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Old 05-01-2010, 04:41 PM   #49 (permalink)
Mifunego
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The Taco - '99 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
But we're not talking about Formula 1 cars here, but about sports cars. And not in the "stuff a humongous engine in it so it'll go fast in a straight line" sense, either.
Those are generally known as "muscle cars." And there aren't too many of those still being made. Even that tank of a modern muscle car, the Dodge Challenger SRT-8, will still handle enjoyably well with a good set of tires. Leaps and bounds better than anything that came out back when the manufacturers really did the big engine, fast in a straight line thing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
Real sports cars get driven on twisty roads, where you seldom if ever reach speeds where aerodynamic downforces would be significant.
So then "real sports cars" don't go fast? Or at least not fast enough to require attention to "aerodynamic downforces?" My old 15 sec. '98 Neon R/T was a regular champ at the autocross and a worthy performer in the twisties, but it was hardly a sports car. Ditto the Mini, the CRX, and a handful of other tweaked econoboxes. That being said, my current factory-tweaked grocery-getter will make mincemeat out of my old "sports car" Supra Turbo on the auto-x track or in the canyons. Just don't be so absolute with those definitions, is all I'm saying.
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