MPR

What's your favorite production car of all time? (trying to strike up a good
ol' discussion about cars )

Curious to see what everyone says. Try to just name ONE car. Consider vehicles that incorporate all of the following: speed, handling, looks, engineering, technology and innovations. Also consider the cost, practicality and usefullness on the street and track. Try to explain the reason for your choice as well.

For me, hands down, it's the Porsche GT3-RS.





It's fast as heck, a total weapon in the corners, looks absolutly gorgeous (imo), is expensive but not totally out-of-this-world-rediculous-expensive (like the Veyron), is naturally aspirated which gives it a somewhat decent fuel economy and makes it more drivable for the street. It is all it needs to be and nothing more. No extra crap to make it heavy, no super flashy in-your-face body work (that big wing is functional ), doesn't have a million hp which requires awd to put the power down. To me a well balanced chassis is more important than all out power, and makes the car more practical and enjoyable. That's why I choose the GT3-RS.


So what's your favorite production car ever made?

Discuss...

purposebuilt

This might seem like a crappy choice of production cars but i'm only gonna comment on cars i have driven or owned. I'm originally from Barbados and we get alot of imports str8 from japan that wouldn't otherwise be available here...

My weapon of choice is the toyota starlet GT with the small but very capable 4efte under the hood... it is a small car.. great on gas.. boosted and handles incredibly well due to how light it is...I'm waiting for the day i can import one here for track use..

Drem car however is the McLaren,

DumbasSi

Corvette Z06. 505hp, 479lb tq, titanium valves and connecting rods, dry sump, 14" rotors with 6 piston calipers and all the aluminum and carbon fiber help it weigh under 3200lb. Sure they are hardly the most advanced car on earth, but I have always loved Vettes.

MPR

Which one? The old F1 or the SLR?

purposebuilt

It's have to be the F1..

How comes you'd pick the Porsche GT3-RS over the Porsche Carrera GT?

D.T.P

all time favourite.
first 4wd rally car.

Xscorpio

nothing spacial:




Drive Train
Motor type / Number of cylinders: W16
Cylinder capacity: 7,993 cm
Power output: 736 KW (1,001 hp) at 6,000 rpm
Max. torque: 1,250 Nm from 2,200 - 5,500 rpm
Gearbox: 7 Gear DSG
Drive: All wheels
Performance
Top speed: 407 km/h
Acceleration:
+ 2.5 sec 0-100 km/h
+ 7.3 sec 0-200 km/h
+ 16.7 sec 0-300 km/h
Braking distance: 31.4 m 100-0 km/h
Gearbox shift time: < 150 ms
General
Length: 4,462 mm
Width: 1,998 mm
Height, normal position: 1,204 mm
Wheel base: 2,710 mm
Curb weight: 1,888 kg
Max. permitted laden weight: 2,200 kg
Tank capacity: 100 l
Tyres
Tyres, front: 265-680 ZR 500A (99Y) PAX System
Tyres, rear: 365-710 ZR 540A (108Y) PAX System
Fuel Consumption
In town: 40.4 l
Out of town: 14.7 l
Combined: 24.1 l

MPR

The Carrera GT is a very cool car indeed, and well worth mentioning. However, imo, it didn't break any records, change or challenge the automotive engineering front. For me, the Carrera GT falls into the category with all the other mid-engined rwd supercars. There's lots of them, and they are all pretty much the same. They're all fast, look good, and cost a massive amount of money. They are not very different from eachother.

The GT3-RS is different. It represents the current peak development of the rear engine rwd layout. An engineering nightmare in terms of physics and vehicle handling. But porsche engineers have managed to make it work, and work incredibly well. There is over 5 decades of rear engine rwd chassis development behind porsche, and they are the only car maker that has done and still is doing it with great success. For that I give it a nod above most other cars for engineering innovation and development.

The GT3-RS is different from all others in terms of drivetrain layout and chassis design. The fact that it can out pace many cars with more hp, more drive wheels and better weight distribution on a race track is very impressive, considering it's entire engine is hanging aft it's rear axle.

Xscorpio

another one of my fav.







Technical Data

• Type V12 - M120
• V - angle 60°
• Displacement 5987 ccm
• Stroke 80,20 mm
• Bore 89,00 mm
• Valves per cilinder 4
• Horse Power 750
• Power output 551 KW at 7.500 1/min
• Torque output 710 Nm
• Aspiration Single throttle bodies, mechanically operated
• Lubrification Dry sump with separate oil tank
• Firing order 1-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9

MPR

^^ NICE! Love it too. Especially the S1 group-B rally car.

