Your opinion...what defines a Sports Car?
02-09-2003, 10:11 AM
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Your opinion...what defines a Sports Car?
My brother and I had a long, spirited discussion last night concerning sports cars and what defines one.
It started out by him claiming all sports cars are convertibles. The Mercedes SL series are awesome cars, but I wouldn
It started out by him claiming all sports cars are convertibles. The Mercedes SL series are awesome cars, but I wouldn
02-09-2003, 10:40 AM
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It must have two doors and seats (although some 2+2s are sportscars). Be high performance in power, weight, suspension, and tires. Not necessarily a convertible. Nothing personal, but your brother is crazy by not calling the Miata a sports car. If it weren't for the Miata, who knows, there may not have been an S2000, Z3/4, SLK, MR 2 Spyder, etc. Now a roadster is a 2 seat convertible. Any car can be made into a race track qualifer, so that one goes out the window.
02-09-2003, 11:35 AM
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I'll leave it to y'all to decide the requirements for being a sports car.
But I know two things that in my opinion instantly disqualify a car from that designation:
1) Automatic transmission
2) A back seat
But I know two things that in my opinion instantly disqualify a car from that designation:
1) Automatic transmission
2) A back seat
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02-09-2003, 12:02 PM
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I remember reading somewhere that in the early 1900's, the British defined a sports car as anything a gentleman could not enter without stooping or removing his hat. By the time the 30's rolled around, the definition was a fast two-seater.
I don't know when the exact time the term "sports car" was first coined, tho.
I don't know when the exact time the term "sports car" was first coined, tho.
02-09-2003, 12:17 PM
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2 doors, two seat (ok 2+2 maybe), convertible, light weight, small, great handling. enough power for spirited driving. I usually visualize the 60's triumphs, mgs, fiats, astons, etc.
Fixed roof, high powered cars usually fall into the muscle car or exotic category.
Fixed roof, high powered cars usually fall into the muscle car or exotic category.