Is an R8 a Supercar?
Discussion
gregf40 said:
I don't agree.
A supercar USED to be something you couldn't drive everyday...because you physically couldn't. It simply isn't applicable anymore.
As for the other points - anywhere outside of Knightsbridge and an R8 is certainly a supercar.
Drive one through a mining village up North and tell me boys/men aren't nursing semi's as you go past.
My point is that only those that notice the car would take an interest, and even then, only those that identified it as an R8 and not a funny looking TT. A supercar USED to be something you couldn't drive everyday...because you physically couldn't. It simply isn't applicable anymore.
As for the other points - anywhere outside of Knightsbridge and an R8 is certainly a supercar.
Drive one through a mining village up North and tell me boys/men aren't nursing semi's as you go past.
A supercar is about more than technology and performance, it's about theatre. Drive an R8 and a Countach down a street and there would be no comparison in the want stakes, even though the Countach is nowadays almost sedate (certainly 0-60 wise).
Edited to add that the NSX also falls out of the category too for the above reason.
FalconWood said:
bashful said:
My humble personal definition of a supercar:
1) Must be in the top 1% of any performance measure vs. other road cars of it's era.
2) Must be the pinnacle of performance within it's brand.
3) Must be purpose-built, not a variant of any other model.
Therefore - R8 is a sportscar by my definition (because there are at least two versions.)
For me - Carrera GT, yes, GT2, no. Ford GT, yes, Corvette variants, no. Enzo & LaFer, yes, 458, no.
R8 Yes - 458 No ...........??????? You might attract some comments on that!! 1) Must be in the top 1% of any performance measure vs. other road cars of it's era.
2) Must be the pinnacle of performance within it's brand.
3) Must be purpose-built, not a variant of any other model.
Therefore - R8 is a sportscar by my definition (because there are at least two versions.)
For me - Carrera GT, yes, GT2, no. Ford GT, yes, Corvette variants, no. Enzo & LaFer, yes, 458, no.
MKnight702 said:
A supercar is about more than technology and performance, it's about theatre.
Whilst the car's performance was phenomenal, what stood out, in terms of being a supercar, was how people reacted to the Ferraris. Every stop created a crowd. We were literally cheered through towns, especially in the Italian Alps (Nothing will make you grin quite like a bunch of Italians erupting from a street side cafe shouting "Bella Ferrari" at you).
At one mountain top two French brothers, maybe 4 and 6 years old, were stood wide eyed looking at the cars and when I asked the parents if the boys would like to sit in the 458 and have their pictures taken. The parents reaction was priceless.
Ive been completely shocked by the reaction the Ferrari has had here at home and on the trip. I hadn't expected it. I just wanted a great car. It's really been the cherry on ownership for me. Its great to see other people enjoying the car and being positive, especially when there can be so much negativity in the world. I've had more thumbs up, waves, shouts of encouragement and "flappy" handed requests for me to rev the car up in 4 months than I can remember.
That's a supercar for me. In a world where £50K cars are more than fast enough for public roads I would even go as far as to say that that's the whole point of a supercar. To invoke "passione e l'entusiasmo" as the Italians say.
If an R8, or anything else, gets that reaction then it qualifies. Im not sure it would though. My Porsche doesnt. Its a great car, its quick enough, it handles superbly but it lacks theatre.
PS. Hats off to my brother's Cayman S Techart for the Spanish guy at the petrol station who walked right past the Ferraris without glancing at them and asked for a photo sat in the Porsche. Our kid enjoyed that. lol.
Edited by _Leg_ on Tuesday 9th September 16:36
_Leg_ said:
MKnight702 said:
A supercar is about more than technology and performance, it's about theatre.
Whilst the car's performance was phenomenal, what stood out, in terms of being a supercar, was how people reacted to the Ferraris. Every stop created a crowd. We were literally cheered through towns, especially in the Italian Alps (Nothing will make you grin quite like a bunch of Italians erupting from a street side cafe shouting "Bella Ferrari" at you).
At one mountain top two French brothers, maybe 4 and 6 years old, were stood wide eyed looking at the cars and when I asked the parents if the boys would like to sit in the 458 and have their pictures taken. The parents reaction was priceless.
