You're going to be pissing into the wind if that's what you're looking for, as 'sports car' is loosely defined. It IS an idiom, so there are going to be some gray areas, but "no FWD" is pretty clear. It's just that this layout has everything going against it in terms of performance. There are no performance advantages, it was only selected so the car could be cheaper for the end user. This is where the idea of a sports car comes into play. It's got to be as good as the designers wanted it to be.

Someone said FF cars "corner like shit," which isn't necessarily true, but it does lead in to my point: it's not that a car like an ITR or MS3 corners poorly, it just is only cornering as well as it can with all of its economical constraints working against it. AWD, RWD, front engine, mid engine, rear engine...they all have their trade offs, but they are all in search of performance in some way, with one of those "gray areas" I mentioned being AWD, which is often chosen for utility or safety purposes.

In this case, the EVO/STI might come into play. Not sports cars. They are the pinnacle of cheap speed, as they are based off a practical chassis, so costs are kept low, then power and traction are bolted on. You may be able to outperform several sports cars, but it still wasn't a purpose-built chassis. It's got the extra space and weight and height of a Lancer/Impreza and the confined engine bay of a Lancer/Impreza, as well as the congenial interior of a Lancer/Impreza. It's as good as a Lancer/Impreza can be, but being limited to that chassis meant the designers couldn't do everything they wanted with it.

Now the Miata is a bit cheaper, and it's meant to be, but it's all about performance, and doing it cheaply. It's expected to compete in its own racing series, so it rolls off the assembly line with just the basics to be streetable, and within budget, but eager to perform. Every part on that car was designed to work in a sporting environment, and that's what was on the mind of the designers, even the ones making the automatic transmission.

Would you believe the Supra isn't technically a sports car? Silly as it sounds, that's why I got rid of mine, much as I love them.

 

RWD and no back seat = sports car.


You guys are confusing muscle cars with sports cars and compact sport sedans with sports cars.

also most sports cars come with the option of being convertible.

 

do you know anything about cars ? IF you do, then why would i have to explain that no fwd car can be a sports car ?

 

Maybe but the ITR was meant to be a streetable track car. Economy? Sure it gets good gas mileage but why does that matter? Just take a look at what came on it, what was removed compared to other models, and what options it had. IMO you can turn a car into a sports car. Also IMO sports car... sports... racing... track use. So if your not attempting those then maybe you drive what was intended to be a car to participate in automotive sports with but you dont. So is it still a sports car? IDK the term is vague. Now days any car 2 door and manual is a sports car lol You could come back and say my 92 chrysler lebaron was a demo derby car lol thats a sport. Speaking of production vehicle wise... I think Honda ruled the "FWD Sports car" class. I know I'm a little biased but companies are still trying to make vehicle to compete with an ITR that was last produced 9 years ago. Thats my take on it but everyone has a different opinion.

 

nailed it

you could theoretically have a FF sports car, but other than the three older ones mentioned (especially the SAAB Sonett) I can't think of any current ones

I may be biased though (see sig)

 

Please don't tell me that you got rid of the supra just becasue its not technically considered a sports car. That my friend, is just plain dumb.


Don't take it the wrong way, i would just be in shock that you're so stuck on having a sports car you would get rid of something you love just because it isnt one.

 

I'm sure hes just being a smart ass.

 

I hope he is.

But my input on this is that a FWD car cannot be a sports car, but there are sporty FWD cars. There is a big difference. I dont care about having a sports car because theyre usually uncomfortable because theyre designed for speed and performance, not comfort. So im happy with my FWD rsx-s its a sporty car, still comfortable enough to ride around with my son, and when needed i can lean my foot a lil heavier on the gas and do what i have to do.

 

Make more noise? Understeer?

 

Groceries from A to B?