Sports saloons vs sports cars
Discussion
Hmm... I shall continue to watch this thread with interest, as I have just this decision looming later this year. At present I am fortunate to be able to run a Coupe and an Estate, but looming retirement means a drop in income & either a compromise has to be made or a whole new choice settled upon.
Current thinking is to keep the XK Coupe which I like very much and get out of the daily which is a C-class diesel estate. Budgetary restraints then imply that car no 2 becomes something much older, smaller, FWD and hatch-backed for around the £2K mark.
Option 2 is to get out of both and go to a sports saloon/fast estate. I do need 4 seats and bootspace from time to time because although I've waved the kids off from home there are now grandchildren around and when they stay with Grandpa they need to be fetched and carried. Not to mention that when you give the little tykes a couple of square meals they can put on size and weight overnight, seemingly. Then again when overseas friends visit I'll then be at LHR & typically picking up 2 folks and their sizable luggage. Hmm...
It's a first-world problem and to be clear I'm not complaining about it. I'm a sports car man at heart but daily life keeps getting in the way of purity there.
Current thinking is to keep the XK Coupe which I like very much and get out of the daily which is a C-class diesel estate. Budgetary restraints then imply that car no 2 becomes something much older, smaller, FWD and hatch-backed for around the £2K mark.
Option 2 is to get out of both and go to a sports saloon/fast estate. I do need 4 seats and bootspace from time to time because although I've waved the kids off from home there are now grandchildren around and when they stay with Grandpa they need to be fetched and carried. Not to mention that when you give the little tykes a couple of square meals they can put on size and weight overnight, seemingly. Then again when overseas friends visit I'll then be at LHR & typically picking up 2 folks and their sizable luggage. Hmm...
It's a first-world problem and to be clear I'm not complaining about it. I'm a sports car man at heart but daily life keeps getting in the way of purity there.
If practicality and budget really aren't considerations, then for me it's a dedicated sports car every time. Sports saloons, like hot hatches, are great and I love them, but ultimately they're usually based on a more mundane (relatively) chassis, which is bound to have less of a focus on handling and performance in its design than a sports car. Some sports cars platform share with saloons (Z4 and 350Z for example), so it's a bit different in their case, but for something purpose built like an Exige it's an easy decision for me.
Obviously as with most things there is some overlap - I've driven plenty of sports saloons that I prefer to sports cars, but on average a dedicated sports car should really drive better than something that's also built for the daily grind.
I should finished by saying that I doubt I'll ever own a full fat sports saloon like an M3 or RS6, because for me whilst they drive better than their more humble cousins, the differences aren't as great as you might initially think, so given that budget I'd always rather have two cars - the mundane spec sports saloon and a sports car as well, which would probably be cheaper than doing all your miles at 25mpg on expensive tyres too.
Obviously as with most things there is some overlap - I've driven plenty of sports saloons that I prefer to sports cars, but on average a dedicated sports car should really drive better than something that's also built for the daily grind.
I should finished by saying that I doubt I'll ever own a full fat sports saloon like an M3 or RS6, because for me whilst they drive better than their more humble cousins, the differences aren't as great as you might initially think, so given that budget I'd always rather have two cars - the mundane spec sports saloon and a sports car as well, which would probably be cheaper than doing all your miles at 25mpg on expensive tyres too.
"Coupes are generally considered the sportier, more glamorous option." (taken from original article feed)
In recent years I think that perception has probably changed considerably.
I see coupes as the cheaper less glamorous alternative to the saloon in anything after the early 1990's especially amongst the mass produced cars like BMW and Audi. Even the RR Sport (arguably a coupe-styled version of the RR Vogue ignoring that horrible Evoke thing) is seen by many as the 'down market' version.
In fact, I'd say that fast estates are grabbing the lime light now, followed by saloons and then the coupes.
I know that I'm probably going to get hammered on here for this view...
In recent years I think that perception has probably changed considerably.
I see coupes as the cheaper less glamorous alternative to the saloon in anything after the early 1990's especially amongst the mass produced cars like BMW and Audi. Even the RR Sport (arguably a coupe-styled version of the RR Vogue ignoring that horrible Evoke thing) is seen by many as the 'down market' version.
In fact, I'd say that fast estates are grabbing the lime light now, followed by saloons and then the coupes.
