997 turbo... Supercar or sports car?
#2
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Similar debate with the cheaper GT-R. It doesn't really matter, but arguably neither are supercars IMHO. OTOH, what most would consider supercars are now called hypercars. There is something otherworldly and frankly unaffordable for most people that do stuff paid by the hour. Lots of folk paid by the hour in ordinary jobs can afford a 997 Turbo, especially now they have been around for years. 997 Turbo also probably isn't wide or low enough, if it can go over a bumpy B road with aplomb it might not be a supercar?
Last edited by john banks; 31 December 2016 at 07:04 PM.
#3
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You need to be more specific about what your question is. Sports car, supercar, hypercar are somewhat subjective terms. And to complicate things further the goalposts have changed over the years ie a top end hot hatch today will out accelerate a Ferrari from twenty years ago.
#4
Porsche have unfortunately never slipped in to super car territory.Nice fast car.But yup,that's about it
Just will never get there.Just too sensible IMHO. lovely, but no
Just will never get there.Just too sensible IMHO. lovely, but no
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Regarding height, a lot of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Koenigseggs - cars most people would surely consider supercars - are 45 inches or less in height. The 40 in the Ford GT40 represents its height in inches. Next time you're using a tape measure, check where 40 inches comes up to on you and imagine how difficult it would be to get in and out of a car so low.
Regarding imperturbability on a B-road, this would probably be a relevant test of most supercars, although the McLaren F1 - arguably the greatest supercar ever - is by all accounts as docile around town and composed on a bumpy B-road as cars with a fraction of its performance. Everyday usability was one of the key requirements in the remit of the chief engineer, Gordon Murray.
Personally, whilst a 997 Turbo isn't what I would consider the archetypal supercar, its performance certainly puts it on the cusp, even if its styling, exclusivity, and price don't.
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#7
But they are never a pin up dream car .Maybe the 959
It never matters what Porsche do. They will never be in Ferrari,,Lamborghini,Bugatti territory
They just won't.Maybe a supercar/hyper car,but never seen as one apart from afficianados
It never matters what Porsche do. They will never be in Ferrari,,Lamborghini,Bugatti territory
They just won't.Maybe a supercar/hyper car,but never seen as one apart from afficianados
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#9
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996 turbos could make some crazy power with some mods are the 997's the same? Not that it changes anything really but I can remember seeing some really high BHP 996T's.
Is it because the 997 carrera isn't considered a supercar there for it makes the turbo look a little bad since it's on the same platform?
Does anyone consider the R8 v10 to be a supercar?
Is it because the 997 carrera isn't considered a supercar there for it makes the turbo look a little bad since it's on the same platform?
Does anyone consider the R8 v10 to be a supercar?
#10
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So would we say a GT3 RS is also just a sports car?
Personally I'd say that even the 997 TT is a supercar, it just doesn't have the usual supercar quirks ie it's not too wide for UK roads, you can enter a shopping centre car park, go over speed bumps and people don't think you're a Saudi prince when you're in it.
Personally I'd say that even the 997 TT is a supercar, it just doesn't have the usual supercar quirks ie it's not too wide for UK roads, you can enter a shopping centre car park, go over speed bumps and people don't think you're a Saudi prince when you're in it.
Last edited by Dingdongler; 01 January 2017 at 12:34 PM.
#14
#17
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The consensus seems to be that to be a "super car" it has to be inherently flawed
Too low, too impractible, too everyday undrivable
The Porsche turbo is simply to good to be a super car!!!!!
It seems a bit snobbish tbh
Too low, too impractible, too everyday undrivable
The Porsche turbo is simply to good to be a super car!!!!!
It seems a bit snobbish tbh
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#18
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just looked at the straight line times for a 997t
60 in 3.6 seconds
100 in 8 seconds
125 in 10.5 seconds
186 in 40.5 seconds
times for a completely standard car ,under 500 bhp 450 odd torque 4 wheel drive no turbo lag -torquey smooth flat 6 that pulls like a train with huge brakes.
up untill 18 months ago they could be bought for 28-40k, i was seriously tempted(no chance now prices on the UP UP AND AWAY lol)
too much dough for what i needed at the time as i was only buying a sunday nutter car-but good value any way.
in the end bought another tuned scoob for a third of the price ---noisy loud and hard suspension lol i love it .
the two early cars that i test drove were both highish miles but quiet smooth and squeek free,,very nice cars and definately a super car
60 in 3.6 seconds
100 in 8 seconds
125 in 10.5 seconds
186 in 40.5 seconds
times for a completely standard car ,under 500 bhp 450 odd torque 4 wheel drive no turbo lag -torquey smooth flat 6 that pulls like a train with huge brakes.
up untill 18 months ago they could be bought for 28-40k, i was seriously tempted(no chance now prices on the UP UP AND AWAY lol)
too much dough for what i needed at the time as i was only buying a sunday nutter car-but good value any way.
in the end bought another tuned scoob for a third of the price ---noisy loud and hard suspension lol i love it .
the two early cars that i test drove were both highish miles but quiet smooth and squeek free,,very nice cars and definately a super car
#19
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Yes but then you'd never put that sort of power down onto the road. No point having that sort of grunt if all you do is spin your tyres for 90% of the year.
Even a 2wd 911 has an inherent advantage because the engine is over the driven wheels but beyond a certain BHP 4wd becomes essential.
#21
You could be describing a Lotus there, and they're certainly not Supercars
#22
Yes but then you'd never put that sort of power down onto the road. No point having that sort of grunt if all you do is spin your tyres for 90% of the year.
Even a 2wd 911 has an inherent advantage because the engine is over the driven wheels but beyond a certain BHP 4wd becomes essential.
Even a 2wd 911 has an inherent advantage because the engine is over the driven wheels but beyond a certain BHP 4wd becomes essential.
#25
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The labels mean little though, either the car ticks your boxes or it doesn't.
#26
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I think so. 4wd seems to be the way forward as power outputs increase. The new e63 amg is 4wd (has already been so in LHD for some time already) and its very likely the new M5 will also be 4wd.
#29
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Supercar or not, with any Porsche you can put daily driving miles on it and it remains very saleable. A year or two back I sold my 996 Turbo for more than I paid for it, with 60,000+ miles on the clock. It seems no one wants a big mileage supercar though; a Ferrari with that mileage (if it lasted that long) would be difficult to shift for decent money.