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Coupes & Convertibles Sports Cars - The Definitive Discussion 
522 messages, Last post on Dec 08, 2007 at 6:07 PM
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So, got to spend another day at Laguna Seca last Monday with a group of other sports cars and what not. Since I had not signed up ahead of time I was hanging in the trailer waiting for sign in and heard the following: Aaron 'Do you need to run in separate groups?' Dad 'No, we both have cars.' Aaron 'Did you drive them up?' Son 'No, they are being delivered.' Check is written and I get to pay as well and get my wrist band. As I go back to my parking spot, where there are now 6 Corvettes in a row, there is a semi hauler parked behind us. Full graphics with picture announcing: "Ferrari of Newport Beach" and the tail is open and what I think was the first of two Stradale (?) Challenge Ferrari's is being lowered on the lift platform. Wouldn't want to drive down ramps I guess. They had a driver in addition to the tech for the cars who was talking with the guy who trailered in his personal Ferrari track car who was coaching for Dad & Son. Ah, the simple life. As for the track, sunny morning and got within a few tenths of my PB for Laguna. Helped a few folks with the line, one who I passed in the first session but after I suggested a couple things was doing 2 sec's a lap faster than me by the third session. Beautiful winter day on track, gotta love CA between storms. I think there were 9 Vettes there out of about 80 cars total running in three groups. Randy
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Replying to: starrow68 (Feb 17, 2007 9:40 am) 
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But now that I'm running in upper Intermediate or Advanced groups, I get passed much more than the reverse. The Cayman has become the bane of my track days as I hardly ever come across one that isn't really fast. I never went to look at LS last week for what tires one was running, but a black one blew by me after closing fast through the corkscrew. My street tire setup with a 3450# loaded platform will only go so fast around corners and where I seem to lose out more is with only 350HP on the straights. Amazing how many cars can pull me up the hill to turn 1 at LS. Oh well. The two Ferrari's were beautiful to see and as most know hearing all three going down the front straight fully wound out was glorious. Then again there was an old orange Pantera that had a Cleveland 351, I think, that I really prefer for sound, no accounting for taste. Randy Off to Thunderhill soon, I hope ...
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I have become interested in this brand and am considering for my next car but have some questions that I hope can be answered. It appears that dollar for dollar as in tech features, power, creature comfort etc, the P cars are significantly more expensive than the new 3 series and others for example. Is the premium price in the fact that it's a smaller company and thus the cost per vehicle is higher (no economy of scale), the prestige factor and marketing strategy,better quality and more hand workmanship or is the money in non-visible performance areas like suspension, steering etc.? Thank you for any input as this is something that I'd like to become educated in before my purchase (cayman S?)
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Replying to: topspin628 (Mar 02, 2007 8:06 pm) |
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Replying to: topspin628 (Mar 02, 2007 8:06 pm) Porsche generates the highest profit per car of any company in the industry. I'm not sure that would be true if Ferrari, Aston-Martin, Lamborghini etc. weren't owned by other larger companies. In any case high performance sports cars are very high priced, high profit items and only you can decide whether the additional performance and prestige are worth the premium prices they command. |
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Replying to: topspin628 (Mar 02, 2007 8:06 pm) But a porsche is in general just a riot to drive. It's fun, it's way overbuilt, and it's "special." You're paying for that extra 1/10th. Is it worth it? You can always ask that for any car, depends on your money and priorities.
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Replying to: dhanley (Mar 04, 2007 9:16 am) So tell me about the Porsche experience and smile factor. (It's one of the few brands I've yet to try)
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Replying to: topspin628 (Mar 04, 2007 7:01 pm) But as for your quesion, to me, a porsche feels like a bmw kicked up a notch or two. It's like comparing a bmw to a lexus--the lexus may have the same numbers, but you have more fun in the bmw; the car is more live, you feel more wired into the steering, throttle, brakes, and you can hit the turn a bit faster, etc. And yes, i agree there's definitely diminishing returns in cars, as with practically everything else. |
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Replying to: topspin628 (Mar 02, 2007 8:06 pm) That's just a start, the cars have to be great else the rep would only carry them for a year or two. My buddy has a Boxster and it was a hoot. It had the best automatic transmission I've sampled in my life, by far. They went the extra mile to engineer that trans to basically read the driver's mind. So, to the people that can afford it, it's worth every penny, yes. Now, speaking from a practical stand point, you tend to see diminishing returns as you spend more to get more. A $20k car tends to be much better than a $15k car. Step up from $20 to $25k and you get smaller improvements. To $30k and again, smaller gains. So it's hard for a practical person (myself included) to understand why pay $50 grand for a Boxster when a $25k Miata is plenty fun enough. -juice
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