Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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 The laws of physics have not been repealed!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