Okay, Judgement Day is here. I would like to use up some space here up top to demonstrate how the reviews are going to work:
At the beginning of QFC as a challenge series, the prescription was to limit reviews to Tweet length, 140 characters. I am expanding that to the current free-user Tweet limit of 280, with each review briefly going over a car’s advantages, drawbacks and its fate in the challenge.
XB: But for cars that warrant some out-of-character challenge commentary - similar to what I do in full-length challenges - I will also write a less abbreviated meta-commentary on the bottom. Such a commentary shall be known - quite topically - as an X-Blue, or XB for short. I will only write XBs for cars that do not advance to the finals, as they will receive slightly more detailed write-ups in that post; and, as stated above, only for ones where I feel meta-commentary is useful. An XB is not an endorsement or a condemnation, simply a note.
Without further ado, let’s begin.
SVM Savoy - @abg7
This modern midsize sedan is rock-solid and surprisingly powerful, having fetching looks on top of that. It doesn’t have any flagrant deficiencies, but its fuel economy and comfort are only acceptable - while its price is steep for what it is.
Verdict: Eliminated
Super Drop Fleur Classic - @ArizonaCaseo
A classically-styled “taxi-flavored taxi”. Very large and spacious, and - thanks to a… novel turbocharged five-cylinder, pretty zippy. Unfortunately, its reliability is not on par with other fleet cars, and the advanced engine makes it hellish to service.
XB: The SDFC’s five-cylinder engine is built like an “imitation turbodiesel” - something that I asked one of the other competitors to change in their build. The reason I did not do the same for the Fleur is two-fold: for one, it is explicitly described as a gas engine, and for another, the engine was too unreliable and service cost-heavy to benefit from its faux-diesel configuration.
Verdict: Eliminated
Caplan Cardinal - @donutsnail
An nigh unreasonably reliable, spacious American full-size. It provides very good driver and passenger comfort and an imposing image at a low purchase and maintenance price, which goes a long way to help operators overlook its barely-acceptable dynamics and unacceptable thirst.
Verdict: Advances to Finals
Mara Kavaler - @AndiD
A bargain price, a heart of oak and an iron will make the Kavaler the obvious favorite for miserly operators. It squanders these boons by being an outdated, misshapen, lethargic communist hulk unfit for civilized society.
XB: For a time after it was submitted, the Kavaler was set to have a perfect score in both the three-star priorities - but after two entries crossed the 90-point line in reliability, it was not quite as dominant. An abysmal performance in the 1-star priorities as well as classic AndiD design sunk it the rest of the way to not even make the finals cut.
Verdict: Eliminated
Primus Astrona - @Happyhungryhippo
Like the Mara, the Primus is a winning offering with a fatal flaw - it’s amazing from the perspective of economy and maneuverability, but it’s also the size of a Die Hard villain’s shoe. In other aspects, it is unremarkable.
Verdict: Eliminated
Hemsley Meteor - @xsneakyxsimx
Let’s be honest, most people flat out wouldn’t get into this rickety, misshapen, tubby, slow-ass rear-engined car if it came to pick them up. Now, it is very cheap to buy and own, seats six and is easy to drive - so it has its pros. They just can’t surpass the image problem.
XB: It occurred to me that the review came across as too harsh at the start, but it’s not telling lies. This, the only rear-engined entry and one of just two six-seaters, is very slow and has by far the lowest prestige score in the competition. The low design score was mostly an unfortunate body/morph choice; it really is difficult to get over the steep angles of the hood (really the frunk) and trunk (actually the hood).
Verdict: Eliminated
Zephorus 305 - @Riley
One of a couple fleet cars offered by luxury manufacturers. Comfortable and easy to drive, it’s nonetheless nigh prohibitively expensive, thirsty and vulgar-looking - and also on the smaller side with crappy brakes to boot. The fashionable V8 does not save it.
Verdict: Eliminated
EMW Apparatschik - @HermannMatern
This big front-driver is economical, imposing and easy to service. On the other hand, the brakes are atrocious, the ride is bone-shattering, the price is too much… And Jesus Christ almighty, this is a 3200-pound car with manual rack and pinion steering.
