What is the Best REAL 4-Door Sports Car?

"BLCKSTRM" (BLCKSTRM) 02/03/2015 at 11:43 • Filed to: None

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Some of you may know I have an old E36 M3/4/5. Here is a picture of it at the salt flats.

We also had a first-gen CTS-V for a while.

So you'll forgive me if I don't buy into Nissan's whole 4DSC thing for the new Maxima.

It's hard to ask who does it better when the bar is so low - despite 290-ish hp, the Maxima is a FWD car with a CVT.

We will award points for style, power, and for EVER having been spotted doing a track day; more points if it's a regular thing (ok, so the M3, STI, Evo, and RX-8 get more points and we'll just leave it at that). I will award points for having a stick available. I will even award points for having gears you can flip through in a semi-automated fashion.

So, what 4 door gets closest to being a true sports car?

djmt1 > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:45

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Either E90 M3 or B7 RS4.

T5Killer > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:45

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LIES! Its a HUGE 4door FWD CVT car Nissan told me so and they wouldn't lie to me!

Yossarian > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:46

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I think the E90 M3 set the benchmark for what a 4 door sports car should be, with the F80 M3 excelling upon that.

472CID > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:46

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If I had to pick one 4 door car that LOOKs like a sportscar (low and curvy) I'd go with a Karma

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:47

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Chevy SS (stick option)

And the obvious WRX (STICK)

Sn210 > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:49

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it's not the best, but I'll throw it out there because I'm biased and I think it gets overlooked. Acura TL Type S. Style, power, stick... but FWD

I haven't tracked mine yet and I probably won't, but it's a fun way to get to work.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:51

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For Sweden > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:51

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Hellcat

mr2gud2u > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:54

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What is a "true sports car" really? CTS V gets my vote.

itschrome > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:55

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STS-V

haha I kid.. that platform was not meant to be sporty. As least not my base V8 '05 I had. haha so much so I prefer the previous FWD. haha

Milky > Sn210 02/03/2015 at 11:55

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Normally I'm a Fwd hater on here, but they seriously are overlooked and imo it just looks so damn good. I think its the last Acura I like.

And hell sometimes this is all that matters " it's a fun way to get to work."

 > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:57

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Luc - The Acadian Oppo > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 11:57

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The ugly duckling, the Porsche Panamera GTS.

Second choice Aston Martin Rapide.

ly2v8-Brian > For Sweden 02/03/2015 at 12:00

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Yep, does pretty well in competition with the German and Japanese vehicles.

44444444444 > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:00

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Volvo S60R/S60 Polestar.

ly2v8-Brian > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:00

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The too many doored version of the M3.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 472CID 02/03/2015 at 12:01

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5300 pounds. Grounded to the ground, literally!

As Du Volant > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:06

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WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > itschrome 02/03/2015 at 12:08

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There was an STS-V? I feel dumb for not being aware of this.

BLCKSTRM > 472CID 02/03/2015 at 12:12

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Why didn't you pick this?

http://jalopnik.com/5975685/the-de…

BLCKSTRM > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 02/03/2015 at 12:13

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Oooh, saw a Rapide on the highway last week. So sexy, want to touch the heine...

911e46z06 > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:14

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BLCKSTRM > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/03/2015 at 12:14

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Love Everyday Driver, LOVED that episode.

Jagvar > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:14

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Series 1 Lagonda

itschrome > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/03/2015 at 12:15

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oh yeah! it was the first V! 460HP supercharged 4.4LT northstar v8, yo!

But like I said I did not care for the chassis with just the base 320hp v8, I found the limits way to easily, it felt a bit.. weak and flexible. not super confident corner at speed. Hell I think the 5th gen FWD STS with magnetic suspension felt more poised in the twisties.

BLCKSTRM > mr2gud2u 02/03/2015 at 12:17

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That discussion has been making the rounds, but you'll have to decide - I'm not getting into that one. Especially when figuring out what sedan approaches that ideal.

472CID > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:19

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I haven't seen any evidence that that exists yet. And honestly, that grille is so inelegant compared to the original it throws off the car's looks to me. But yeah, it's the closest to a 4 door Corvette so that's cool.

BLCKSTRM > Sn210 02/03/2015 at 12:20

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I loved these when they came out. Definitely sportier than the Max. Such clean, classic lines, too!

Wasn't there an SH-AWD version?

BKRM3 > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:26

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http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/bmw-e90-m3-the…

/thread

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > itschrome 02/03/2015 at 12:28

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Well, ain't that something. I've never seen an STS-V before. They must be pretty uncommon.

