2008 AWARDS: Best Sports/GT Car Over $50K

[Tave]

But who's on first?

[MX793]

Then what does GT imply?

Originally?  The GT designation was born to separate proper, open-top sports cars from roofed performance cars in racing.  While perhaps generally more practical than a true sports car on account of having a roof and, often, a couple of extra seats, being a capable daily driver or suitable as an only car is not necessarily part of being a GT.

[TBR]

I didn't ask originally, you aren't using the original definition of sports car since open top cars aren't even allowed to race without a hardtop.

[MX793]

I didn't ask originally, you aren't using the original definition of sports car since open top cars aren't even allowed to race without a hardtop.

Oh?

http://www.autoclub.com.au/uploaded_images/audi-r10-788879.jpg

[SVT666]

I took it as a way to make sure I didn't bring up the fact that none of them are sports cars other than the roadster version of the Viper SRT-10.

Essentially.  Sports cars and GT cars are pretty much in the same class since they are cross shopped and have the same power and performance levels.  There is no point in seperating the two.  Besides there are too many people on this site like Raza who want to stick to a definition that no longer applies, and others who thing that everything with less then 4 seats is a sports car.  This way there is no arguing.

BTW, the FIA, the governing motorsport body most "sports car" definition sticklers cite, defines sports cars in their competition classes as open top or fixed roof.

[TheIntrepid]

Then what does GT imply?

Grand Touring car

[Minpin]

Grand Touring car

Thanks. I have been wondering for ages what that meant. 

[TheIntrepid]

Thanks. I have been wondering for ages what that meant. 

[CJ]

Oops!  I voted for the DBS!  I meant to vote for the GT-R.

[CALL_911]

GT3 RS. By FAR.

[JYODER240]

Correct me if I'm wrong but have we seen any road or comparison tests of the GT-R yet? All i've ever seen is some lap times and a few technical reports.

[MX793]

Correct me if I'm wrong but have we seen any road or comparison tests of the GT-R yet? All i've ever seen is some lap times and a few technical reports.

I think all of the major mags have driven it at this point, though most only took a preview test spin, not any sort of instrumented testing.  Although I do believe Edmunds did some instrumented tests.  They're the ones who got the sub 4 second 0-60 time.

[JYODER240]

I think all of the major mags have driven it at this point, though most only took a preview test spin, not any sort of instrumented testing.  Although I do believe Edmunds did some instrumented tests.  They're the ones who got the sub 4 second 0-60 time.

But have we seen any full tests done yet? Where they have kept the car for a few days and reported how it was on back roads, daily driving, on the track etc? It seems like a lot of people are voting for a car they don't know much about.

[Minpin]

But have we seen any full tests done yet? Where they have kept the car for a few days and reported how it was on back roads, daily driving, on the track etc? It seems like a lot of people are voting for a car they don't know much about.

No, we haven't. Which is why I didn't vote for it. It seems way preliminary to vote for something that only has a few 0-60 numbers and no descriptive feedback about how it actually drives.

[JYODER240]

No, we haven't. Which is why I didn't vote for it. It seems way preliminary to vote for something that only has a few 0-60 numbers and no descriptive feedback about how it actually drives.

That was my thinking.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

No, we haven't. Which is why I didn't vote for it. It seems way preliminary to vote for something that only has a few 0-60 numbers and no descriptive feedback about how it actually drives.

+1

[MX793]

But have we seen any full tests done yet? Where they have kept the car for a few days and reported how it was on back roads, daily driving, on the track etc? It seems like a lot of people are voting for a car they don't know much about.

Edmunds got their hands on a privately owned GT-R in Japan and ran a full test (the car is already out and for sale in Japan).  Granted, Edmunds' full tests are usually more brief than most of the major mags.  The only test they didn't run from their usual procedure was skidpad because the place they were at didn't have room.  Otherwise, they ran instrumented 0-60, 1/4 mile, braking and slalom tests.

[Panama Jack]

Aston

[565]

I don't understand all this complaint about not enough descriptive comparison tests.  I personally posted two links from Top Gear where they first drove it side by side to a 911 Turbo and picked it over the Turbo.  And then another Top Gear magazine where they drove an Audi R8 and a GTR side by side on the streets of Tokyo, and made the GTR their "Supercar of the Year."  They included nice pretty pictures of both cars going at it on various scenic drives with verbal descriptions that put any American auto magazine to shame.

I think this obession with comparision tests filled with tons instrument testing data and ranking the cars based on some random evaluation equation is an American fetish. These European magazines test drove the GTR and commented in great detail with overwhelming praise.  It's not hard to see why people love the GTR.