Ive been completely shocked by the reaction the Ferrari has had here at home and on the trip. I hadn't expected it. I just wanted a great car. It's really been the cherry on ownership for me. Its great to see other people enjoying the car and being positive, especially when there can be so much negativity in the world. I've had more thumbs up, waves, shouts of encouragement and "flappy" handed requests for me to rev the car up in 4 months than I can remember.
That's a supercar for me. In a world where £50K cars are more than fast enough for public roads I would even go as far as to say that that's the whole point of a supercar. To invoke "passione e l'entusiasmo" as the Italians say.
If an R8, or anything else, gets that reaction then it qualifies. Im not sure it would though. My Porsche doesnt. Its a great car, its quick enough, it handles superbly but it lacks theatre.
PS. Hats off to my brother's Cayman S Techart for the Spanish guy at the petrol station who walked right past the Ferraris without glancing at them and asked for a photo sat in the Porsche. Our kid enjoyed that. lol.
Edited by _Leg_ on Tuesday 9th September 16:36
I like the R8, I appreciate it for what it is. I've driven a couple and thought they were quite nice. However I've never thought of one as a supercar. I don't want one, I've no desire to drive one again and I don't look twice when one passes in the street. They're not a car I talk about with friends. A supercar should make me do all of that.
Very soon an early R8 will be sub £40k. Before you know it, your next door neighbours kid will have one and running it on a shoestring budget. Plus he'll have managed to save enough extra money to 'bling' it up. Reminds me of the NSX. Great car with supercar performance - but not a supercar.
Very soon an early R8 will be sub £40k. Before you know it, your next door neighbours kid will have one and running it on a shoestring budget. Plus he'll have managed to save enough extra money to 'bling' it up. Reminds me of the NSX. Great car with supercar performance - but not a supercar.
Edited by Pioneer on Tuesday 9th September 22:08
MKnight702 said:
Dblue said:
I think you'll find it does get that sort of reaction albeit far less than the Ferrari.
If the reaction is far less then that surely answers the question, it's a nice sports car but not a supercar.
It may not be to some of the Ferrari owners on here - but to the general population it certainly is!
Love the reply by _Leg_ above, I would love to read up on your trip if any of you have done it ??
Anyway, just to add fuel to the fire, the word supercar has a meaning and that is: a high-performance sports car.
Thats according to the dictionary.
Now, we all know that "meaning" is different to whoever is thinking about it.
As I've said before, I class it as a supercar and others don't.
But on the same level, I class a Porsche as a supercar when others don't so its all down to perception.
A supercar, a car that makes you feel super. I like that thought.
Anyway, just to add fuel to the fire, the word supercar has a meaning and that is: a high-performance sports car.
Thats according to the dictionary.
Now, we all know that "meaning" is different to whoever is thinking about it.
As I've said before, I class it as a supercar and others don't.
But on the same level, I class a Porsche as a supercar when others don't so its all down to perception.
A supercar, a car that makes you feel super. I like that thought.
Love the reply by _Leg_ above, I would love to read up on your trip if any of you have done it ??
Anyway, just to add fuel to the fire, the word supercar has a meaning and that is: a high-performance sports car.
Thats according to the dictionary.
Now, we all know that "meaning" is different to whoever is thinking about it.
As I've said before, I class it as a supercar and others don't.
But on the same level, I class a Porsche as a supercar when others don't so its all down to perception.
A supercar, a car that makes you feel super. I like that thought.
Anyway, just to add fuel to the fire, the word supercar has a meaning and that is: a high-performance sports car.
Thats according to the dictionary.
Now, we all know that "meaning" is different to whoever is thinking about it.
As I've said before, I class it as a supercar and others don't.
But on the same level, I class a Porsche as a supercar when others don't so its all down to perception.
A supercar, a car that makes you feel super. I like that thought.
I said to the guys next door I might buy a Lambo or a Ferrari, but when I said also looking at the R8V10 the reply was "the R8 is my dream car"
they always ask me about my cars, but did not batter an eyelid at the Ferrari or Lambo comments. but did with the R8
It does seem a car to aspire too and has the wow factor.
