What defines a sports car?

[Urban Sports]

For me it's a 2 seater roadster / coupe with a fair bit of power and something that isn't easy to drive quickly but is rewarding when you do so.

I've read a few things on here recently criticising such cars for being difficult on the limit and a bit of a handful. Isn't that part of the charm of a sports car, something that needs to be worked at to be rewarding?

What makes a sports car?

[Raize]

Cost, badge, power, 2 doors.

[Jasandjules]

A TVR badge on top of the V8 engine.

[davepoth]

Doesn't need to be difficult to drive.

My dictionary has "sport" defined as

"diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime"

So I would say that a sports car is one that is fun to drive. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Raize]

davepoth said:

Doesn't need to be difficult to drive.

My dictionary has "sport" defined as

"diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime"

So I would say that a sports car is one that is fun to drive. Nothing more, nothing less.

I've never driven any vehicle that isn't fun in some way or another.

[FreeLitres]

A3 2.0 TDi... S-line.

[davepoth]

Raize said:

davepoth said:

Doesn't need to be difficult to drive.

My dictionary has "sport" defined as

"diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime"

So I would say that a sports car is one that is fun to drive. Nothing more, nothing less.

I've never driven any vehicle that isn't fun in some way or another.

I'll change my definition then.

"A sports car is one that is designed to be fun to drive".

[xRIEx]

davepoth said:

I'll change my definition then.

"A sports car is one that is designed to be fun to drive".

This is a good a definition as we're likely to get.

[kambites]

For me, it's something whose platform and layout was designed primarily for driver enjoyment.

[Urban Sports]

xRIEx said:

davepoth said:

I'll change my definition then.

"A sports car is one that is designed to be fun to drive".

This is a good a definition as we're likely to get.

That's a good one but plenty of cars do this without falling into sports car territory, all IMO of course

[Mr E]

davepoth said:

I'll change my definition then.

"A sports car is one that is designed to be fun to drive".

Being good to drive is it primary purpose, not an add on.

[ambuletz]

A car designed/tuned with for spirited driving in mind?

You do get some fairly normal cars that have sport trims with firmer suspension.

I would say a sports car is more something that leans towards being fun to drive with respect to handling, then towards the engine performance.

Edited by ambuletz on Saturday 15th September 21:45

[okie592]

mx5

[Urban Sports]

okie592 said:

mx5

Is this serious?

[NiceCupOfTea]

xRIEx said:

davepoth said:

I'll change my definition then.

"A sports car is one that is designed to be fun to drive".

This is a good a definition as we're likely to get.

Change it to "A sports car is one that is designed with its primary purpose to be that it is fun to drive" and I think it is covered.

It's nothing to do with engine/transmission layout, power, fixed/soft top, acceleration.

I remember a few years ago this thread popped up and somebody argued that the MX-5 was not a sports car because it wasn't quick enough

[speedtwelve]

FreeLitres said:

A3 2.0 TDi... S-line.

^^^^This^^^^

[sawman]

Urban Sports said:

okie592 said:

mx5

Is this serious?

fits the definition above, so why not?

[Clinton Baptiste]

Urban Sports said:

That's a good one but plenty of cars do this without falling into sports car territory, all IMO of course

Have you even driven a Vauxhall corsa 1.2?

[Steve vRS]

Urban Sports said:

okie592 said:

mx5

Is this serious?

I've read that more MX5s are raced each week than any other cars across the world.

I would say that that makes it a serious suggestion.

Steve

[TameRacingDriver]

Mr E said:

davepoth said:

I'll change my definition then.

"A sports car is one that is designed to be fun to drive".

Being good to drive is it primary purpose, not an add on.

+1

A clio 172 is fun to drive, but its not a sports car (its an add-on to use the above analogy).

For me, generally, it means 2 seats (or 2+2), designed from the ground up as a sports car and not just a hotted up mainstream model.