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August 22, 2009 10:37 AM Subscribe
What’s so special about the super cars that make people spend cosmic sums on a single car to buy it? Here are the Most Expensive Supercars: Exotic Showcase. Looking for cheap wheels? Here they are — the ten least-expensive 2009 cars on sale in America. But sticker price insn't everything; here are the 10 most and least expensive cars to insure.
Without exception I find the exotics painfully unattractive. Okay the Merc SLR is a good looking car, but all of the mid engined cars are ugly. I've never seen a Zonda in real life, but I've never seen a picture of it that's even halfway attractive. The best looking car currently made; and here's number two.
posted by Keith Talent at 10:53 AM on August 22, 2009
posted by Keith Talent at 10:53 AM on August 22, 2009
the ten least-expensive 2009 cars on sale in America
Ignoring things like the USD 7250 FAW F1 and other inexpensive cars you can buy outside the US, I assume.
posted by effbot at 10:56 AM on August 22, 2009
Ignoring things like the USD 7250 FAW F1 and other inexpensive cars you can buy outside the US, I assume.
posted by effbot at 10:56 AM on August 22, 2009
The automobile industry in this country will NEVER recover, IMO, until it can make and sell a car for less than 10k.
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:08 AM on August 22, 2009
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:08 AM on August 22, 2009
The automobile industry in this country will NEVER recover, IMO, until it can make and sell a new car that has better reliability than a used Honda that sells for less than $10,000.
posted by I EAT TAPAS at 11:11 AM on August 22, 2009
posted by I EAT TAPAS at 11:11 AM on August 22, 2009
The automobile industry in this country will NEVER recover, IMO, until it can make and sell a new car that has better reliability than a used Honda that sells for less than $10,000.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 11:12 AM on August 22, 2009 [8 favorites]
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 11:12 AM on August 22, 2009 [8 favorites]
The automobile industry in this country will NEVER recover.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:15 AM on August 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:15 AM on August 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
If you live anywhere south of the mid-atlantic states, this list is useless. You'll be paying for the A/C option or you'll be driving in misery.
posted by sonic meat machine at 11:19 AM on August 22, 2009
posted by sonic meat machine at 11:19 AM on August 22, 2009
The best looking car currently made;
Oh my. That puts my car-wenis in full waggle.
At a cost of about $175,000, 500 will be built for European consumption and will have to be ordered directly from Alfa's home office in Italy. Stateside, Maserati will sell a production run of 99 of these cars for about $200,000 apiece. (link)
God damn my liberal arts education.
/flings bus pass across the room at bicycle.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 11:50 AM on August 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Oh my. That puts my car-wenis in full waggle.
At a cost of about $175,000, 500 will be built for European consumption and will have to be ordered directly from Alfa's home office in Italy. Stateside, Maserati will sell a production run of 99 of these cars for about $200,000 apiece. (link)
God damn my liberal arts education.
/flings bus pass across the room at bicycle.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 11:50 AM on August 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
What’s so special about the super cars that make people spend cosmic sums on a single car to buy it?
The price tag, obviously.
posted by daniel_charms at 12:04 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
The price tag, obviously.
posted by daniel_charms at 12:04 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
The automobile industry in this country will NEVER recover, IMO, until it can make and sell a new car that has better reliability than a used Honda that sells for less than $10,000.
Well, the problem is it takes 10 years before you'll know how reliable the cars are. If Ford or whoever spent billions on quality, no one would know how good the quality was until the cars had been around for years.
Anyway, supposedly the quality and reliability of American cars, especially fords, has gone way up lately.
posted by delmoi at 12:08 PM on August 22, 2009
Well, the problem is it takes 10 years before you'll know how reliable the cars are. If Ford or whoever spent billions on quality, no one would know how good the quality was until the cars had been around for years.
Anyway, supposedly the quality and reliability of American cars, especially fords, has gone way up lately.
posted by delmoi at 12:08 PM on August 22, 2009
God damn my liberal arts education.
