There are PLENTY of 'Stangs making that kind of power (the 700hp range). I can't remember what class it raced in, but the 1/4 mile record for a Mustang is in the low 8 seconds, and this was a couple of years ago, so someone has probably surpassed even that impressive mark. That kind of power in a Mustang would run about $10K, not $120K-$150K, and that's being generous. For what I want: I want a faster-than-hell daily driver (okay, a weekend fun car) with no power-adder of any kind (power-adder = super and turbo chargers, and nitrous) that can hang with most anything on the road handling-wise (I'm not there yet, but I'm not too far away, either). I consistantly amaze the ricers in Houston that I can hang with them in the corners. I don't consider Mustangs in any form (or Camaros, Vettes, etc) to be a "Super Car." The term "Super Car" has, for me, always meant things like Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, etc. Vipers are in the lower echelon of true Super Cars, but its an impressive beast, to say the least, and it is a "Super Car". If you want my vote as to my true "dream car," I'll go with my all-time favorite: The Lamborghini Countach:
Originally when Lincoln came out with the Navigator, Cadillac had to respond, so they basically re-badged the Denali and called it a luxury ute. There were enough boneheads out there to buy it. But to be honest, several companies do the same thing. Geo Prizms for the most part are Toyota Corollas. Infiniti I35's initially were nothing more than re-badged Nissan Maxima's with a few more gizmos (they shared identical engines). The current model of the Escalade does offer a more power V8 and some type of stability system not available on the Denali, though. Sorry, I really don't keep up with GM or Cadillac.
But this is street legal and it can turn heads... it's the argument I hear from all Mustang/Camaro/Civic drivers... "I can beat a Viper"... well big whoop... people that buy Vipers don't buy it just for performance. If you want a sweet modifiable car, it would have to be the Twin Turbo Supra. With about $500 in mods, you can turn that thing into a 400-500 hp monster. It's too bad most of Japan's best-performing cars don't make it over here... Skyline anyone? BTW, nice choice in the Countach. That was my first favorite supercar as a kid. Have you checked out their latest - the Murcielago (sp?)? Sweet. And only runs about a quarter of a million dollars... hehe.
Wait till the 2003 Viper comes out... it is now catapaulted very close to the upper echelon. Stock it should do 0-60 in 3.8 seconds. They had to respond to the Corvette Z06 and they have...
You won't hear that argument from me. If I could afford a Viper or some other Super Car, sure I'd get it. But I'd keep the Mustang, too. Like you said, people don't get those Super Cars to modify them. Even in the Mustang, I don't want a drag strip car. I want to drive it legally and just enjoy it, all the while playing with it by doing the work myself (the work I'm capable of doing myself, that is). And of course blow the doors off a few Ricers and Slomaros while I'm at it. That's the hobbyist in me.
Yes, that's the new 350Z. It's priced from around $26k - $34k depending on the "level" you want. It'll be on sale late this summer. Good luck getting any discounts on one. If you want to learn more go to www.nissandriven.com.
I'm actually trading my Audi A4 for a new Altima next month. It's a sharp-looking car. I also like the new Cadillac sedan (the CTS) or the Lexus IS300, but I don't so much have that much to spend right now on a car (and I would just keep my A4, but I can feel it falling apart beneath me. I want to sell it while it still has some value left). The new Z looks like it's going to be a hot car. I'll certainly check it out when they arrive at a dealer near me, but I think if I buy a second, sporty car, I'll go with the Honda S2000 (I would just go with a sporty-type car as my only car, but I have kids, so having a four-door car is really handy). And if I ever make enough money to start buying German cars again, I'll be going for Porsche (mostly so I can be one of those pretentious Porsche owners who corrects everyone's pronunciation of the name... Not that I don't do that already).
You appreciate "true" performance. That's cool. I hate people that rip apart a Mustang, hook up nitrous, and then say, "look what my Mustang can do!" Who cares? I can hook up a rocket to my Buick! I'd rather have a good daily driver that can haul ass when needed... Damn I love cars.
You mean this sweet thang?? Here's some more info on that ride. http://www.fantasycars.com/1/2001/Murcielago/murcielago.html I've always had a sweet spot for the Pantera.
