Fun > numbers...
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From: Sacramento, CA
There has to be a balance of both. A first gen miata is engaging to drive but I wouldn't call it fun, it's just too slow to be fun. I drove a student's 700 hp Shelby Super Snake and it was fast (sorta) in a straight line but wasn't fun to drive on track at all. My supercharged Elise was very engaging and had just barely enough performance (1953 lbs, 250 crank hp) to be fun overall. I think a S2000 has about the right mix of engagement and performance.
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Originally Posted by CosmosMpower' timestamp='1446821527' post='23796628
There has to be a balance of both. A first gen miata is engaging to drive but I wouldn't call it fun, it's just too slow to be fun. I drove a student's 700 hp Shelby Super Snake and it was fast (sorta) in a straight line but wasn't fun to drive on track at all. My supercharged Elise was very engaging and had just barely enough performance (1953 lbs, 250 crank hp) to be fun overall. I think a S2000 has about the right mix of engagement and performance.
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Any conversation talking about fun is going to be subjective by nature. I agree that overall speed increases the fun factor for me because it increases the fear factor and I like being a little scared. If my heart isn't pumping a little faster then to me it simply isn't as fun.
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From: Sacramento, CA
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Boston
I use to own a Maserati and it's all about flair, style and emotion. Sure, Maserati won World Championships and Indy, but that was decades ago. Maserati hasn't had world class leader since the Bora. They do make beautiful cars with some of the best looking interiors in the last 30 years. Italian cars never deliver on price point. There is always some cost cutting. Heck, even Ferrari is not immune to this.
Right now, Maserati's Achilles heal is the time from design to dealer's showroom. I'd like to see them shed the steel and mimic similar construction as Tata is doing. Sergio seems like he's content with Maserati and focus is on or has always been on the long dollar with Alfa (goes back to my earlier statement on taking too long to get product out).
Right now, Maserati's Achilles heal is the time from design to dealer's showroom. I'd like to see them shed the steel and mimic similar construction as Tata is doing. Sergio seems like he's content with Maserati and focus is on or has always been on the long dollar with Alfa (goes back to my earlier statement on taking too long to get product out).
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Very true point, holds true for m3s, vettes, Zs, etc but I wonder if that's a function of demand or supply.
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From: Palo Alto
A friend of mine had a Porsche Cayman. He was at a Porsche Club track day with one of the factory drivers (sorry, it was about 10 years back and the details of who are now quite fuzzy). Anyway, the factory driver commented that the Cayman was the best driving of the current cars. It wasn't the fastest around the track but it was the best road going Porsche in his view because it had the best balance between feel, usable grip, breakaway etc. As a long time Miata owner I really understand this. The S2000 is a car that also really hits those points (though the steering feel was never as good as the early Miatas).
