Supercars - What is the Point?

[NFS]

Got to thinking about this after a couple of recent driving days, where I got to drive some pure-bred racing cars.

The circuit I drove on (West Circuit at Bedford Autodrome) is used for testing my Evo magazine who recently lapped a porsche carrera GT in 1min19secs.

They also lapped the koenigsegg CCX in about 1min20secs.

But I (crappy amateur) lapped the same circuit in a Formula Palmer Audi single seater in 1m19secs. A professional driver (Justin Wilson) has lapped it in 1min9 secs.

Likewise they have a Jaguar JP1 - which can be bought for road legal use for £51K that can easily lap the circuit in 1min17secs when driven by a 'good' amateur.

So my point really is that the 'supercars' although glorious machines are actually rather comprimised in comparison to dedicated track cars. So what is the point?

If it were my money ... I think I would be buying the ultimate in track cars and plenty of track time and something like a porsche 911 for road use ... where you really couldn't use anymore.

Thoughts please?

[aapriadi]

passion for cars and extra money to spend perhaps...their money their problem..i'll do the same thing too if i'm filthy rich: buy the cars of my dream

[NFS]

Originally Posted by aapriadi

passion for cars and extra money to spend perhaps...their money their problem..i'll do the same thing too if i'm filthy rich: buy the cars of my dream

I agree - but in the end the supercars are too quick for their speed to be exploited on the road and they are not as good on the track as dedicated racing cars costing a fraction as much.

If I had the money I would be buying the ultimate track car - not the ultimate road car.

I am sure that there are people so stinking rich that they can afford both, but I do think many people put all their money into a supercar, then track it.

[BeeEmDubU]

status symbol. would you rather be seen in a porsche 911 or porsche carrera gt?

[whippersnapper]

I'd be happy with a Radical for a track car.

Be careful where you go with "too quick for their speed to be exploited on the street". That applies to almost all sports motorcycles and even a 335i. We don't all want to be driving around in hybrid smarts

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

I agree - but in the end the supercars are too quick for their speed to be exploited on the road and they are not as good on the track as dedicated racing cars costing a fraction as much.

If I had the money I would be buying the ultimate track car - not the ultimate road car.

I am sure that there are people so stinking rich that they can afford both, but I do think many people put all their money into a supercar, then track it.

what he said!!

[findtom]

Originally Posted by BeeEmDubU

status symbol. would you rather be seen in a porsche 911 or porsche carrera gt?

Honestly the novelty of driving around in a supercar would have to wear off pretty quick... unless you really like making scene everywhere you go.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by BeeEmDubU

status symbol. would you rather be seen in a porsche 911 or porsche carrera gt?

I suppose that's my point ... the only reason to drive a carrera GT on the road over a 911 is to be seen doing so.

The smarter man would buy the 911 and put the £222,000 saving into a serious track car that would blow the bollocks off the GT, plus some good quality lessons and get well on the way to a racing license.

(Thats what I would do anyway)

[NFS]

Originally Posted by findtom

Honestly the novelty of driving around in a supercar would have to wear off pretty quick... unless you really like making scene everywhere you go.

Exactly, people gawping at you and your car everywhere you go would wear a bit thin. Especially if you were in a hurry or just stopping of at the service station for a jimmy riddle.

[BMW320i]

its passion, status, making scene,,,, "at least in my case"

n yah i would rather have an Enzo than a F430 (if im filthy rich n have other daily cars)

[BMW320i]

Originally Posted by findtom

Honestly the novelty of driving around in a supercar would have to wear off pretty quick... unless you really like making scene everywhere you go.

i know a guy here who bought a carrera GT, after few weeks he sold it, y?? cuz he says its way too low! didnt he knew that when he bought it??!!!

i think IMO, he thought that he can get used 2 drive a car that low all day cuz its a super car but ended up feeling so low on the ground (he says when he drives the CGT, he feels that the corolla is a SUV)

[NFS]

Originally Posted by BMW320i

its passion, status, making scene,,,, "at least in my case"

n yah i would rather have an Enzo than a F430 (if im filthy rich n have other daily cars)

But where is the status in having the 'fastest' road car, whilst knowing that it can be blown away on a track by cars costing 1/4 of the price and that it's performance abilities can never be exploited on the road.

WHY ?

[Ghunger]

If you put a McLaren F1 or Enzo on the track with tuned suspension and race rubber you won't be beating it with cars costing 1/4 the price, unless of course you pick a track that's small enough that any small car would win. I'm thinking on say, a GP track like Monza or Spa where you can actually get some high speeds.

[BMW320i]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

But where is the status in having the 'fastest' road car, whilst knowing that it can be blown away on a track by cars costing 1/4 of the price and that it's performance abilities can never be exploited on the road.

WHY ?

hehehe i dont know, here we dont have a single race track, so nobody even knows what r track cars, guess thats why we dont have this confusion, id u have the fastest road car, then its the fastest in the country

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Ghunger

If you put a McLaren F1 or Enzo on the track with tuned suspension and race rubber you won't be beating it with cars costing 1/4 the price, unless of course you pick a track that's small enough that any small car would win. I'm thinking on say, a GP track like Monza or Spa where you can actually get some high speeds.

Fair point I suppose. What I mean is something like this, which you can compete in for £60K a year.



http://www.formula-palmer-audi.com/car.aspx

or this - which can be bought for £60K:



http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-Palmer-Jaguar-JP1.htm

Will give most supercars a seriously hard time on a circuit. OK you may be right that with something like SPA top end speed might outweigh power delivery and handling.

But ... my point is - I would have much more fun competing in the FPA than chugging around the motorways in a porsche carrera GT.