Opinion: What is a sports car to you?

[MexicanYarisTK]

This is a totally random thought, and I have ran into arguments based on which is a sports car and which is not.

I thought about the opinion on DFD, 95% of us are very knowledgeable in here so I figured why not list all the potential options in the poll. Just for fun and games and

Here is my opinion:
That being said, muscle car is not a sports car, having a powerful engine does not classify as one even though they have improved on the handling department as of recent. Also GTI is not a sports car either, despite changes in the suspension from the regular Golf and a more "powerful" engine to make it handle on par on one as well as on the track. Miata is NO question a sports car and that's basically the entry level for me to consider as one.

Let's go DFD fam! and please note out if I'm missing something.

[4zilch]

Two seater with engaging driving dynamics. That’s about it.

Doesn’t need to be fast, doesn’t need to be powerful, but it needs to be something that puts driving first.

Sports cars are kinda like porn. You know it when you see it (or drive it in this case)

[Melon]

I think it's a broad term that describes any vehicle made with driving pleasure in mind. From there you get sub categories.

[4zilch]

Also, 0/7 no reference of a FiST in the powl examples.

[troyguitar]

[haleyann]

I think it's a broad term that describes any vehicle made with driving pleasure in mind. From there you get sub categories.

This, definitely. Any car that is made with the intention of driving for sport/fun, not just transport.

[Tar]

All of the categories listed above have some magnified ratio of sport:utilitarian, but I prefer to call them rACekArs if I'm just generalizing. Sports car should be purpose built for track duties, low c of g, two seater, and handles like it's on rails.

[wap]

Two seater with engaging driving dynamics. That’s about it.

Doesn’t need to be fast, doesn’t need to be powerful, but it needs to be something that puts driving first.

This get closest IMO. Small, light, 2 door/seater, engineered for heightened driving dynamics before comfort. Low c of g, good reflexes, good sounds. Power isn't absolutely necessary, but but certainly doesn't disqualify. So a is just as much a sports car as a

Perhaps it's better to ask what ISN'T a sports car?

While are all cool and interesting cars in their own right, the following are not sports cars, IMO.

Muscle cars
Pony cars
Hot hatches
GT cars
Performance sedans
Sport coupes
Performance SUVs
Etc

[4zilch]

Two seater with engaging driving dynamics. That’s about it.

Doesn’t need to be fast, doesn’t need to be powerful, but it needs to be something that puts driving first.

This get closest IMO. Small, light, 2 door/seater, engineered for heightened driving dynamics before comfort. Low c of g, good reflexes, good sounds. Power isn't absolutely necessary, but but certainly doesn't disqualify. So a is just as much a sports car as a

Perhaps it's better to ask what ISN'T a sports car?

While are all cool and interesting cars in their own right, the following are not sports cars, IMO.

Muscle cars
Pony cars
Hot hatches
GT cars
Performance sedans
Sport coupes
Performance SUVs
Etc

Although some GT cars blur that line quite well.

[max225]

Anything fwd is not a sports car

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Anything fwd is not a sports car

[4zilch]

A driver's car isn't always a sports car, but a sports car is always a driver's car.

[Melon]

Can you modify a car to where it becomes a sports car?

Mercedes W201 Chassis - Modified - Mercedes 190e 2.3

Not just homologation cars.

Golf -> GTi
Boat -> Hellcat Challenger
Silverado -> Corvette

Two seat RWD is probably the purest form of the sports car, but it's a term that's thrown around so much, it's meaning isn't possible to nail down.

[4zilch]

Can you modify a car to where it becomes a sports car?

Mercedes W201 Chassis - Modified - Mercedes 190e 2.3

Not just homologation cars.

Golf -> GTi
Boat -> Hellcat Challenger
Silverado -> Corvette

Two seat RWD is probably the purest form of the sports car, but it's a term that's thrown around so much, it's meaning isn't possible to nail down.

