Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

didn't a lots of American car nowadays use classic from old mercedes in vain attempt to make the car handle 'european'?

115bhp/litre... Most powerful normally aspirated engine in the world... She will be mine... Oh yes... She will be mine...

That Gulf liveried 914...oh yes!

About the green motoring, I agree, to be fair, it's a load of crap, the energy has got to come from somwhere, so, unless the whole energy cycle is based on renewable energy, there will always be byproducts from the energy production. Anyway, i'm watching Le Mans, so here.

My Kayak in those colours.

all they have done is take a Corvette and add 200 hp. Strip some weight. Add other miscellaneous performance addenda. now makes the Z06 look weak and named it ZR1

No, you can badmouth the standard 'Vette but not the Z07/ZR1.

They basically made a road version of their LM car, which is phenomenal. Brush off any stereotypes about American handling. This motherfucker rose to the top of the standard production car timing list on the 'Ring.

It's a cunt on the road, too much power, too unpredictable, serious tramlining, uncomfortable, noisy, wide, etc etc. Put it on a track and it's a beast. The Americans did something right for once.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordschleife_fastest_lap_times

As you can see, EVO went back and beat the 'Vette with 3 Italian Supercars, then GM got pissed off and used a non-standard Viper to get back on top. That Viper shouldn't be on the list.

No, you can badmouth the standard 'Vette but not the Z07/ZR1.

They basically made a road version of their LM car, which is phenomenal. Brush off any stereotypes about American handling. This motherfucker rose to the top of the standard production car timing list on the 'Ring.

It's a cunt on the road, too much power, too unpredictable, serious tramlining, uncomfortable, noisy, wide, etc etc. Put it on a track and it's a beast. The Americans did something right for once.

that's really the only point Im making, as a production car, it hardly comes up to the $$$ it commands, sure, on the track it might be phenomenal, but for a road car, there are serious flaws... In my opinion only..

well, despite it's being poorly build and all that codswallop, and Jeremy isn't one to be biased (putting it simply - not being paid by certain car manufacturer to praise their car), it does look like a fun car to drive.

speaking of poorly build cars that turn out to be fun to drive, the Ford Mustang was fun despite it's rear suspension from an 19th Century steam locomotive and using the gearbox is like stirring a bucket of coal.

The current Mustang is a blast to drive. The rear traction control helps quiet a bit in the corners and a lack of independant suspension actually helps it off at the lights.

that's really the only point Im making, as a production car, it hardly comes up to the $$$ it commands, sure, on the track it might be phenomenal, but for a road car, there are serious flaws... In my opinion only..

What are its flaws? I mean I haven't driven it but it has power, brakes and suspension the only thing that it is missing is the electronic flight control.

Cadillac Sixteen

What are its flaws? I mean I haven't driven it but it has power, brakes and suspension the only thing that it is missing is the electronic flight control.

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as Nurseholliday points out.."** cunt on the road, too much power, too unpredictable, serious tramlining, uncomfortable, noisy, wide "

**and the power/weight ratio is alarming, its just too crass for my liking

Maybach Exelero

Ooh I like that new Maybach. I really like that new Morgan, the Aeromax.

One day, one day.

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as Nurseholliday points out.."** cunt on the road, too much power, too unpredictable, serious tramlining, uncomfortable, noisy, wide " **

and the power/weight ratio is alarming, its just too crass for my liking

Isabella take a second look it is nothing like Z06
It has a space age aluminium/carbon frame
Huge Brembos (bigger than the enzo)
Magnetic suspension
It is currently rated fifth at nurburg
and of the top five this is the only 'road' car
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordschleife_fastest_lap_times#Production_vehicles
And according to Top Gear it is comfortable and drives well in traffic
Sure it doesn't have the equiste pointing of the Ferrari
nor the poise of the Maserati but I think our American cousins
have finally produced a very decent supercar
even if it does look like bog standard vette

+1 to the Corvettes, I agree pretty much all other american cars suck handling/build quality-wise, but the Corvette and GT are both very good, and fantastic value for money (not so much the GT)

+1 to the Corvettes, I agree pretty much all other american cars suck handling/build quality-wise, but the Corvette and GT are both very good, and fantastic value for money (not so much the GT)

