Originally Posted by ZCanadian

Wow, good stats! Thanks for compiling that.

Most "sports cars" don't know what they want to be when they grow up, anymore.
I'm torn between chiding Nissan for not upgrading the 370Z, and lauding it for keeping a winning formula. Dollar for dollar, I think it really is one of the best sports cars available these days. Even if you have to lower it a few inches to fit the 1990's definition. ;-)

Don't forget, in the 1990's we had 15" wheels (height), minimal SRS and crash test requirements (weight), and efficiency/environmental requirements were far less stringent. We also had a lot lower horsepower in most cars, so top speeds (and therefore braking and cornering forces and suspension complexity were lower/lighter). Finally, nobody had more than a 12V battery in their sports car (talking to you, NSX).

In the end, when somebody tells me that they own or want a sports car, I always reply "what sport?". Because usually, they are a dentist who's real goal is to be seen shimmying golf clubs or attractive women out of their poser-mobiles!!!

A "sports car", today, to my mind has to be suited to purpose. Ideally, as close as possible from the factory. So, Auto-Cross is a totally different animal from 1/4 mile and different again from a road course car. But there's no market for that, so cars have to be more things to more people, and let the outliers mod for their car's specific role. Almost everything has grown over the years to accomplish at least a bit of the role of GT as well. With that have come bigger dimensions. To me the "new" line is if it has enough storage to take more than an overnight bag, driving shoes and a helmet, it's a grand tourer in sports car clothing. Nothing wrong with that, but call it what it is.