The cars and bikes thread!

[happyscrappyheropup]

Well, the mid-engine 'Vette has been coming for at least 30 years; inevitable in this day and age, I guess, and same for ditching the manual.

My guess on the mid engine layout is that they were struggling to make big power work in the front engine/rear drive chassis.

Manuals are good for old trucks and economy cars, performance cars are meant to go fast. They used manuals in the past because they were faster, sequential or auto transmissions were either terrible or they didn't exist.

It's a different situation today.

I hear you on manual transmissions, but other than Porsche, who's still using them in high performance sports cars? Not Ferrari, Lamborghini, or McLaren...or Formula One for that matter.

On the US side, Corvette C7 and Camaro, as well as the Dodge Challenger, including the 707hp Hellcat. Edit - Mustang as well, although the 760hp GT500 will not offer a manual.

-- Wayne

[mlcor]

My guess on the mid engine layout is that they were struggling to make big power work in the front engine/rear drive chassis.

Manuals are good for old trucks and economy cars, performance cars are meant to go fast. They used manuals in the past because they were faster, sequential or auto transmissions were either terrible or they didn't exist.

It's a different situation today.




On the US side, Corvette C7 and Camaro, as well as the Dodge Challenger, including the 707hp Hellcat. Edit - Mustang as well, although the 760hp GT500 will not offer a manual.

-- Wayne

I don’t consider the Challenger or the Mustang to be high performance sports cars as much as exceptionally well handling muscle cars. Semantics, maybe, but to me their emphasis (and marketing) is less on handling than acceleration.


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[Raza]

Performance cars aren’t meant to go fast. They’re meant to engage the driver. Going fast is a consequence, not a goal. Any car can be fast.

[happyscrappyheropup]

I don’t consider the Challenger or the Mustang to be high performance sports cars as much as exceptionally well handling muscle cars. Semantics, maybe, but to me their emphasis (and marketing) is less on handling than acceleration.


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No argument here, just including cars making good power with three pedals.

-- Wayne

[happyscrappyheropup]

Performance cars aren’t meant to go fast. They’re meant to engage the driver. Going fast is a consequence, not a goal. Any car can be fast.

You're thinking of cars like the Miata. And no disagreement here that a manual trans is appropriate there.

-- Wayne

[mlcor]

You're thinking of cars like the Miata. And no disagreement here that a manual trans is appropriate there.

-- Wayne

The Alpha Romeo 4C and the original non-aspirated Lotus Elise also come to mind in that category. I’ve owned both the Miata and the Lotus in the past, incredibly fun to drive.


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[Seriously]

the original non-aspirated Lotus Elise

That certainly would be unusual

Wouldn't even need an air filter

[geoffbot]

https://youtu.be/Gg140WolsZk

[happyscrappyheropup]

The Alpha Romeo 4C and the original non-aspirated Lotus Elise also come to mind in that category. I’ve owned both the Miata and the Lotus in the past, incredibly fun to drive.


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I haven't driven the Alfa or Lotus, although I do lust after an Exige, but have driven many years of Miatas. They are great cars and a a riot to drive, a friend even ran the Spec Miata racing series.

[happyscrappyheropup]

https://youtu.be/Gg140WolsZk

Those things are terrible at being motorcycles.