What makes a good GT?

Long time, no Ferrari but I did get my Ducati Anyway, what are your opinions on what makes a really nice GT (Grand Touring) car? Quiet? Lots of power? Jammin' stereo? 1970's paint and tall tires?

You can point to specific vehicles of ANY age and/or personal experiences from your own driving history. Even what you think a GT should be is fine. I just need to get a feel for what one is/should be. Maybe a check list of sorts.

Thanks!

 

The 599GTB/HGTE is a good place to start Incredible styling with plenty of hp.torque, comfort and handling, Perfect long and short drive cruiser, Everything but a top end audio system. As in most Ferrari's unfortunatly, only the price of the system was legendary.Thats why the factory gave us that beautiful 12cyl to listen to.

 

Twelve cylinders up front, rampant stallions at each end.

Here's a great example.

Cheers,

George
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Beautiful, but an air-cooled engine at the far rear can do the same thing without so much drama.

Yes, I have driven both.

 

Very brisk performance.

Deep comfort.

Sparkling looks.

 

My first car was a '69 Beetle. I've moved on.

/sarc

lol.

Cheers,

George

 

Bentley Continental GT. Power, comfort, silence at cruising, range.

 

For me a nice GT is a stylish and elegant two door coupe capable of effortlessly traveling long distances at silly speeds.


The effortlessness requirement implies that a good GT must be comfortable, reasonably quiet, and easy too drive. The driver must be able to do Rome to Paris in a day (stopping for lunch in montecarlo?) and arrive at its destination without being tired from the long journey.

The silly speed requirement implies the need for a big powerful engine (preferably with 12 cylinders) and good handling so that the car can maintain sustained high speed driving for the whole trip.

Stylish and elegant because after having arrived in Paris you need a car with which you can take your other half to the opera without it looking inappropriate for the occasion

 

928 was always the better example of GT, just not so quintessential. Plus didnt oversteer off the road when you let off the throttle in a turn.

powerful, high speed cruising, docile yet responsive handling at high speed, very comfortable, a 2 door "land jet" if you will defines GT for me.

 

+1 on the 928. Fabulous car. The Daytona is the car that always comes to mind when I hear the words Gran Turismo or GT. Maserati Bora too. The 599 GTB and F12berlinetta are the best recent and modern interpretations. Thinking about it any front engined 2 seater V12 Ferrari from any period has always been the quintessential GT car.

Ferrari Daytona Video: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_UAxTIbwi8[/ame]

 

Ferrari California for sure, it just does everything so well and you can also lose the roof unlike the 612 and most 599s. A good GT is beautiful but not flashy, loud when you want it to be and comfortable at all times.

 

Yes, I agree. It's not just the 12 cylinder Ferraris that make great GT cars, the 6 and 8s are great too.

 

A 911 is more of a sports car than a GT. Porsche hasn't made a real GT car since the 928, unless you consider the 4 door Panamera a GT car

 

My '85 was just that way...........except for the quality problems and and FORD radio (fix or repair daily). It was out of the car more than it was in. I know. I should have trashed it and gotten a better radio. Still, it was a great car on long trips.

 

I still have my 79'. I've had her for 15 years and can't justify selling it now. Wonderful cars... when they run right.

 

Lamborghini Muira is/was a good GT. Looks, power, comfort.

 

I whole-heartedly agree. The Muira is what got me interested in Lamborghini.

I forgot about the 928. I remember when it came out, the uproar of it all, and the cool, body-integrated bumpers.

Thanks guys, good input. Comfort and unholy, smooth power with luggage space. ZINGARA 250GTL gives a good description for me, I think I understand that.

 

sorted out, a TR for me
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Aston Martin DB9. I think they're the pinnacle of grand touring cars today. You could take a fast trip in one and arrive relaxed and with a good bit of luggage, and you're guaranteed to have the best looking car parked up front at the valet. It's not flashy, and it's not stupidly loud in normal driving.

Those are all the right ingredients, IMHO, probably the benchmark GT car available today.

Second honors would go to the new Porsche 911/991, although I haven't driven the new one yet. It is bigger and while it's extremely fast I think it has left its sports car roots behind and become a really nice cruiser with an upscale interior. It's also as iconic as a two-piece navy blue suit -- no surprises and is immune to fashion cycles.

 

If you can't drive it cross country without sweating your pants off, not holding your luggage for the trip, or ruining your back after a few hours, it's not a good GT.

Good GT are sporty and also comfortable. Sports cars: please do not apply.

GT's are also periodic for their time. The Lusso was a great GT for it's time. Today, the Maserti Granturismo is a great GT for today's time. Of course, they are not the same but you can see what was acceptable in 1963 is completely different in 2012.

We don't still watch Gunsmoke or have Beatles haircuts anymore either.

 

Comfortable and has luggage space. That pretty much covers it. The cars that do this best just so happen to have an engine in the front.
If I had to drive across the country I would either pick the 575 or 599. I've never driven either but it seems they would make good GT cars.
An Aston would be another choice. Either the DB9 or DBS.

 

All of the Ferrari 2+2s are great GTs (with the possible exception of the Mondial-- not beating on Mondials, just saying it's not a great GT)... effortless high speed touring over long distances is the key.

 

Well, the first requirement is that I have to fit in it, after that, the usual speed and comfort stuff.

 

Traditionally both a sports car and a GT offer performance but a GT puts the emphasis on comfortable long range driving a sports car makes fewer compromises on performance for practicality.

 

Based on this, the F355 is a good GT car. I have driven my F355 across country (more than 1000 miles) several times (once with the wife as a passenger.)

The only thing it really needs to be a real interstate cruiser is cruise control......