What Makes A Car A Sports Car?

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

I was having a chat with a bloke at work about his sons car, and he called it a sports car, the car in question is Astra, when I then said its not a sports car he claims it is because it has a Sport button.

This then got me thinking, what makes a sports car?

[welshpug 1,657]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_car

 

 

I certainly wouldn't call an Ashtray a "sports car" not even the VXR version, hot hatch certainty, or warm hatch

[Cameron 16]

Yarp. Traditionally 2 seats, engine at the front, drive at the back, built for enthusiastic driving. Basically everything an Astra isn't.

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

If a sports car is defined by a "Sport" button then an astra should have a "Sh!t" button lol

[GLPoomobile 958]

he claims it is because it has a Sport button.

 

Seriously? Are you trying to wind us up? Or was he trying to wind you up?

 

It worries me when I'm reminded of how stupid people can be

 

Does owning a pair of running shoes make me an athlete?

30 years ago (or thereabouts) it was all the rage to adorn gadgets with the word turbo (much like how everything is called iSomething these days). Did that mean they literally used to plumb turbos on to these devices?

Does he think that drinking Red Bull can actually make him fly?

 

If you see him at work tomorrow, give him a kick in the bollocks from me, and tell him it's for being such a moron.

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

If a sports car is defined by a "Sport" button then an astra should have a "Sh!t" button lol

 

No, that feature is on by default and you can't switch it off .

[S@m 156]

Its called a disAstra for a reason!

[Anthony 1,003]

I'd personally argue that anything that has to be marketed with a "Sport" button is not a sports car...

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

Similar to how an M5 is a supercar according to 'Brewer?

[McDude 33]

Personally I've always winced at the term 'Sports Car' because what does that actually mean? A car for doing sports in?

 

I guess it is supposed to mean a car that is a bit sporty, a bit ready for a jaunt down the lanes. In reality I think it is a bit meaningless.

 

However, what little meaning it does have is NOT A F##KIN' ASTRA!!!

 

GLP is right, only a kick in the stones will resolve this debate.

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

'sports car' is a term used by people who dont know anything about cars. for example, my mother.

[omri617 18]

Is a 205 GTI a sports car?

[Anthony 1,003]

No. It's a hot hatch.

[Carbs4me 45]

After seein this im adding "exotic super car" button to my 205!

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

Next to the certainly not sh!t button haa haa

[harryskid 193]

This is a sports car!

 

I also could have used the MG but i don't like them that much!

[Rich 3]

I think sports car term was one used years ago to describe a car that was bit flashy and quick, kind of generic term, people who didn't know much about cars saw 2 seaters, convertables, big chromed spoked wheels and they said 'sports car'.

 

The term GTi was used by loads of manufacturers in the 80's and 90's, GTi golf, 205, corolla, suzuki and dihatsu all used Gti and now the term GTi is not used at all. But it has become a kind of generic term for fast loud car by people who know nothing about cars as in 'he was driving some kind of loud GTi thing' So I think we will be having this very same conversation about 'what is a GTi' in about 20 years

 

Sorry rambling here bored fri night

[SurGie 54]

For me i define a 'sports' car as any car that is used/registered in motor'sport' such as rallies, track, hill climb etc. However it has to be a competition car not a road car.

 

That button is there so when you decide to rag it, it stops the car falling apart..

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Must be a Astra thing, The Girlfriend's friend calls her husbands Astra a sports car, mind it is a VXR with silly rear lights, Doesn;t like it when I say otherwise, not called it a bag of **** yet thou

 

No ones said about the 206 Sport, a 8v TU, hmm if that's sporty I'll eat my hat

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

because it has a Sport button.

 

From a quick Google, this button is available on engines such as the VXR to the more mundane 1.8 n/a & DERVs! Sharpens steering and suspension apparently. Not exactly an 'M' button is it?

[luggy 13]

If you see him at work tomorrow, give him a kick in the bollocks from me, and tell him it's for being such a moron.

 

Or challenge him to a game of Rho Sham Bo making sure you have a double headed coin!

[mw2655 0]

i feel a "sports car" should be a 2 seater roadster, eg mx-5, lotus elise.

 

focus st , astra VRX are sporty cars but not sports cars.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

These spring to mind

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mw2655 0]

yes exactly but better put with pics.

[mainline 2 1 Cars]

A sports car for me, is a car that has outright driving performance as its aim from the initial design stage onwards. I don't think it has to be completely uncompromising, and in my opinion an Ariel Atom or a Radical is a sports car as much as a 911, or an Esprit, or an S2000 or an Elise.

 

Anything else, like a grand tourer, or a saloon, or a hatch back, or a coupe or a convertible with sporting pretentions are just that, something else that has been made sporty, but not a pure proper sports car. So an Integra Type R, or an XKR or a 205 GTI are not sports cars in my book. They are just sporty coupes, GTs and hatch backs.

 

As for an Astra with a sports button - oh dear.