FWD Sports Car?

[TVC]

Do you think a sports car can be FWD? Is there such thing as a FWD sports car?

I think there is - Lotus Elan M100.

Also I am talking about the true definition of a sports car not a car that has a little more power than another version of it. I mean a car that was truly made to be a true sports car.

 

[Northstar]

Wait, what was the question?

 

[TVC]

Wait, what was the question?

But the Celica is a sport compact not a sports car.

 

[Northstar]

But the Celica is a sportcompact not a sports car.

💡

The compact part is a sub-class.

 

[TVC]

💡

The compact part is a sub-class.

I don't really think so. A sub-class of a sporting car yes that could be true. But I don't think it is a sub-class of a sports car.

 

[McLaren]

Survey says:

 

[TVC]

Survey says:

Sport compacts.

 

[slidesquad#1]

Define sports car...

 

[Northstar]

I don't really think so. A sub-class of a sporting car yes that could be true. But I don't think it is a sub-class of a sports car.

This forum needs a facepalm smiley.

 

[TVC]

This forum needs a facepalm smiley.

I really do not think a sport compact is a sports car. It's just a compact car/economy car that is faster than the base model. Not really a sports car.

Just look at any definition of a sports car.

"a low small usually 2-passenger automobile designed for quick response, easy maneuverability, and high-speed driving"

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sports car

 

[McLaren]

Sport compacts.

They're still sports cars. They were designed for sport, they do very well in the sport of automotive racing.

Your definition of sports car doesn't define mine, or others.

 

[Rykon Zero]

Fits the definition of a sports car in my mind, powerful, good in turns, fun to drive.

 

[TVC]

They're still sports cars. They were designed for sport, they do very well in the sport of automotive racing.

Your definition of sports car doesn't define mine, or others.

So an S65 is a sports car?

I am talking about the classic definition of a sports car. A small, low, and at times open top car.

One FWD car that really fits that is the M100 Elan and even then a lot of people consider that a "sporty" car not an actual sports car.

 

[Northstar]

Fiat Barchetta

You're wrong, just stop humiliating yourself.

 

[TVC]

Fiat Barchetta
You're wrong, just stop humiliating yourself.

How am I wrong by saying a sport compact is not a sports car?

I do think a FWD car can be a sports car. A sport compact? not really. An M100 Elan sure.

Notice how I never said "There are no FWD sports car"

Then you posted the Fiat Barchetta to argue against me saying a sport compact is not a sports car?

 

[Tornado]

I do think a FWD car can be a sports car. A sports compact? not really. An M100 Elan sure.

I don't really see the difference between an M100 Elan and a ZZT230 Celica.

 

[Northstar]

How am I wrong by saying a sport compact is not a sports car?

I do think a FWD car can be a sports car. A sport compact? not really. An M100 Elan sure.

Notice how I never said "There are no FWD sports car"

Then you posted the Fiat Barchetta to argue against me saying a sport compact is not a sports car?

Just because a sports car is compact doesn't make it a sport compact. It was designed as a sports car. By your logic a MX-5 isn't a sports car(which it is).

Also, your first post kind of says you don't think there are any.
Kind of like me saying "Is there such a thing as snow?"
Why would I ask if I already knew the answer?

 

[YSSMAN]

I own one.




In terms of what you're calling a "sports car," you seem to be referencing a roadster. They used to do a few convertible versions of the various sports coupes, but that's been dead for a while. Like my Celica for instance. They used to do an open-top version of that, but all of the structural rigidity went out the window. Which for the most part made the Saab 9-3 Aero and the VW Eos 3.2 the only "sporty" FWD convertibles left on the market. No one who is serious about sports cars will buy a convertible FWD car. It just doesn't work all that well.

 

[Tornado]

Brad, that's a Camry coupe.

But seriously, looking over the M100 Elan more closely, I still can't understand why it could be considered a sports car, but a final-gen Celica couldn't. I can understand the case being made against stuff like the ITR and the Civic Type R and Focus RS and such, but not the Celica.

 

[Smallhorses]

TVC: Alfa Romeo would like words with you too...

 

[slidesquad#1]

So apart from the oldies, The Elise, Lotus 7/Caterhams and the MX5, what other modern cars would you classify as being sports cars?

The barchetta is small, fairly low, and quite open topped. And it's probably comparable to a NA MX5 in terms of straightline performance at least. Why isn't it a sports car?

 

[TVC]

Just because a sports car is compact doesn't make it a sport compact. It was designed as a sports car. By your logic a MX-5 isn't a sports car(which it is).

Also, your first post kind of says you don't think there are any.
Kind of like me saying "Is there such a thing as snow?"
Why would I ask if I already knew the answer?