I'm surprised no one's mentioned the Miata Monster-- or is that Monster Miata-- yet. LOL, I remember reading about that thing in Car and Driver in 1992. Stock Miata, with a goddamned Mustang V-8 plopped into it. 0-60 in 3.9 seconds (I've read different figures online, but that's the number I remember from the magazine article). I dislike Miatas, but it's damned hilarious to imagine pulling up next to a Porsche and then blowing it off the line with one.
There are actually a few cars I'd love to have ... The Nissan (posted here) ... gonna more than likely get it later this year as a gift to myself For the garage D ) ... Aston Martin Vanquish (man, the car looks gorgeous) Maserati Spyder and the Navigator Those would be the four cars, and if Mercedes ever comes out with the SLR, without a doubt that one! Right now though, I love what I have a 99 GrandAm GT ... would love only one more thing I don't have in it, a sunroof, other than that it is perfect!
My Favorite car would have to be th Toyota Supra. THe 93-97/98 ones. Those can go fast, and they look delicously nice. If you look at other cars, they usually have the the tail lights of Supras grafted on them. The Supra has the best amn tail lighs ever made. Also Honda/Acura's NSX is nice too. I saw one parked crooked in two spaces at Willowbrook Mall. Honda/Acura is going to put out a new one in '03 or '04 wih a V8. I remember watching Car and Driver on TNN saying that this car is the equivelent of the Ferrari. NSX are damn Slick. Of course, I also like Mazda's Rotary Wonder the RX-7. I don't quite understand Rotary Engines, but maybe someone can post stuff and inform me, and others out here. They look nice and go fast. What I like about these three cars is the Mystique in them. Honetly, how many of these cars do you see on the road? How many neat little souped up Civics and Integras, and Rustangs do y'all see on the road? I am more partial to the imports just cause I am, but I like the Ford Lightning Truck. That $ h ยก t is damn bad ass. What i want is a huge ass V8 Tundra. And Throw some huge ass wheels on them, and a Super Charger from TRD and run over Tri, and Vy, and Asian peope in their cool mo dee little Rice Rocket, or Carlos and Juan in their Mexican err Hispanic Sleigh ride, or Ricky, the white guy who thinks he is Asian, who dresses like them, talks like them, and eat Rice.....with chopsticks like them, or Todd and James in their Mustang/Firebird/Camaro, or Roger in hs 67 Impala Low Rider on 20 inch Rims with 16 switches, or Humberto in his 76 Impala with Rims that stick out like a Roman Chariot from Ben Hurr and his 16 switches that make i bounce Hippity Hop High. Anyway, Toyota is coming out with this new car. From what I read its going to Rival with the NSX from Acura/Honda, and the Ferrari Modena. Toyota's pricing it in the 80s or 90s I think. I read they were calling it the GT4300 or the 5000GT. I think I covered the Gamut. I forgot to say Bobby, but people call him "bubbah'" who drives the Rusty Pick up truck with mud all over and Yosemite Sam Mud Flaps. PC? PC my ass, I am.
I can tell you a bit about the Pantera. Only a very limited number of them were made between '71 to somewhere around '75. They sold for $10,000 back then when Corvettes were selling between $5-$6,000. The total number made is only around 10-15,000. The number of original, unmodified Panteras left in the world (none of which you included in your post) is about 12. That's right: twelve, and that is NOT a typo. (I'm not too sure on those numbers, but the total made is around the figure I posted, and the total number of original, unmodified Panteras left in the world is around that low. It might even be in the single digits. Panteras are rare, rare, rare.) Panteras were disigned by the Italian company DeTomaso, and they were powered by a Ford 351ci Cleveland motor. The mid-engine 351 was capable of gobs of power, but in its stock trim, they're not as fast as you'd think. How do I know? My cousin (1st cousin, once removed) in Dearborn, MI, is 67, and he has one. It is completely original, and completely unmodified, with under 19,000 original miles on it. His Pantera is one of about 6 in the world that is unmodified, completely original, and owned by the original owner. He bought it brand new, specially ordered in Dearborn, in 1972. Its an unbelieveably awesome vehicle.....and I got to drive it.