The 8C's little brother, Alfa Romeo MiTo, should be a bit more affordable. It's gotten some really good reviews, seems to offer plenty of Alfa for the money, and to top it off, was crowned Gay Car of the Year earlier this year.
posted by effbot at 12:11 PM on August 22, 2009
The 8C's little brother, Alfa Romeo MiTo, should be a bit more affordable. It's gotten some really good reviews, seems to offer plenty of Alfa for the money, and to top it off, was crowned Gay Car of the Year earlier this year.
posted by effbot at 12:11 PM on August 22, 2009
These so-called supercars have never appealed to me, at all.
In fact I was just sitting at a red light next to a UPS truck, and it occurred to me that if Grumman ever made a car, it would probably be the most awesome car in the world.
But out of all of these 10 most expensive and the 10 least expensive, I'd go with the Yaris, definitely. Looks cute, it's peppy, economical, and it's the cheap car that Honest John in the Saturday Telegraph always recommends.
(On preview, yeah, I've been loaned my mum's Ford Focus ZX3 - in chrome yellow!- for the summer, and it is a great little car. It's about 5 years old I think and she's had no trouble with it at all)
posted by Flashman at 12:20 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
In fact I was just sitting at a red light next to a UPS truck, and it occurred to me that if Grumman ever made a car, it would probably be the most awesome car in the world.
But out of all of these 10 most expensive and the 10 least expensive, I'd go with the Yaris, definitely. Looks cute, it's peppy, economical, and it's the cheap car that Honest John in the Saturday Telegraph always recommends.
(On preview, yeah, I've been loaned my mum's Ford Focus ZX3 - in chrome yellow!- for the summer, and it is a great little car. It's about 5 years old I think and she's had no trouble with it at all)
posted by Flashman at 12:20 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Supermedusa, don't forget the Lotus Exige
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 12:26 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 12:26 PM on August 22, 2009
The list is already outdated. The Veyron Grand Sport and the Aston Martin One-77 have already outpriced it at over $2.2 million.
posted by spiderskull at 12:27 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by spiderskull at 12:27 PM on August 22, 2009
The auto industry in this country will NEVER recover, IMO, until they can make and sell a car that outperforms the Zonda for less than 10k.
posted by chrchr at 12:28 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by chrchr at 12:28 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
With the amount of tax my government puts on new cars and petrol, I've decided to always buy the cheapest possible, and run it until it runs no mow - as longs as possible. It must get more than the average number of miles per gallon (a minimum I currently set on 40 mpg).
So, in a way, I'm pretty much never going to buy a fancy car of any kind.
Buy I still very much enjoy Top Gear for the comedy value...
posted by DreamerFi at 12:35 PM on August 22, 2009
So, in a way, I'm pretty much never going to buy a fancy car of any kind.
Buy I still very much enjoy Top Gear for the comedy value...
posted by DreamerFi at 12:35 PM on August 22, 2009
If Ford or whoever spent billions on quality
Which they have, and they've been placing in the top 10 in initial quality for years now along with Honda / etc.
However, I agree that it will take a while, of course, to compare longevity for those cars.
posted by wildcrdj at 12:41 PM on August 22, 2009
Which they have, and they've been placing in the top 10 in initial quality for years now along with Honda / etc.
However, I agree that it will take a while, of course, to compare longevity for those cars.
posted by wildcrdj at 12:41 PM on August 22, 2009
The automobile industry in this country will NEVER recover, IMO, until
it has engineers calling the shots instead of accountants.
posted by Zambrano at 1:03 PM on August 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
there are more economical ways to pick up chicks. personally a guy on a 50-dollar fixie is more likely to do it for me.
posted by hereticfig at 1:04 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by hereticfig at 1:04 PM on August 22, 2009
The automobile industry in this country will NEVER recover, IMO, until
it has engineers calling the shots instead ofaccountants marketers.
posted by klanawa at 1:13 PM on August 22, 2009
it has engineers calling the shots instead of
posted by klanawa at 1:13 PM on August 22, 2009
The MiTo looks cute. However, truly given my druthers (and a lifetime mechanic+parts and a garage) I would be more likely to choose some sort of Morgan.
Even this one.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 1:35 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Even this one.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 1:35 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
What’s so special about the super cars that make people spend cosmic sums on a single car to buy it?
The price tag, obviously.
Pretty much. The primary selling points to most "luxury goods" are that they will get you envied and desired - whether by virtue of their price tag, exclusivity, or obscurity ("Ooh, he's really in the know!"). All the bullet-point features are just there to help buyers rationalize the purchase once they've decided that it will get them the attention that they want.
posted by polymath at 2:00 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
this is the hottest car, and its only $50k!!!!
posted by supermedusa at 12:17 PM on August 22 [+] [!]
