs) that all add up to land it in the 6th place spot overall.
Remaining Entrants -
7th - @oldmanbuick
8th - @Knugcab
9th - @DuceTheTruth100
10th - @abg7
11th - @Ananas
12th - @Dog959
13th - @ThatEpicBob
14th - @HyperMud
10 Likes
Thank you for another high quality QFC! Good to see Hirasawa take their very first win. Iâd love to expand their lore to the depths of my other brands but thatâs for another day.
As for hosting, Iâll pass this one down 
3 Likes
After careful consideration, I will host QFC74
for hints on the theming it is in series 7, episode 6 of top gear. I donât seem to be able to find it on YouTube but it is on the iPlayer for UK folks.
2 Likes