Visually Underwhelming, Performance Overwhelming

[ImprezaAddict]

I think I said it right. Cars that are visually underwhelming, but performance overwhelming.

I just noticed this today doing the Muscle Car Competition.

The '62 (???) Buick Special doesn't look all that, but it packs serious punch.
Same with the Chevelle SS454, at least for me. Its the one I used for this. I thought it would be just another muscle car. But it also won me the Hot Rod Competition.

So, any others?

 

[Orion]

I think I said it right. Cars that are visually underwhelming, but performance overwhelming.

I just noticed this today doing the Muscle Car Competition.

The '62 (???) Buick Special doesn't look all that, but it packs serious punch.
Same with the Chevelle SS454, at least for me. Its the one I used for this. I thought it would be just another muscle car. But it also won me the Hot Rod Competition.

So, any others?

You mean like sleeper cars?

Can't blame you, because you might have not known about the term sleeper cars. Means the same thing as what you posted about.

 

[ImprezaAddict]

Sleeper car? Never heard of it. That would've been the last thing to come into my mind. Sorry.

 

[NOSBLAST]

I think I get the term, but I saw in a magazine this Subaru Impreza.
It was basically stick formit's visuals and it had a tonne of engine modifications, including a 100hp wet-shot of NOS.
That's basically what it might mean.

 

[RICHARDO]

The early Imprezas and Evos are uber sleepers. They look like regular ho-hum sedans, but they're certainly not!

 

[Gil]

In GT4 the most "cutesy" car, that just out runs everything within about 100 HP is the Lotus Elan.
I looks like the "father of Miata" (because it is)
But the things it will do with about 120HP!
Maxed out it will run with the big British Sport Coupes.

 

[Tulok]

the Renault 5 turbo '80
in my opinion looks weak, but it was keeping up with the 400HP Jensen III

 

[-Cheezman-]

The term "sleeper" is generally reserved for two types of cars.

1. Cars that look stock, but are extensively modded in suspension, drive train, and engine departments respectfully. This can be applied to just about every car, save for "super cars" (Ferrari, Ultima, Lamborghini.etc).

or

2. Normally slow, boring cars, such as a Ford Festiva, modded so extensively, that it ultimately is a different car - Ford Festiva SHOGUN.

As for a car, I have to say the Subaru Sports Wagon, a wagon is, by nature deemed a grocery getting soccer (football for everyone else) mom mover, but, the STi Sports Wagon packs plenty of punch, and arguably, is better than the sedan version.

 

[Tulok]

also may i add, the first generation CR-Xs are WAY sleeper cars, capapble of 15's stock, and the first FWD to be featured in Muscle Car magazine(!)

 

[Duke]

the Renault 5 turbo '80
in my opinion looks weak, but it was keeping up with the 400HP Jensen III

As somebody who got my license in 1981, I have to disagree that the Renault 5 Turbo looks "weak". I think it looks like a grenade with the pin out, just waiting to explode.

By the way, "sleeper" does not necessarily mean highly-modified cars. Even stock cars with big performance are sleepers if they are dull or quiet-looking.

On this note, my vote for sleeper is the nu-GTO/Monaro. The Monaro in fact is a little more aggressive looking so I vote for the Pontiac version. The nu-GTO has a very capable chassis and boatloads of torque, and it's quite fun to drive.

 

[shangoob]

Holden Commodore maybe.

Q: may I ask this . Is there any contact between Chevy and Holden?

 

[fordgt150]

This is what I go for in GT4 cars that look weak and slow but are fun to drive and very track capable...lets see...gt4 uh...jaguar s type...mazda 6, and the mecury coguar

 

[-Cheezman-]

Holden Commodore maybe.

Q: may I ask this . Is there any contact between Chevy and Holden?

They are both part of General Motors (GM).

 

[Scaff]

A classic example of a sleeper for its day is the Lotus Carlton, very little externally suggested it was much different to the Carlton Gsi...

...if you knew cars you would spot the arches, front bumper, sideskirts and little yellow badges, yet to most people the basic profile is identical.

However the changes turned a reasonable four-door saloon car into the fast production four-door on the market.

That's the sort of thing I class as a sleeper.


Regards

Scaff

 

[opelgt1969]

A classic example of a sleeper for its day is the Lotus Carlton, very little externally suggested it was much different to the Carlton Gsi...

...if you knew cars you would spot the arches, front bumper, sideskirts and little yellow badges, yet to most people the basic profile is identical.

However the changes turned a reasonable four-door saloon car into the fast production four-door on the market.

That's the sort of thing I class as a sleeper.


Regards

Scaff

That kind of reminds me of the 60's Sumbeam Alpine. Most were of the 4 cylinder except the ones with the little "TIGER" emblem on the side. My brother used to have two 67 sumbeams but they only had the 4 cylinders.

 

[shangoob]

They are both part of General Motors (GM).

That what I thought ,

Lumina SS

Commodore SS​

 

[Muzaffar]

The best sleeper is got to be the Infinity G20 or the Toyota Chaser.Both looks like family sedans but packs a punch in terms of power.Those cars could put even the best of sports cars (within that p/w ratio) to shame (but not all,some could just smoke em')

 

[PeterJB]

For me it has to be this:

The Mercedes-Benz CL600 looks no more original than a Toyota Carina, but it goes like a Nissan Skyline! in fact, it's better!

 

[Parnelli Bone]

The best sleeper is got to be the Infinity G20 or the Toyota Chaser.Both looks like family sedans but packs a punch in terms of power.Those cars could put even the best of sports cars (within that p/w ratio) to shame (but not all,some could just smoke em')

I can't put a note in this thread till I've driven more cars in GT4, but the Infiniti G20 is a great sleeper. It just looks so ordinary you'd think it would never win a race outside the Sunday & Beginner FF Cups. 👍

 

[ImprezaAddict]

The Mazdaspeed 6 is impressive, at least in terms of braking. It has great brakes, even though its heavy. (At least I think so, 'cause a Mazda 6 here is heavy, and they say its not that much lighter)

 

[Jetboy.]

Most of the trucks I believe would be applicable for this. The Silverado SS defies it's own weight very well and can hit 170 mph stock. The Dodge...well everyone knows who he is. And the Tacoma TRD....oh my. A truck that handles as well as a 350Z? It's beautiful. A light-build version can decimate many a car.

The Neon SRT-4 and Ginetta G4 both have been proven to win the Like The Wind race at the test course....against LMP's. Who would expect that?

Personal Experience: The Old GTO when strapped to a FC Tranny and a 1.5-way differential can be quite the versitile car. Power, yet refined. Put some more goodies in it and you can take on a few racing cars. Benefits to being the lightest Muscle Car (aside from maybe the Cuda.).




Cheers,
Jetboy

 

[AyJay]

Nissan 240RS??

99% of people think it looks 🤬, but can really hold its own (and is fun to drift!!

 

[RICHARDO]

It tops out at 130mph, very VERY quickly.

 

[Jetboy.]

Yep, in about 28.2 seconds.

But the Ford RS200 bests it by another three seconds to 130.



Cheers,
Jetboy

 

[Tornado]

the Renault 5 turbo '80

Compared to the Le Car, the 5 Turbo is about as far away from a sleeper as you can get.

Nissan 240RS??

The same for that.

 

[RICHARDO]

Ok, how about a regular Clio then? God knows the thing is a French go-kart.