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12-06-2014, 07:39 PM
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#1 | | OMGWTFBBQ is a common word I say everyday
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| Domestic sports cars have caught up and surpassed Import performance cars
it's been a long time coming, but it seems like nowadays the American car manufacturers are building sports cars that not only go fast in a straight line, but can handle as well. they seem to be leading the way in the new car segment with cars that can actually go fast around the track.
"back in the day", we all used to laugh at domestics cuz all they could (mostly) do was go fast in a straight line. but now, it's not the case. with cars like the new Camaro Z28, C7 Z06, Mustang GT350, etc, there isn't much in the Import market that can match it in performance in their respective price ranges.
only car that can match or best the cars above is the Nissan GT-R, but the price of the GT-R is much more than what it was back in 2008. Honda/Acura keeps promising us an NSX, Toyota is hinting at a new Supra with the FT-one concept. but they are a long time away from hitting the dealerships.
in the lower end, Ford really has great offerings as well. They have the Fiesta and Focus ST, which walks all over the new Civic Si and FRS/BRZ. I guess the imports still have some life with the STi, although the EVO will be gone soon. the new Mustang GT has independent rear suspension now, so I bet it'll handle almost as good as an STi, cheaper to boot.
what else am I missing? I just wanted to throw this out there to get a discussion going, and see what else is left in the import market that caters to enthusiasts.
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12-06-2014, 07:53 PM
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#2 | | 14 dolla balla aint got nothing on me!
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Mazdaspeed 3 is currently unavailable until 2016? Read somewhere it's coming with AWD and around 300hp. So that will likely be the next STi competitor.
Honda needs to bring turbo charging applications over to North America. 2-3 bump in HP for each new MY is not acceptable.
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12-06-2014, 07:54 PM
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#3 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
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It's not that American cars couldn't handle well, Ford GT40 smoked Ferrari 4 years in a row. Shelby Dayton did handle decent too.
I'm sure Panoz Esperante GTR would out handle most Lamborghinis and Ferraris.
I think people are making fun of Mustang and Camaro because they were in fact, shit.
Do I prefer it over GTR and other sportscars? No, because American muscle cars can be bought for $20+k with V6 model. Which makes higher model unattractive because it would lack exclusivity and average joe will look at GT500 as a normal Mustang or a Mustang with some accessories.
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12-06-2014, 08:00 PM
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#4 | | RS.net, helping ugly ppl have sex since 2001
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What about the Lexus RC F compared to the Z28? The Camaro wins out over the RC F if you're compare them solely on performance and price:
Z28: $77,700 CAD MSRP, 505 hp V8.
RC F: $80,00 CAD MSRP, 467 hp V8.
However, I would think the RC F is a more reliable car than the Mustang.
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12-06-2014, 08:03 PM
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#5 | | NEWBIE ACCOUNT!
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Wasn't the GTR 100k in 2008? Isnt it like 105 now.
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12-06-2014, 08:04 PM
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#6 | | #savethemanuals
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Great, hopefully the competition forces the imports to catch up in price and performance which is good for all us.
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12-06-2014, 09:05 PM
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#7 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
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YEN is so cheap, price should drop 20-30%, but in real it doesn't
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12-06-2014, 09:18 PM
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#8 | | Diagonally parked in a parallel universe
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by right angle  Wasn't the GTR 100k in 2008? Isnt it like 105 now. | Even lower, it started out with an MSRP in Canada of $81,900 for the 2009s. It was good value for the money back then, especially given the competitors at the time.
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12-06-2014, 09:27 PM
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#9 | | OMGWTFBBQ is a common word I say everyday
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Define sports car. Are we talking GTR vs Z06/ZR1, or are we talking 370z/Genesis Coupe vs Camaro/Mustang/etc?
If we're talking the latter, I think the Z is the best non V8 of the bunch out there, however they are way over priced. Iirc a Z's base price is like $32,000 (?) where as a Gen coupe, Camaro etc. can be had for ~24,000. Is the Z worth the extra $8,000? I don't think so. If they were all roughly the same price, Z is the hands down winner.
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12-06-2014, 11:45 PM
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#10 | | OMGWTFBBQ is a common word I say everyday
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^
yah, that's what I was getting at. for the past couple of years, our beloved Japanese brands are losing territory in the performance car market. the near future is not looking so bright at the moment.
still waiting to see a turbocharged FRS/BRZ myself.
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12-07-2014, 12:16 AM
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#11 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by dared3vil0 Define sports car. Are we talking GTR vs Z06/ZR1, or are we talking 370z/Genesis Coupe vs Camaro/Mustang/etc?
If we're talking the latter, I think the Z is the best non V8 of the bunch out there, however they are way over priced. Iirc a Z's base price is like $32,000 (?) where as a Gen coupe, Camaro etc. can be had for ~24,000. Is the Z worth the extra $8,000? I don't think so. If they were all roughly the same price, Z is the hands down winner. | Nissan 370Z
$39,998-$47,998 2015 Nissan 370Z® Coupe Sports Car | Nissan Canada | |
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12-07-2014, 02:10 AM
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#12 | | F**K YOUR HEAD
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It's obvious Ford and GM are doing well with their performance products but I think the Hellcats are worth noting too. They seem like nothing more than drag cars at first but from what I've heard from auto journalists they seem to be pretty fun in the twisties too, especially when you consider the luxury/size/weight of them.
