JjCoDeX75

Hi all

I was having this debate the other day, and was trying to define Supercar. Not easy this one. I am not looking for a definition from a text book, I am looking for a definition that summarises what people see as a supercar.

For what it is worth, I think it is very hard to do, and it cannot be defined simply as a very fast car. Too many non-supercars would be included.

As such, cars can also be categorised as performance cars, or sports cars.

To start off, I suggest that the following cars would fit in each category....


Super Car
Any Ferrari

Performance Car
BMW M5,
Audi RS4

Sports Car
Mazda MX5

Discuss.......

Stavros

No way are all rarris supercars, no way.

Even wikepedia only list these ones as supercars
250 GTO
288 GTO
F40
F50
F50 GT
Enzo
FXX

Id say more are, but they make loadsa stuff id not call super...

bud-weis

super car IMO is a car that is designed only for going fast and looking good,with no need for creature comforts for passengers or the driver

Neil@FastFord

Super car- A car most would lust after and aspire to own but beyond the reach of the man in the street.

Performance car- Capable of the daily grind while being fun and rewarding to drive.

Sports car- Two seater, for weekend fun and cheap thrills


IMO

Anonymous

That rules out most of the cars on that list then with their fancy and heavy intereiors and leather everywhere etc.

Mike Rainbird

iTrader: (3)

I like that one .

MWF

For me a supercar is a car that does everything a car should but better so that's comfortable, drivable and usable but also very fast and indulgant.

That said the term supercar seems to be getting watered down a bit and this hypercar term getting used more and more.

Stavros

that rules out a lot of supercars then

JjCoDeX75

Best so far. But how about testing it;

AMG 65 SL - cost - 149,000. Fast, and certainly beyond the reach of most citizens pockets, But is it a supercar? I would say not.

How about an additional rule :- 'Supercars must be a car designed in its own right, and not a car based on a lesser model. For example, an M5 is simply a modified 5 series (albeit very well done!) so CANNOT under any circumstances be a supercar. Likewise, because there is a 'normal' SL, the AMG cannot count'

Discuss.......


BTW I take the point about Ferarris, but I would consider any of the currently available new Fezzas as arguably Supercars

Neil@FastFord

defo wouldnt class the AMG as a supercar. Most carmakers cant make genuine supercars, they can make fast, classy and capable cars but not quite elite enough.

a true supercar for me is one were no corners have been cut or compromise on the build up to create a fantastic machine.


some Ferrari's for example are just flashy sports cars to me.



It's all open to debate though, which is the great thing about it

JTECH James

iTrader: (13)

supercar=cosworth

wimwerf

wikipedia tought about supercars..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercar

wikipedia about sportscars and performance cars

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_car

JTECH James

iTrader: (13)

so if thats supercars..... where does superman fit into this

GARETH T

i think they now class them as hypercars

MWF

Seems me thinking Supercars should be comfy is a load of bollox, I think I'm getting too hung up on GT cars really.

I agree on the hypercar thing.

Stavros

xr2i-carl

super cars are enzos and veyrons and me four twelvesw

Rich_w

2me

Hypercar
Over 200MPH
Over Ł300K
Driving involvement - But too harsh/edgy to use every day
Enzo, F1, Zonda, Carrera GT

Supercar
Over 190MPH
Useable in the real world over speed humps and the like but still involving.
F430, Murcielago, Ford GT

GT
Over 190MPH
Should be able to drive London to Monaco in 1 go and feel fresh at the other end. Normally have AC and Leather and Sat Nav and deep carpet, and crucially boot space. Possibly Autos.
Conti GT, 612 Scaligetti

SportsCar
Up to Ł50K
Up to 160 or so
2 seats, RWD, soft top
S2000, Boxster, Smart Roadster

Performance Car
Any price
At least 155
Normally a run of the mill basic ordinary car modified by the factory. So M3 (from 3 series), RS4 (from A4) Focus ST even (from Focus)


However, theres a few cars that break the mould notably the SLR McLaren and the Veyron (except that has no boot space! which seems an oversight to me ) which have the pace of a Hypercar but the useability/toys of a GT.

Howszat?

aduz

the term hypercar just seems gay to me but the definition of supercar should just simply have this beneath ..without the arm though lol

silverfox999

Nah, this is not a supercar!

It is has a poor, four door younger brother (and even came in a horrid oil burner version) and cannot ever be thought of as a supercar.

Also, AMG's are not supercars either. They are fettled, fat mercs with amazing engines - this does not equate them to being a supercar....

Silver

Mark V8

iTrader: (2)

http://www.yourdailymedia.com/media/..._Car_-_2200BHP

Mark

foreigneRS

i think the term sportscar is over used. especially when applied to mx5, mgf etc.

unless something can do 0 - 60 in less than 6 seconds i don't think it can be termed sporty. fun, certainly but not sports. i also think the suspension somehow has a major influence on something being sporty. too soft cannot be sporty imo.

and i hate cars like bog standard hatches having some deeper bumpers, foglights and shit and then being called sport models

JjCoDeX75

I think the term Hypercar has simply been added by ultra rich people so they can distinct themselves from others that can only afford slightly less highly priced cars such as 'Supercars'. In my mind, there can be no difference.

Hmmm

It seems that most people agree on what a supercar is, now we need to tie the definition down once and for all.

Just to throw this in as a spanner in the works;

A supercar by above def has to be expensive, rare, extremely accomplished (also reasonably uncompromised), have a 'q' factor, and not based on a lesser model (ie M5 to the five series).

BUT - How about the Porsche 911. Now I appreciate that this is a marmite car, but I wonder whether it is a supercar?

I seem to recall somewhere reading that the 911 Turbo was the 'Supercar' verison of the basic. But What about the other models?

Is this the exception that proves the rule?

MWF

I know someone in the industry who distinguishes between supercars and hypercars.

As tacky as the term is it is used a lot now.

silverfox999

***

Disagree with your thoughts on 'sports cars'. The MX5 and MGF are almost the epitome of a sports car. Small, *light*, nimble - fun. These cars are almost the definition of a modern sports car.

Thinking back. The MGB's. Midgets, frog eyes etc etc, these are (were) all sports cars. The MX5 MGF are just the newer versions.

Agree on the sub six seconds - although to be to prescriptive could lose some definate supercars *struggling to think of any car i would classify as a supercar, that cant crack 0-60 is less than 6.0.*

Nice pic in you sig, is that Pflanzgarten? I cant make out where you are the track.

Silver

JjCoDeX75

Tend to agree with Silver on the sports car thing - just cos I hate Mx 5's etc, cant deny that they do tick the boxes appropriate to sports cars!

Convertible
Easy to drive
Rear wheels drive
etc

Any more thoughts on this?

JJ

Mr Sam

in standard guise id only class as a performance car

Mr Sam

like my granpas 06 plate astra SRi

silverfox999

In every guise.

It is NEVER even near being a supercar......

Now the NSX .... mmmm, different story

arkley

Terry Tibbs

Hypercar (just plane crazy, no regard for any regulations, built to do everything) - Enzo etc, Mc. F1 etc.

Supercar (crazy but driveable) - Zonda, Ford GT etc.

Sports Car (Weekend car/Daily Drive, something for whizzing round the back roads) - Porsche Boxster, 911 etc.

GT (Long miles, Motorway car, aswell as being comfortable, amazing to drive, can perform when needed) - Bentleys, Astons, even a Skyline.

Performance car (Built for a specific purpose - Usually track) - Lotus Exige, TVR Sagaris etc.

That would be my definition of the Niche's

xr2i-carl

aduz what a beautiful pic RUINED BY A PRICK