If you are 4 feet tall and have a young person's back/joints then I'm sure that car is a lot of fun.
posted by basicchannel at 2:09 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by supermedusa at 12:17 PM on August 22 [+] [!]
If you are 4 feet tall and have a young person's back/joints then I'm sure that car is a lot of fun.
posted by basicchannel at 2:09 PM on August 22, 2009
The automobile industry in this country will NEVER recover, IMO, until they make a car that can do the Kessel run in under 10 parsecs.
posted by dirigibleman at 2:13 PM on August 22, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by dirigibleman at 2:13 PM on August 22, 2009 [4 favorites]
Back in the '90s, during the "Everybody Get Rich!" part of the Dot-Com bubble before it went dot-kaboom, I bought a Cadillac. A 1969 DeVille droptop I paid $4000 in cash for, and it was in primo condition - great body, original paint and chrome, no rust, the leather was all original and uncracked, the AC blew cold and all the seat and window motors worked.
At a gas station near my brother's house, when I pulled in, there was a Porsche 911 Turbo, a BMW M5, and a Ferrari 456, and as we're all filling up our gas guzzlers, an oh-my-God-everyone's-staring beautiful woman pulls up on a Harley Fatboy, and how anyone can ride a motorcycle in high heels, I'll never know. After she fills up, she walks past the Beemer, the Porsche, the Ferrari, and leans against my rear fender as I'm filling up (a 20 gallon tank needs some filling), and says, "What year is she?"
We chatted about the engine (472cui Caddy mill, with a few bolt-ons from MTS, worth around 450ft-lbs of torque at the wheels) and about her bike, exchanged numbers, and I swear the guy in the Ferrari wanted to fight me on the spot when she rode off.
When it comes to displaying your dick length in public, taste wins out against money, every time.
posted by Slap*Happy at 2:21 PM on August 22, 2009 [9 favorites]
At a gas station near my brother's house, when I pulled in, there was a Porsche 911 Turbo, a BMW M5, and a Ferrari 456, and as we're all filling up our gas guzzlers, an oh-my-God-everyone's-staring beautiful woman pulls up on a Harley Fatboy, and how anyone can ride a motorcycle in high heels, I'll never know. After she fills up, she walks past the Beemer, the Porsche, the Ferrari, and leans against my rear fender as I'm filling up (a 20 gallon tank needs some filling), and says, "What year is she?"
We chatted about the engine (472cui Caddy mill, with a few bolt-ons from MTS, worth around 450ft-lbs of torque at the wheels) and about her bike, exchanged numbers, and I swear the guy in the Ferrari wanted to fight me on the spot when she rode off.
When it comes to displaying your dick length in public, taste wins out against money, every time.
posted by Slap*Happy at 2:21 PM on August 22, 2009 [9 favorites]
If you are 4 feet tall and have a young person's back/joints then I'm sure that car is a lot of fun.
I'm 6'4" and I fit in one fine -- although the wide sills (for stiffness) do take a particular entry/exit procedure. And I found the suspension to be downright cushy.
posted by LordSludge at 2:29 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm 6'4" and I fit in one fine -- although the wide sills (for stiffness) do take a particular entry/exit procedure. And I found the suspension to be downright cushy.
posted by LordSludge at 2:29 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
What’s so special about the super cars that make people spend cosmic sums on a single car to buy it?
I would never blow that kinda cash on one, for a number of reasons (not the least of which being that I'm broke), but after watching this National Geographic documentary (sorry for the horrible sound quality), I can see why Ferraris cost so much, anyhow.
A new, hand-finished casting for EACH ENGINE??? Geeze...
posted by LordSludge at 2:37 PM on August 22, 2009
I would never blow that kinda cash on one, for a number of reasons (not the least of which being that I'm broke), but after watching this National Geographic documentary (sorry for the horrible sound quality), I can see why Ferraris cost so much, anyhow.
A new, hand-finished casting for EACH ENGINE??? Geeze...
posted by LordSludge at 2:37 PM on August 22, 2009
there are more economical ways to pick up chicks. personally a guy on a 50-dollar fixie is more likely to do it for me.
