Lookin at the Shelby

Originally Posted by Lemers

What a supercar should be:

1. Expensive high end car
2. it must be very fast
3. sporting handling to match the speed and power
4. it should be a refined and exodic design
5. price should be of an amount respective to the car's limited nature
6. marketed by automakers to be unusual
7. limited production specials from an "elite" automaker
8. models that appeal to "hardcore enthusiasts" from manufacturers on the fringe of the car industry

I wouldnt put the Shelby or GTR in "supercar" catigory. Im not saying that they cant keep up with some supercars but I will argue that with parked next to a true supercar anyone can tell the difference.

Originally Posted by Lemers

So I took my wife and her explorer in to the dealer today to fix a creak in the drivers side door. We are also considering trading it for the new explorer so we went into the showroom. The first thing to catch my eye is a 2012 black Shelby. Man it was really nice. I joked with my wife about trading in my Z for it. Everytime we talk about my Z she states how good of a wife she is for letting me a father of 3 have a 2 seat car. So what do I say? "The Shelby has 4 seats!" she wasn't amused. She asked me why I didn't get it to begin with. I thought about the Shelby, but in the end I'm just too cheap to but a $55k car. Maybe when I'm old and retired, but not now.

Originally Posted by Dark Sarcasm

My opinion is the Mustang GT500 is a brute power monster and not a Supercar. Much like the Viper. Just because it made it around VIR quicker than some other cars does not mean that it did with any sort of prowess. For all I know the Mustangs time consisted of white knockle ragged edge driving while the Ford GT was composed and controlled around the track. My guess would be whoever drove any of those cars around VIR would not pick the GT500 as their first choice.

I am not saying that the GT500 isnt a badass car, I just dont think it will ever be a "supercar"

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

I think the GT500 is just a few points shy of greatness.

-155mph speed limiter is kinda lame
-nearly 30# 2-piece driveshaft? Fail
-They STILL have transmission issues
-285's out back when they lay down 485 to the tires!?
-Solid rear-axle and no Fays setup?

However, in its defense...

-485whp!!!
-Fully forged and nearly bulletproof motor!
-Very nice interior/NAV setup!
-RECARO's!!!

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Wrong. There are tons of mustangs, so I agree on that point. However, Viper production is EXTREMELY low. What is it, 20-25K cars produced...since 1992? It is a rare car, and it has the power and handling to land it among the best. True supercar.

Originally Posted by Dark Sarcasm

Well said.




I guess I consider the Viper, GT500, and Vette ZR1 to be American Muscle cars and not Supercars. Although the ZR1 is very very close.

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Also steve, I would rule out the s2000. I have heard they have awful steering feel, and are girly cars.

Originally Posted by Lug

I'm starting to understand "porsche" logic more and more thanks to this fine thread.

Originally Posted by Lemers

I think the viper lacks the refinement of a supercar. I put it in the highend corvette relm. I still wouldn't put it in the same category as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG or Audi R8 or Most Ferraris or Lamborghinis

Originally Posted by Isamu

someone at a porsche dealership once told me it had to be at or above 200$ to qualify for a super car...

Originally Posted by MC

everyone knows its $100K

Originally Posted by wikipedia

Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car". Stated in more general terms: "it must be very fast, with sporting handling to match," "it should be sleek and eye-catching" and its price should be "one in a rarefied atmosphere of its own
However, the proper application of the term is subjective and disputed, especially among enthusiasts. So-called vehicles are typically out of the ordinary and are marketed by automakers to be perceived by the public as unusual. The supercar can take many forms including limited production specials from an "elite" automaker, standard looking cars made by mainstream companies that hide massive power and performance, as well as models that appeal to "hardcore enthusiasts" from "manufacturers on the fringe of the car industry."

Originally Posted by Isamu

this brings into question then, the term exotic...

are all exotics super cars? or are all super cars exotics?

it's all subjective in nature... like whats a sports car...

Originally Posted by Lemers

I wouldn't say that...but I would say that most American cars are too common to qualify.

As for american made the one the pops into mind is the ford GT. I would call it a super car.