The image I have of my head of a sports car is a RWD, 2-seater, soft top.

Some would say no, that's a roadster.

But I agree, the term is not something that can be easily pinned down.

[Melon]

The image I have of my head of a sports car is a RWD, 2-seater, soft top.

Same.

TR6
Miata
etc.

[D Griff]

Poll should have multiple options available...

I pretty much agree with what is being said other than the fact that it has to be two seater. Toyota 86 and Porsche 911, for example, are sports cars in my book. I would agree with the assessment that it is a car that puts driving pleasure first, doesn't need to be fast. It also needs to be designed from the ground up for driving fun. Nothing that is a souped up hatch/sedan/coupe/SUV is a sports car.

[Melon]

Poll should have multiple options available...

I pretty much agree with what is being said other than the fact that it has to be two seater. Toyota 86 and Porsche 911, for example, are sports cars in my book. I would agree with the assessment that it is a car that puts driving pleasure first, doesn't need to be fast. It also needs to be designed from the ground up for driving fun. Nothing that is a souped up hatch/sedan/coupe/SUV is a sports car.

Those are technically a 2+2
There's a sub category for everything.

It's like the animale classification.

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

[D Griff]

Poll should have multiple options available...

I pretty much agree with what is being said other than the fact that it has to be two seater. Toyota 86 and Porsche 911, for example, are sports cars in my book. I would agree with the assessment that it is a car that puts driving pleasure first, doesn't need to be fast. It also needs to be designed from the ground up for driving fun. Nothing that is a souped up hatch/sedan/coupe/SUV is a sports car.

Those are technically a 2+2
There's a sub category for everything.

It's like the animale classification.

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

That said, this is an opinion thread. Those are sports cars, IMO.

[Tar]

Those are technically a 2+2
There's a sub category for everything.

It's like the animale classification.

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

That said, this is an opinion thread. Those are sports cars, IMO.

[D Griff]

That said, this is an opinion thread. Those are sports cars, IMO.

You're on that one.

[4zilch]

Any car is a sports car with the right person behind the wheel.

[wap]

This get closest IMO. Small, light, 2 door/seater, engineered for heightened driving dynamics before comfort. Low c of g, good reflexes, good sounds. Power isn't absolutely necessary, but but certainly doesn't disqualify. So a is just as much a sports car as a

Perhaps it's better to ask what ISN'T a sports car?

While are all cool and interesting cars in their own right, the following are not sports cars, IMO.

Muscle cars
Pony cars
Hot hatches
GT cars
Performance sedans
Sport coupes
Performance SUVs
Etc

Although some GT cars blur that line quite well.

[wap]

A driver's car isn't always a sports car, but a sports car is always a driver's car.

[wap]

Can you modify a car to where it becomes a sports car?

Mercedes W201 Chassis - Modified - Mercedes 190e 2.3 SPORTS SEDAN

Not just homologation cars.

Golf -> GTi HOT HATCH
Boat -> Hellcat Challenger MUSCLE CAR
Silverado -> Corvette This is a sports car with a truck-derived engine

Two seat RWD is probably the purest form of the sports car, but it's a term that's thrown around so much, it's meaning isn't possible to nail down.

My opinions in bold.

[wap]

Poll should have multiple options available...

I pretty much agree with what is being said other than the fact that it has to be two seater. Toyota 86 and Porsche 911, for example, are sports cars in my book. I would agree with the assessment that it is a car that puts driving pleasure first, doesn't need to be fast. It also needs to be designed from the ground up for driving fun. Nothing that is a souped up hatch/sedan/coupe/SUV is a sports car.

Those are technically a 2+2
There's a sub category for everything.

It's like the animale classification.

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Agreed. I called those sport coupes above, but 2+2 is interchangeable, IMO.

Also, while the 911 started life as a sports car, it has morphed into a GT, more like an Aston Martin. The true Porsche sports car now is the Boxter/Cayman.