What is a "supercar" ...... funny! | FerrariChat

What is a "supercar" ...... funny!

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by absent, Jul 9, 2008.

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  1. absent

    absent F1 Veteran
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    A definition of what is a supercar ,according to a poster at MBworld:

    "Doubt any group will ever agree on what defines a "supercar"....but agreeing upon a definition doesn't really matter....only definition that matters is one's own....

    I tend to consider any car in terms of real-world perf/precision/safety/daily-useability to define a "supercar".....any monkey engineer can come up w/a car w/max theoretic perf on a dry, smooth private track (like Veyron/599/Scud/GT2, etc), esp if allowed to engineer mediocre or poor real-world safety/daily-useability/wet perf....

    Based upon my driving impressions of various latest F/P/AMG, I consider CL63 030, CL65, S65 and SL63 030 to be today's only supercars.....

    Interestingly, have several <40yo colleagues who first starting getting new F's back in their 20s.....in recent yrs, they've become young curmudgeons...they still get a new F and new AMG every 4-6mos, but seem to choose to drive their latest new CL63 030/SL63 030 90%+ of time, incl wkends.....alleged "supercars" like 599/Scud seem to have far less real-world appeal to many jaded, affluent youngsters, but far greater mystique to many cash/IQ-poor observors who may not have driven/owned such cars...and/or lack basic analytic skills and risk/reward judgment..... "
     
  2. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    The lad LOVES Mercs by the looks of it. :):)
     
  3. wjw300tt

    wjw300tt Karting

    Feb 25, 2008
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    chilliwack BC Canada
    Sounds like my definition for "daily driver". Supercar would be my weekend driver, ie 599.
     
  4. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

    Feb 13, 2004
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    Ferrari has made four supercars:

    GTO
    F40
    F50
    Enzo Ferrari

    And that is according to them....



    People keep calling cars like the F430, GT2, ZO6, Gallardo etc supercars. While they are suberb performers, they are not
    supercars. Close, but no cigar.
     
  5. absent

    absent F1 Veteran
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    I would add 288 GTO......
     
  6. kongman

    kongman F1 Rookie

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    the only supercar in the MB stable was the clk gtr..............those other are super cars in there own right but not on the lvl of enzo or zonda
     
  7. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    My useless definition is:

    SUPERCAR: A "production" automobile, when left unmolested as it left the showroom floor, is capable of speeds in excess of 200mph.

    Years ago the speed (in my book) was > 150 mph, but SOOOOOOO many cars now easily exceed that. My 308, I would NEVER consider a SUPERCAR, not even in its hayday. There should NEVER be more than a very few current models that can wear the "SUPERCAR" title (4 or 5, tops) in any given year.

    My 2-Cents Euro

    Flame-suit On!
     
  8. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Thats a doctor, right ?
     
  9. absent

    absent F1 Veteran
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    No,financing or hedge funds or something related.
     
  10. lookitsme

    lookitsme Karting

    May 8, 2007
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    A supercar is an automobile designed for maximum speed and performance, while ignoring and/or sacrificing both price and practicality.
     
  11. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    The GTO is the "288" GTO. The cars official name is GTO, not "288" GTO.

    The old one is the 250 GTO.
     
  12. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Lol!! :p:p
     
  13. Bavarian Motorist

    Bavarian Motorist Formula Junior

    Apr 10, 2007
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    Super = above or greater than something


    Car = a vehicle




    A super car would be a car that is above and greater than other cars.


    Obviously, this is relative. A Porsche 911 is above and greater than most cars, but there are many, many cars that are above and greater than a Porsche 911. So a 911 might be a supercar compared to a common BMW, an F430 might be a supercar compared to a 911, and a Pagani Zonda might be a supercar compared to an F430.


    I'd say a supercar is somewhere in the F430/Gallardo/Spyker C8/911 GT2 range. Anything above could be a hypercar.




    It is independent of brand, price or how rare it is. You may associate supercars with those qualities, but those qualities don't define a supercar. None of those things make something 'above or greater'. So yes, a Corvette ZR1 could be a supercar, kiddies.
     
  14. absent

    absent F1 Veteran
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    Ok.
    So you meant 288 not 250,I misunderstood ,since I thought you meant the 250 (more commonly called GTO then the 288).
     
  15. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    No biggie, many call it the "288".
     
  16. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    He's right about everyones definition of a "supercar" being different.

    However, his definition is clearly wrong. And we can ALL agree on that.
     
