Celica Forums General Discussion General when is a sports car a sports car?

just wondering what everyone's perception of a sports car is.i know some people label the celica a sports car. i get that a lot "casper owns a sports car...". but in all honesty i don't consider my celica a sports car, rather...a "sporty car".i think true sports cars IMHO start from lotus and above...
well my definition of sports car is=any street legal car that translates the closest to race cars. ie ferrari, lamborghini, pagani, lotus, porche, etc...cars that exhibit lightweight and cornering capabilities that emulates the closest to race car driving.

so what's your definition of a sports car and do you consider the celi one?

I don't think a sports car has to be fast. I think it has to drive and handle like a go-cart, have two doors, two seats, and be fun to drive. I consider Miata's, MR2's, TT's, Corvette's... things like those to be sports cars. I think anything like our car is a "sport coupe".

two seats, two doors, 150MPH, 1.0 Lateral G

I don't consider a Celica a sports car. It is a sporty car, but I would not call it a sports car. Vipers, Vettes, TT, M series BMW and upper scale cars, thats what I call a sports car. An everyday grocery getter is not a sports car.

that's a good summation...

IMO true sports cars are more like the elise. not all that much daily driving practicality. Just meant for "sport" driving. lol

my honda civic is a mad tyte sports car yo, with 240 rwhp!

j/k

I think a sports car is a car that's designed for Performance and tops out at over 150mph.

2 Seats
2 Doors
Not automatic
Not FWD
At least 1.0 G
At least 160 MPH
At least 300HP
Less than 2500 LBS

Remember there are always exceptions...

the alltrac

I think you guys are defining "super cars"... not "sports cars"

A sports car needs to be able to take you for the ride of your life

(Like my GF does to me)

yah super cars are those in the 85 +++ range reaching into the exotic domain..

a stock car...
a sports car has better handling than an average family car speed is sufficent and looks are "sporty" and sleek..
2 doors ...(3 door even.. ie rx-8)... and lower than the average car.

the celica fits this and so is a sports car IMO... not as fast as other sports cars but does the job for daily drivin..

now hard core sports cars.. are more skrilla

This is Websters dictionary definition:
Main Entry: sports car
Function: noun
: a low small usually 2-passenger automobile designed for quick response, easy maneuverability, and high-speed driving

The Celica fits this description. I would consider it a "sporty car" except the handling is so good. The Celica is not as manuverable as a Miata, but it handles almost as good. The Fiat Spyder is considered a sports car, along with the old MG's, Triumphs, Jaguars etc. The Celica will out handle any of those vehicles. And will outrun most of them. The bottom line is how well the car handles at the track aginst the opposition. The last time I saw a SCCA race the Celicas were easily keeping up with "sports cars".

GT4

Definately any car that did not come with a 4 door option

ide like you to name ONE car that fits all that cryteria

Yeah... you will NOT find a car that pulls 1.0 on the skidpad that is that fast. Not will you find one that weighs only 2500lbs and has 300hp... that's lighter than our cars.

2 doors
awd/rwd
2 seats

How about some perspective? LoFlyer already covered some of these. Was an Austin Healy Sprite a sports car (2 doors, 2 seats, wouldn't see 100mph if you dropped it out of an airplane). A Triumph Spitfire? A Fiat 850? A Fiat 124? Used to be a sports car was an underpowered ragtop from England or Italy. Try to find a copy of "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories" (Jean Shepherd, printed in Road and Track a while back). It's a great sports car story. The original Porsche Speedster had a VW engine (that's right isn't it?). The first RX-7 had only 100hp. Was a 1970 Datsun 240Z a sports car (oh, yeah). The technology is so much better now, we can get much more hp out of a small engine.

I guess my point is the definition of a "sports car" changes over the years and reflects the relative characteristics, compared to what else is on the road.
I'd have to call an RX-8 a sports cars even with 2 back seats (but they are kind of vestigial, aren't they?).

BTW: What's with the fixation of 150mph?

2 doors

Very "fast looking" is also a big part besides the Performance.

porsche, ferrari, lambo, lotus, saleen, shelby, vette...those are sport cars.

cars like celicas are sporty cars. a sports car for me is something that you wont drive daily cz it isnt comfortable. loud, precise, lightweight, good handling, 2 seater, 2 doors, sexy...

F1 mclaren race car: 1350lbs. (weight includes inmounted camera and driver), 650hp, 2.5 gs, 1 seat, no doors, at least 200 mph...

well you said to name ONE car...

Something that I cannot afford

I only consider it one when my insurance company tells me I have to pay so much because it's a sports car.

Something that is predictable, handles well, stops quick and accelerates well.

oh no - he pulled out the Mclaren - That car is my all time fav

Booyah. Those Accord coupes are sports cars.

CELICA

hahah i love this one! good point!

uh yah!

That sounds like a challenge to me!

2000 Ultima GTR
2183 LBS
Mid Engine/RWD
6 Speed Manual
534 bhp
528 lb/ft
1.02g
204 mph
[email]11.9@124[/email]
0-60: 3.9 sec

2000 TVR Speed 12
2205 LBS
Front engine/RWD
5 Speed Manual
800 bhp
650 lb/ft
Dunno the G
Est. 240 mph
Dunno the 1/4
0-60: 3.5 sec

1991 Mazda 787B (Le Mans car )
1831 LBS
Mid-Engine/RWD
5 Speed Manual
700 bhp
620 lb/ft
1.20+ g
200+ mph
Never ever done a 1/4 mile run
0-60: Less than 3 seconds


There are more. 3 wonderful current cars:

2005 Lotus Exige


2005 Porsche 911 Turbo


2003 M3 CSL

^^^ do all those pull 1g though?

that porsche is nice -

The Exige sure as fuck will pull 1.10G. All of the ones i listed will too. The BMW won't, the 911 won't either.

Exige is good for turning.
Porsche is good for 200 mph runs.
BMW is good for cruising.

a car that can run fast on the track, not just 1/4 mile.

my dad says the celica we have isnt a sports car because it isnt manual... and i truely beleive that all sports cars should be manual... and light weight, 2 seaters mostly... hard or soft top... and be either mid or rear mounted engine... and be rear wheel drive...