You can buy the Bullitt Mustang with upgraded engine, brakes and suspension for $30,000 - you get a fast car that handles well enough for American roads with that wonderful musclecar sound track

Isabella take a second look it is nothing like Z06
It has a space age aluminium/carbon frame
Huge Brembos (bigger than the enzo)
Magnetic suspension
It is currently rated fifth at nurburg
and of the top five this is the only 'road' car
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordschleife_fastest_lap_times#Production_vehicles
And according to Top Gear it is comfortable and drives well in traffic
Sure it doesn't have the equiste pointing of the Ferrari
nor the poise of the Maserati but I think our American cousins
have finally produced a very decent supercar
even if it does look like bog standard vette

No, no, you're confusing two cars together. The Z06 is vaguely comfortable, the ZR1 isn't.

And that's the same link I posted, the top one is a non-standard Viper, the next 3 were a special EVO feature, I read the article, shit I have the magazine at my house at uni. They were standard cars, they just spent all fucking weekend caning it round trying to beat the Vette, and also to see which was fastest of the 3.

No, no, you're confusing two cars together. The Z06 is vaguely comfortable, the ZR1 isn't.

And that's the same link I posted, the top one is a non-standard Viper, the next 3 were a special EVO feature, I read the article, shit I have the magazine at my house at uni. They were standard cars, they just spent all fucking weekend caning it round trying to beat the Vette, and also to see which was fastest of the 3.

Those adaptive dampers allow softer springs than the Z06 (I drove them back-to-back to calibrate myself against the Isle of Man experience), which means fewer shocks going through the car and through you, and a better sense of precision over the kind of lumpy roads we get in Britain.

http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2008/09/stories/03/2.html

Oh well, I stand corrected then. Are those magnetic dampers like the Audi ones then?

I'm still right about the 'ring laptimes :P

Oh well, I stand corrected then. Are those magnetic dampers like the Audi ones then? I'm still right about the 'ring laptimes :P

The magnetic dampers are supposed to be very good. As to the lap times the Viper was modified. The Maserati MC12, well they only made about five of them for the road. The Zonda and Evo are super supercars. It is only the vette that could realistically be driven as a daily driver. Not trying to prove a point or prove you wrong or anything it is just that this is pretty damn impressive. This new generation of American muscle tends to challenge our European prejudice towards American cars. I think it amazing that Clarkson of all people has chosen an American car as his car of the year.

No, you can badmouth the standard 'Vette but not the ZR1.

**They basically made a road version of their LM car, which is phenomenal. Brush off any stereotypes about American handling. This motherfucker rose to the top of the standard production car timing list on the 'Ring. **

It's a cunt on the road, too much power, too unpredictable, serious tramlining, uncomfortable, noisy, wide, etc etc. Put it on a track and it's a beast. The Americans did something right for once.

I already agreed with you ;)

Sorry Nurse you are quite right ! ever driven a Caterham...?

the power to weight ratio on the ZR1 is scary... better than the Porsche 911 GT2, the Ferrari 599 and the Lamborghini LP640

Pfffft! Try this:

1,060 bhp/ton thank you very much.

Sorry Nurse you are quite right ! ever driven a Caterham...?

Yeah, but one of the Superlights, not one of the mad power ones. I find a lot of cars I like are very similar in driving experience. They usually have a superb chassis and steering, but are woefully underpowered. Like the Superlight, the MX5, the Classic and New MINI. My love of the Caterham stems from my go-karting days... Easy to induce slides, you can put the front wheels exactly where you want because you can see exactly where they are, and they're harsh, noisy, and smelly(!) I love that open road, wind in the hair experience and it's made better when you're sideways in the middle of the countryside on some B road with a pub at the end for a spot of Ploughmans.

Pfffft! Try this:

1,060 bhp/ton thank you very much.

i know this is a car thread, but dont even try competing with bikes on the power to weight

this thing has 500hp and weighs just over 215kilos. thats 2000+hp per ton BUYAAAAAAA

woefully underpowered. Like the Superlight

You sure it was a Superlight? Even the slowest one has 320bhp/ton.