MPR

^^ Thats the one made of "carbo-tanium" correct?

Hehe...craziness!

D.T.P

That's something I don't get. People love the "super-cars" just because they are not common, have a ton of power and look like space ships. Ok, well this may not be the best argument to start with, but imo its much more rewarding to actually have a build car rather than bought car.
All the super cars are just to show your status. People don't daily drive them, just not practical, where as an audi quattro or m series BMW, could be built for insane power, great handling (that goes for audi) for fraction of the price. Now I'm not debating on the money, obviously these are dream cars for most people, but I don't really see the point of buying a Ferrari or lambo, just for the looks and power. For one, most owners can't and don't know how to handle a car with this much power. Second of all, owners are scared to push these cars because they are scared of breaking something.
Maybe its just me, but I never liked super cars and I always looked down on the owners lol.

purposebuilt

well said...+1

my mom always says there is a difference between a 300hp car you built and a 300hp car you buy... i like too many cars to post constantly.. the audi was a beautiful car for its time... adding to the list i'd also have to add the lancia stratos just for the uncompromising mechanical prowess that lancia put into that car... it's surprising that those cars don't have even a quarter of the options we have on cars these days but after you drive something like an old school Datsun and CRX you get out feeling so much more elated...

Hugehumongo

im big on 95-98 supras. the rz or mkIV. pretty powerful, twin turbo is a plus, and looks good riced up.

MPR

^^ You both make very good points. And I actually agree with you, to a point. There is great satisfaction in building a cheaper car to be quicker than a faster, more expensive production car. But that car will not be as cormfortable, or reliable as the more expensive production car.

I'm not big on super cars either. Sure I'd love to drive one, and I'd smile and laugh as I roast the tires off it. But most are flashy social status symbols, which I hate, like the McLaren SLR. I do like the ones that are more functional as a race car, like the ferrari F430, Enzo, and the engineering art created by Nobile. I also love the Lotus Elise/Exeige, but you have to fold yourself in half to get in/out of them :P.

I guess I should have stated in the first post to choose your favorite production car, as sold, in it's stock factory setup. Thats why I chose the GT3-RS. As I said before, to me, it is everything it needs to be and nothing more. It's also a marvel of engineering innovation. For my taste and looking at the qualities I look at in a car, in it's stock form, it's tough to beat.

Someone mentioned the Lancia Stratos - Definitely another of my favourites for sure.

Xscorpio

well that is clearly your opinion on super-cars. think of super-car from engineering point of you, the craftsmanship that goes in build super-car, all the technology, the mechanic, the material, most of them are hand build and take many months to build one.

not everyone buys super-car for status, and no car is not just all about power, how and who can produce more hp (super-car with 500hp or project civic with 500hp). both types are work of art in their own right,, both cars are driven by sheer enthusiasm, someone builds it themself, and other is done by engneers and researchers to produce the best technology has to offer and expand the limits and bonds what a car can do.

since this thread is about production cars, it is only appropriate to mention these cars (1001 prodcution HP and carbon-titanium body), rather then project cars

Xscorpio

my dream car, would love to own one, but i like gen coupe 2.0T over supra now, i know its not as solid as supra, but still.

FiveO

Of the "fun" cars that I've owned, my favourite was a 1973 Opel GT. Cool car, great styling that still looks good today, fun to drive, economical to buy and to run, and you're weren't likely to see a pile of them parked at the local mall.



My current "fun" car is identical to this one, only tan in colour. Great ride, ok power, a removable hardtop plus a motor-driven soft-top. Interior is huge on computers and servo-driven comfort features. Even the INSIDE rear view mirror is motorized. It's a bit excessive I guess, but you get used to it. ;-)


Of cars I've never owned but had a chance to drive, the Ford GT takes it. Subtle looks, brute power, great handling while still being able to give a refined ride, this car is a comfortable distance tourer. I got to drive one around Shannonville about 4 years ago, then I got to ride as passenger in it while the owner took me around Shannonville at a whole lot faster pace.




The absolute worst "fun" car I've ever driven, Dodge Viper. It took one around Mosport for a few laps. Lots of power, but very little ride and cabin refinement. The car actually has far too much power for what its chassis is capable of properly handling.

D.T.P

When I was at mosport this fall watching some races, a built EF was on vipers a$$ for quite a while until the little EF broke down about an hour in. It was quite funny to see though.

MPR

Nice!

Goes to show, power isn't everything when it comes to racing.