I know that I'm probably going to get hammered on here for this view...
rb5er said:
I thought "sports" cars were for hairdressers and women? 
Nah, women need four wheel drive now. Or at least to look as if they've got four wheel drive, a white fwd Evoque will do.Dunno about hairdressers these days, but the bloke who owned the place I used to get my hair cut had an Evo 6 and a litre Jap sports bike.
I've always thought a 3-series saloon looked better than a 3-series coupe, in every incarnation of the car.
Sports saloon or 2-seater? Dunno, depends on the specific car. I have a problem with the concept of a coupe though - you put four seats in a car then leave insufficient headroom for the rear passengers so that the car can look 'good' (which often it doesn't). Lack of suitability for purpose puts me off. Fiat coupe turbo is the exception to the rule - owned three of em
Sports saloon or 2-seater? Dunno, depends on the specific car. I have a problem with the concept of a coupe though - you put four seats in a car then leave insufficient headroom for the rear passengers so that the car can look 'good' (which often it doesn't). Lack of suitability for purpose puts me off. Fiat coupe turbo is the exception to the rule - owned three of em
E63AMG Estate or an Audi RS6 Avant:
Enough said for me!
Love my A6 Avant 3.0TDI (would LOVE an RS6, but just could not justify the mpg!), it's been mapped and have had it GPS'd at 155mph (the clock reading significantly more than 160mph!!).
Just something completely mad about driving a boring looking diesel estate car, that while normally towing trailers or ferrying dogs - is quicker than my old 1989 Porsche 944 S2 Cabrio (and a lot of other sportscars from not so long ago!)
Enough said for me!
Love my A6 Avant 3.0TDI (would LOVE an RS6, but just could not justify the mpg!), it's been mapped and have had it GPS'd at 155mph (the clock reading significantly more than 160mph!!).
Just something completely mad about driving a boring looking diesel estate car, that while normally towing trailers or ferrying dogs - is quicker than my old 1989 Porsche 944 S2 Cabrio (and a lot of other sportscars from not so long ago!)
So many scenarios
In my 20's I had no need for practicality I had an Mr2
As I got to my 30's I needed a "boot" and "back seats" so got a 3 series convertible
Now I'm married and mid 30's I probably need back doors so I guess it'll be a fast estate / faux x faux
HOWEVER - if I didn't give a FF about practicality or consideration for others, it'd only have 2 doors.
I HATE back doors on almost every car. Spoils the shape of everything and looks fussy.
Although I'd make an exception for a Rapide or an M6 GC
http://cdn.pursuitist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/...
http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/20...
In my 20's I had no need for practicality I had an Mr2
As I got to my 30's I needed a "boot" and "back seats" so got a 3 series convertible
Now I'm married and mid 30's I probably need back doors so I guess it'll be a fast estate / faux x faux
HOWEVER - if I didn't give a FF about practicality or consideration for others, it'd only have 2 doors.
I HATE back doors on almost every car. Spoils the shape of everything and looks fussy.
Although I'd make an exception for a Rapide or an M6 GC
http://cdn.pursuitist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/...
http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/20...
M cars , RS Audi's, AMG Mercs, R Jags - fast saloon or uber estate are all halo model range toppers with more bling than a premier footballer's GF but they offer those of us with kids the option of a fast, comfortable, practical car that you can have b road fun in when minus your Mrs and ankle biters. Coupes are nice looking but don't have 4 door convenience, fine if you are sans offspring. But Sports Monica is taking it too far as they are all lardy luxo barges unless you have very deep pockets and can afford a CSL or a black series AMG.
I must admit, having been looking to replace the E39 Five as the daily drive for the last month or so with something less practical (can't see the point of both me and mrs v having practical cars), certainly coupes have been top of my search lists.
At the moment, the last version of the Celica and E36 & E46 coupes are ticking my boxes. Especially with the latter as, to my eyes, they just look very much classier than the equivalent saloon. Certainly W208 Merc coupes look so much better than the W201 saloons.
At the moment, the last version of the Celica and E36 & E46 coupes are ticking my boxes. Especially with the latter as, to my eyes, they just look very much classier than the equivalent saloon. Certainly W208 Merc coupes look so much better than the W201 saloons.
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