What defines a supercar?

[Gring]

Just curious to what makes a car, a super car. Is it it's performance, or is it it's value? Or is it something else ?

Edited by Gring on Wednesday 11th March 21:25

[traxx]

I think on a car forum it has to be a car that the average 430/Gallardo/Scuderia/CS driver thinks is something special

For me Enzo/F40/F50/288GTO/DiabloGT/McF1/CGT/GT1

and hopefully the 670SV

Edited by traxx on Wednesday 11th March 21:33

[Gring]

When I had an M3 the folks on the M3 forum refered to the M3 as being a supercar, I thaught nah. I have a maserati and the other masser folk think thats a supercar, I still think nah. I think a supercar is allways going to be the car that is out of my reach. I just cant get too excited about a car that does 0-60 in more than 4 secs. I wish my wallet was bigger.

[okgo]

Something you can't use everyday. And that you only see on occasion.

Performance is needed too, I would say 60 in under 4.5 secs, and 180 mph top end. Minimum.

[Jules360]

okgo said:

Something you can't use everyday. And that you only see on occasion.

Performance is needed too, I would say 60 in under 4.5 secs, and 180 mph top end. Minimum.

What would stop you using a car every day ?

[Gring]

My problem would be that no matter what I had, I would use it everyday. I have no self control! I dont understand how someone could have a lovely lambo sat in their garage and not drive it!

[Andrew.]

a car that does things that an ordinary car cannot

[Gring]

Andrew. said:

a car that does things that an ordinary car cannot

Like?? Fly? Give head?

[okgo]

Jules360 said:

okgo said:

Something you can't use everyday. And that you only see on occasion.

Performance is needed too, I would say 60 in under 4.5 secs, and 180 mph top end. Minimum.

What would stop you using a car every day ?

Cost, size, reliability.

I know they are getting better year by year, but I think there should be an air of mystery about the car each time you take it out..

Obviously some people work round all that to make it a daily driver, but I wouldn't fancy using a Diablo/Murci as an everyday car for all the above reasons and more.

[Andrew.]

Gring said:

Andrew. said:

a car that does things that an ordinary car cannot

Like?? Fly? Give head?

a car that does car things that an ordinary car cannot

[Gring]

Andrew. said:

Gring said:

Andrew. said:

a car that does things that an ordinary car cannot

Like?? Fly? Give head?

a car that does car things that an ordinary car cannot

A car that cant do car things must be a disabled car?? surely most cars can do car things?? or have i misread because I am stfaced?

[evil_dr_fish]

By that argument the 308 or possibly even the 355 are not supercars... The Countach would be pushing it's luck...

It's about being aspirational - yes it has to be fast etc but there are plenty of fast cars which patently are NOT supercars - The M3 and M5 as pointed out above.


They need an 'it' factor and yes, indeed a certain amount of snob factor! - "Halo" cars - They have to look the part as well! Outrageously, unnecessarily expensive is quite probably a part of it too...


I know I'm about to seriously offend a few people here but how many kids grow up wishing that if they work hard enough and aspire and strive that one day, just one day, maybe they could own a Honda?!

Ok... the NSX is a *superb car* but it is hugely contentious as to its 'supercar' status (despite being a super - car)

Yet anything that says Ferrari or Lamborghini would barely be questioned!

TVR Tuscan S - ticks most of those boxes yet is it s 'supercar' or a mad (in the best possible sense) English muscle car? Would it stop traffic like a Countach or Zonda?

My Lotus Esprit is another similar example - it ticks so many of the right boxes (in its day) but does the Lotus badge carry enough "aspiration value" to be a Supercar? - Maybe indeed it did back in their F1 days? I couldn't say... (I just got it 'cos of James Bond! )

[Jules360]

okgo said:

Jules360 said:

okgo said:

Something you can't use everyday. And that you only see on occasion.

Performance is needed too, I would say 60 in under 4.5 secs, and 180 mph top end. Minimum.

What would stop you using a car every day ?

Cost, size, reliability.

I know they are getting better year by year, but I think there should be an air of mystery about the car each time you take it out..

Obviously some people work round all that to make it a daily driver, but I wouldn't fancy using a Diablo/Murci as an everyday car for all the above reasons and more.

If you can't afford to drive it, don't buy it. Reliability is generally no worse than a Merc or BM (ready to be corrected) and I really don't believe size is a constraint, although this will depend on where you live. As someone has said, there would be no point in having a Lambo in the garage and driving a mini daily .... Well I couldn't and don't !

[Andrew.]

Gring said:

Andrew. said:

Gring said:

Andrew. said:

a car that does things that an ordinary car cannot

Like?? Fly? Give head?

a car that does car things that an ordinary car cannot

A car that cant do car things must be a disabled car?? surely most cars can do car things?? or have i misread because I am stfaced?

a slight misread there my friend, but not a problem

[Gring]

Andrew. said:

Gring said:

Andrew. said:

Gring said:

Andrew. said:

a car that does things that an ordinary car cannot

Like?? Fly? Give head?

a car that does car things that an ordinary car cannot

A car that cant do car things must be a disabled car?? surely most cars can do car things?? or have i misread because I am stfaced?

a slight misread there my friend, but not a problem

I would love to be sober so I understand!

[Andrew.]

Jules360 said:

As someone has said, there would be no point in having a Lambo in the garage and driving a mini daily .... Well I couldn't and don't !

this could be a very long debate
fwiw i have a lambo in the garage and drive a fiesta daily

[Gring]

Andrew. said:

Jules360 said:

As someone has said, there would be no point in having a Lambo in the garage and driving a mini daily .... Well I couldn't and don't !

this could be a very long debate
fwiw i have a lambo in the garage and drive a fiesta daily

I have a veyron in the garage and drive a maserati daily

[Gring]

Gring said:

Andrew. said:

Jules360 said:

As someone has said, there would be no point in having a Lambo in the garage and driving a mini daily .... Well I couldn't and don't !

this could be a very long debate
fwiw i have a lambo in the garage and drive a fiesta daily

I have a veyron in the garage and drive a maserati daily

I so wish that was the truth

[okgo]

Jules360 said:

okgo said:

Jules360 said:

okgo said:

Something you can't use everyday. And that you only see on occasion.

Performance is needed too, I would say 60 in under 4.5 secs, and 180 mph top end. Minimum.

What would stop you using a car every day ?

Cost, size, reliability.

I know they are getting better year by year, but I think there should be an air of mystery about the car each time you take it out..

Obviously some people work round all that to make it a daily driver, but I wouldn't fancy using a Diablo/Murci as an everyday car for all the above reasons and more.

If you can't afford to drive it, don't buy it. Reliability is generally no worse than a Merc or BM (ready to be corrected) and I really don't believe size is a constraint, although this will depend on where you live. As someone has said, there would be no point in having a Lambo in the garage and driving a mini daily .... Well I couldn't and don't !

I agree with some of that, but I don't think a supercar should be useable in a day to day situation.

[Andrew.]

Gring said:

Gring said:

Andrew. said:

Jules360 said:

As someone has said, there would be no point in having a Lambo in the garage and driving a mini daily .... Well I couldn't and don't !

this could be a very long debate
fwiw i have a lambo in the garage and drive a fiesta daily

I have a veyron in the garage and drive a maserati daily

I so wish that was the truth

don't tell me, you lied about the 'rati ?