What makes a Supersportscar, and is this one too extreme?
Discussion
Lets use the term Supersportscar ( as now routinely used by Lamborghini and KTM etc ) instead of Supercar or Hypercar as these are loaded terms that can sidetrack a discussion .
If I was considering a supersportscar these are the features that I would be looking for ( and please tell me which ones I have missed out ) :
- affordable capital costs ( for arguments sake lets say a max of £200k for a new or 2nd hand car ) - the lower the better .
- affordable maintainance costs
- affordable warranty costs - preferably a car that doesnt need a warranty
( Money , gauche as it may be to some , is central to a realistic discussion )
- good outwards visibility
- narrow
- lightweight
- excellent brakes
- superb handling in the dry and also in the wet
- excellent torque-to-weight ratio
- sensible grip-to-torque ratio
- manual transmission for involvement , simplicity , and reliability
- mid-engined ( which can be front or rear mid-engined ) simply because i am bigotted .
- sub 3 seconds to 60 mph , and sub 7 seconds to 100 mph
- top speed totally irrelevant
- great drivetrain noises
MUST BE AS MUCH FUN TO DRIVE AT 30 MPH AS IT IS TO DRIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS .
- excellent reliability
- simplicity of design as this contributes to reliability
- outrageous looks because looks maketh the supersportscar .
What would be your criteria for a great supersportscar , and which actual car would you pick ?
Let's assume that this supersportscar would be a 2nd (or 9th ) car , so would not have to be a daily driver or even remotely practical .
I have in mind one car which meets these criteria , but it is much under-discussed to the point of being ignored .
I would love to hear from you before telling you which car I am thinking of
If I was considering a supersportscar these are the features that I would be looking for ( and please tell me which ones I have missed out ) :
- affordable capital costs ( for arguments sake lets say a max of £200k for a new or 2nd hand car ) - the lower the better .
- affordable maintainance costs
- affordable warranty costs - preferably a car that doesnt need a warranty
( Money , gauche as it may be to some , is central to a realistic discussion )
- good outwards visibility
- narrow
- lightweight
- excellent brakes
- superb handling in the dry and also in the wet
- excellent torque-to-weight ratio
- sensible grip-to-torque ratio
- manual transmission for involvement , simplicity , and reliability
- mid-engined ( which can be front or rear mid-engined ) simply because i am bigotted .
- sub 3 seconds to 60 mph , and sub 7 seconds to 100 mph
- top speed totally irrelevant
- great drivetrain noises
MUST BE AS MUCH FUN TO DRIVE AT 30 MPH AS IT IS TO DRIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS .
- excellent reliability
- simplicity of design as this contributes to reliability
- outrageous looks because looks maketh the supersportscar .
What would be your criteria for a great supersportscar , and which actual car would you pick ?
Let's assume that this supersportscar would be a 2nd (or 9th ) car , so would not have to be a daily driver or even remotely practical .
I have in mind one car which meets these criteria , but it is much under-discussed to the point of being ignored .
I would love to hear from you before telling you which car I am thinking of
Hi Super Sonic - You're clearly a Honda fan - the best engine makers ever ?
The late , great L.J.K . Setright thought so .
Hi Andrew - thanks for that list of omissions , the gravest of which was missing out ''steering feel '' - you are absolutely correct there .
So what's you're guess as to the supersportscar ?
The late , great L.J.K . Setright thought so .
Hi Andrew - thanks for that list of omissions , the gravest of which was missing out ''steering feel '' - you are absolutely correct there .
So what's you're guess as to the supersportscar ?
There are only a very few manual cars that can crack 60 in under 3 seconds. You are really in the realms of ultra lightweight track specials. I can't think of a single one I would want to won as too extreme. I have owned an Exige 430CUP and that comes close and was an amazing car but it still wont crack 60 in under 3 seconds.
If I was in the market, now, for a very fast manual car (but not 3 seconds to 60) It would be a TVR Sagaris or a Superformance GT40. I think Noble perhaps, but not keen on kit car interior. I don't think there is a single Porsche that would meet your criteria? Only a 992 GTS manual comes close. I certainly would not want to drive a track special on the public roads as would only manage 1 or 2 mornings a year.
If I was in the market, now, for a very fast manual car (but not 3 seconds to 60) It would be a TVR Sagaris or a Superformance GT40. I think Noble perhaps, but not keen on kit car interior. I don't think there is a single Porsche that would meet your criteria? Only a 992 GTS manual comes close. I certainly would not want to drive a track special on the public roads as would only manage 1 or 2 mornings a year.
JamieF78 said:
I’ve had my Exige 410 for 3 years and had very little issues, I had huge doubts about buying one for that reason but thankfully that turned out to be unfounded.
I'm truely pleased for you as owing a Lotus can be a real lottery in terms of reliability.A good friend sold his 2 year old Exige because of repeated transmission issues and purchased a new Emira. On the drive home from collecting it the wiper arm flew off and a large piece of interior trim became loose.
Trev450 said:
JamieF78 said:
I’ve had my Exige 410 for 3 years and had very little issues, I had huge doubts about buying one for that reason but thankfully that turned out to be unfounded.
I'm truely pleased for you as owing a Lotus can be a real lottery in terms of reliability.A good friend sold his 2 year old Exige because of repeated transmission issues and purchased a new Emira. On the drive home from collecting it the wiper arm flew off and a large piece of interior trim became loose.
Bispal said:
Trev450 said:
JamieF78 said:
I’ve had my Exige 410 for 3 years and had very little issues, I had huge doubts about buying one for that reason but thankfully that turned out to be unfounded.
I'm truely pleased for you as owing a Lotus can be a real lottery in terms of reliability.A good friend sold his 2 year old Exige because of repeated transmission issues and purchased a new Emira. On the drive home from collecting it the wiper arm flew off and a large piece of interior trim became loose.
I had an Atom 4 and it wouldn't be my pick as my only supersportscar after the ownership experience (except for track days and short local blasts). Awesome though it is for those limited purposes.
It is very uncomfortable on long drives (small thing but if you drive into the sun you have to hold your hand up to block the sun or you are blinded even with sunglasses - no windscreen so no sun visor), it has no luggage space (the "glove box" fills with water when it rains), it is a horrid thing to drive long distances in heavy rain (you have a choice of staying above 40mph and risking skids on the standard semi slick tyres or drowning) and you cannot drive it even slowly without ear protectors as the turbo wastegate sound emanates from about six inches behind your head (you can get a windscreen so you don't need a helmet but most Atom drivers think that is too effeminate).
It is very uncomfortable on long drives (small thing but if you drive into the sun you have to hold your hand up to block the sun or you are blinded even with sunglasses - no windscreen so no sun visor), it has no luggage space (the "glove box" fills with water when it rains), it is a horrid thing to drive long distances in heavy rain (you have a choice of staying above 40mph and risking skids on the standard semi slick tyres or drowning) and you cannot drive it even slowly without ear protectors as the turbo wastegate sound emanates from about six inches behind your head (you can get a windscreen so you don't need a helmet but most Atom drivers think that is too effeminate).
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