Definition of a supercar
Discussion
Beni997 said:
I can honestly say I think the 355 is possibly the prettiest car ever made in my eyes and it's my biggest regret not buying one 6/7 years ago when they were ridiculously cheap.
It's the kind of car that I would quite happily never drive and just leave it in the garage under the lights and just sit and stare at it. Like a piece of art work.
Ferrari 330 P4? https://goo.gl/images/YMofMhIt's the kind of car that I would quite happily never drive and just leave it in the garage under the lights and just sit and stare at it. Like a piece of art work.
GT40? https://goo.gl/images/kvJKp6
Lola T70 https://goo.gl/images/i539wm
Alfa Tipo 33? https://goo.gl/images/jyDut5
wow there are dozens of cars i would say out pretty the 355! Ferrari make most of em i can think of!
Edited by 200Plus Club on Thursday 16th November 16:41
355 is a Supercar, one of the prettiest ever made in my opinion.
Algarve said he has no interest in them so do not know how he came up with the "they do not handle and are slow" assumptions. I have driven them on track and I thought they handled very well and they were certainly faster than my speed six cerbera at the time in a straight line. With the power to weight and 2wd they wouldn't be that far behind a Gallardo on the road either...in terms of ruling it out as a super car.
I followed a 355 Challenge around Donnington, I was able to keep up with a 993 RS in my 911 round there but no chance with the 355 Challenge.
Algarve said he has no interest in them so do not know how he came up with the "they do not handle and are slow" assumptions. I have driven them on track and I thought they handled very well and they were certainly faster than my speed six cerbera at the time in a straight line. With the power to weight and 2wd they wouldn't be that far behind a Gallardo on the road either...in terms of ruling it out as a super car.
I followed a 355 Challenge around Donnington, I was able to keep up with a 993 RS in my 911 round there but no chance with the 355 Challenge.
Caddyshack said:
Algarve said he has no interest in them so do not know how he came up with the "they do not handle and are slow" assumptions.
No interest in owning one, I've driven one several times. I appreciate I'm in the minority here but they're just not for me. Sub par looks, sub par performance. Algarve said:
No interest in owning one, I've driven one several times. I appreciate I'm in the minority here but they're just not for me. Sub par looks, sub par performance.
being in a minority would suggest theres some other folks that agree with you... err.. i'm not so sure there is!MaserCoupe said:
So Algarve, do tell us what ticks all the boxes for you? Go on tell us what car gets your loins on fire? Whats your ultimate supercar?
Current performance, looks, brand mainly I guess. The biggest one for me is just that feel when I walk out to it, get in the car and turn the key. I get that feeling with my Gallardo, it all just seems a bit plain and boring in the 355. I'd rather drive a Panamera Turbo than the 355 to be honest.I'm aiming to chop my Gallardo in for a Huracan convertible before next summer. That for me is the ultimate supercar currently.
Algarve said:
Current performance, looks, brand mainly I guess. The biggest one for me is just that feel when I walk out to it, get in the car and turn the key. I get that feeling with my Gallardo, it all just seems a bit plain and boring in the 355. I'd rather drive a Panamera Turbo than the 355 to be honest.
I'm aiming to chop my Gallardo in for a Huracan convertible before next summer. That for me is the ultimate supercar currently.
Lamborghini fan boy dislikes Ferrari shocker.I'm aiming to chop my Gallardo in for a Huracan convertible before next summer. That for me is the ultimate supercar currently.
It's like Ferruccio and Enzo rewind 50+ years later......
Algarve said:
Current performance, looks, brand mainly I guess. The biggest one for me is just that feel when I walk out to it, get in the car and turn the key. I get that feeling with my Gallardo, it all just seems a bit plain and boring in the 355. I'd rather drive a Panamera Turbo than the 355 to be honest.