You realize a sport compact is a type of car classification like a sports car? It's not a sports car that is small it is a compact car that is faster than usual.

I was simply starting a conversation and a thread. I wanted to see what other people thought about the subject. What was I suppose to say? "The M100 is a sports car." Everyone would be like "" because it isn't really a good way to start a thread. If I wanted to know the answer I wouldn't have even started this thread. There are a lot of other places on the internet where this has been discussed. I simply wanted to know what the people here thought.

 

[McLaren]

So an S65 is a sports car?

Where on earth did you pull that from? It's just a saloon with a giant engine and a lot of power.

I am talking about the classic definition of a sports car. A small, low, and at times open top car.

What do you think a sports compact is?

 

[TVC]

Maybe I should change the first post since some people are replying like I said there is no such thing?

I personally think there is. I was just saying I don't think a sport compact is really a sports car and I really haven't ever heard anyone say one is until now.

 

[niky]

The only FWD car that really fits that is the M100 Elan and even then a lot of people consider that a "sporty" car not an actual sports car.

Made by Lotus, who only make sportscars and racecars.

Full double-wishbone suspension.

All-aluminum backbone chassis, similar to the Elise.

What?

From Merriam Webster, free of any liberal/conservative editing efforts by the general net-populace:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sports car

Main Entry: sports car
Function: noun
Date: 1928 (and free, apparently, of all this new age rewriting of car classes)

: a low small usually 2-passenger automobile designed for quick response, easy maneuverability, and high-speed driving

-

Low, small, 2-passenger-plus-legless-midgets, designed for quick response, easy maneuverability and high speed driving:

-

What different people think will obviously differ based on their biases. And legal car classes don't often agree with "common sense", though neither side has very much of it.

But anyone who dismisses this:

As unworthy of their time because it's not a sportscar is missing out on a hell of a lot of fun.

But of course, you could make the same argument about heavyweight vehicles, too...

I remember reading one report complaining about how tail-happy the Ford/Mazda Ranger platform is... seriously... that's a bad thing?

 

[Smallhorses]

Here's another that you can't dismiss as sport compact.
It's no a fancier or faster version of an existing car in their model range, but it was designed as a FWD sports coupe.

 

[TVC]

Where on earth did you pull that from? It's just a saloon with a giant engine and a lot of power.

And it's a sport sedan just like a Civic Si is a sport compact. Just because something has sport in the name doesn't mean it is a sports car.

What do you think a sports compact is?

A compact (economy) car that is faster than usual.

As unworthy of their time because it's not a sportscar is missing out on a hell of a lot of fun.

Of course. I don't understand why some people think just because a car is not a sports car it is bad (or at least act that way). Not every car was made for the same purpose.

 

[McLaren]

And it's a sport sedan just like a Civic Si is a sport compact. Just because something has sport in the name doesn't mean it is a sports car.

It's the farthest thing from a sport sedan. A M5 is a sport sedan. A E55 is a sport sedan. My TLS is a sport sedan. They're all designed for sport. The S65 wasn't. Mercedes just upped the power, & new rims. It's still just a big luxury sedan at heart.

A compact (economy) car that is faster than usual.

You're just contradicting yourself, now.

A small, low, and at times open top car.

The cars you called sport compacts are just that, small & low cars. The ITR is a small, low sports car.

 

[Northstar]

And it's a sport sedan just like a Civic Si is a sport compact. Just because something has sport in the name doesn't mean it is a sports car.

A compact (economy) car that is faster than usual.

You're really confusing me with all the contradicting you are doing. A car is either a sports car or it isn't, it doesn't matter the size, amount of doors/seats or even the engine. If a car is fast it's fast, end of story. If you really want to get into specifics, there is no such thing as a sports car.

 

[TVC]

It's the farthest thing from a sport sedan. A M5 is a sport sedan. A E55 is a sport sedan. My TLS is a sport sedan. They're all designed for sport. The S65 wasn't. Mercedes just upped the power, & new rims. It's still just a big luxury sedan at heart.

The S65 is a sports sedan you are the first person I have heard to not say it is.

You're just contradicting yourself, now.

How? That is what a sport compact car is really. That isn't the exact or whole definition but that is one thing that makes it one. Just look at the name "sport compact car." It's just a faster economy car.

The cars you called sport compacts are just that, small & low cars. The ITR is a small, low sports car.

But it is a sport compact. I have never heard anyone consider a sport compact a true sports car. Sporty? I have heard people call them sporty. Sporting? Maybe but not an actual sports car. Sport compact is a classification like sports car. The Integra Type R is a great car but I wouldn't really consider it a sports car. (Even owners/honda fans consider it a sport compact and not a sports car).