Definition of a sports car

tomscott said:
So an M3 coupe is not a sports car...?
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Tom sorry to quote you out of context, but, YOUR RIGHT, it's no more a Sports Car than my four door Mazda 323F Sport.

The little Mazda is light. has as much grunt as it needs, from it's 2ltr 16v four pot. It handles like a charm, on it's Mk1 Focus Chasis. It even has a strut brace accross the top of the engine as standard and a Sport Badge Glued to it's backside, by Mazda themselves. But despite all these sporty pretentions, it is not and never will be, a sports car. Just like the M3.

(Doesn't mean it not a fantastic car, just not a Sports Car)
 
PerryGunn said:
Bing said:
I was going to try and do it by hand :rofl:

I'll have a go later on excel... Unless someone does a 3.0Si before I get round to it :D
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W = 1395
P = 261
S = 2
cc = 3

W/P = 5.34
cube root of 2 = 1.26
fourth root of 3 = 1.32

So 5.34 * 1.26 * 1.32 = 8.88

So still well under 17 - congratulations Bing, you have a sports car :thumbsup:
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Wahey ! Thanks Perry - very fortuitous number (in Chinese culture) as well :D
 
I don't believe there could ever be a mathematical model that calculates what a sports car is, because there is an undefinable soul within a car design that makes it or doesn't, a sports car. I for one believe the MX5 is a sports car but the M3 certainly isn't.

But one thing I am positive on, it should have no more than 3 seats (McLaren F1)
 
Guiseley said:
sars said:
But one thing I am positive on, it should have no more than 3 seats (McLaren F1)
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But then again I'd say a 911 is a sports car, especially the older ones.
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(In Clarkson's voice) Some Say (back to own voice) that the Cayman S is a better car than the 911. Better balanced and everything the 911 should have become. An Australian chum who's owned 2x 911's and a Cayman S has also said this.

*queue incoming hate from multiple sources* :D
 
They say that there are exceptions to every rule, maybe the 911 is an exception in this case, I think it was a sports car once but perhaps more of a GT now.

The Boxster and Cayman are definitively sports cars no question
 
Stuart Truman said:
Some Say that the Cayman S is a better car than the 911.

*queue incoming hate from multiple sources* :D
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I say that to my 997 owning mate too ;)

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The only reliable sports-car-ometer is called a five year old kid, they don't know about speed, cost, practicality, 2/4 seats, rear wheel drive etc, but show them a picture and theyll know when they see a sports car ;)
 
Mmmm interesting thread...

My thinking is

Sports Car:

2 Seats (Some 2+2)
Coupe or Convertible
Good performance
Some Heritage?
Most of all fun

I think a m3 gtr evo etc can never going to be classed as a sports car, there something else not sure :? ... but cannot have the classic sports car tag as there far to practical and are bread form family saloons...a Classic such as an e30 m3 is different, its classic not a sports car
 
A sports car is what ever you think a sports car is in my opinion I mean look at those ricer boys with there Honda civics and so on, no performance mods other then the stick on hood scoops or stickers that add 50HP each or a spoiler on a FWD ya sure people make fun of them but if it's fun then why not? :D but I gotta agree with Sae, if you drive past little kids and heads turn then you got your self one badass vehicle loo
 
Paza3 said:
Mmmm interesting thread...

My thinking is

Sports Car:

2 Seats (Some 2+2)
Coupe or Convertible
Good performance
Some Heritage?
Most of all fun

I think a m3 gtr evo etc can never going to be classed as a sports car, there something else not sure :? ... but cannot have the classic sports car tag as there far to practical and are bread form family saloons...a Classic such as an e30 m3 is different, its classic not a sports car
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I agree, otherwise you could say a Honda Civic TypeR is also a sports car...
 
tomscott said:
Hard to put a definitive answer. I think there are variants of sports cars. People think MX-5s are sports cars but my answer to that is it doesn't have enough power.
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I've just been reading "Top Gear" magazine and if I may, I would like to draw your attention to these quotes.

It's no wonder it (MX5) is the world's favourite sports car.
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.....and about the Z4.
The last BMW Z4 had a difficult time. While sitting it's owners in a rock hard place, it was neither dynamic or comfy enough to challenge either the Boxster or the SLK.
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I think most would say a Z4, MX5 & S2000 were classed as sports cars although I think the MX5 is about as exciting as watching paint dry, the M3 is just a Coupe with a big engine that happens to handle well.

It's hard to pigeon hole my old Cerbera as its not really a sports car either but a nice LSD no ABS or airbags or traction still makes it the most exciting car I haved owned/driven by a long shot but I did enjoy driving my father in laws caterham too.

This is a really interesting subject but I think most see Sports cars as different things & it's hard to give a definitive answer
 
Ye I really don't think their is a definitive answer as long as the car makes you feel good it can be what ever you like :)
 
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