"Current performamce" going by that logic, in 10 years time when the average sportccar can handle 1000bhp and laps the ring in less than 5 minuites, the huracan for example is no longer a supercar? Surely once a supercar always a supercar, there will be a time where any car will no longer perform like the latest and greatest be it a 355 or a bugatti veyron it wont make them any less of a super car Usually change my supercars every 2 years and its testament to how iconic the F355 is to me that I've now owned it for 13 years whilst many other "better" cars have come and gone including a Gallardo LP570-4 Performante.
The F355 GTS manual was my first supercar and it will also be my last supercar. McLarens, Lamborghini's and modern day Ferrari's will not replace it and will come and go
The F355 GTS manual was my first supercar and it will also be my last supercar. McLarens, Lamborghini's and modern day Ferrari's will not replace it and will come and go
Supercars...........Hmmmh where do you start and where do you finish? Lets start with genesis shall we......What an amazing thread this is and wonderful to see so many differing ideas,opinions and points of view!!
I come from a view of gratitude that they exist, the human genius that built them and the diversity of super designs that reflect the human spirit and boy do they differ. Something that we should all celebrate no matter what your brand loyalty is. I'm so grateful we are living and experiencing these wonderful machines in our lifetime.....Remember they won't be with us for very much longer so lets grab em while we can, experience them as much as we can whilst living in the moment.
For me anyway I love them all, the big capacity, multi cylindered, carbs/ fuelies, open top, coupes, front engined, mid engined you name it...If you love cars I'm sure you get the picture.
When I was a teenage kid, it was all about the Countach QV for me, friends had pictures of women on their walls and yes you guessed it I had the Athena poster of the Countach (now still in my garage and framed) and as far as I was concerned Ferrari and everyone else was the anti-christ.............However as I grew a little older my love for Lambos didn't wane, I just felt how could I not appreciate these other wonderful supercars out there from Maserati, Ferrari, McLaren, Pagani, De-Tomaso, Alfa-Romeo, God the list goes on.......
Imagine, Alfa-Romeo built what was spectacular back in the 1930's and possibly the first "Supercar" The gorgeous 8C 2900B spider by Touring Superleggera......Look it up on the internet "young uns". It's sublime, art in motion.
So many cars stick out, from Mercedes 300SL Gullwing/and or convertible, Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari Daytona, the Shelby Cobra, De-Tomaso Pantera, Maserati Ghibli SS and boy was that a stonker as a convertible. The E-type, who can deny that!!! So many beautiful cars, that in one way or another were game changers in their own way.
Then back in the 90's how outrageous was the carbon fibre Mclaren F1, boasting a manual gearbox mated to BMW V12 and central driving position, of course lets not deny the F355 with a specific BHP power output per litre greater than the mighty "Big Mac F1" at only £80 odd grand versus £633,000.
Supercars are, what they are, cars that touch us deeply on a visceral level, that are an extension of what we search and look for as humans, the X-factor, the search for perfection and that Nirvana moment.
So yes technology moves on as does performance, but surely we're missing the point..... aren't we? We will never see the likes of them again, so the next time you see an old fart driving an equally old farts car, tip your hat, as the electric dyson supercar you'll be part ex-ing your Lambo, Ferrari, Maser, Benz etc for, came about because technology and marketing won you over..................
In the meantime, I'll continue on with my old, sub standard, under-performing and boring 355 spider and give a toot and a wave, as I pass those 0-60 in one millie-second, 450 mph top speed electric/hybrid "anti-radar, turbo charged paint JJ" cars queuing at the charge points..
God I love Supercars, I love em all....!!!!!!! And who honestly cares how fast yours/mine is, what you got mate, yeah mines faster, how much BHP you got, yeah mines got loads more, whats your nought to sixty, yeah mines faster, crap and rubbish......
I'm happy for me, I'm happy for you, we are all different and its all gravy dudes and gals!!! Let envy/hate lose and lets get on with really celebrating Supercars and those adventurous, spirited, characterful souls who played a part in their existence!!
I come from a view of gratitude that they exist, the human genius that built them and the diversity of super designs that reflect the human spirit and boy do they differ. Something that we should all celebrate no matter what your brand loyalty is. I'm so grateful we are living and experiencing these wonderful machines in our lifetime.....Remember they won't be with us for very much longer so lets grab em while we can, experience them as much as we can whilst living in the moment.
