what's a sports car?

[Dave Adams]

I would argue that someone who owns a landrover and goes green laneing has a sports car. and someone who has a lotus seven that only gets used for commuting does not!
Untill the 70‘s a sports car did not mean it was “fast“ just generally lighter. since then it usually only refers to fast cars.
Here are some interesting facts and figures;
1.8 TDCI Ford Focus 1375kg 113hp 207ft/lb 0-60 10.8 118 mph max 50mpg
2.0 ohc sierra 1118kg 109 hp 128ft/lb 0-60 9.7 116mph max 25mpg
Xr3i 900kg 94hp 97ft/lb 0-60 9.7 113 mph max 30 mpg
none are true sports cars but most folks would think the xr3 is even though its not the quickest.

[Dave Taylor]

Sitting on the fence, stirring the pot more like. That must make my RAV a GT as it's been to France , Germany and Belgium , and it's got a big boot

Saying that, just followed a VW Phaeton down the M62, that as alarge boot but it's not a GT

From the Dictionary:

PHAETON

• A light, four-wheeled open carriage, usually drawn by a pair of horses.
• A touring car

So Touring car it is then...

[Big Vern]

Mike,

Now your TVR IS a GT. 

Ade's Leggera a GT - noooo, a sports car yes:-) in the same way my MX5 is a sports car.

I don't think of the GTM as a GT, or as track day car or a sports car TBH it's 50% test bed and 50% daily driver, as my boss said this morning I was the only person here he could think of who would dare to be so different.     You only live once and lifes too short not to.

As for diesel 'sports cars' they've been tried before. How many diesel sports car kits were on show at Stoneleigh. They deliver the torque/power all wrong for a sports car and the MPG excuse is lame.

"Power = how hard you hit the wall   Torque = how far you drag the wall with you"  :-)))

[Paul Sheridan]

It will be interesting to see what we get out of the Zetec in my Phaeton. Using the basic 1800 lower end (unmodified), the cylinder head has had the ports enlarged,  cams are from a 2.0ltr,  home made throttle bodies, and will be using the V4 ECU engine management from M-Tech, (fully mapable).  And no emmisions guff left on the engine. 

[28ullkq4hau58]

mmmm 1800 zetec  i,m lookin at doing simaler  but carbs and the simplest ign i can get ,,

i,ll be watching ,,,,,

[Pete Clayton]

Gotta be 140-150bhp I would of thought. Looking forward to playing with mine now I have an engine sorted!

[Paul Sheridan]

A sports car ? .... OH YES !

[1xf87h8w80hlh]

i thort zetec 18 &2.0 head,cams inlet ETC are all the same as they even have it on the inlet or is that just the black top and not the silver top

[1xf87h8w80hlh]

I dont care what you call them just as long as you all know mine is the best LOL

[Adrian Southgate]

The Legerra is a GT, a very small scale GT but with the boot and the extra space in the passenger compartment behind the seats... or maybe it's an LT (little tourer)

The 7 styled Duttons are sports, minimal boot space, restricted cockpit space.

[Pete Clayton]

Does it actually matter what anyone else thinks? As long as the car does what you want it to and get enjoyment out of it who cares what its classed as!

[Big Vern]

Bingo, Pete wins

The thread was started as a "discussion point" Dave A. new it would court controversy and that me and others would rise to the bait.

I've long been past caring what people call my cars (or me for that matter) all that concerned me was that I got what I wanted from them.

[Adrian Southgate]

Seconded. 

My Legerra was designed as a tourer and commuter car and it fulfills that role for me.

The Phaeton will be a sports car as its being designed for track and fast road use.