Nothing like narcissism. Firstly in assuming the only reason people drive fun cars is to pick up chicks, and secondly assuming that a person who did buy them for that purpose would want you.
posted by rodgerd at 2:48 PM on August 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Nothing like narcissism. Firstly in assuming the only reason people drive fun cars is to pick up chicks, and secondly assuming that a person who did buy them for that purpose would want you.
posted by rodgerd at 2:48 PM on August 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Oh, snap.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 2:58 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 2:58 PM on August 22, 2009
My favorite factoid is how the new limited-production Ferraris are only sold to people who Ferrari deems worthy, based on their past record of purchasing Ferraris.
posted by smackfu at 3:18 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by smackfu at 3:18 PM on August 22, 2009
I've owned two sports cars in my life - the first was a Lotus 7 in my early 20s, impracticle, loud and unrelliable to the point of tears. I now own a Toyota MR-S, also impracticle, but reliable and just as fun in the twisties.
But every time I see a 7 on the road - I still feel like I'm missing out in the modern, insulated roof Toyota. Cars shouldn't be about cock size, money, reliability, or practicality, they should make you feel free.
Also when you step out of line on a corner, it helps to have the engine in the front.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 3:35 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
But every time I see a 7 on the road - I still feel like I'm missing out in the modern, insulated roof Toyota. Cars shouldn't be about cock size, money, reliability, or practicality, they should make you feel free.
Also when you step out of line on a corner, it helps to have the engine in the front.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 3:35 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
The best looking car currently made; and here's number two.
Neither as nice nor as fast nor as affordable as this American car (Hint: not a Vette.)
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:45 PM on August 22, 2009
Neither as nice nor as fast nor as affordable as this American car (Hint: not a Vette.)
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:45 PM on August 22, 2009
How pissed do you think the guys who pay ~$2M for a car get when they find their first door ding?
posted by double block and bleed at 4:55 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by double block and bleed at 4:55 PM on August 22, 2009
But if we're talking "of all time", I'll throw these into the mix:
- 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder
- BMW 507 Touring Sport
- 1954 Kaiser-Darrin
- McLaren F1
- And for the budget-conscious... Austin Healey 3000 Mk III BJ8 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 (4.2L) 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider
Neither as nice nor as fast nor as affordable as this American car (Hint: not a Vette.)<>
That's just a crappy Mustang with a half fancy kitcar body. Entirely underwhelming. The Lotus would laugh all over it as it blew past at the first corner...
posted by Brockles at 5:18 PM on August 22, 2009
That's just a crappy Mustang with a half fancy kitcar body. Entirely underwhelming. The Lotus would laugh all over it as it blew past at the first corner...
posted by Brockles at 5:18 PM on August 22, 2009
I'd be really curious to see the car cost as a percentage of the buyer's yearly income, across all models of cars.
My guess is that it would initially rise, peak at some car value around $40-50K (aka the "I can barely afford this BMW" point), and then taper down right to the very end of the curve. Veyrons are probably much less of a financial burden on their owners than Accents are.
posted by CaseyB at 5:34 PM on August 22, 2009
My guess is that it would initially rise, peak at some car value around $40-50K (aka the "I can barely afford this BMW" point), and then taper down right to the very end of the curve. Veyrons are probably much less of a financial burden on their owners than Accents are.
posted by CaseyB at 5:34 PM on August 22, 2009
Old (1997), and dubiously sourced, but: Car Price vs Income
posted by smackfu at 5:40 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by smackfu at 5:40 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
The Cobra, especially in modern replica forms, should not be underestimated. It's essentially a tiny and lightweight little British roadster designed for handling first, power second, that had it's little four-pot motor removed, and replaced with a GIANT V8 PICKUP-TRUCK ENGINE. So you had the dainty handling around corners combined with DRAG RACER ACCELERATION on the straights. This is a timeless combination, and with the advent of carbon-fiber chassis and body, coupled with thousand-plus horsepower pushrod V8's, only gets better.