They are easy and basic to drive but are not all new Super cars going that way ?
I still think I am going for the V10 plus over the lambo or F430, might not make me go weak at the knees but I will use it most days, If I bought the other 2 I would not use them so much, if at all in the week.
and they made the best vid
http://youtu.be/lpB1yR9Sz9Y
they always ask me about my cars, but did not batter an eyelid at the Ferrari or Lambo comments. but did with the R8
It does seem a car to aspire too and has the wow factor.
They are easy and basic to drive but are not all new Super cars going that way ?
I still think I am going for the V10 plus over the lambo or F430, might not make me go weak at the knees but I will use it most days, If I bought the other 2 I would not use them so much, if at all in the week.
and they made the best vid
http://youtu.be/lpB1yR9Sz9Y
mrdemon said:
I said to the guys next door I might buy a Lambo or a Ferrari, but when I said also looking at the R8V10 the reply was "the R8 is my dream car"
they always ask me about my cars, but did not batter an eyelid at the Ferrari or Lambo comments. but did with the R8
It does seem a car to aspire too and has the wow factor.
They are easy and basic to drive but are not all new Super cars going that way ?
I still think I am going for the V10 plus over the lambo or F430, might not make me go weak at the knees but I will use it most days, If I bought the other 2 I would not use them so much, if at all in the week.
and they made the best vid
http://youtu.be/lpB1yR9Sz9Y
Snap. And from a GT3RS too as well they always ask me about my cars, but did not batter an eyelid at the Ferrari or Lambo comments. but did with the R8
It does seem a car to aspire too and has the wow factor.
They are easy and basic to drive but are not all new Super cars going that way ?
I still think I am going for the V10 plus over the lambo or F430, might not make me go weak at the knees but I will use it most days, If I bought the other 2 I would not use them so much, if at all in the week.
and they made the best vid
http://youtu.be/lpB1yR9Sz9Y
mrdemon said:
I said to the guys next door I might buy a Lambo or a Ferrari, but when I said also looking at the R8V10 the reply was "the R8 is my dream car"
they always ask me about my cars, but did not batter an eyelid at the Ferrari or Lambo comments. but did with the R8
It does seem a car to aspire too and has the wow factor.
They are easy and basic to drive but are not all new Super cars going that way ?
I still think I am going for the V10 plus over the lambo or F430, might not make me go weak at the knees but I will use it most days, If I bought the other 2 I would not use them so much, if at all in the week.
and they made the best vid
http://youtu.be/lpB1yR9Sz9Y
We work with some of the finest super/hypercars ever built yet after driving almost all of them, my partner is getting an R8.they always ask me about my cars, but did not batter an eyelid at the Ferrari or Lambo comments. but did with the R8
It does seem a car to aspire too and has the wow factor.
They are easy and basic to drive but are not all new Super cars going that way ?
I still think I am going for the V10 plus over the lambo or F430, might not make me go weak at the knees but I will use it most days, If I bought the other 2 I would not use them so much, if at all in the week.
and they made the best vid
http://youtu.be/lpB1yR9Sz9Y
They do grab attention and are built soooo well. Its a true work of art.
Have you driven one yet ?
I remember selling my Porsche for my first Ferrari and although I loved the Ferrari, it wasn't as good as my Porka. I reckon thats the beauty of cars. I love it
This is so subjective, it's a waste of time asking.As mentioned above, it is a car some aspire to. It is, without doubt a super car. But some feel it isn't a supercar, and there's the difference.
Without sounding argumentative, I don't think the badge makes any difference. After all, would you compare a Fiesta to a GT just because they both have a Ford badge?
For me, I would say it is a subtle supercar. One which will turn only certain heads.
Without sounding argumentative, I don't think the badge makes any difference. After all, would you compare a Fiesta to a GT just because they both have a Ford badge?
For me, I would say it is a subtle supercar. One which will turn only certain heads.
lamboman100 said:
The badge is a killer for the R8, NSX and GTR.
