I participated in an auto focus group that compared the 370Z, BRZ, Cayman, and etc.

Kenny

Last night I participated in an automotive focus group on sports cars. I dominated the discussion portion, but I think they were turned off by my "extreme" views on the definition of a sports car. I think I just got too Jeremy Clarkson on them. There were three VW GTi owners in the group and they kept insisting what they drove was true sports car. Sorry dudes, RWD or GTFO! The GTi is a sports compact/hatch at best. Also, there were two Genesis coupe owners mixed in. Sorry, your Korean made car is a soulless appliance just like Samsung phones. During the second portion, they showed us a 2013 BRZ, tC, Cooper, 370Z, and Cayman. They then asked us to compare rate them based on look and feel. I was honest and I didn't say a whole lot of good things about the tC or Cooper. Unfortunately I didn't get a callback for the test drive phase. Also, I suspect they thought I was a bit 370Z biased; but they knew what I drove before I signed up. At least I got paid $200 for two hours of car talk and had a chance to check out the BRZ, which impressed me a little.

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Jsolo

These are fun events to attend. Last one I went to was a focus group on the kia optima. They only paid $150 for about 4 hours of my time. No test drives, just a multimedia presentation. I kept going on about how there's nothing sporty whatsoever about the car in substance. It just looks sporty.

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EndyKwon

As much as I like the GTi, I find this to be hilarious. I like the car, its "sporty", but still it isn't a sports car. However, I disagree with your statement about the genesis coupe, I wouldn't go far as to say it doesn't have a soul. I feel that the car was meant to be more of a hybrid between sports car and grand tourer. Its moderately quick, has a neat set of equipment (if you decide to go the techy route), is a comfy car for what it is.

Can I ask why you didn't like the mini cooper? I always like the little car as far as looks go. Seems like it'd be more fun yet less practical than a GTi.

travisjb

sign an NDA?

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JungleZ

I hate to say this but with the 2013 price increase on the 370Z its not worth the price tag anymore. 37-39K just for a sports package? wow

11Thumper

onzedge

Right on, Kenny. I am a purist as well. A sports car is RWD and has only two seats. The Cayman and the 370 are the only two sports cars I see in that group.

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I agree.

Good work if you can get it too.

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axmea?

Was this with Davis Research? Just wondering.

GTi = golf cart on steroids.......

LakeShow

That's pretty funny. Anyways that's awesome to get paid for that and get to drive some different rides. How'd you get the invite?

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Kenny

I'm not going to mince words about the Genesis coupe but, compared to the 370Z, the Genesis to me felt soulless. When I was in the market for a new car, it was on my short list of cars to consider. But when I got behind the wheel of one, I was not at all impressed. The Koreans have demonstrated that they know how to make a car, but they still haven't quite gotten there yet in refinement.

Based solely on looks and sitting in the driver seat, I have to give the Mini Cooper coupe the thumbs down. I prefer the regular Coopers in the looks department. I find the coupes to be absolutely hideous. I have driven my friend's Cooper and it's a fun little car. But our assessment did not include driving it so I did not take anything into account except for the superficial.

Sooooo uglyyyyy:




Nope.


Tough to say. In my book, the BRZ would be consider a sports car too. Perhaps you're more of a purist than I am.


Maybe, maybe not


Funny that you ask. It was a slow day at work a few weeks ago and I saw an email in my spam folder with the title, "Get paid to give us your thoughts on sports cars!" So I figured what the heck and clicked on the survey. A few days later, someone called and left a message on my Google Voice account (never use your cell phone in case it's real spam) and they sounded legit. I called back and the next thing I know, I was sitting in some room with other car folks.

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axmea?

So how did you spend your $150.00?

UNKNOWN_370

Honestly... I think you messed up a perfectly good opportunity because of your highly limited Fanboy thinking. You had the chance to drive 4 excellent platforms and compare differences between cars objectively and blew to be a fanboy????? Seriously?????

RWD is the defined form of sports car. Being that they had varying drivetrains. They needed an evo n wrx there... You could have tested all cars and given your objective preference in the end and draw an educated conclusion going from car to car.

Just because a Drivetrain is different does not discount it a real sports car. The only reason why RWD is considered first in sports is because in the beginning of auto history. The first cars were RWD. In laws of physics, RWD does carry more advantages overall. But put it on certain tracks against an AWD car and RWD is rendered useless as a sports car.

Your thinking is narrow.

As far as the genesis coupe being soulless? Have you ever driven one? I have. I can say this much. It drives better than a G37s (which I owned before) and not as well as a Z. Transmission responsiveness is questionable under certain sport driving conditions. Getting a tune takes most of that out.

Wow...

shadoquad

Sounds like a lot of fun, Kenny!

370Z Purist

Eh, I don't think he's wrong. The GTi is most definitely not a sports car. It is a sporty compact, and actually is marketed to that end. It does not have much going for it as a sports car, primarily because it's a hatch. Rarely are hatches considered sports cars. EVO would probably fit in there, if it were merely a focus group for sports cars only. The WRX would not fit there, but an STi would. But I feel as if the EVO and STi fit in different categories rather than sports car.

That also said, drivetrain ultimately does not matter whatsoever; a properly tuned AWD car can hold its own versus a RWD car, and vice versa. To say either has an advantage on tarmac is a bit ignorant, I think. I suppose if you wanted to go offroad...

The Genesis has become more of a competitor in recent years (now that their 3.8 V6 makes 35x horse, instead of the ridiculously anemic < 320 hp of previous generation). It is around the same weight and delivers similar power and torque. Unfortunately, I have never been a fan of Hyundais as they are always prone to breaking down and they often steal styling cues from other manufacturers (although not so much anymore). They're still ugly IMO, and especially their newest model, where the facelift looked more like a botched plastic surgery job. I really don't know how it compares to Samsung, who makes appliances and electronics... and fine ones at that, lol. That Galaxy S3, bro! Beats the piss out of Apple's stupid iPhone anyday.

BRZ would be considered a sports car, although it fits in a class more so with the Miata instead of the 370Z. The power difference is too massive. I'm sure it can handle just as well, but the lack of power is something too much. I suppose on that note that the Cayman also is pretty much the same class (wasn't the Z supposed to fight the Cayman while the GT-R fights the 911?). It's still pretty heavy IIRC and I suppose they're fine cars. At least they don't depreciate like Boxsters do.

Also, a tC and a Cooper? LOL. I think the focus group was just for sporty cars in general; there's no way a tC could EVER be called a sports car. The only one of notable mention is Rado's tC, but that's just a shell now. Indeed, the Coupe-rs (sorry, lol, it's what I do) are simply ugly. The boxy look worked fine... just extending the doors would have been a fine path. Instead they do some weird mix between a box car and a coupe. Gross.

Sports cars must have two seats. Drivetrain is irrelevant in my opinion (although you'll find I agree more that a car is a sports car if it is RWD), but two seats and two doors. Completely agree with you on that point.

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