Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Frank- yours is a good list of "supercars". Living in Calif, with my fleet- I drive the '85 928s Porsche every day, the '91 560 Mercedes coupe on road trips, and the 911 Carrera Cabriolet occasionally for fun. I think it is a great car on sportcar roads in the country.(not the traffic of Los Angeles). But- I think I need some real driving lessons to be safe. Best, Stasys On Jul 9, 2009, at 10:53 PM, Frank Dernie wrote: > Pagani Zonda. > For "frequent" use Ferrari 599. > For daily use Porsche 911 turbo. > For pure driving Lotus anything. > > There are lots of cars about which have fancy styling and are "2 seat > limos" with loads of kit, weight and electronic driving aids to make > them easy to drive for less good drivers. > These are great pose-mobiles and practical for a rich person of > limited talent to show-off in. > > I may have left some out, I am neither wealthy enough nor interested > enough to study in detail. Weight is the most important chassis > parameter for performance. Road cars are to a great extent a fashion > item and image statement. Published stuff tends to be acceleration and > top speed. It is possible to get impressive figures for these without > much chassis sophistication at all. Since weight is currently not > something fashionable to minimise "supercars" are now as heavy as > trucks, hence no longer supercars IMO. This Bugatti thing weighs the > same as 2 Ford GT40s! > > To put perspective on this, +10kg on a F1 car loses over 0.3 secs per > lap. > > Frank > On 9 Jul, 2009, at 19:33, Stasys Petravicius wrote: > >> Frank- which are the real supercars today? Stasys >> On Jul 9, 2009, at 11:28 AM, Frank Dernie wrote: >> >>> The laws of physics have not been repealed! With electronic >>> stability control and 4WD the car can be made easy to drive. Despite >>> high top speed and acceleration in circuit tests it has been >>> disappointing compared to the lighter less powerful cars, such as >>> the Pagani Zonda. I do not remember where it came in the Top Gear >>> track test, but it was not the fastest car. >>> Frank >>> >>> >>> On 9 Jul, 2009, at 18:52, The Filippini Family, Matt & Blaise wrote: >>> >>>> When they tested the hardtop in 2007, Car and Driver (I think, it >>>> may have >>>> been Road and Track) said the Veyron handled as nimbly as a Miata. >>>> >>>> Matt >>>> >>>> >>>>> Frank Dernie wrote: <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com> >>>>> >>>>> I hate this car. It personifies (carifies???) everything I do not >>>>> like >>>>> in a car. It is very powerful but very heavy. It is OK for posing >>>>> and >>>>> for people who are only capable of what one of my BMW ex-colleagues >>>>> used to refer to as "linear agility". It requires no talent to >>>>> accelerate hard, just enough power in the leg to overcome the >>>>> spring >>>>> in the throttle pedal... >>>>> Compared to real supercars it is poor performing due to its high >>>>> weight. The hideous engine alone weighs more than a proper sports >>>>> car. >>>>> OTOH the sort of person who can afford one may not be able to drive >>>>> very well and as a pose-mobile it is probably OK. >>>>> Frank >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >