Weatherby Vanguard

[Tere_Hanges]

That's not true. The Elise, Exige, and Evora utilized Toyota's 2ZZGE and 2GRFE motors (respectively) in and outside the US (transmissions are also Toyota). It had nothing to do with US emissions standards. Lotus believes in lightweight, balanced performance so naturally Toyota's lightweight engines with Yamaha tuned heads were ideal. You can take both motors and swap them into varying generations of MR2's to make a poor man's Lotus. A 2ZZ in a MK1 or MK3 and a 2GR in a MK1 or MK2 are track monsters for sure.

Comparison is fine. Toyota made the "actions" for Lotus just as Howa made the "engines" for Weatherby. Both are fine examples of Japanese and Western partnerships. Take the Howa action and place it into the body of your choice and create your own customized "track monster" for the range.

The Vanguard is a mass produced, entry level, budget hunting rifle. The Lotus is a sports car not an everyday basic car like the Vanguard is for a rifle. Just one reason why it isnt a good comparison. Now if Toyota made the engine for the Ford Focus, then you might have a similar comparison. Also Howa makes the complete rifle to Weatherbys requirements. Whereas Toyota only makes the engines for Lotus not the entire vehicle.

[code_blue]

The Vanguard is a mass produced, entry level, budget hunting rifle. The Lotus is a sports car not an everyday basic car like the Vanguard is for a rifle. Just one reason why it isnt a good comparison. Now if Toyota made the engine for the Ford Focus, then you might have a similar comparison. Also Howa makes the complete rifle to Weatherbys requirements. Whereas Toyota only makes the engines for Lotus not the entire vehicle.

We're not discussing high vs low end here or even classifications of rifles/cars. We're discussing actions made by other makers and placed into a separate maker's frames. Perhaps the Ford Focus and Mazda 3 analogy would suit your fancy better.

Howa makes the barreled action for Weatherby, not the whole rifle. Weatherby assembles the rifles in-house. The exception is the Mark V barreled action (already mentioned by another member), which is manufactured by ATEK. The rifles are still assembled in-house by Weatherby just like Lotus assembling in-house after receiving Toyota engines.

[sigstroker]

Those are Chevrolet, not General Motors...

More like those are Chevy's, not Pontiacs.

[sigstroker]

Howa makes the barreled action for Weatherby, not the whole rifle.

Whether they do or they don't doesn't matter. You go buy a Howa and you go buy a Vanguard, and they are different. I like the Vanguard more. Like I said before, I've had both.

[ar15barrels]

More like those are Chevy's, not Pontiacs.

The last Pontiac badged car rolled off the line in 2010.

[allenj]

I purchase a Series 2 some years ago in .243 Winchester and like it. It is the most accurate production rifle I've ever bought. I worked up loads using different powder and bullet combinations and all gave more than acceptable results for hunting applications.

[TheFlash]

I bought a Series 1 many years ago in .308. That rifle is more accurate than I can be! Extremely accurate even with standard factory (non-match) ammo. Get one!