Sports Cars are Dead

Last I heard, you can still buy a Beck Spyder for less than $40k.

Dale

 

Koenigsegg CCX, CCR. Ultima GT-R. Porsche GT3...still "technology-less". Ford GT. Porsche Carrera GT. Ariel Atom. Caparo T1. Porsche GT2. SSC Ultimate Aero. Viper AC-R.

Granted, the Italians don't make anything like that anymore, but the rest of the world still does.

 

"But, so much of it takes us away from the fear of pushing it."


If you are not afraid of pushing it, then you likely are not pushing it. The modern cars are difficult to push outside of a track.

 

Well said.

 

Your initial post referencing the 550 Spyder of the '50's, etc., seems to suggest a sports car should be out of the skill range of the average driver, but within the means of the middle class to buy and wreck.

Yes, they're still out there, so long as we have manual transmission, rear-wheel drive machines with just barely enough power to kick the tail out.

A perusal of boards for enthusiasts of the Lotus Elise, MR2 Spyder and Honda S2000 finds threads like these on a weekly basis:

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=730328

Of course, the MR2 and S2000 are no more, but the market will always have a few of these entry level entrance ramp spinners.

 

It's not the "nannies" I'm so worried about but who are the buyer's going to be as the baby boomers begin to tap out? Kids today don't seem to have any money that's there's, and that inheritance is going to get spent cuz Mom and Dad lost a big chunk of it to Bernie & co and are going to probably live longer. Not to mention the economy and Government is doing it's best to fleece everyone. Also, restrictive environmental pressures. Kids today like the look of the nice cars but I don't think they think ownership is realistic for them.

 

The Italians don't make "edgy" cars anymore, because Fiat has absorbed all the little indie car companies.

Take another look at that list: All either from little "fringe" companies, or cars modified *after* they left the corporate world.

"Product Liability" is the watch-words of corporate lawyers. That's why all production cars have significant "push" -- because an oversteer accident would result in lawsuits.

You don't mass produce "edgy" cars for the "average" driver.

Safety and emissions certifications have raised that first hurtle to small niche auto makers.

And the public has gotten spoiled by the massive showroom network.

I still remember when you'd order an Alfa, and wait months for delivery. And the nearest dealer was almost 100 miles away.

Now, people get leery of buying an Elise if the dealership is more than ten miles away (even though they went with Toyota engines, to make it easier to get engine service.)

It was the poor dealer network that killed Alfa out of the US market.
(I suspect Fiat bought Chrysler to get access to the dealer network.)

 

I'm not sure getting killed is exactly the best argument FOR traditional sports cars.

 

+1

 

There are some great "sports cars" out there, but they are Subi WRX's and tricked out Mazaspeed 3's with roll cages and on and on.

It's hard to sell barebones, jarringly firm, noisy cars to rich old people.

 

So true!

 

Ding Ding Ding

 

Point of fact...James Dean was actually doing the speed limit when he died. The other driver went over the line and wacked him. But to your real point, it doesn't get much rawer than the Lotus Elise and the 1st generation Dodge Viper had widowmaker written all over it. The second generation got softer, because that what the market demanded.

These days, if you want a REAL edge you have to go two wheels or boutique manufacturer. No real market exists to "mass" produce on any significant level the cars we love.

So, I guess I agree, in large part, the honest-to-goodness sports car is either dead, or very sleepy.

 

Go to a sports car board and post "are sports cars dead"? Troll. Fashons wax and wain and there have been better times for sports cars and worse times, but by my definition the 360 and the 430 are sports cars. You can turn off alll the traction controls and you have real monsters, not that I would be interested in that. Even with the computers on it is way too fast for the street. I took mine to the track just to experience it.

 

As someone already mentioned...Lotus.

 

I share most of your sentiments yet money, at least for now, solves all problems such as this. You can either custom order something you want, or you can buy a Noble or Exige or older Ferrari such as a 512BBi, et al. And most of these cars have a turn-off-electronics feature if you want.

The things I hate to see totally die out are the gated shifter and traditional dial gauges. I hate the whole digital dash thing which I think is bordering on ghey. At least the 458 has a central tach dial.

 

sure I'm in no sense disagreeing with you


I've even considered, which I never thought I would, an old 911, like from the 70s or 80s. They're cheap and bullet proof and pure raw driving.

 

I'm Chad you can call me that if you'd like.

For a pure drive, I'd imagine an old 911, with easy to get parts, would be something you could beat up and just give it more. I'd just have to learn to drive it properly, with the issues of snap oversteer inherent to it's way too far in the back engine.

I wouldn't even care what color it was. What sells me on a car is the drive. It's about that, the connection through the car to the road. That is about the best feeling in the world.

 

that you mention that (and with a bit of envy but a happy envy for you), about a month ago I joined the Lotus forums, particularly to get to know the Exige. I'd rather have that than the Elise. I like the rawness of each, but the Exige's roofline suits the body styling a bit more. I'd take any color as well, but I've seen blue ones with dark wheels that are stunning.

Have you seen the updated freshening to the front fascia of the new Exiges? I like it more, but the reactions from some of the purists since the Elise was new is negative. I'd take a modded Exige. I like crazy stupid torque. I'd love a gate-shifted 599 for that matter.

 

I agree.