For me anyway I love them all, the big capacity, multi cylindered, carbs/ fuelies, open top, coupes, front engined, mid engined you name it...If you love cars I'm sure you get the picture.
When I was a teenage kid, it was all about the Countach QV for me, friends had pictures of women on their walls and yes you guessed it I had the Athena poster of the Countach (now still in my garage and framed) and as far as I was concerned Ferrari and everyone else was the anti-christ.............However as I grew a little older my love for Lambos didn't wane, I just felt how could I not appreciate these other wonderful supercars out there from Maserati, Ferrari, McLaren, Pagani, De-Tomaso, Alfa-Romeo, God the list goes on.......
Imagine, Alfa-Romeo built what was spectacular back in the 1930's and possibly the first "Supercar" The gorgeous 8C 2900B spider by Touring Superleggera......Look it up on the internet "young uns". It's sublime, art in motion.
So many cars stick out, from Mercedes 300SL Gullwing/and or convertible, Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari Daytona, the Shelby Cobra, De-Tomaso Pantera, Maserati Ghibli SS and boy was that a stonker as a convertible. The E-type, who can deny that!!! So many beautiful cars, that in one way or another were game changers in their own way.
Then back in the 90's how outrageous was the carbon fibre Mclaren F1, boasting a manual gearbox mated to BMW V12 and central driving position, of course lets not deny the F355 with a specific BHP power output per litre greater than the mighty "Big Mac F1" at only £80 odd grand versus £633,000.
Supercars are, what they are, cars that touch us deeply on a visceral level, that are an extension of what we search and look for as humans, the X-factor, the search for perfection and that Nirvana moment.
So yes technology moves on as does performance, but surely we're missing the point..... aren't we? We will never see the likes of them again, so the next time you see an old fart driving an equally old farts car, tip your hat, as the electric dyson supercar you'll be part ex-ing your Lambo, Ferrari, Maser, Benz etc for, came about because technology and marketing won you over..................
In the meantime, I'll continue on with my old, sub standard, under-performing and boring 355 spider and give a toot and a wave, as I pass those 0-60 in one millie-second, 450 mph top speed electric/hybrid "anti-radar, turbo charged paint JJ" cars queuing at the charge points..
God I love Supercars, I love em all....!!!!!!! And who honestly cares how fast yours/mine is, what you got mate, yeah mines faster, how much BHP you got, yeah mines got loads more, whats your nought to sixty, yeah mines faster, crap and rubbish......
I'm happy for me, I'm happy for you, we are all different and its all gravy dudes and gals!!! Let envy/hate lose and lets get on with really celebrating Supercars and those adventurous, spirited, characterful souls who played a part in their existence!!
Not relevant to the discussion but may make a few supercar owners smile with recognition of similar circumstances...
Had a wonderful "drag race" this morning through the ExCel centre, running side-by-side with a supercar.
My R8 won in the end, topping out at a heady 9 mph*, pulling just ahead at the finish.
... so, not the high-octane high-jinx you might expect of supercar ownership, but it had both drivers grinning from ear to ear.
P.S. Not re-opening the debate on whether an R8 is a supercar or not!
Had a wonderful "drag race" this morning through the ExCel centre, running side-by-side with a supercar.
My R8 won in the end, topping out at a heady 9 mph*, pulling just ahead at the finish.
- for those unfamiliar with the route it's peppered with speed bumps every five yards.
... so, not the high-octane high-jinx you might expect of supercar ownership, but it had both drivers grinning from ear to ear.
P.S. Not re-opening the debate on whether an R8 is a supercar or not!
MaserCoupe said:
Supercars...........Hmmmh where do you start and where do you finish? Lets start with genesis shall we......What an amazing thread this is and wonderful to see so many differing ideas,opinions and points of view!!