That, and it fucking looks deadly, even to this very day.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:44 PM on August 22, 2009
That, and it fucking looks deadly, even to this very day.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:44 PM on August 22, 2009
Here is a short kinda crappy video of most of those cars all in one private collection just up the road from where I live. It features in the end a quick shot of the super rare Bugatti Pur Sang which only 300 where ever made.
posted by HappyHippo at 5:52 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by HappyHippo at 5:52 PM on August 22, 2009
I'm not a big car person, but the only one of that lot that looked appealing to me was the Reventon. I'm kind of tired of vulgar, organic, swooping lines in auto design.
Bertone needs to get back in the game old school style.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 6:19 PM on August 22, 2009
Bertone needs to get back in the game old school style.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 6:19 PM on August 22, 2009
The Lotus would laugh all over it as it blew past at the first corner...
Sigh.
First off, the Exige looks like a Transformers version of one of those flying cockroaches you find in the American South. The Esperante has far more creature comforts--more GT than roadster.
Second, they both weigh about 2,000 lbs. They both have a lateral grip of about .98g.
Third, the Exige has a top speed of about 145 mph. The SCCA version of the Esperante gets around 180mph.
The only place the Exige would be trumping the Esperante is in your dreams.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:32 PM on August 22, 2009
Sigh.
First off, the Exige looks like a Transformers version of one of those flying cockroaches you find in the American South. The Esperante has far more creature comforts--more GT than roadster.
Second, they both weigh about 2,000 lbs. They both have a lateral grip of about .98g.
Third, the Exige has a top speed of about 145 mph. The SCCA version of the Esperante gets around 180mph.
The only place the Exige would be trumping the Esperante is in your dreams.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:32 PM on August 22, 2009
My dream car is still a Cord 812, but I'll take my grandfather's Buick in the interim.
Not saying I would turn down a chance to ride (or drive) in a Veyron, I just like the lines of the older cars.
posted by mrzarquon at 8:37 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Not saying I would turn down a chance to ride (or drive) in a Veyron, I just like the lines of the older cars.
posted by mrzarquon at 8:37 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Even in my wildest fantasies practical considerations keep me from wanting a Veyron. I can't even imagine sitting behind the wheel without imagining shipping it to the dealer for its monthly $25k oil change (or whatever ridiculous maintenance schedule it certainly has.)
posted by bunnytricks at 10:30 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by bunnytricks at 10:30 PM on August 22, 2009
Having a car-mad 10 year old, "What is your favorite car ever?" is a frequent subject of debate at our house, and the wisdom of classic vs. modern is often pondered. I admire a lot of the cars people have already mentioned, especially the Elise and the Alfa Romeo 8C. My son insists that I mention the Bizzarrini P538S, which is actually a race car, and in person looks like it was built to win the Car Limbo Championship. I just like that there was a real carmaker named Bizzarrini. I'm also rather fond of the TVR Tuscan, especially with garish flip paint. Never seen one in the flesh, though, and I'm not sure I could stand to regularly drive something so wildly extroverted.
posted by gamera at 10:33 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by gamera at 10:33 PM on August 22, 2009
In fact I was just sitting at a red light next to a UPS truck, and it occurred to me that if Grumman ever made a car, it would probably be the most awesome car in the world.
YMMV. I'd love to own one, though.
posted by stet at 10:43 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
YMMV. I'd love to own one, though.
posted by stet at 10:43 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
My current drool car is the IFR Aspid.
It's not particularly pretty, but supposedly 0-62 in 2.8 and 0-100 in 5.9 and gets 51mpg under normal driving.
posted by juv3nal at 10:53 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
It's not particularly pretty, but supposedly 0-62 in 2.8 and 0-100 in 5.9 and gets 51mpg under normal driving.
posted by juv3nal at 10:53 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Personally, I'll take one of these.
But since it isn't street legal, I'd love an RX-7 FB or a 280 Z.
posted by clorox at 11:08 PM on August 22, 2009
But since it isn't street legal, I'd love an RX-7 FB or a 280 Z.
posted by clorox at 11:08 PM on August 22, 2009
eh, you can keep your supercars. I'm happy putting around in my studebaker.
posted by vronsky at 11:45 PM on August 22, 2009
posted by vronsky at 11:45 PM on August 22, 2009
Honestly, if I won the lottery tomorrow, the only "supercar" I'd buy is an Ariel Atom. And that's less than $70K, which is in the range for a high-end sedan. I think the biggest problem would be just getting on the list for one as they don't make that many.
posted by barc0001 at 3:30 AM on August 23, 2009
posted by barc0001 at 3:30 AM on August 23, 2009
Stet, I was dreaming of something more like this. In riveted aluminum.
posted by Flashman at 9:07 AM on August 23, 2009
posted by Flashman at 9:07 AM on August 23, 2009
Second, they both weigh about 2,000 lbs.
