What vehicle do you drive?

Burren

Burren

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Lightning Lord Rule said:
I was curious, so I looked up the Ferrari 458 curb weight since the C8 is essentially based on it. So much so that some of the chassis parts are nearly identical to that Ferrari.

A 458 is about 3450lbs, and the base C8 stingray is around 3600. Not too bad considering the different price points.


I too share the sentiment: light weight is better in general. I mean if you're setting lap times or doing SCCA racing, sure who cares, it's all about speed. But who's doing that? Maybe it's a bigger % of the sports car market now that overall car sales have tanked? Eh, whatever. The point is that lap times shouldn't have much to do with cars designed for the road, so if you have a lighter car overall with an equivalent or better power/weight ratio it's a better road experience even if it's not as fast on the track.

I'd love to see a modern S2000-esque type of car with that sort of minimalist design philosophy but with a big turbo small engine. Turbo tech has come so far since the late 90's when that car was designed.
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A little anecdote to add to this lap time discussion; our GT3 RSs lap COTA in 2:19 - 2:21 with street tires or 2:16 with slicks. This new ZR1 is around that mark. 500hp and RWD running the same as 1,060hp. Weight matters a bit. We aren't lacking any creature comforts or safety (in fact, I would feel safer in the 911).

So yes, mega impressive times and performance on the Vette, but there really is no need for it to be so heavy. There's no hybrid or battery system or AWD.
 
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Sludig

Sludig

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Burren said:
A little anecdote to add to this lap time discussion; our GT3 RSs lap COTA in 2:19 - 2:21 with street tires or 2:16 with slicks. This new ZR1 is around that mark. 500hp and RWD running the same as 1,060hp. Weight matters a bit. We aren't lacking any creature comforts or safety (in fact, I would feel safer in the 911).

So yes, mega impressive times and performance on the Vette, but there really is no need for it to be so heavy. There's no hybrid or battery system or AWD.
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I havnt kept track, the pretty decent jump from base to e-ray holding up or are those looked down on. I've liked some of these videos of showing what cats can do when hybrid for performance rather than economy.
 
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Lightning Lord Rule

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Burren said:
A little anecdote to add to this lap time discussion; our GT3 RSs lap COTA in 2:19 - 2:21 with street tires or 2:16 with slicks. This new ZR1 is around that mark. 500hp and RWD running the same as 1,060hp. Weight matters a bit. We aren't lacking any creature comforts or safety (in fact, I would feel safer in the 911).

So yes, mega impressive times and performance on the Vette, but there really is no need for it to be so heavy. There's no hybrid or battery system or AWD.
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Oh ya, totally. The 911 is always an odd comparison though due to the engine layout. Having all that weight over the back wheels changes things a lot even compared to the mid-engine cars. Plus I think Porsche is bunch of reality hackers or something to get the times they do, kek.

Cad said:
Light weight is especially better on the track because for any given speed level, a lighter car is easier to handle because it will take a set and transition faster, allowing you to drive it closer to the limit. Heavier cars, even if running the same laptime, will pendulum more, be harder on consumables and once you feel it moving will be harder to save. Causing you to drive it a little less closely to the limit.

A lot of these cars are well beyond normal drivers limits anyway, even on the track, so you should just drive the one that seems the most fun to you.

Just like in the "I want a minimalist little truck that won't break" discussions we have had, S2000's are a great example of why car makers don't make what you're asking for. People didn't buy it. S2000's are fucking amazing on the track, just like miatas... but people think miatas are "fag cars" so they sell to homos and women. But they are fucking amazing sports cars and are probably hands down one of the most fun experiences you can have on a track.

The 718 boxster/cayman are still right around 3000 pounds, but everyone thinks they are a bitch car because Porsche gates the good engines in special models or 911's. I've owned a 911 turbo (997.2) and a 987.2 Cayman S... the Cayman was more fun on track, despite having 200 less hp.

What people say they want and what rich guys with disposable income actually put money down on are two very different things.
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Oh for sure. I personally would like this, but I totally get why it isn't made. A kit car like a Factory Five of some flavor is likely more the solution for what I'm talking about if I actually wanted to go plunk down cash on something that would do what I'm talking about.

Probably the closest thing currently produced to what I'm talking about is the (current) Alpine A110. Or maybe a lotus Evora/Emira? Eh. Even with the A110, I wish they'd kept it rear engine instead of gone to mid.
Yes, I'm weird :)


Original A110 for eye candy:

1971-alpine-a110-1600s-coupe-pass-front.jpg
 
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Cad

Cad

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Lightning Lord Rule said:
Oh ya, totally. The 911 is always an odd comparison though due to the engine layout. Having all that weight over the back wheels changes things a lot even compared to the mid-engine cars. Plus I think Porsche is bunch of reality hackers or something to get the times they do, kek.
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I think it's more just Porsche build amazing cars. As Burren is talking about the gt3rs, I did much the same with my Cayman S track car, I was embarrassing cars with far more power and bigger tires. The Cayman was just so easy to drive fast and on the limit, you weren't accelerating faster and you didn't have more lateral grip but you were able to use more of both. Porsche just build great fucking cars.

