| Author | Message | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Junior Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 212 Registered: 4-2003 |
M1A1 DrS | ||
| Wyatt Hanson (Wyatth)
New member Username: Wyatth Post Number: 23 Registered: 5-2003 |
I think even "supercar" must be broken down into small categories. For instance, my C43 AMG... 0-60 5.6, 1/4 mile 14.3 @ 100, and only 470 produced/year. To some, including myself, that is a supercar. Why? Because it beats the average competition. The normal car (unless you are in BH or Ft. Lauderdale) will prove no match. But than another category can be such of SL55, Z8, 996TT. They up the antey (sp), and provide a new standard. After that, comes the exotics... Murcielago, GT2, Enzo, McLaren F1 (and I consider the Maranello/Modenas as well). Regardless if you agree with my examples, which might I add are just personal, I still feel "supercar" must be broken into smaller categories. By all means, a Honda Civic does not suffice. | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 790 Registered: 1-2002 |
Questions like these really lead nowhere, it's like asking: why is Faulkner an icon, why was rothko a genius, or, how is it that Mozarts Requiem is so good? A supercar (in theory) is boundless (time/space/history); it's an automotive stepping stone that provides sight over the creative horizon ( I hear Newton hear: standing on the shoulders of giants.) There are 1000's of cars that were supercars; they're born of novel and genius idea, and a conviction to see the project through irrespective of obstacle, in recent times, the most notable instance is that of the McLaren F1. | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 759 Registered: 5-2002 |
Superfast! SuperExpensive! Everyone wants one but can't get one! And they are way too expensive to maintain! Now that's a Supercar | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 633 Registered: 4-2002 |
In my opinion: The difference between a real fast/quick car and a supercar is that the supercar requires the driver/passenger to make sacrifices to the car. For example: ease of getting in/out, comfort, A/C, steering/braking/clutching effort, using exotic gasoline, impossible maintanence schedules. | ||
| Jason Wesoky (Wesokyjb)
Junior Member Username: Wesokyjb Post Number: 88 Registered: 1-2003 |
Ross, although the cars you mentioned were supercars, they are no more. Thus, IMHO, supercars turn over like so many great thorobreads (sp?). While the F1 is a supercar today, in 10 years it won't be. I don't think it's an evolving definition because what's realistic today (i.e. 0-60 in 3.2) was not possible 20 years ago, rather it's which cars best fit the definition at the moment. | ||
| David Stoeppelwerth (Racerdj)
Junior Member Username: Racerdj Post Number: 144 Registered: 1-2003 |
Bill Sawyer-One of the property owners on our 1800 acre lake has one of your supercars and drives it on weekends only when the lake is not rough.(6 times a year) It is a sight to behold. My top supercar has to be the F-50!! | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Junior Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 118 Registered: 3-2002 |
Expensive with alot of performance. It is typically also quite exclusive. That is THE textbook criteria of a supercar. Of course some old supercars have been passed over by cars that offer very good performance for the dollar today. Z-06 and the Viper are great values IMHO. Ralph | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 3874 Registered: 8-2002 |
In my opinion, the top 5 supercars are as follows: Ferrari Enzo McLaren F1 Pagani Zonda Bugatti Veyron Porsche Carrera GT (Not necessarily in that order.) Top 5 exotics...? Ferrari Enzo Lamborghini Countach Porsche 962 CR Bugatti EB110 Ferrari Enzo  | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1177 Registered: 3-2002 |
semantics i guess, but the rest of the world considers those cars you mentioned, along with the 288gto, f40, f50, xj220, etc to be supercars. | ||
| Jason Wesoky (Wesokyjb)
Junior Member Username: Wesokyjb Post Number: 87 Registered: 1-2003 |
the others, ross, I think can be categorized as exotics (360, 575, Diablo) and ultra or mega or whatever exotics (Saleen, enzo, Pagonzi (sp?)) | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1175 Registered: 3-2002 |
congratulations jason, you have just described 2 cars (according to 'car' magazines compilation of supercars = mac f1, bugatti). what are the others - chopped liver !? | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1024 Registered: 12-2001 |
The standards insofar as performance are concerned have changed considerably over the years. Would you deny the Muira or the Daytona or the Bora such status?How about a pre-war Bentley special? Highly recommended is Car Magazine's book "History of the Supercar." Good reading,including (then contemporary) reviews of various cars, from the Muira to the McClaren, with some great photography, and current observations about the significance of each car in the evolution of these beasts. | ||
| Jason Wesoky (Wesokyjb)
Junior Member Username: Wesokyjb Post Number: 86 Registered: 1-2003 |
I agree with the 100 mpg thing! On that topic, GM and DuPont just inked a deal on fuel cell development. GM says fuel cell cars by 2010. It's good news, but I'll believe it when I see it. As for performance supercars: 0-60 in less than 3.5 is a must; top speed well over 220mph; and air brakes. To me, the ultimate supercar ever produced is the McLaren F1, nothing beats it. | ||
| Steven R. Rochlin (Enjoythemusic)
Member Username: Enjoythemusic Post Number: 401 Registered: 4-2002 |
Hmmm, Whatever car Superman drives? :-) Enjoy the Drive, Steven R. Rochlin | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1173 Registered: 3-2002 |
0-60 less than 5 seconds, 0-100 less than 12 seconds, 0-150 less than 30 seconds, top speed in excess of 180, pulls over .9 g on skidpad, brakes to match, ltd production, looks fast standing still, features highly in teenage posters, and a few dozen other intangible factors that don't apply universally like racing heritage (or at least an attempt).... this is very incomplete so add away..... | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 810 Registered: 2-2002 |
DES: This has been discussed before, but then that's the nature of this forum. New people come in, ideas get rehashed and modified and we all have a jolly good time arguing about how to re-invent the world. One definition would be: -unique styling -breakthrough engineering -Advanced technology -limited production numbers Using that definition, here is my candidate for a supercar:  | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 542 Registered: 9-2002 |
a car that gets 100 miles to the gallon! just kidding | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 3868 Registered: 8-2002 |
What is your definition of a supercar...? |