This makes me proud to be a Z owner....


http://autos.msn.com/advice/article....rc=LP%20sports

 

I believe the Z is the largest selling sports car of all time. Have read that quote many times but the Vette is been around much longer. Would love to see the all time sales of both cars if anyone has the info.

 

mustangs never struck me as sports cars.

 

I sense another debate about the definition of a sports car coming, but I agree the Mustang isn't a sports car. For that matter, I would say the M3 isn't a sports car either (the CSL version is more of a sports car). Don't know if I would even put the RX-8 in the sports car category. The S2000 should be there somewhere.

 

One of the general descriptions for a sports car (at least as I have always heard it) is that it has two seats. Definitely disqualifies the Mustang. That's why I own one of each. This actually shows my old roadster. I haven't had a chance to do new family photos.

 

Thanks for the article, Sly. Nice to know it was put in the top 5. I agree with the others regarding the Mustang's place. The new Mustang GT's are not bad at all, but I would categorize them as a sport coupe or sports sedan; certainly not as a sports car.

 

I actually think the miata is the best selling sports car. Or maybe that's convertible? I'm not really sure...

How would the mustang be a sports sedan? It only has 2 doors...

Anyway, it's good to see the Z on the list, but this doesn't really mean too much since it says:
"This list of the ten most popular sports cars on MSN Autos is based on visits to the site's vehicle research pages during calendar year 2004."
So I guess if a lot of people searched for a POS it would make it on the list. But like I said, good to see that the Z made it.

 

[QUOTE=BigMoeTaki42]

How would the mustang be a sports sedan? It only has 2 doors...


Just a side note:Though it may sound strange, a "sedan" can have either 2 or 4 doors, believe it or not. It is in the Webster's dictionary if you don't want to take my word for it. No offense taken, none intended.

 

m3 isn't a sports car????? ummm..... okay.

 

2 Seats = Sports Car
2 Seats & no roof = Roadster
2 Doors w/ back seat & no roof = Convertiable
2 Doors w/ back seat & Lots HP = Sports Coupe
2 Doors w/ back seat & average HP = Coupe
4 Doors with lots HP = Sports Sedan
4 Doors with average HP = Sedan

I would have to label the Mustang & BMW M3 as a Sports Coupe regardless of how fast they are because of the back seat...

 

so a 911 turbo is a sports coupe not a sports car because it has 2+2 seating???? Im sorry but what you said before makes no sense.

 

Dictionary defination of Sports Car:
An automobile equipped for racing, especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds.

A sports car is a car designed for sporting performance above utility. While opinions differ as to the exact definition, most sports cars have two seats and two doors, and are designed to excel at a combination of acceleration, top speed, braking, and maneuverability. Great emphasis is often placed on handling—the ability of the car to remain in the control of the driver under challenging condition like when the car's tires begin to lose their grip on hard corners.

A car may be sporting without being a sports car; rather, it is the singleness of purpose. Performance modifications of regular cars, such as muscle cars, hot hatches and the like do not generally fall in the pure sports car territory.

A large, powerful engine is not required; in fact, many of the early British sports cars lacked a powerful engine and did not accelerate as quickly as vehicles like muscle cars, but were known for having exceptional handling characteristics due to their combination of light weight, carefully engineered/balanced chassis and innovative suspension designs. Lotus is often cited as an example of this approach. On tight, twisting roads, such a car has higher effective performance than a heavier, more powerful car with less cornering ability.

In many situations, the term "sports car" is used to refer to any car with more power or performance than is typical for cars in general. Often vehicles in the muscle car, performance sedan/saloon or grand tourer (GT) category are referred to as sports cars even though they tend to lack the lightweight and excellent handling characteristics of a true sports car.

Some sports cars have small emergency back seats that are really only suitable for luggage or small children. Such a configuration is often referred to as a 2+2 (two full seats + two "occasional" seats). Often these seats are only included to lower insurance premiums.

This last statement to me says a car like the 911 with the 2+2 seating is a true sports car... If you ever saw how small that back seat is you know its pretty impossible for anybody to sit back there for more then a 5 min drive... Now a car like the M3 which has a pretty good size back seat to me is trying more for utility then true performance and thus throw it into the ""Sports Coupe"" Segment... Espeicaly since the M3 is just a 3 Series car with a more powerful engine... Just my opinion

 

There is no empirical definition for a sports car but there are plenty of cars out there that are good examples of what a sports car is but that doesn't mean their qualities and characteristics define what a sports car should be. It's like classifying animals to animal kingdoms. There are plenty of cars that are 'sporty', like a mustang, integra, or celica, but they are not sports cars. I'd have to say the mustang and M3 do not belong on that list but "This list of the ten most popular sports cars on MSN Autos is based on visits to the site's vehicle research pages during calendar year 2004."

 

I don't think a car needs to only have 2 seats to be a sports car (for example, the McClaren F1 has 3 seats). I don't consider the M3 as a sports car, but the CSL is. Similarly, I would probably have to classify the Evo MR as a sports car.

 

Evo MR???? Its a familly sedan with a fast engine in it.... Sorry but theres no way that would be classified as a sports car... Sports Sedan yes... If your defination of a Sports Car is a Vehicle with a Fast Engine, then I guess you would call a Mini-Van with a V-12 engine in it a sports car?!?!?!

 

My definition is any vehicle where they compromised comfort in the pursuit of racing. The Evo MR fits into that category, although kind of in a grey area as you typically think of sports cars as having 2 doors. It's also not just a vehicle with a fast engine, it holds its own on the track quite well beating many cars that cost much more.

 

I think a true sports car shold be made that way from the start. Everytime I look at the EVO, all I see is a family car that they slapped on a Turbo, Suspenion Mods and a Ugly Body Kit... Even tho its performance #'s are pretty awesome, the car has ZERO sex appeal to it.... To me the term "Sports Car" has always gone hand in hand with a car that not only performs hot, but looks hot also.

I'll say this xswl0931, I'll agree to disagree with you

 

Looks is too subjective to be a criteria. However, your argument that a sports car should be only a sports car and not a version of a non-sports car is worth considering. Of course, this means that even the M3 CSL is not a sports car, but I can live with that :P

 

Actually on BMW's web page they classify the M3 as a Sports Coupe and not a Sports Car.... Im not saying im right or your wrong, as the subject of what a sports car is will probably go on forever as everyone has there own idea of what a sports car is

But itss fun to argue every now and then