A thread about Coupes

[Fred Smith]

Cut a long story short... I used to love Capris and have owned a couple... and I'm sure that a big part of why I love the Z4C so much is it reminds me of a Capri. Recently I've stumbled upon a couple of really nice coupes I wasn't aware of before and it's got me thinking I need to learn more.

One thing about coupes is there's so many different types... broadly speaking I think there are "big coupes" (eg 6 series BMW coupe); "ordinary coupes" (eg capri); 2+2 sports coupes (eg E-type); and 2 seater sports coupes (eg Z4). Is that a sensible way of categorizing them (this questions assumes you have sympathy with people who like putting things in boxes)?

Best and most beautiful coupes of all time?

Edit... just to be clear, I get there are no clear lines... some of these cars could easily be better described as a grand tourer (but that doesn't mean they're not also a coupe.) Also, not all hard top sports cars are coupes, coupes have that long sloping back end.

[Abbas]

I like putting things in boxes too!

I've also spent way too long thinking about sort of 'tweener' cars. Like for example a 4 Series Gran coupe, and a 2 door Golf GTI... one's a coupe, and one's a hatchback but how different are they really? Both 2 doors with 2 seats at the back and the Gran Coupe has a hatchback too. It makes me wonder what defines a 'Coupe'?

Anyway back to your question, I think coupe's are the sexiest cars going. One that immediately comes to mind is the F Type (pre facelift), one of the prettiest cars around and one of the all-time back-ends for me. Also one I've been swooning over lately is the Mercedes SEC.

[tomscott]

Sucker for a 911

Porsche 911 Carrera S, Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Susten Pass, Switzerland by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 911, Sustens Pass, Switzerland by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Z&P Eurotrip UK to Monaco 2017 by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 911's, Yorkshire Porsche Festival, Lotherton Hall, Leeds by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 991, 996 Carrera 4S, Yorkshire Porsche Festival, Lotherton Hall, Leeds by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr

[Abbas]

Sucker for a 911

Porsche 911 Carrera S, Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Susten Pass, Switzerland by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 911, Sustens Pass, Switzerland by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Z&P Eurotrip UK to Monaco 2017 by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 911's, Yorkshire Porsche Festival, Lotherton Hall, Leeds by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 991, 996 Carrera 4S, Yorkshire Porsche Festival, Lotherton Hall, Leeds by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Apparently they're abit controversial so it's probably the 90's JDM boy in me but an RWB Porsche is one of my dream cars. I'd have one over a Singer every day of the week

[Fred Smith]

Two very fair responses. I have to say that "big coupes" (like the mercedes and F-type) are not my favourite coupes, but obviously two lovely lovely coupes! Porsche to me means that basic 911 style, and I have anything they do that departs far from that.

My favourite coupes are definitely 2 seater sports coupes (smaller than the F-type and mercedes above) which have the rear end oversized behind a long bonnet, and a mid front engine. Seats as close to the rear wheel as possible. Porsche are porsche and they are a truly wonderful thing that's not my thing... to be my thing the seats and cabin would need shifting back 12-18".

[Pondrew]

Like for example a 4 Series Gran coupe, and a 2 door Golf GTI... one's a coupe, and one's a hatchback but how different are they really? Both 2 doors with 2 seats at the back and the Gran Coupe has a hatchback too. It makes me wonder what defines a 'Coupe'?

BMW 'gran coupes' all have five doors so are hatchbacks, not coupes at all. I think it's because they were always historically saloons (sedans) or estates (touring! Pretentious) the word hatchback was probably far too 'low rent' for the Bavarians.

Words are just for marketing in the car world. There are no laws, or even definitions. I love the pretentious "shooting brake" designation. To the Germans it now means "estate car". It's all nonsense.

For me a coupe should have 2 or 3 doors (but not 5), be low slung from the roof to the tail and have a maximum of 2+2 seats. And should have no B pillars.

[Pondrew]

Also one I've been swooning over lately is the Mercedes SEC.

A very broad use of the word Coupe, though. The SEC was just a 2 door S Class. I don't think that classes it as a coupe, but if MB say it is then it is, I suppose.