XB: I tended to critique and mull over specific engineering choices less in this competition than in lengthier ones - and I didn’t penalize any of them on points. However, if there was anything I found /really/ questionable in this field of contenders, it’s the choice of a manual rack in this heavy full-size sedan - as opposed to at the very least a ball steering box.
Verdict: Eliminated
IP Icarus - @Knugcab
A machine-washed and modernized take on the Caplan Cardinal. Trading raw haft for some sophistication, this is still a credibly spacious midsize, and is refreshingly cheap to buy and service, comfortable, and reliable. It’s also actually decent to handle, if a bit slow.
Verdict: Advances to Finals
Hamfa 3000 - @Ch_Flash
The 3000 is an old but well-liked design, excelling in space, grace and swank. The price is reasonable, as well; unfortunately, though, it’s a pretty needy car compared to the competition as well as positively anemic - second-worst in this regard.
Verdict: Eliminated
Halvson G0F Harrier - @lotto77
Here’s a real stylish cab, futuristic in just that right municipal way. You can’t help but dig its look, and it’s comfortable. Sadly, the massive blue stick of cast-iron the Halvson has for an engine drags it down somewhat - both dynamically and economically. And it isn’t cheap.
Verdict: Eliminated
Salon Touring - @Mad_Cat
This Salon offering is masterful in its comfort per buck, and drives well, too - as long as you don’t have to get anywhere anytime soon. While a presentable car visually, the Touring - whether in civilian or taxi use - is worth precisely what you pay for it, and no more.
Verdict: Eliminated
Tarquini Voglia - @Danicoptero
Five figures seems to be the line where “real cars” begin. The third cheapest choice at AM$10,000, the Tarquini is also reliable, efficient and performs all other functions very decently: You wouldn’t even be jeered at for driving or riding in one. Basically the Mara but better.
Verdict: Advances to Finals
Enso Presto - @Yakiniku260
The Presto is very cheap to own and very easy to drive, not to mention extremely if not excessively spry. It’s also cheap-feeling, has a very poor implementation of futuristic design, and is absolutely, prohibitively tiny as a taxi.
XB: Apart from quite simply missing the brief in terms of size, this car has a very… un-1980s front-end design. And it’s not even a preset: The lights are built using modular fixtures, they’re just not era-correct. Remember: When you are designing a car, always try and make sure it could exist in the era that it’s built for.
Verdict: Eliminated
Viverna Nostrum - @Ludvig
A left-field pioneer, this. The CVT-equipped Nostrum ties the Presto for the lead at economy and beats it dynamically while being on a different plane entirely of size and comfort. It’s also easy to drive and service. This offering is pretty expensive, but perhaps it’s worth it.
Verdict: Advances to Finals
Moretti 186 - @RAZR
The muscular and luxurious Moretti 186 is a worthy sports saloon, not putting a foot wrong as a driver’s car. But the value of such a car - a compact sedan with a big six-banger - is questionable even before you find out about the extortionate price and, uh, Italian reliability.
Verdict: Eliminated
Bushido Regent - @GetWrekt01
Another higher-performance, nimble taxi meant for the streets of Tokyo. It’s not as comfortable or well-handling as some other contenders, but its great looks and speed in combination with high reliability and good economy mean it wins out on allure as well as on sensibility.
Verdict: Advances to Finals
DCMW Marqaba - @moroza
A fleet vehicle built by Dalluha’s royal suppliers, this cab benefits from technological unification with proper luxury cars. It’s a bit hard to drive, and isn’t the biggest looker - but its dependability and absurdly high-for-size fuel economy command one’s respect regardless.
Verdict: Advances to Finals
Leclerc 44 Fleetmaster - @TheYugo45GV
If the Marqaba is hard-ish to drive, though, the Leclerc cab is a bucking bronco. Couple that with its other sin - that is, housing an overpowered, overthirsty, overcomplex engine that the transmission doesn’t talk to - and you get a car for maniacs. Size can’t save this one.
Verdict: Eliminated
To recap, the following users’ submissions advance to the finals:
@Danicoptero
@donutsnail
@GetWrekt01
@Knugcab
@Ludvig
@moroza
And holler at me if I somehow missed ya.
