[CanyonDriver]

There are sports cars that don't have great racing capability. - Kinda takes the sport right out of it. Kinda makes them poser cars.. no ?

Depends on how you feel about the 1980 Corvette C3.

 

[Vtor]

Ah the coke bottle of corvettes! They make cool restomods though.

 

[Induced Oversteer]

Ok - let’s say I change the conversation and no longer seek to define what sports car should be. Instead, I’ll say that the best sporting machines are what makes the driver smile the most regardless of how many doors it has or it’s measurable accomplishments or what cool people think of it.

by that simple measure, I’m not inclined to buy/own/drive a mustang or a Camaro or a M version of an suv or a cayenne or a challenger or a Z car because all of the aforementioned are held back by inertia. They all do incredible things…. They all make me say “what the f$&k? How can we be going this fast around that corner?” And in doing so, they surprise me because my body doesn’t offer me the sensation that I’m going as fast as I am.

now, on the other hand, I can be going 37mph and slow to 20mph and heel-toe and downshift to 2nd, take a turn, and floor it, lose the tail, countersteer and correct…..shift to 3rd and remember that I don’t wish to shatter the law and find that I’m exhilarated. Oh and the radio kinda sucks and my knee is sore from the hard surfaces and I think to myself “I can see where they’ve saved $ on the interior.

in that slice of life, I rank the brz and gr86 #1 and #2 - the margin between them so close that I’m not at all invested in who is #1 and who is #2.

eff the mopar sedan that has loads more power but is nearly 4,000lbs because driving a couch isn’t my idea of fun.

 

[Noobtber]

They all make me say “what the f$&k? How can we be going this fast around that corner?” And in doing so, they surprise me because my body doesn’t offer me the sensation that I’m going as fast as I am.

Sounds like the optimal car is a base model Kia soul with 900 treadwear Eco tires. You'll be getting screeching tires and the sensation of speed in a school zone

 

[Induced Oversteer]

Sounds like the optimal car is a base model Kia soul with 900 treadwear Eco tires. You'll be getting screeching tires and the sensation of speed in a school zone

of course. Because that’s exactly what my post communicates

 

[BRZerker]

Haha some of my favorite canyon tires are 300tw or higher. More slip, more fun.

 

[TxDivemaster]

eff the mopar sedan that has loads more power but is nearly 4,000lbs because driving a couch isn’t my idea of fun.

to me there is nothing attractive about a 300 or a charger. i walk right past them at meets, as i do the camaros rustangs and challengers. id much rather see a classic version of those 3 than a new one .

 

[Noobtber]

of course. Because that’s exactly what my post communicates

Glad we got that cleared up

 

[bonelesschicknstrips]

Probably a hot take but I don’t think motortrend is great for this type of information. I would trust a best sports cars list from car and driver more than them

 

[CanyonDriver]

Haha some of my favorite canyon tires are 300tw or higher. More slip, more fun.

Agreed. It's a touch safer with varying weather conditions by altitude as well.

 

[CanyonDriver]

Ah the coke bottle of corvettes! They make cool restomods though.

I don't consider Deloreon's sports cars either, even after the motor swaps. A shame, considering they tend to have some of the essential elements outside of lacking power.

 

[Vtor]

I had rental Mirage last year and that was FUN on wheels! Riot of that 3-banger w CVT. It sounds better than 86 twins! Thanks Subaru.

In my opinion, it's easier to hoon when you got power vs relying on momentum and unpreditableness that comes with it. I also don't have benefit of canyons or sparsely populated roads without constant fear of performance driving awards. So we track, autox, etc under more controlled conditions.

 

[TxDivemaster]

I don't consider Deloreon's sports cars either, even after the motor swaps. A shame, considering they tend to have some of the essential elements outside of lacking power.

but it had a flux caopacitor, that right there made it ahead of its time

 

[Bytor325]

I’ve had a lot of cars since my e46 coupe including multiple bmws and Mercedes. All nice cars but none were as fun to drive as the e46. Have had the gr fir 2 months. Wife asked me the other day how I was liking it and I told her most fun I’ve had since the e46. It’s not killer fast (neither was the e) but it’s got speed/torque when I need/want it based on how I enjoy driving.

 

[tiger1964]

BMW's Z series 2 seaters are sports cars, plus the 507 series from the late 50s. Otherwise they are builders of sports sedans.

Plus the old 328 roadster -- but I doubt you can get a steering wheel for one for $40K.

 

[las27563481]

In my mind the Lotus Elise is/was the gold standard for a Sports car. Utilitarian, 2 door rear wheel drive roadster, totally unpractical. Meat and potatoes for spirited driving. It wasn't a grand tourer, supercar, muscle car, hypercar or fit/belong in any other class - uninvited! Did I mention it was super light. It's a to-full-scale go cart.

That's just me.

I had a friend who had an Elise. He kept it 6 months and traded it for a M class BMW. Before all that he was a dyed in the wool Nissan/Datsun guy, old and new Z cars, Fairlady's, Nismo's, etc.