What is a Sports Car?

[[TW]Fox]

So guys, this could be an interesting thread.

What is a Sports Car? What is the accepted, conventional definition?

My personal understanding is that a sports car is something like a Mazda MX5, a Porsche Boxster S, perhaps a Honda S2000, even a crappy old MGF. Sports cars. Doesn't need to be fast.

Cars like the BMW M3, however, as awesome as they are, are not in my opinion 'Sports Cars'.

But what do you guys think?

What is a Sports Car?

 

[lukechad]

I think anything with more than 2 seats doesnt class IMO as a sports car.

Agee that M3's S4's etc are all awesome machines but arent "sports cars"

 

[ZG002]

Very much the same as you. Small, light fun to drive, handle well.. 2 seats.

 

[NickXX]

M3

 

[paradigm]

I agree with you entirely Fox. A sports car has two seats, is light and nimble, and has a drop-top.

Nick - The M3 never has, will or could be a "sports car". It is a "sporty" car, but not a "sports car".

 

[[TR]SweetSpotOz]

.

 

[thecremeegg]

I agree, I think a sports car is a car thats nippy, no more than two seats, and often as not a convertible

 

[The Running Man]

like a suzuki cappuccino?

 

[paradigm]

No, that's a "girls car". Close, but no cigar.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

So guys, this could be an interesting thread.

What is a Sports Car? What is the accepted, conventional definition?

My personal understanding is that a sports car is something like a Mazda MX5, a Porsche Boxster S, perhaps a Honda S2000, even a crappy old MGF. Sports cars. Doesn't need to be fast.

Cars like the BMW M3, however, as awesome as they are, are not in my opinion 'Sports Cars'.

But what do you guys think?

What is a Sports Car?

Agreed. IMO a sports car is fairly light, preferably rwd, lot of fun to drive but not that practical.
The M3 et al are more in the area of "performance cars".

 

[Firestar_3x]

Aye something like an MX5 / Elise / Elan / MGF.

Not sure if the S2000 is a sports car or more of a GT.

 

[Dogbreath]

Someone once said "Ask five people the exact definition of a sports car, and you'll likely get five different answers".

Personally I agree with your perception. Generally a "sports car" will be a two seater (or 2+2), always 2 doors (or less!). Usually small, and low. Soft top not mandatory. Designed for fun rather than outright performance.

 

[Muncher]

Everyone has a different definition

 

[The Running Man]

No, that's a "girls car". Close, but no cigar.

like an MGF then?

 

[InvaderGIR]

like a suzuki cappuccino?

Nothing wrong with that...

I agree with Fox and everyone else that agrees with him and has expanded a bit on him.

InvG

 

[paradigm]

like an MGF then?

Yep, I guess they count.

 

[L0rdMike]

I wouldnt say a car needs a soft top to be a sports car though.

 

[InvaderGIR]

I wouldnt say a car needs a soft top to be a sports car though.

No, doesn't always have to be a softop, but a lot of them are.

InvG

 

[ChoÞÞer]

Nothing wrong with that...

 

[paradigm]

I wouldnt say a car needs a soft top to be a sports car though.

In 99% of cases it needs to have no roof. Cars that are sold both with and without (such as the MR2) count towards the 1% that are "sports cars" with a roof.

Most of the time, a 2 seater car with a roof is a Coupe or a GT.