Personally I have little to no brand affinity, in my early teens I lusted after Subarus and every Subaru was an awesome car to me even if it was just a bog standard Forester. I'm a lot more objective now and I tend to judge cars on individual model achievements just because I've learned sticking stubbornly to a brand will likely get you into an undesirable car. If you're a fan of 90's/early 2000's Hondas, and you go buy any 2014 model Honda today you'll be sorely disappointed if you thought you're getting a driver's car in any way/shape/form. Honda has sunken to where it's at simply because of apathy. For so many years they were able to move units based on their former reputation of reliability and decent handling cars, the Honda/Acura brand is shit compared to where they were 10-15 years ago and the former execs know it.
I'm impressed by how Mazda makes desirable and enjoyable to drive cars that are in pedestrian market segments such as the 3, 6, or CX5. I'm also impressed at cars like the new F-150 which has been commended for it's steering and way it drives which is rare when you're talking about full size trucks. To me this simply means the company gives a crap, it's easy for a company to build a halo car and spend money in marketing how that 'DNA' translates into their econoboxes, but only a handful of lower-tier cars are engineered that way. Anyone who's driven a regular Nissan knows the GTR is as related to a Versa as an emu is to a peregrine falcon
Last edited by ilvtofu; 12-07-2014 at 11:01 AM.
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12-07-2014, 02:20 AM
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#13 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
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12-07-2014, 03:10 AM
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#14 | | I wish I was where I was when I wished I was here
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12-07-2014, 09:57 AM
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#15 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
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whats going on with the forum? so many blank posts.. i had something typed out in my last one but nothing showed up.
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12-07-2014, 09:58 AM
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#16 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
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There was a bug for an hour or so, but it has been corrected. Sorry about that
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12-07-2014, 10:05 AM
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#17 | | OMGWTFBBQ is a common word I say everyday
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by Timpo | HOLY SHIT that's insane.
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12-07-2014, 10:46 AM
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#18 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by dared3vil0 HOLY SHIT that's insane. | Why?
They both come with 350hp V6 and performance is very similar, I think Nissan did a good job on pricing. 
Porsche 911 Carrera
$ 96,200 
Nissan 370Z Nismo
$ 47,998  | |
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12-07-2014, 05:55 PM
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#19 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by Timpo Why?
They both come with 350hp V6 | | |
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12-07-2014, 06:03 PM
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#20 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
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Originally Posted by richardmozis | oh shit I mean 6 cyl
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12-07-2014, 06:51 PM
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#21 | | OMGWTFBBQ is a common word I say everyday
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Where's Marco911 when you need him...
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12-07-2014, 06:59 PM
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#22 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
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| 2015 Chevy Corvette Z06 Dyno Shows 585 HP At The Wheels
This just in - a Z06 with 20 miles on the motor puts out 585hp at the wheels. Whoa nelly.
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12-07-2014, 07:01 PM
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#23 | | Captain Happy Bubble is my Homeboy
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by death_blossom it's been a long time coming, but it seems like nowadays the American car manufacturers are building sports cars that not only go fast in a straight line, but can handle as well. they seem to be leading the way in the new car segment with cars that can actually go fast around the track.
"back in the day", we all used to laugh at domestics cuz all they could (mostly) do was go fast in a straight line. but now, it's not the case. with cars like the new Camaro Z28, C7 Z06, Mustang GT350, etc, there isn't much in the Import market that can match it in performance in their respective price ranges.
only car that can match or best the cars above is the Nissan GT-R, but the price of the GT-R is much more than what it was back in 2008. Honda/Acura keeps promising us an NSX, Toyota is hinting at a new Supra with the FT-one concept. but they are a long time away from hitting the dealerships.
in the lower end, Ford really has great offerings as well. They have the Fiesta and Focus ST, which walks all over the new Civic Si and FRS/BRZ. I guess the imports still have some life with the STi, although the EVO will be gone soon. the new Mustang GT has independent rear suspension now, so I bet it'll handle almost as good as an STi, cheaper to boot.
what else am I missing? I just wanted to throw this out there to get a discussion going, and see what else is left in the import market that caters to enthusiasts. | holy crap where have you been hiding!!!!
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12-07-2014, 10:44 PM
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#24 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
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american cars can be fast and handle way better than ever before... but it is still not as refine as a import from europe and japan that is in the same class...
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12-08-2014, 01:39 AM
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#25 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
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Agreed... I've always been an import fanboy, but let's face it.
The Japanese manufacturers are becoming super complacent, they are now relying on brand cachet and perceptions of reliability to sell cars rather than simply making "good" cars. Minus the 370Z, Miata, and FRS/BRZ, the Japanese don't really have any real sports cars in their lineups available in US/Canada. Not to mention that cars that were once somewhat sporty - Honda Civic, I'm looking at you - are really gutless, insulated, and boring. The Civic Si is less boring but I'd rather take an '00 EM1 SiR any day. In fact if you look at road tests comparing the two, the EM1 hold its own against the new Si, and even beating it in certain performance benchmarks.
Contrast this to the 1990s-2000s, when every manufacturer had one or more "performance" car. The Integra, Prelude, Civic Si, Supra, Celica, MR2, Miata, RX7, 240SX, 300ZX, etc. And cars that weren't performance cars were still fun to drive, easy to work on, and super reliable. Compare this to now... don't even get me started on "current" Evos and STIs that are simply bastardized, bloated versions of what they used to be - stripped-down rally cars for the street.
IMO car manufacturers only do well when they have something to prove, in contrast look at how far Hyundai and Kia have come in the past 10 years. They went from selling the $7,000 Hyundai Accent POS to the Genesis/Equus, which is basically a BMW 5/7 series for almost half the price. Ditto for the Americans, they finally realized that their pre-recession cars were all crap, in terms of technology, interior, fit/finish, engine choices, etc. and now they are working overtime to change the public perception of that... they are doing what Honda/Toyota did in the 80s-90s and are giving a relatively high-value car for a low price.
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