I come from a view of gratitude that they exist, the human genius that built them and the diversity of super designs that reflect the human spirit and boy do they differ. Something that we should all celebrate no matter what your brand loyalty is. I'm so grateful we are living and experiencing these wonderful machines in our lifetime.....Remember they won't be with us for very much longer so lets grab em while we can, experience them as much as we can whilst living in the moment.
For me anyway I love them all, the big capacity, multi cylindered, carbs/ fuelies, open top, coupes, front engined, mid engined you name it...If you love cars I'm sure you get the picture.
When I was a teenage kid, it was all about the Countach QV for me, friends had pictures of women on their walls and yes you guessed it I had the Athena poster of the Countach (now still in my garage and framed) and as far as I was concerned Ferrari and everyone else was the anti-christ.............However as I grew a little older my love for Lambos didn't wane, I just felt how could I not appreciate these other wonderful supercars out there from Maserati, Ferrari, McLaren, Pagani, De-Tomaso, Alfa-Romeo, God the list goes on.......
Imagine, Alfa-Romeo built what was spectacular back in the 1930's and possibly the first "Supercar" The gorgeous 8C 2900B spider by Touring Superleggera......Look it up on the internet "young uns". It's sublime, art in motion.
So many cars stick out, from Mercedes 300SL Gullwing/and or convertible, Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari Daytona, the Shelby Cobra, De-Tomaso Pantera, Maserati Ghibli SS and boy was that a stonker as a convertible. The E-type, who can deny that!!! So many beautiful cars, that in one way or another were game changers in their own way.
Then back in the 90's how outrageous was the carbon fibre Mclaren F1, boasting a manual gearbox mated to BMW V12 and central driving position, of course lets not deny the F355 with a specific BHP power output per litre greater than the mighty "Big Mac F1" at only £80 odd grand versus £633,000.
Supercars are, what they are, cars that touch us deeply on a visceral level, that are an extension of what we search and look for as humans, the X-factor, the search for perfection and that Nirvana moment.
So yes technology moves on as does performance, but surely we're missing the point..... aren't we? We will never see the likes of them again, so the next time you see an old fart driving an equally old farts car, tip your hat, as the electric dyson supercar you'll be part ex-ing your Lambo, Ferrari, Maser, Benz etc for, came about because technology and marketing won you over..................
In the meantime, I'll continue on with my old, sub standard, under-performing and boring 355 spider and give a toot and a wave, as I pass those 0-60 in one millie-second, 450 mph top speed electric/hybrid "anti-radar, turbo charged paint JJ" cars queuing at the charge points..
God I love Supercars, I love em all....!!!!!!! And who honestly cares how fast yours/mine is, what you got mate, yeah mines faster, how much BHP you got, yeah mines got loads more, whats your nought to sixty, yeah mines faster, crap and rubbish......
I'm happy for me, I'm happy for you, we are all different and its all gravy dudes and gals!!! Let envy/hate lose and lets get on with really celebrating Supercars and those adventurous, spirited, characterful souls who played a part in their existence!!
What a great post - amen to that I come from a view of gratitude that they exist, the human genius that built them and the diversity of super designs that reflect the human spirit and boy do they differ. Something that we should all celebrate no matter what your brand loyalty is. I'm so grateful we are living and experiencing these wonderful machines in our lifetime.....Remember they won't be with us for very much longer so lets grab em while we can, experience them as much as we can whilst living in the moment.
For me anyway I love them all, the big capacity, multi cylindered, carbs/ fuelies, open top, coupes, front engined, mid engined you name it...If you love cars I'm sure you get the picture.
When I was a teenage kid, it was all about the Countach QV for me, friends had pictures of women on their walls and yes you guessed it I had the Athena poster of the Countach (now still in my garage and framed) and as far as I was concerned Ferrari and everyone else was the anti-christ.............However as I grew a little older my love for Lambos didn't wane, I just felt how could I not appreciate these other wonderful supercars out there from Maserati, Ferrari, McLaren, Pagani, De-Tomaso, Alfa-Romeo, God the list goes on.......
