END of the Honda NSX

[shelbyGT]

Out of the people who buy Ferrari's, I am going to go out on a limb and say that most don't care about its performance, but its perceived style and class.

I realize it's a better performing car. For the price tag it should be. But a $40K car versus $200K car, the performance isn't enough for me to say that it's worth it.

Am I making sense to anyone buy myself? Yes, Ferrari's, lamborghini and the like will always outperform a 65 mustang, but I'd much rather take the mustang over the Lamborghini. Personal taste and opinion, obviously.

I guess, in a nutshell, I don't think their performance warrants their price tag.

[SquirrelDip]

A '65 Mustang (or similar) in pristine condition show much attention, care, time, money yada yada yada on the part of the owner. You've got to respect and admire that (even if you don't care for the car.

A new Ferrari shows much cash and not much else. What's there to respect???

An older Ferrari (or similar) in pristine condition follows the same argument as the '65 Mustang but with loads more money - and there's lots to respect for these vehicles also.

Now which would I rather have??? The new Ferrari - but that's because I prefer the light, small and fast. Since I can't afford the likes of the Ferrari I've always driven the imports - light, small but not as fast. It does not take away my respect for the older American muscle cars.

[shelbyGT]

An older Ferrari (or similar) in pristine condition follows the same argument as the '65 Mustang but with loads more money

For a whole lot less you can get a Viper, though. If Dodge can do it for under 75K, Ferrari should be able to.

I just am not a huge fan of Ferrari, I guess! It sounds like that doesn't it? I do like their cars, think they are neat, just don't understand the price tag of a car that doesn't have A/C.

[rallynavvie]

A/C is overrated. I lost mine when I put the new ECU in, I could have put in a bypass switch to enable it again but I just never missed it. And I hate hot weather and my car is black. I can't believe how much power A/C robs from a car, now I know. And my little 2.5 liter AWD rocket can keep up with all the American muscle short of a Viper or Ford GT, not so much at highway speeds but in corners and lower speeds I can keep up plenty well. And if it comes to gravel/dirt/snow/ice/wet they'll have a harder time keeping up, but then I do owe that to AWD 8)

[shelbyGT]

There are plenty more AWD units coming out (doesn't the G35 Infinity have it? I can't recall). So the WRX and the like are losing their edge in that category.

And A/C is not overrated when your temperatures average 90+ for at least two months out of the year. Minnesota can get up there as well.

A/C does rob your car of power. However, if you are looking for some fun, just turn it off when you don't need it. Then turn it back on when you do. I'll never buy a car that doesn't have A/C. Not only for summer, but if you have your A/C running along with the defroster in the winter, it works much more quickly.

I do like the new EVO's, though.

[smearbrick1]

Even Mazda has jumped on the AWD bandwagon. They are releasing the Mazdaspeed 6 very soon. I think it is somewhere around 280hp from a turbo 4 cylinder.

[thecoalman]

I realize it's a better performing car. For the price tag it should be. But a $40K car versus $200K car, the performance isn't enough for me to say that it's worth it.

Saw a car show the other day, forget the name but I think it's on the discovery channel...one of those channels. They test cars on this old airport strip. The host was in a Mitsubishi Evo and they had a regular race car driver in a Lamborghini. The lguy in the lamborghini couldn't lose him, he actually eneded up spinning it put. The Evo appeared to be catching it in the corners and wsa easily holding it's ground on the straight aways.

Quite impressive for a car like that.

[SquirrelDip]

Top Gear - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 400 vs. Lamborghini Murcielago

British show??

Trying to find a link to a video/story or something... If anyone else finds it please post the link.

[shelbyGT]

Top Gear - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 400 vs. Lamborghini Murcielago

British show??

Trying to find a link to a video/story or something... If anyone else finds it please post the link.

login required, but:
http://www.racingflix.com/getvideo.asp?v=928

[rallynavvie]

Subaru has been doing AWD more than most other manufacturers so I have little more loyalty to them (two of my 4 vehicles have been Imprezas). More and more companies are now offering AWD cars to catch up with that corner of the performance market.

[AlecWest]

In Honda's defense, they're attempting to capture a more upscale market in the future:

http://www.netcomposites.com/news.asp?3165

[BJ_M]

Subaru has been doing AWD more than most other manufacturers so I have little more loyalty to them (two of my 4 vehicles have been Imprezas). More and more companies are now offering AWD cars to catch up with that corner of the performance market.

and audi to be fair ...

[SquirrelDip]

True... Difference being that Subaru adds AWD to all their models, not just a high-end option.