What Makes the Best Sports Car?

Added: 11/16/2005

A sports car can be defined as a type of automobile, designed for sporting performance. However we should differentiate between sports and sporting cars. A sporting car doesn't necessarily mean a sports car. Many regular cars have been modified for performances and don't possess characteristic features of true sport cars.

So what makes a best sports car different from others? First of all we should mention the light weight and excellent handling characteristics. Some sports cars use front wheel drive, when the engine drives the front wheels. But the front engine driving rear wheels is more common in sports cars. Other variants have been tried, in order to distribute weight and improve handling. Some sports cars are equipped with emergency back seats, which are suitable for children and luggage. The companies producing sports cars try to make their vehicles more practical by increasing the seating room. One way is to place the seat of the driver in the center of the car, which allows two seats for passengers on each side and one seat behind the driver. However such a model was abandoned because of the difficulty for a driver to enter the car. Another seating arrangement was introduced by British manufacturer TVR. The car was arranged in such a way that the passenger could sit farther forward than the driver. Such an arrangement allows space sufficient for three adults and one child.

Among well-known sports car companies are Alfa Romeo, BMW, Caterham, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lotus, Marcos, McLaren, Morgan, Porsche, and Vector. Almost all car manufacturers produce high performance cars, the most successful are Ford, Mazda, Chevrolet and Nissan. Initially sports cars were intended for sport: endurance races, rallies or speed trials. The first sports cars appeared shortly after the World War II. Their rise was a result of many factors including technological improvement, the end of the depression and war and increasingly better roads. Some car companies, like Cord and Bugatti disappeared after the war. Other car makers, including Ferrari and Jaguar tried to survive, adapting themselves to the times by introducing new sports models.

Preferable features in sports cars are all a matter of taste. Americans consider the Chevrolet Corvette to be the best sports car. It has been consistently popular and successful through six generations. Not many other sports car companies can offer such build quality for the price. The Ford Mustang is treated as the best sports car by many people as well, especially today, with an improved design. The Ford Thunderbird is considered to be gentleman's sports car. The car got a neo-retro makeover in 2002. The Thunderbird remains an American icon, due to its targeted demographic. Another prominent exhibit is the Shelby Cobra, which was designed by Carroll Shelby. The car has been a dream of enthusiasts for more than forty years. The Pontiac GTO is considered to be the first real muscle car. Though its new design is sometimes criticized, it is definitely better than it used to be a few years ago.

The price of the sports car may vary depending on such factors as rarity, the brand name of the company and others. In the United States and Canada many sports cars are now not available for sale, but it doesn't make it any more difficult to buy sports cars in Europe and in Britain. When it comes to sports cars, you get what you pay for. So if you want the best sports car, you'll have to pay decent price.

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