Tell a friend, big customer or pretty woman you own an Audi, Honda or Nissan / Datsun, and it will deflate the bubble faster than you can count to 10.
Lamboman I sort of see where you are coming from but I think you are a bit too biased to your marque.I remember a good friend of mine asking me to display my car at Wings and Wheels last year (he has a yellow 355).Another chap turned up in his FF to display serious bit of kit and probably well over 200 grande.Tell a friend, big customer or pretty woman you own an Audi, Honda or Nissan / Datsun, and it will deflate the bubble faster than you can count to 10.
Im far from saying my car is a supercar but lets just say my 20 plus grande(kit car in some eyes) noble was getting a lot more attention than the 200 plus grande FF lets just say he looked a little miffed.Yes a badge will help in convincing someone you have a supercar but that is only a small fraction of the bigger picture.
There is a lady near me who has a white spider R8 v10 it always makes me look when I see it around I never look at it thinking oh its only an Audi though anybody who thinks it is not a supercar (junior one at the very least) as others have commented on here is most probably a badge snob
how to settle it
new sector
“super-sports cars”
that's what Lambo say and the new Mercedes-AMG GT with 500bhp at £100k
I quite like the “super-sports cars” tag, seems to fit the bill for all these £120k very fast cars.
thread closed ;'-)
new sector
“super-sports cars”
that's what Lambo say and the new Mercedes-AMG GT with 500bhp at £100k
I quite like the “super-sports cars” tag, seems to fit the bill for all these £120k very fast cars.
thread closed ;'-)
Edited by mrdemon on Wednesday 10th September 09:13
For me the R8 is a difficult one to pitch. It's too good for a daily runner but not special enough for weekend hooner!
While its capable of doing both in spades. During the week I want to blend into the other traffic and grab no attention but at weekends I want a wow car and while yes its a very good car and in some colours quite stunning on the whole I wouldn't say its a wow car.
That said for me is much the same for a lot of Porsche, save the GT's and Rs's.
While its capable of doing both in spades. During the week I want to blend into the other traffic and grab no attention but at weekends I want a wow car and while yes its a very good car and in some colours quite stunning on the whole I wouldn't say its a wow car.
That said for me is much the same for a lot of Porsche, save the GT's and Rs's.
mrdemon said:
They are easy and basic to drive but are not all new Super cars going that way ?
I still think I am going for the V10 plus over the lambo or F430, might not make me go weak at the knees but I will use it most days, If I bought the other 2 I would not use them so much, if at all in the week.
I've said this before but I KNOW if it was my money I'd go in for the Gallardo and at the last minute bottle it and get the R8.I still think I am going for the V10 plus over the lambo or F430, might not make me go weak at the knees but I will use it most days, If I bought the other 2 I would not use them so much, if at all in the week.
Then every time I closed the door I'd regret it.
OTOH if I did get the Lambo, I know every time I went to the dealers I'd regret it, but that is more to not really having the spare cash to run one properly than anything else.
Paul
The r8 does not make you feel special when you climb in it,like a 911 ,both have the same interiors as much cheaper cars but in terms of public reaction I found it generated more interest than anything I owned bar the gallardo Spyder.I had one of the first ones in the uk,and the first time I drove into Manchester I was sat in the car park queue for m&s and had a Ferrari 430 in front if me and a db9 behind me ,this group of school kids got off abus and rushed over to the car ,ignoring the Ferrari and Aston.it was an amazing reaction ,and I had similar the entire 3 years I owned one.
I think for most people it qualifies as a super car,it's not quite for me as it just doesn't make you feel like a Ferrari,or lambo does ,and that is nothing to do with how it drives because in many respects it is superior to many pukka super cars.
It just feels like you could be sat in a tt.same reason to me a911 turbo isn't a supercharge,you could be sat in a boxster.
I think for most people it qualifies as a super car,it's not quite for me as it just doesn't make you feel like a Ferrari,or lambo does ,and that is nothing to do with how it drives because in many respects it is superior to many pukka super cars.
It just feels like you could be sat in a tt.same reason to me a911 turbo isn't a supercharge,you could be sat in a boxster.
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