Golden Age for Cars?
 

Is this the best time ever to buy or own a sports car or car in general?

Take a look at the options we have compared to any other time and it looks like it may be the best time to be a car person in general.

300+ hp is common with 30+ mpg. For around $30k you can buy a car with over 400+ hp. In the 70's, 80's and 90's the only cars with this type of power were exotics that were beyond the reach of the common man/woman.

Cars handle better than ever and even provide driving aids like traction control and stability control. Some may dislike the new technology, but most people love it. How many cars from prior to 2000 could even compete with the FR-S or BRZ in handling? Any that could would be far more expensive.

Looking back at the muscle car era of the 60s and early 70s they were giant brutes with extreme horsepower. Even with the massive horsepower they would still be beat off the line by a V6 Accord, V6 Camry, and destroyed by smaller engines in various other cars. Not to mention the single digit mpgs.

Even reliability on all cars in general is better than before. Chrysler products which were the worst products are no longer 4 wheels and a pile of replaced parts.

Right now we are spoiled with riches in the car market.

I'm not sure really... I mean the 90's were full of "slow cars to drive fast" and I really enjoyed the cars of that period. The BRZ meets the requirement I wanted in a car in that it had that new age 90's feel to it. I guess it all depends on who you ask; however, I'm happy with the direction car makers are going with after the introduction of the Toyobaru twins. I feel that for an "everyday" sports car that these are spot on. It will be interesting to see what others think! :) I'm sure we'll have some "Clarksons" screaming POWER!!!!!

60s. Some pretty, pretty cars...

Both my ITR and the Chumpcar Integra (which rides on cut OEM springs and skinny little tires) turn in faster lap times at Sebring than the BRZ with me driving all three of them. :shrug:

As far as technology goes, yes today is the day for the best cars. However, when I think back fifty or sixty years ago there was something to be said about the rawness of sports cars in those days. That's probably one of the things I love about the FR-S. Crude? A little. When you consider the Corolla heater control knobs. I would call them crude but yet they're sort of cool. Lack of steering wheel controls? I don't see where they belong any where in a sports car. Truthfully, having power windows is a touch of unnecessary luxury for what I consider a sports car.

Depends what year you were born.

If you were a kid during the 60's and drove those cars, then your not going to think your living in a golden age right now.

Its the same argument with generations, everyone's generation they are born into, they will think is the best one there is. ;)

This.

http://i47.tinypic.com/ela7py.jpg

:bow:

I would sell a kidney for one.

They go for 5k around here all day.

Of course in need of resto....

Hell, you could buy a cheap I6 with a slush box for maaaaaaad cheap.

Oh that makes me sad. I saw a red 6cyl with shitty interior and rust go for 12,5k in my country. American cars are pretty expensive overhere.

And engineswaps are illegal here so putting a v8 in 6cyl basecar is a no-go.

Oh, i didn't notice you were out of country.

Engine swaps illegal?! Damn, i thought you guys would be less anal over there in Belgium.

Theres always Japan, they are importing American muscle cars over there like crazzzy.

Belgium is probably one of the strictest countries regarding mods in Europe. We aren't even allowed to turbo/sc our engines, bye bye 4agze :(

I agree with the OP. We are living in a golden age. If you take nostalgia out of the picture, it's hard to say that cars were ever better. I've owned cars from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and the 10s, and as cool as old cars are, there's something to be said about modern cars that are so much safer, more comfortable, reliable, and luxurious. All that and faster and more fuel efficient.

I remember when 14s in the 1/4 were considered quick, 0-60 in 6 secs was fast, and 300hp was powerful, 35mpg was a lot of MPG, and 17 inch wheels were huge! Nowadays, 0-60s in 4 sec is fast, 500hp is a powerful, 50mpg is a lot, and 22s are huge!

I'm hoping that we are at the start of a golden age. I really hope the success of the twins encourage other manufacturers to get in the light, cheap sports car market.

With increasing efficiency requirements and the advent of hybrid technology I believe it is the golden age for car enthusiasts. Regs are getting stricter, gas more expensive... You have to think some day the type of cars we all enjoy will be kaput.