The Esperante is 2600lbs, the Exige is more than 500 lbs less than that. That's nearly a 25% increase in weight right there for the road versions.
However, you talk about the SCCA version (which is a race car, rather than a road car), which is lighter admittedly, but if so you have to compare that with the Exige Cup 260 race version. You have to compare like for like, agreed?
Esperante SCCA: 940 kg. (some ambiguity over the actual quoted weight in various sources)
Exige Cup 260: 890 kg (18% lighter still)
So they don't weight the same as each other at all.
They both have a lateral grip of about .98g.
This data from Road America shows lateral g for the Exige in excess of 1.5 g (1.1-1.2g sustained). This is a significant improvement, and I can't find anything that suggests a better grip for the Esperante. 15-20% improvement in lateral g is also a huge gain.
Feel free to get your Esperante, but it's a wallowy old road car based on a Mustang (itself a dreadful car, dynamically) and I'll see you at the finish line when I can get my legs over the sill of the Exige...
posted by Brockles at 9:39 AM on August 23, 2009
The Esperante is 2600lbs, the Exige is more than 500 lbs less than that. That's nearly a 25% increase in weight right there for the road versions.
However, you talk about the SCCA version (which is a race car, rather than a road car), which is lighter admittedly, but if so you have to compare that with the Exige Cup 260 race version. You have to compare like for like, agreed?
Esperante SCCA: 940 kg. (some ambiguity over the actual quoted weight in various sources)
Exige Cup 260: 890 kg (18% lighter still)
So they don't weight the same as each other at all.
They both have a lateral grip of about .98g.
This data from Road America shows lateral g for the Exige in excess of 1.5 g (1.1-1.2g sustained). This is a significant improvement, and I can't find anything that suggests a better grip for the Esperante. 15-20% improvement in lateral g is also a huge gain.
Feel free to get your Esperante, but it's a wallowy old road car based on a Mustang (itself a dreadful car, dynamically) and I'll see you at the finish line when I can get my legs over the sill of the Exige...
posted by Brockles at 9:39 AM on August 23, 2009
Personally, I'll take one of these. (1967 Lotus Formula one car)
I had an interesting experience with the one the year after that, actually. I helped restore a 1968 version of that (recovered from a beach in Jersey) and transported it to the track for its shakedown at Donington Park. It nearly got wiped out on the way to the track when the trailer decided to flip out on me, but we narrowly escaped landing in the ditch together.
After spending 45 minutes trying to get it to start in the cold weather, the guy who owned it (and who turned down a half million pound sterling offer for the car a few weeks previous) got a little over excited on the dry line that was appearing and crashed it into a wall at about 100 mph. Bent the chassis into an 's' shape and destroyed it. It did about 1 hour of running...
Back to the shop and back to work, then.
posted by Brockles at 10:40 AM on August 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
I had an interesting experience with the one the year after that, actually. I helped restore a 1968 version of that (recovered from a beach in Jersey) and transported it to the track for its shakedown at Donington Park. It nearly got wiped out on the way to the track when the trailer decided to flip out on me, but we narrowly escaped landing in the ditch together.
After spending 45 minutes trying to get it to start in the cold weather, the guy who owned it (and who turned down a half million pound sterling offer for the car a few weeks previous) got a little over excited on the dry line that was appearing and crashed it into a wall at about 100 mph. Bent the chassis into an 's' shape and destroyed it. It did about 1 hour of running...
Back to the shop and back to work, then.
posted by Brockles at 10:40 AM on August 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
I, personally, have been wanting to get my hands on a 1957 one of these for about 20 years. I don't have the skills or tools to rebuild or maintain one. But oh...how I want one.
posted by dejah420 at 8:05 PM on August 23, 2009
posted by dejah420 at 8:05 PM on August 23, 2009
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posted by ZenMasterThis at 10:49 AM on August 22, 2009