Q: poll
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Come on. A Super car? No, but it is super fun!!
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It's a SUPER FUN CAR, how bout that???
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I voted "exotic", yes. "Supercar", no.
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Supercar?? That's apples to oranges. Compared to that class, the Elise, price-wise anyway, is merely an entry-level sports car. Don't try to make it more than it is or you'll be disappointed. Go drive it and have some super fun.
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Supercar examples:
-Koenigsegg
-Ferrari
-Lamborghini
-McLaren
-Zonda
-Bugatti
Sports car examples:
-Elise
-Boxster
-Z4
-Miata
-Caterham
Is the Elise a Supercar, no way. Super fun, super beautiful, super handling. Super car, nope.
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Coming from the other poll...yes the Elise/Exige is definitely exotic...but it is absolutely not a supercar. I'd say its not a supercar for two reasons, 0-60 time and top speed. In my mind the defining attribute of a supercar is that it can go over 200 mph and do it in a phenomenal time. The ForcedFed 380 package can make your Elise ALMOST a supercar with 0-60 times around, and possibly under 3 seconds (which only a few supercars can touch). BUT, if you ever got on that looooong straight somewhere in Montana or something when the Lambo or Koenigsegg can hit top speed...you're toast. Thats why its not a supercar
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The Elise is neither an exotic nor supercar, IMO.
Supercars: vehicles that are impossible to obtain, limited production, sold only to the elite, and with performance figures that are absolutely ridiculous, usually using the latest racing technology to make a road car that is truly in a league of its own.
- McLaren F1Bugatti VeyronKoenigsegg CCXPagani Zonda FFerrari Enzo, F50, F40Porsche Carrera GT
Exotic cars: cars that are difficult to obtain due to price ($100k+), and have all-around awesomeness (body, power, handling, and interior)
- Lamborghini Murcielago, GallardoFerrari 360, 599Porsche 911 GT3Lotus EspritBMW Z8Ford GTHonda NSX
Sports cars: vehicles that are designed for the middle class that have good performance, though usually at the expense of something elise.
- Chevrolet CorvettePorsche CaymanLotus EliseBMW M CoupeHonda S2000
The only cars that I can think of that are difficult to place are the Viper and Z06.
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Transio, interesting way of using exotic as a class by itself.
I think exotic has more to do with look and construction (exotic look and exotic materials) than price tag and performance.
The british magazine EVO uses Supercar, GT, sports car and sport coupe classifications. Based on that the Viper and Z06 could be either GT or Sports car. EVO classes those two as GTs but the Viper GTS-R as a supercar.
Food for thought.
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Originally Posted by transio The Elise is neither an exotic nor supercar, IMO.
Supercars: vehicles that are impossible to obtain, limited production, sold only to the elite, and with performance figures that are absolutely ridiculous, usually using the latest racing technology to make a road car that is truly in a league of its own.
- McLaren F1Bugatti VeyronKoenigsegg CCXPagani Zonda FFerrari Enzo, F50, F40Porsche Carrera GT
Exotic cars: cars that are difficult to obtain due to price ($100k+), and have all-around awesomeness (body, power, handling, and interior)
- Lamborghini Murcielago, GallardoFerrari 360, 599Porsche 911 GT3Lotus EspritBMW Z8Ford GTHonda NSX
Sports cars: vehicles that are designed for the middle class that have good performance, though usually at the expense of something elise.
- Chevrolet CorvettePorsche CaymanLotus EliseBMW M CoupeHonda S2000
The only cars that I can think of that are difficult to place are the Viper and Z06.
Transio,
I think I've agreed with all of your posts except this one. I think you've got the supercar definition to the T, but the problem lies within the 2 cars you left out. I know many would disagree out of principle...but the Viper is definitely exotic. Its a sports car that falls within an elite performance class...and just look at it...unmistakable and outlandish styling. Rare and beautiful. The Z06...C6, is a supercar. I had to choke down my pride while writing that...the reason being is that its still base from the corvette. Both cars are under 100K. The Z06 is stomping all other "exotics" and "supercars" in every review I've read. Its just hard to accept because its a Corvette. If you were to throw $50K more down on your Elise/Exige to enhance your performance, styling, and plush interior ... would that make it exotic/supercar???
