What defines a "Performance Car" for you?
Discussion
Whilst chatting on another thread earlier, the topic of what defines a "Performance Car" came up. So what in your mind defines it? Does it need a certain amount of power, or a specific 0 to 60 time for example?
I personally think that it is quite difficult to pin down, because we all see things differently, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts on what makes or defines a performance car.
So over to you?
I personally think that it is quite difficult to pin down, because we all see things differently, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts on what makes or defines a performance car.
So over to you?
In the olden days (think Ford Escorts, Fiestas, MR2 etc), anything with a 0-60 of less than 8 seconds was a performance car. Less than 6 seconds was rapid.
Modern cars, I m not sure, but I d say that 0-60 stat of old isn t really relevant any more. Perhaps anything with two seats and/or of a coupe or convertible nature would probably be a performance car maybe?
Modern cars, I m not sure, but I d say that 0-60 stat of old isn t really relevant any more. Perhaps anything with two seats and/or of a coupe or convertible nature would probably be a performance car maybe?
Hmmmm interesting question!
I think its a car where speed and handling are at the top, or perhaps in the top 5, attributes that the car was designed around.
I also think a true performance car is designed from the ground up to be so. A hot hatch or hot saloon dont count as a true performance car, for example.
Maybe.
I think its a car where speed and handling are at the top, or perhaps in the top 5, attributes that the car was designed around.
I also think a true performance car is designed from the ground up to be so. A hot hatch or hot saloon dont count as a true performance car, for example.
Maybe.
brillomaster said:
Hmmmm interesting question!
I think its a car where speed and handling are at the top, or perhaps in the top 5, attributes that the car was designed around.
I also think a true performance car is designed from the ground up to be so. A hot hatch or hot saloon dont count as a true performance car, for example.
Maybe.
I think most M3/4/5 C63 etc. owners would disagree.I think its a car where speed and handling are at the top, or perhaps in the top 5, attributes that the car was designed around.
I also think a true performance car is designed from the ground up to be so. A hot hatch or hot saloon dont count as a true performance car, for example.
Maybe.
Even a Golf R is surely a performance car!
My recently sold Suzuki Swift Sport was the most fun car I'd owned since having a (classic) Mini in the nineties, it was also the slowest car (other than one diesel Volvo) I've owned since.
It's definitely a 'performance car' even if it doesn't have much actual performance.
My current EV SUV is quick in a straight line, has vaguely sporting styling, but certainly not a performance car (although perfectly good at being a usable motorcar).
It's definitely a 'performance car' even if it doesn't have much actual performance.
My current EV SUV is quick in a straight line, has vaguely sporting styling, but certainly not a performance car (although perfectly good at being a usable motorcar).
Sports car - primarily about enjoyment & handling, performance secondary, i.e. MX-5
Performance car - primarily about numbers on paper, enjoyment & handling secondary, i.e. VAG R/S/RS stuff
Super car - primarily about the audio and visual impact, performance a given, practicality not a consideration.
That's my take.
Performance car - primarily about numbers on paper, enjoyment & handling secondary, i.e. VAG R/S/RS stuff
Super car - primarily about the audio and visual impact, performance a given, practicality not a consideration.
That's my take.
Sub-3 isn't just "performance", it's "effing quick". You don't need anything like that much straight line speed to be driving a performance car. It's quite nice if they go round corners as well.
As examples there are loads of Lotus and Porsche cars which would tick the performance box but aren't all that fast in a straight line. On the other hand I feel a heavy electric roller-skate would struggle to make the cut.
IMO anything mid-engine is usually a good step towards performance.
As examples there are loads of Lotus and Porsche cars which would tick the performance box but aren't all that fast in a straight line. On the other hand I feel a heavy electric roller-skate would struggle to make the cut.
IMO anything mid-engine is usually a good step towards performance.
Terminator X said:
None of his own cars would make the cut, past or present 
TX.
Well done on falling in to the what I thought was a well-telegraphed trap. TX.
I picked that number for no other reason than it excludes your and Lee's car - because you had so very obviously decided that a performance car is the one you have, as evidenced by the numbers chosen.
Regardless of that, the question was "What defines a "Performance Car" for you?"
It wasn't "What defines a "Performance Car" for you and you have to have it to be able to reply". So, that being the case how is "None of his own cars would make the cut, past or present" remotely relevant anyway?
ROFL indeed.
MrWideFit said:
Not arguing but genuine curiousity, would you not consider a Mustang 5.0 (4s) or a BMW M2 (4.2s) to be performance cars?
No, I absolutely do. I was taking the piss out of TX.Performance in this vernacular assumes straight line speed and not handling for me. So whilst an MX-5 will outhandle something far quicker it's not a performance car.
Deep Thought said:
Simple test IMHO - Is this car designed to be driven hard and reward it?
See I'd normally say that's a sports car but then a different argument pops up where you can argue that an RS6 is absolutely a performance car but not a sports car but is made to be driven hard and (although some may disagree) reward. As ever, blurred lines. A mallet rather than a scalpel.
MediumBuild said:
Terminator X said:
None of his own cars would make the cut, past or present
TX.
Well done on falling in to the what I thought was a well-telegraphed trap. TX.
I picked that number for no other reason than it excludes your and Lee's car - because you had so very obviously decided that a performance car is the one you have, as evidenced by the numbers chosen.
Regardless of that, the question was "What defines a "Performance Car" for you?"
It wasn't "What defines a "Performance Car" for you and you have to have it to be able to reply". So, that being the case how is "None of his own cars would make the cut, past or present" remotely relevant anyway?
ROFL indeed.
TX.
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