BTW I very very nearly bought a 1986 560SEC for peanuts a couple of years ago. It needed too much work on the chassis, though, for me. I also couldn't fit it in my garage as they are HUGE!

[Fred Smith]

Like for example a 4 Series Gran coupe, and a 2 door Golf GTI... one's a coupe, and one's a hatchback but how different are they really? Both 2 doors with 2 seats at the back and the Gran Coupe has a hatchback too. It makes me wonder what defines a 'Coupe'?

BMW 'gran coupes' all have five doors so are hatchbacks, not coupes at all. I think it's because they were always historically saloons (sedans) or estates (touring! Pretentious) the word hatchback was probably far too 'low rent' for the Bavarians.

Words are just for marketing in the car world. There are no laws, or even definitions. I love the pretentious "shooting brake" designation. To the Germans it now means "estate car". It's all nonsense.

For me a coupe should have 2 or 3 doors (but not 5), be low slung from the roof to the tail and have a maximum of 2+2 seats. And should have no B pillars.

100% about 2 doors (or 3). IMHO some coupes are comfortable in the back... but you'd never use a coupe to chaffeur someone round in the rear.

If I were to be fussy and talk about classic coupes "I'd take low slung from the roof to the tail" and add "with a real sense that the front half of the car is the bonnet and the cabin extends pretty much to the very rear". Which means the mercedes above and the 911 aren't "classic coupes".

[Abbas]

I think in my opinion a perfect coupe shape (for my tastes) would be to really be sat on the back wheels. Long bonnet. No back seats. Z4 Coupe basically I also love the AMG GT for the same reasons. One of the few cars along with the Z that looks great as a convertible too, mostly because of the long bonnet again. Can't forget the E-Type either, one of the most beautiful cars ever

I suppose the above would be classed as sports coupe's. However I'm definitely partial to large coupe's and cruisers too. For example I think the E Class Coupe is a very very pretty car, and there's something kind of romantic about how coupe's compromise practicality for beauty. Some of the slightly smaller ones are pointless though in my opinion as no one in their right mind's sitting in the back of a c class coupe, so you might aswell just get rid of the back seats and make it sexier

[Fred Smith]

A very broad use of the word Coupe, though. The SEC was just a 2 door S Class. I don't think that classes it as a coupe, but if MB say it is then it is, I suppose.

BTW I very very nearly bought a 1986 560SEC for peanuts a couple of years ago. It needed too much work on the chassis, though, for me. I also couldn't fit it in my garage as they are HUGE!

I have a lot of sympathy with this argument... but that mercedes is not a saloon or estate or sports car or SUV or hatchback, so what is it if not a coupe?

[Fred Smith]

I think in my opinion a perfect coupe shape (for my tastes) would be to really be sat on the back wheels. Long bonnet. No back seats. Z4 Coupe basically I also love the AMG GT for the same reasons. One of the few cars along with the Z that looks great as a convertible too, mostly because of the long bonnet again. Can't forget the E-Type either, one of the most beautiful cars ever

E-type is stunning, but a bit to big at the rear end and the cabin is too long to be perfect. More a GT (back when cars were smaller) than a coupe?

[Abbas]

Totally forgot my favourite car of all time, the Honda NSX. Yes please.

[Zedebee]

My first “coupe” was a Triumph TR7 DHC which stood for drop head coupe, but was of course a convertible.

[Fred Smith]

Totally forgot my favourite car of all time, the Honda NSX. Yes please.

Not all hard top sports cars are coupes... it's a sports car!

[Pondrew]

Not all hard top sports cars are coupes... it's a sports car!

A coupe is a 'shape'.
A 'sports car' is a genre or 'type'.

Completely different designations IMO.

The lines get very blurred and it's all down to individual thoughts of what are, or not, certain things TBH.

Some call the Z4 (any model) a sportscar. I don't believe any BMW can be called a sportscar as, to me, a sportscar should be lightweight with a relatively small but powerful engine to give good power to weight and promote nimble and fun handling. No BMW I've ever driven has been any of those things.