ZR1 VS. GT2 video inside.
08-16-2009, 10:25 PM
#22
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Upstate
Posts: 783
It's so true! The guy in the Porsche probably feels all high and mighty... until a vette pulls right up at a stoplight. Performance cars should be purpose built, and IMO, Americans do it the best and for the best price.
08-16-2009, 10:51 PM
#23
no, sadly you are right. It seems that even if we build superior supercar, record shattering monstrosities, we never get the credit we deserve... enter the ZR1 and the Saleen S7... all american, 1/3 the price of their next closest rival, A/C and radio included, and of course fully equipped with the latest batch of haters round the globe to come up with anything to protect their Ferrari's and Porsche's. I just don't see it if we always give credit where it's deserved, why don't they do the same?
A third of the price? A Ford GT would probably fit better than the S7.
08-16-2009, 11:46 PM
#24
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: California
Posts: 10,468
The ironic thing too, is when the S197 first came out and top Gear got ahold of it, they took no time lambasting it for having a solid axle setup. They were going on about it's horrible unsophisticated ride quality, and horse carriage suspension, and the poor handling that a solid axle provides. At which point the FR500C went out and won the Grand Am season team championship, and also taking the driver's championship and the manufacturer's championship. Horse Carriage suspension indeed.
Others can say what they will about the performance of American cars, but in the end the race track separates the pretenders from the contenders. There's also the C5R and C6R.
Others can say what they will about the performance of American cars, but in the end the race track separates the pretenders from the contenders. There's also the C5R and C6R.
08-17-2009, 07:33 AM
#26
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Miami
Posts: 1,175
08-17-2009, 07:50 AM
#27
Wash Rinse Repeat
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 6,312
The ironic thing too, is when the S197 first came out and top Gear got ahold of it, they took no time lambasting it for having a solid axle setup. They were going on about it's horrible unsophisticated ride quality, and horse carriage suspension, and the poor handling that a solid axle provides. At which point the FR500C went out and won the Grand Am season team championship, and also taking the driver's championship and the manufacturer's championship. Horse Carriage suspension indeed.
Others can say what they will about the performance of American cars, but in the end the race track separates the pretenders from the contenders. There's also the C5R and C6R.
Others can say what they will about the performance of American cars, but in the end the race track separates the pretenders from the contenders. There's also the C5R and C6R.
look at that stone age 1880's composite transverse monoleaf design ::rolls eyes::
I'd hate to rain on their parade of their "sophistication" babble by saying the racing monoleaf design is more complex and expensive than a coil setup... also weighs less
it's the same story when people make the phrase "stone age pushrod design" a commonplace... when OHV was introduced in 1912.. pushrod design is no more stone age than OHC design and both can and will be improved on even more than they already are
Last edited by Morbid Intentions; 08-17-2009 at 07:59 AM.
08-17-2009, 01:20 PM
#28
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: California
Posts: 10,468
Exactly. As long as you have ideal valve motion for the setup, what does it matter whether it came from pushrods or OHC. As long as you have ideal handling for the setup, what does it matter whether it's coilover or transverse leaf. Transverse leaf is quite nice when there's room to fit the package. Like you said, not only is it lighter than a coil spring, but it can function as a sway bar also, eliminating that components and further lightening the vehicle.
That's why I find it somewhat humorous when I hear those arguments against "old technology," considering the C5 and C6's are a dominant force in racing, with pushrods and leaf springs.
That's why I find it somewhat humorous when I hear those arguments against "old technology," considering the C5 and C6's are a dominant force in racing, with pushrods and leaf springs.
08-17-2009, 03:20 PM
#30
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Jersey
Posts: 2,445
This is just like when the Z06 came out and they tested it on top gear. It placed like 4th on they're performance list behind cars like the CGT. The reasons they gave for not liking it was that the ride was too rough for a street car. Please, they just **** themselves because the Americans are making these "uncivilized" cars that are handing most of their high priced "supercars" their *** around a track.