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rush,
I agree that the z06 and Viper lay down "exotic" class performance figures. However, they do so at the expense of luxury. The interiors of both those cars are on par with a premium Mustang. That alone should exclude them from the exotic class. Furthermore, the Z06 looks virtually identical to a C6. I don't think anyone would consider a V8 Miata a "supercar".
To confuse things further, there is the Ariel Atom. Where do you place it? It outperforms most supercars, but costs little more than an Exige. Personally, I call it a sports car. It has incredible performance figures, but at the expense of other things - specifically, any semblance of creature comforts. It's pretty much a scaled-up, road legal shifter cart, IMO. A shifter cart would beat an Enzo around an autocross track, but that doesn't make IT a supercar, right? I also feel the Elise touches on that category of cars that has outstanding performance and looks, but at the significant expense of other things. Namely, their performance comes largely from what they DON'T have.
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no
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Originally Posted by transio rush,
I agree that the z06 and Viper lay down "exotic" class performance figures. However, they do so at the expense of luxury. The interiors of both those cars are on par with a premium Mustang. That alone should exclude them from the exotic class. Furthermore, the Z06 looks virtually identical to a C6. I don't think anyone would consider a V8 Miata a "supercar".
To confuse things further, there is the Ariel Atom. Where do you place it? It outperforms most supercars, but costs little more than an Exige. Personally, I call it a sports car. It has incredible performance figures, but at the expense of other things - specifically, any semblance of creature comforts. It's pretty much a scaled-up, road legal shifter cart, IMO. A shifter cart would beat an Enzo around an autocross track, but that doesn't make IT a supercar, right? I also feel the Elise touches on that category of cars that has outstanding performance and looks, but at the significant expense of other things. Namely, their performance comes largely from what they DON'T have.
Steve,
Like I said in the other thread, you always do a good job of backing your case...but thank goodness we live in a free country and can agree to disagree. I'd consider the atom a supercar if it can go over 200mph...I don't know the spec on that. Everythign else about it (I think) says supercar. BUT I was recently at a dealership in Columbus which had a Saleen S7. Since I drove up from Cincy they let me play in it (not drive...just play). I asked the salesman "HOLY CRAP do you know what that is?" he says "yes". I say "can I sit in it", he says "no". I gave him a and he says "I'd let you but you won't fit". I say "I drove up here in an Elise"...he says "that is way tighter than an Elise". so they finally let me get in it...absolutely couldn't move. this is the same for every lambo and ferrari I've been in. yeah the interiors look nice...but you're not going to get any road love from the lady friend in any of these cars. If thats the "comfort" that the Elise lacks....then ok its a sports car
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Originally Posted by rush If thats the "comfort" that the Elise lacks....then ok its a sports car "Comfort" may be the wrong word. The Elise's interior is absolutely barren. It's primarily composed with exposed frame members, and sparsely covered with flimsy plastic sheathing. It looks on par with a kit car or race car interior IMO.
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Originally Posted by transio "Comfort" may be the wrong word. The Elise's interior is absolutely barren. It's primarily composed with exposed frame members, and sparsely covered with flimsy plastic sheathing. It looks on par with a kit car or race car interior IMO.
Sorry to change the subject...but real quick...what does "IMO" stand for? and while you're answering my stupid questions...what about ""?
and as not to hijack the thread....
I still don't think that cost/comfort are factors in the equation of an exotic. I think they are just characteristics of most exotic cars. The S7 I referred to earlier had a very plush cockpit...but you look behind the seat and that all ends real quick. There is virtually nothing between you and the rocket you're strapped to besides a bunch of heat shielding that looks like they tossed a grenade of aluminum foil in the back which was strewn about about the tubing structural reinforcement which was bare. The S7 is exotic and its a supercar. Yeah if you're going to charge half a million dollars you can put some worthless crap in the cockpit. Don't downgrade Lotus because they gave the "common" man what every little boy dreams about having but only few end up being able to afford...and exotic car
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In my opinon, they all do that, sir!