American Cars....any need????
- Thread starter Hunter
- Start date
Without wishing to enter this debate (tape measures anyone?) too deeply - the Atom is astonishingly quick:
Watch what Clarkson (and I'm not a big fan of his, but this is genuinely funny) thought:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWoo82zNUA
On the debate - of interest is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordschleife_fastest_lap_times
A British Car holds the record - but then there are several American cars before you get to the next Brit.
OK - the brit record holder ain't exactly an everyday drive and the debate over it's validity rages on...
Standby for some sweeping generalisations!
Most cars are built around the economics and geography/topography/infrastructure (damn my lack of vocabulary) of the country in which they are built. Cheap gas/petrol in North America (it's still cheaper than here guys) and really, really wide roads (by and large) mean that North American cars are built to suit. Expensive gas/petrol, and really narrow roads (I've had US visitors who balked at the width of our "A" roads) over here mean that we had to build 'em light and small. There are exceptions, of course. But I think the point I'm making (eventually) are that the philosophies are fundamentally different.
Watch what Clarkson (and I'm not a big fan of his, but this is genuinely funny) thought:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWoo82zNUA
On the debate - of interest is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordschleife_fastest_lap_times
A British Car holds the record - but then there are several American cars before you get to the next Brit.
OK - the brit record holder ain't exactly an everyday drive and the debate over it's validity rages on...
Standby for some sweeping generalisations!
Most cars are built around the economics and geography/topography/infrastructure (damn my lack of vocabulary) of the country in which they are built. Cheap gas/petrol in North America (it's still cheaper than here guys) and really, really wide roads (by and large) mean that North American cars are built to suit. Expensive gas/petrol, and really narrow roads (I've had US visitors who balked at the width of our "A" roads) over here mean that we had to build 'em light and small. There are exceptions, of course. But I think the point I'm making (eventually) are that the philosophies are fundamentally different.
ItHurts said:
Interesting list. If you exclude the Radical SR8 (yes it's street legal, but it really can not be compared to the rest of the list) there is less than 5% difference in the performance of the top 25 cars. At that point, the driver is far more significant than the machine.
You do need to remember that if you use the Top Gear lap times they are subject to rules. There are many cars, British and others, who have come in the top 10 but been disqualified for how low they ride and that they would not get over a speed bump / sleeping policeman.
Not sure of how many countries have sleeping policemen ( the concrete ones before people pass comment ) but if this rule was ignored there would be many more british and european cars in the top 10.
ItHurts - i agree that most countries build cars based on their needs / circumstances BUT the greatest cars in the world, past and present, dont all work on this basis. Thay are built for speed, handling and comfort (and those with a load of cash). It does ask the question - which county produces the greatest car for that countries needs? I recon that if you did this honestly cars such as ferrari, lamborghini, and porsche would not feature too highly. Think about the UK - looking at our roads / jobs, how much call is there for an Aston compared with a ford / vauxhall? None - but it is one hell of a car!
Every country has its own circumstances and criteria but great cars are built to be great - not to work in a particular country.
Just my thoughts
Not sure of how many countries have sleeping policemen ( the concrete ones before people pass comment ) but if this rule was ignored there would be many more british and european cars in the top 10.
ItHurts - i agree that most countries build cars based on their needs / circumstances BUT the greatest cars in the world, past and present, dont all work on this basis. Thay are built for speed, handling and comfort (and those with a load of cash). It does ask the question - which county produces the greatest car for that countries needs? I recon that if you did this honestly cars such as ferrari, lamborghini, and porsche would not feature too highly. Think about the UK - looking at our roads / jobs, how much call is there for an Aston compared with a ford / vauxhall? None - but it is one hell of a car!
Every country has its own circumstances and criteria but great cars are built to be great - not to work in a particular country.
Just my thoughts