Lightning Lord Rule said:
Oh for sure. I personally would like this, but I totally get why it isn't made. A kit car like a Factory Five of some flavor is likely more the solution for what I'm talking about if I actually wanted to go plunk down cash on something that would do what I'm talking about.
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Those are pretty cool but unless you have one professionally built they are kinda hoopty, but they are what they are. Depending on how tall you are you might look at an ND miata with a turbo kit. They are absolutely silly fun to drive, I drove an NB spec miata with a turbo kit on the track several times, it was absolutely insane what a crazy go-kart it was. So much fun.
Lightning Lord Rule said:
Probably the closest thing currently produced to what I'm talking about is the (current) Alpine A110. Or maybe a lotus Evora/Emira? Eh. Even with the A110, I wish they'd kept it rear engine instead of gone to mid.
Yes, I'm weird :)


Original A110 for eye candy:

1971-alpine-a110-1600s-coupe-pass-front.jpg
Click to expand...
Not my style but I think I get what you want. I'd seriously go drive a miata if you haven't, seems right up that alley.

Depending on your style preferences I'd also go look at a Boxster/Cayman, even the "slow" ones are amazing sports cars.
 
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Lightning Lord Rule

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Cad said:
I think it's more just Porsche build amazing cars. As Burren is talking about the gt3rs, I did much the same with my Cayman S track car, I was embarrassing cars with far more power and bigger tires. The Cayman was just so easy to drive fast and on the limit, you weren't accelerating faster and you didn't have more lateral grip but you were able to use more of both. Porsche just build great fucking cars.
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I think I was saying the same thing but with more colorful words. Always liked and respected Porsche and their accomplishments.

Cad said:
Those are pretty cool but unless you have one professionally built they are kinda hoopty, but they are what they are.
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Concur from what I've seen.
Cad said:
Depending on how tall you are you might look at an ND miata with a turbo kit. They are absolutely silly fun to drive, I drove an NB spec miata with a turbo kit on the track several times, it was absolutely insane what a crazy go-kart it was. So much fun.
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I dated a chick years ago that had an NB and drove it a few times. It was absolutely a fun car, but just too small. The top of the windshield is about even or just slightly above my eyeline. I either have to duck or crane my neck to see traffic lights.
Plus I probably looked like a 1 man circus act getting in and out of it.

That said, NDs are definitely better. I remember sitting in a Fiat 124 at an auto show one time and it was tight but not horrible.
Cad said:
Not my style but I think I get what you want. I'd seriously go drive a miata if you haven't, seems right up that alley.

Depending on your style preferences I'd also go look at a Boxster/Cayman, even the "slow" ones are amazing sports cars.
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Ya I'm not in the market for anything, I live so close to work I hardly drive much distance anymore.

Maybe some day I'll get something like that.
 
Sludig

Sludig

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Lightning Lord Rule said:
Oh ya, totally. The 911 is always an odd comparison though due to the engine layout. Having all that weight over the back wheels changes things a lot even compared to the mid-engine cars. Plus I think Porsche is bunch of reality hackers or something to get the times they do, kek.


Oh for sure. I personally would like this, but I totally get why it isn't made. A kit car like a Factory Five of some flavor is likely more the solution for what I'm talking about if I actually wanted to go plunk down cash on something that would do what I'm talking about.

Probably the closest thing currently produced to what I'm talking about is the (current) Alpine A110. Or maybe a lotus Evora/Emira? Eh. Even with the A110, I wish they'd kept it rear engine instead of gone to mid.
Yes, I'm weird :)


Original A110 for eye candy:

1971-alpine-a110-1600s-coupe-pass-front.jpg
Click to expand...
Don't care for "old" cars, but I'd love one of those alpines. Gorgeous and I know fun as fuck.
 
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Kobayashi

Kobayashi

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Lightning Lord Rule said:
Don't think so. There's probably some grey market cars lurking around or something.

God I hate car regulations.
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There were rumors that it was going to come over as a badge engineered Nissan with potentially a modified powertrain, but the attempted splits from Renault probably killed that idea.

www.forbes.com

Nissan Eyes Mid-Engined Sports Car Based On Alpine A110

Expected to take inspiration from the Nissan MID4 concept of 1985 pictured above, the new mid-engined coupe would sit on the Alpine's platform but use a turbo engine with electric power.
www.forbes.com www.forbes.com
 
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Burren

Burren

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Kobayashi said:
There were rumors that it was going to come over as a badge engineered Nissan with potentially a modified powertrain, but the attempted splits from Renault probably killed that idea.

www.forbes.com

Nissan Eyes Mid-Engined Sports Car Based On Alpine A110

Expected to take inspiration from the Nissan MID4 concept of 1985 pictured above, the new mid-engined coupe would sit on the Alpine's platform but use a turbo engine with electric power.
www.forbes.com www.forbes.com
Click to expand...
If it did come over as a Nissan I wouldn’t be interested. They would have screwed it up some how.
 
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