It may seem obvious to say the R8 is a terrific car - what's not to like, right? Well, thing is, I really don't like many aggressive performance cars - most are simply too uncomfortable to be worthwhile in my book. I suspect many other people feel the same way although they suffer in order to project some kind of image. If I won the lottery, I'd never consider vehicles like the Nissan GT-R, Evo GSR or Ferrari F430.
However, I can totally see spending good money on the R8. I love the interior - the design adds to the special feel of the car. I also like the new Lotus Evora for the same reason. I really like cars like the R8 that can deliver stunning performance without stark interiors or a constantly punishing driving experience.
Even if money was no object, what performance cars would you still NOT want?
Brian Moody, Senior Automotive Editor @ 24,611 miles.
felonious says:
09:24 AM, 12/ 4/08
"Even if money was no object, what performance cars would you still NOT want?"
(Crickets chirping...) lol
cx7lover says:
10:41 AM, 12/ 4/08
GT-R, Viper.
arm51 says:
10:45 AM, 12/ 4/08
Totally agree cx7lover, I would never get a GT-R or a Viper. Probably wouldn't bother with a used Ford GT either...
stingray454 says:
10:51 AM, 12/ 4/08
Probably none, as I'm a performance junkie, and I would always place performance over comfort and convenience in order of importance.
However, I do have a problem with cars that cost tons of money, and have been stripped inside to supposedly save weight and improve performance. Porsche's and Ferrari's with no carpeting, and no radio, for example. If I'm paying all that money for a performance car, I expect Porsche and Ferrari to be able to figure out through technology and good engineering, to have light weight, AND keep the basic creature comforts like carpeting and a radio. If GM can do it with cars like the ZR-1, which not only has carpeting and a radio, but also luxuries like heated seats and a NAV system, while being faster than any Porsche or Ferrari, then they have no excuse, especially at a much higher price point.
dougtheeng says:
11:09 AM, 12/ 4/08
First off, lets all have a nice long look at the R8's auto climate control that has a DIAL for temperature. We get into this argument all the time, and the R8 system is a great example of how auto controls can have a dial.
"Even if money was no object, what performance cars would you still NOT want?"
What a great question, I love it. Its hard though. I wouldn't want:
Corvette and Viper (unless they improve the interior...) top the list. I'm not really interested in the 'performance' versions of the Camaro, Challenger, Mustang either.
All the cars I listed are great vehicles in their own sense, but I'd rather get something more exotic/rare even if it means sacrificing some performance.
boxermike says:
11:45 AM, 12/ 4/08
"Even if money was no object, what performance cars would you still NOT want?"
Audi R8
Corvette Z06
Ferrari F430
Anything Dutch
-mike
arm51 says:
12:22 PM, 12/ 4/08
I would have to add Corvette to my list, I just am not a fan. A Koenigsegg on the other hand, I'd love to have that just to confuse people trying to say the name...sorry, bit off topic.
m_thrizzle says:
01:07 PM, 12/ 4/08
-Ferrari California - that rear end is utterly terrible.
-Spyker - overstyled and just plain weird
-Morgan
-Porsches - they all look the same to me
Now if I did win the lottery, a few of the car's I'd like to buy are a Ford GT, Pagani Zonda, AC Cobra, some vintage Ferrari's and F430, TVR, and more...
briancam says:
01:07 PM, 12/ 4/08
You'd have to PAY ME to get me to drive an Ariel Atom or Lotus Elise on any kind of a regular basis.
ahightower says:
01:13 PM, 12/ 4/08
Great question. I might want at least one wild-ass street legal race car, even if I wouldn't use it very often. Caparo T1 or something insane like that.
Then again, you can probably just rent some seat time in one of those, it's not worth actually owning one even if I am a billionaire.
I agree with the post in that I'd rather have more of a "GT" than a true sports car. I'm more of a 599 or California guy than F430.
dragonflight says:
02:02 PM, 12/ 4/08
Probably just Morgans and other retro-styled ultra-performance cars. I just wouldn't enjoy seeing that in my garage, let alone being seen in it on the street.
ddoouugg says:
02:33 PM, 12/ 4/08
Viper, lotus elise/exige, ZO6
bryan__t says:
03:32 PM, 12/ 4/08
I don't think I would want any sort of Lamborghini. All exotics scream "Look at me!" but Lamborghinis scream that the loudest of them all.
slickersdrip says:
03:49 PM, 12/ 4/08
An Audi R8 with the R Tronic transmission.
hondacura4 says:
05:19 PM, 12/ 4/08
Viper or GTR.
clarkma5 says:
06:36 PM, 12/ 4/08
The big, cushy, heavy ones with too many luxuries and flappy-paddle transmissions.
briancam says:
07:50 AM, 12/ 5/08
Is there such a thing as too many luxuries? I guess you could have too much money also but I can't ever imagine coming to either conclusion.
mozzz77788 says:
08:02 AM, 12/ 5/08
Viper, Lotus Elise
Mitlov says:
08:22 AM, 12/ 5/08
Gumpert Apollo. I don't care how fast a car is if you can't slide the seat back and forth.
That's right. It's a half-million-dollar street-legal supercar where the seat is bolted in place.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
09:31 AM, 12/ 5/08
Looks like R8 climate and other controls are hard to get to behind that shift lever.
As for supercars I would not want; virtually anything that is dedicated to track racing (methinks all the high end cars Edmunds fawns over) have few dealers and/or weak service support, and ridiculous insurance premiums. Up here, that includes the R8, with only 1 Audi dealer for nearly 200 miles.
BTW, what is insurance setting you Edmunds folks back for on these supercars?