  17. Ibn Rushd

    Ibn Rushd Karting

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    #17 Ibn Rushd, Jul 9, 2008
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2008
    Supercar: Fast, Fun, however doesn't necessarily have the exotic look to it. (M5, SL65 AMG, GTR)

    Exotic: Exclusive, fun, shows poise anywhere it is, on the track and off. Capable to do everything, and has flash to it. NOT NECESSARILY FAST. But is something everyone takes notice of. (Not fast Exotic: NSX/348. Fast Exotic: Gallardo/F430)

    Exotic-Supercar/Hypercar: Fast, fun, exclusive, expensive, VERY rare...best of the best. Enzo, F40, F50, LP640, CGT, SLR, S7, F1 are just some of the ones...could also be classified as Hypercars.

    I'm not saying that all exotics are faster than supercars or that all supercars are faster than exotics. One doesn't necessarily mean the other. An exotic may not be a supercar. The NSX would be an Exotic, but not a supercar, it is faster than average, but not fast enough to be a supercar. But has the proper stance, look to be an exotic.

    The F430 would be a car that is both exotic and supercar yet not a hypercar, as it does look like an exotic and have the same poise and stance as one, but with the supercar performance that goes with it.

    The GTR would be a supercar that is not an exotic. Yeah it's crazy fast and what not, but it doesn't share the same look as the F430, it doesn't look like something that you might achieve for, sure it'd be fun to have, but isn't something to strive for, just not good enough. no offense to people who like Nissan, it's a good car, just not an exotic.

    That's just to me though.


    But based on the above...if all he thinks are supercars are AMG's....he really needs to get out more. They're good cars, but what about the GTR? R8? Viper? Corvette? M6? Also to me, he's confusing Exotic (Usually, cars for the ultimate life style in the ultimate place....) and Supercars that are just crazy fast sports cars and sports sedans.
     
  18. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    Disagree there. None of the cars you mentioned are supercars by any means IMO.

    Some supercars in my eyes (and more like the definition).

    GTO
    F40
    F50
    Enzo Ferrari
    GT1
    CCR/X
    Zonda
    CLK GTR
    959
    EB110
    XJ220
    Veyron
    CGT
    Edonis

    Cars of that nature.
     
  19. James in Denver

    James in Denver Formula 3

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    I agree with SSNISTR...

    I think there is confusion between "super car" and "exotic" and "high performance". In my eyes, super cars are those rare cars which are limited production with extremely high performance (for thier years of production) and they will have some future "historical value".

     
  20. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    LMAO...!!!
     
  21. vm3

    vm3 Formula Junior

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    What's the definition of a "superman"?
     
  22. kaz550

    kaz550 Formula 3

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    The R8 has been considered a supercar as well... although id wait until the next 2 more powerful engines come out before i would consider it a supercar
     
  23. Pantera

    Pantera F1 Rookie

    Nov 6, 2004
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    The Gallardo, Z06 and Viper and such are "Sportscars" not supercars :D.

    GTO? you mean to till me Ferrari built the Judge? :D last time I checked that thing was a badass muscle car back in its day and was under the badge of a Pontiac not a ferrari :p\

    I don't know what to call supercars today because with **** like the SSC Aero and CCX kitcars rebadged as supercars the true generation of Supercars like the Countach, Diablo, F40 and F50 are a dieing breed :(

    Now any moron can drop a V8 straight from Jegs into a Tube chassis make up a little chessey design and call it a supercar these days.
     
  24. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    While I agree that the SSC Aero is kit carish, the CCX is truely NOT. Have you seen one? They are amazing machines.

    Also, I agree that the F40 and F50 are supercars, but I don't feel that the Countach and Diablo are. They are just exotics like the Gallardo and Murcielago IMO.
     
  25. Ibn Rushd

    Ibn Rushd Karting

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    #25 Ibn Rushd, Jul 10, 2008
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2008
    I'd consider these Hypercars, that's probably because "super" isn't enough to justify these things.....Maybe you're right, M5, GTR and SL shouldn't be there. But what about the Audi R8? Ferrari F430? Lamborghini Gallardo? You can't really just call them "Sports" cars...

    You can't put them in the same league as a Mercedes SL65 AMG, the SL is a very nice sports car, but in comparison to the Gallardo? I wouldn't put them in the same class...nor can you put a Zonda in the same class as a Gallardo. I guess in a sense i separated it more, by having a 3 tier set up...


    But i do see your point. :)


    By the way, the Keonigsegg CCX are all made by Koenigsegg, they even ditched the Ford engine...i wouldn't call them a kitcar....the SSC is a different story though...
     

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