If you're going to drag out the old chestnuts, how about the Sunbeam Alpine
Tiger?
I agree, these old cars have become classics over time. (The Morgan's in
there, too.) Can't say looking back on it, though, that the technology was
good, even for that era, but these cars did have style. <g>
I think the best vehicle overall to come out of GB (other than the
revolutionary XKE) was the venerable post-war Land Rover. I've yearned for
a Santana since I was young. One of these days I'll latch onto one, too.
Tris
At 10:35 AM 7/28/01 +0100, you wrote:
Well, OK so I haven't driven many american cars, and I don't want to compare
american / european cars here. Just wanted to throw another make into the
pot. Not fast compared to many of those mentioned. Handling doesn't even
compare that well against many of the cars mentioned. But please, don't
ever forget MG - particularly the MG B GT. Beautiful old classic type
sports car. And (not sure this will be seen as a good thing !) very English
in style !! Or, if you want to be more up-to-date, what about the MG R V8 -
it was the fore-runner to the MG F, and not very many were made but it does
shift !!
OK, so now I'm battening down the hatches and preparing for a torrent of
abuse ....... !
Jon
PS: I'm part of a racing team which races MG Metro's, so am probably a bit
biased ! For the Americans who don't know one, think of a Mini (sure you've
seen one), with about half the build quality !! Always known as the kinda
car granny takes shopping once a week and nothing more - and there is
probably a good reason for that ! Engine size is 1.3litre (what's that in
US money ? probably smaller than you've got in your lawnmowers !!) Now
that's silly racing (but it is cheap !)
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Motor Sport Visions Photography
Sent: 27 July 2001 23:03
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [OM] Odd question, nothing to do with Olympus... [OT]
and kinda
a long rant
I have really tried to resist this thread...honestly I have.
I'll start by saying I have the highest degree of respect for Colin
Chapman (may he RIP) and Lotus cars. I have never been a big fan of
"American cars" but the current crop of Corvettes and Vipers are nothing
to sneeze at. Could an Elise win the GTS Category at Le Mans? No. Could
one even match a GT3 Porsche or M3 GTR in the GT catagory? No. By my
obvious passion, I am around a whole bunch of very potent cars here in
"America." Some are even made here!
There is a very good reason the Elise is not imported to the US. They
simply aren't suited for our roads and driving conditions. They do come
here becuase they make great track toys, but that is about all they are
good for here. Here in the US most common folk don't buy $40-60k cars as
track toys. The very rich do...but they spend more than that on things
of a more exotic nature. Us more "poh" folk tend to opt for things like
Mazda RX7s, Porsche 914s (there are many 914-6s in the PCA that will
clean a Turbo Esprit's clock, let alone an Elise), and believe it or
not, Neons actually make pretty decent spec racer toys.
To consider an Elise as a daily driver here in the US is borderlining on
insane IMO. I get the chance to drive a friend's 1995 M3 quite often.
*That* is a fast, racecar-like handling, but daily drivable car suitable
for US roads (though I get from point A to point B faster in my less
obvious old Audi turbo quattro). You want fast, tossable, great
handling, relative safety and low buy-in cost? The new Scubie Doo (er
Subaru) WRX fits the bill quite nicely (another inexpensive car that
would give an Elise a run on a track). Honda's S2000 makes much more
sense here on our roads for daily use and is still a fine machine (and I
despise Hondas as I say that).
Back to the "American" thing. It is a global marketplace. Last I heard
the Elise was made by the same company that makes a Corvette ;-)
Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com
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