VECTOR cars! | Page 30 | FerrariChat

VECTOR cars!

Discussion in 'American Muscle' started by philt68, Aug 31, 2011.

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  1. David_S

    David_S F1 World Champ
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    Now there's a manufacturer I haven't seen mentioned in a VERY long while. They had a couple really nifty designs.
     
  2. AxerJk

    AxerJk Formula 3

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  3. CK7684

    CK7684 Formula 3

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  4. vectorfiles

    vectorfiles Formula Junior

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  5. Supercar Ace

    Supercar Ace Formula 3

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    I would not lump Koenigsegg or Pagani in the list with Spyker...Both of them only make cars to order while Spyker has failed to find a foothold. McLaren was set on producing 300 F1's yet only made 65 road cars and, 5 LM's and 40 race cars bringing the total up to 105 cars...195 cars or 2/3rd short of their goal. Most makers did not hit their production targets in the 1990's...Jaguar missed with the XJ220 and even Ferrari never made 349 F50s...the real number is roughly 230 of them.

    I'd say McLaren was unsuccessful from a pure numbers point, but they made up for it with racing wins and great PR. Pagani and Koenigsegg I would say are very successful, specifically Pagani, seeing as to how their boutique made-to-order model has worked well for them and even today, you can still get a new Zonda built event though it's been "officially" retired for a few years.

    Spyker on the other hand had a great concept but couldn't make the climb, so I would place them in the less-than-successful bucket. Its still very impressive that these makers made cars and got them on the world stage at one point, considering just how difficult it is to do so.
     
  6. zudnic

    zudnic Formula 3

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    #731 zudnic, Feb 27, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2015
    Granted I have not seen one in person. The Vector doesn't look like a very well built car, even looks junky. If they built a better car it would have survived, despite the 90's recession.

    Pictures make it look cheap especially inside. Kind of like another American super car the Saleen S7 (I have seen this one in person) its like a kit car in build quality.
     
  7. CK7684

    CK7684 Formula 3

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    M12
     
  8. zudnic

    zudnic Formula 3

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    The U.S. has never built a quality supercar. They might be fast, but all have lacked quality. From the cheap gauges to seat leather. America will never build a supercar, better then any European manufacture.
     
  9. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Ford GT kicks ass
     
  10. Str8shooter

    Str8shooter Formula 3

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    #735 Str8shooter, Mar 1, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    You might have got away saying that a few days ago but now America has this :D

    BTW I have seen a Vector and posted a few pics of it in this thread and not knowing what it is at first might bring thoughts of a kit car
    but it still is pretty good for that time. The interior is plain like it is in the Countach that preceded it.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  11. Tenney

    Tenney F1 Rookie
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    Copy that, zudnic. Though maybe one day they'll develop a proper formula for sticky switches? Never give up hope!
     
  12. AxerJk

    AxerJk Formula 3

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    X2. The Vector W8 was a very well made car. The Vector M12 was the one that was kit car-ish.

    Chris
     
  13. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    The world disagrees w you

    Compare values of Ford GT to its contemporaries, it's destroys the 360, AM etc
     
  14. zudnic

    zudnic Formula 3

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    Talking more supercars. The American efforts are fancy kit cars. The Ford GT is a regular sports car, like the Corvette or 360. Not a supercar.
     
  15. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Except the GT40 won LeMans Overall THREE times

    Corvette & 360 never did that

    GT is every inch a Supercar, I know, I own 2 + several Italian Supercars

    There is NOTHING regular about a GT. People react to a GT like any other Supercar, nothing like a Vette
     
  16. CK7684

    CK7684 Formula 3

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    The Vector W8s were praised for build quality, considered over built even. Everything was built to last & very robust. Although interior ergonomics are questionable, all buttons & switches are within reach of the driver. The displays & switchgear could hardly be considered "cheap", as they come directly from jet fighter aircraft. Seats are Recaro & fully powered. The location of the main display may not be the greatest, but I believe this is because a HUD system was intended but never implemented.
    I'm not sure any aspect of the W8 could be considered "cheap".
    The M12 on the other hand was essentially a kit car of the AWX3 prototype, using a Lamborghini V12. As far as cars such as the Saleen S7 looking like a kit car, well, imho I think this is because they are built more like a racecar, with a light body & sparse interior. I've always thought the F40 looked rather kit-ish myself, not that that makes it any less impressive.
     
  17. AxerJk

    AxerJk Formula 3

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    Well said, Jason. I have always thought the same about the F40. In my opinion, the F40 is far more kit-carish than most cars that get labeled as such, but it is forgiven because it is such a legend. I agree as well about the Saleen S7, that it was not made to be a fast luxury grand tourer, but, as you said, a race car for the streets.

    Chris
     
  18. Anthony bentley

    Anthony bentley Formula Junior

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    Or does the F40 look kit carish because so many kit cars were built to emulate it?
     
  19. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    I cannot agree at all that the 40 feels or looks like a kit car. The S7 is a tube frame race car with some plush interior appointments, and a few odd stickers. The Vector was closer to EB110/ XJ220 in terms of the materials use than the F40, which was little more than what somebody would need.

    The biggest thing about a kit car to me is how the panels feel... that is, they are flimsy. The F40's body isn't flimsy in the least; even if the alignment when closing the hood and decklid requires some finesse.
     
  20. CK7684

    CK7684 Formula 3

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    I don't mean to imply that the F40 is cheap or flimsy looking, but rather that it has a very lightweight sparse look to it, as it should, being a racecar for the street. Just my opinion that its looks alone, to my eye, seems kit-ish.
     
  21. LNtoast

    LNtoast Karting

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    Cat's Exotics ha an M12 for sale

    1997 - Yellow / Black - 14909 miles - $159888
     
  22. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Huh? It rivaled the Carrera GT and Enzo in terms of performance.

    Hardly the equivalent of a 360 or a 'Vette, sorry.
     
  23. vectorfiles

    vectorfiles Formula Junior

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    Price went up by 20k$ within 24 hours:
    Cats Exotics | Vehicles for Sale

    That would be the highest sale since these were built and sold for 189k$
     
  24. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    Anybody who thinks that a Ford GT is even close to "kit" is simply an armchair enthusiast.
     
  25. vectorfiles

    vectorfiles Formula Junior

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    May I suggest that we open a separate OT thread for the non Vector related discussion?
     

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