Imagine, Alfa-Romeo built what was spectacular back in the 1930's and possibly the first "Supercar" The gorgeous 8C 2900B spider by Touring Superleggera......Look it up on the internet "young uns". It's sublime, art in motion.
So many cars stick out, from Mercedes 300SL Gullwing/and or convertible, Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari Daytona, the Shelby Cobra, De-Tomaso Pantera, Maserati Ghibli SS and boy was that a stonker as a convertible. The E-type, who can deny that!!! So many beautiful cars, that in one way or another were game changers in their own way.
Then back in the 90's how outrageous was the carbon fibre Mclaren F1, boasting a manual gearbox mated to BMW V12 and central driving position, of course lets not deny the F355 with a specific BHP power output per litre greater than the mighty "Big Mac F1" at only £80 odd grand versus £633,000.
Supercars are, what they are, cars that touch us deeply on a visceral level, that are an extension of what we search and look for as humans, the X-factor, the search for perfection and that Nirvana moment.
So yes technology moves on as does performance, but surely we're missing the point..... aren't we? We will never see the likes of them again, so the next time you see an old fart driving an equally old farts car, tip your hat, as the electric dyson supercar you'll be part ex-ing your Lambo, Ferrari, Maser, Benz etc for, came about because technology and marketing won you over..................
In the meantime, I'll continue on with my old, sub standard, under-performing and boring 355 spider and give a toot and a wave, as I pass those 0-60 in one millie-second, 450 mph top speed electric/hybrid "anti-radar, turbo charged paint JJ" cars queuing at the charge points..
God I love Supercars, I love em all....!!!!!!! And who honestly cares how fast yours/mine is, what you got mate, yeah mines faster, how much BHP you got, yeah mines got loads more, whats your nought to sixty, yeah mines faster, crap and rubbish......
I'm happy for me, I'm happy for you, we are all different and its all gravy dudes and gals!!! Let envy/hate lose and lets get on with really celebrating Supercars and those adventurous, spirited, characterful souls who played a part in their existence!!
I think that most people are missing the point that a 355 falls into Classic car territory now.
IMO they were horrible to drive back then and still are now. They were not particular quick (equivalent M3 of the day would give one a good run for its money) and thats even more amplified today with the introduction of most modern super-cars.
The equivalent era 993 Turbo and Gt2 would run rings around the Fezza in every sense of the word apart from looks.
IMO they were horrible to drive back then and still are now. They were not particular quick (equivalent M3 of the day would give one a good run for its money) and thats even more amplified today with the introduction of most modern super-cars.
The equivalent era 993 Turbo and Gt2 would run rings around the Fezza in every sense of the word apart from looks.
Turbo cab said:
I think that most people are missing the point that a 355 falls into Classic car territory now.
IMO they were horrible to drive back then and still are now. They were not particular quick (equivalent M3 of the day would give one a good run for its money) and thats even more amplified today with the introduction of most modern super-cars.
The equivalent era 993 Turbo and Gt2 would run rings around the Fezza in every sense of the word apart from looks.
My god some people just aren't getting it... <sigh>IMO they were horrible to drive back then and still are now. They were not particular quick (equivalent M3 of the day would give one a good run for its money) and thats even more amplified today with the introduction of most modern super-cars.
The equivalent era 993 Turbo and Gt2 would run rings around the Fezza in every sense of the word apart from looks.
Turbo cab said:
I think that most people are missing the point that a 355 falls into Classic car territory now.
IMO they were horrible to drive back then and still are now. They were not particular quick (equivalent M3 of the day would give one a good run for its money) and thats even more amplified today with the introduction of most modern super-cars.
The equivalent era 993 Turbo and Gt2 would run rings around the Fezza in every sense of the word apart from looks.
I would suggest looks are very important part of any supercar. Performance figures will continue to improve but that doesn't make a car a beautiful supercarIMO they were horrible to drive back then and still are now. They were not particular quick (equivalent M3 of the day would give one a good run for its money) and thats even more amplified today with the introduction of most modern super-cars.
The equivalent era 993 Turbo and Gt2 would run rings around the Fezza in every sense of the word apart from looks.
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