Sn210 > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:29

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unfortunately no, SH-AWD came out with the next gen TL. The beaky one

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:32

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I really need to buy (or rent) their Mid-Engines and Mountains and 50 Years of Porsche specials. Hope they're able to keep up the great work for many years to come. Would love to see them picked up by that upcoming "SPEED Channel Take 2".

itschrome > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/03/2015 at 12:34

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I mean, you'll see one before you see an unicorn, but it might be driven by a leprechaun. but yeah over the 4 years they made it only a total of 2,503 escaped the factory.

E92M3 > Sn210 02/03/2015 at 12:38

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We had a regular 3rd gen TL. Fantastic car! Maybe the most comfortable car I ever had. We drove it 9hrs to Virginia once, and I wasn't even tired afterwards. Back didn't hurt, legs never went to sleep. I wouldn't want to track it though. I'd imagine the brakes would fade before the 2nd lap, and it would understeer like crazy at 9/10ths.

B/Xmrrmvr > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 12:43

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Lexus IS300, can't believe this hasn't been posted already:

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > itschrome 02/03/2015 at 12:47

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Huh, wow. And living in Western MD, I've seen some unicorns. Various Ferraris, Lambos, Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, two GT-Rs parked next to each other, AMGs, M cars, Maseratis, and rare classics and muscle cars, but never an STS-V. Heck, I've even seen a Ford GT and a Fisker Karma driving around, and those are not things you see often.

deekster_caddy > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 02/03/2015 at 13:09

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I'm completely down with the Panamera (didn't we just have this conversation?) but has anybody seen one at the track besides in reviews?

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > deekster_caddy 02/03/2015 at 13:37

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yes we did.

BLCKSTRM > BKRM3 02/03/2015 at 13:55

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I'm serious - that totally derailed my day. Oh well, there's always tomorrow!

BLCKSTRM > B/Xmrrmvr 02/03/2015 at 13:56

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Yeah, I'm surprised how long that took, too. I thought that would be one of the first answers.

BKRM3 > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 14:12

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If I could add up all the billable time I've lost to the E9X M3..... Actually, I don't even want to think about that. It's a big number.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > B/Xmrrmvr 02/03/2015 at 15:42

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Sport

Cross.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > BLCKSTRM 02/03/2015 at 15:45

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Because I'm a sarcastic asshole and can't stop using this picture.

BLCKSTRM > BKRM3 04/27/2016 at 00:30

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Just read this again today - after pretty much blowing the whole day on diff ratio calculations, laptime vs power/weight scatterplots (and regression), and playing with power and weight in NASA’s GTS calculator for my M3 and my buddy’s Spec3 race car.

And this particular exercise has been going on for at least a week.

And did I mention I just had to replace my clutch last month? Clutch, flywheel, rear main, tranny input and output seals, all six tranny shifter bushings and pins, SSK, new starter (since it was out), and new heater hoses (again, since I was there). The money paled in comparison to the time - and it cost a ton.

Ouch indeed.

I need to wrap my head around the fact that it’s more economical to work, bill hours, and just pay for it than it is to do it myself.

Now, if only I trusted other people to do the work properly...

BKRM3 > BLCKSTRM 05/03/2016 at 12:16

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That’s my problem, too. I bought wheel hub assemblies for the front of my Silverado and I was intending to do them myself. I then thought: self, you have race car projects to tend to, house projects, and you’re busy working during the week at your actual job - just PAY A PROFESSIONAL instead of wasting a full day fighting with rusted truck parts in your driveway.

$300 worth of labor later, the new parts are in and I’ve been accomplishing other things while the truck was in the shop.

I haven’t yet got to that point (the time-trust-cost reconciliation) with the race car, my co-owner and I still do all the work we can ourselves even though it takes forever and we’re usually working in an alley with the car up on stands as opposed to on a nice lift in a garage.

I also think every enthusiast needs to admit, at some point, that not all car projects are fun and rewarding. Some are terrible. Taking the stock exhaust manifolds off a 16 year old M54B30 is just not a good time. If paying a pro every once in a while keeps the enjoyment level maxed out, there’s value in that as well.

BLCKSTRM > BKRM3 05/03/2016 at 16:04

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Oh man - I hear you. Mine were a total pain to remove too.

I did my rear wheel bearings in November. They were still original (200k miles and 19 years old). You can imagine how fun that was.

I thought I’d learned my lesson and paid to have the engine mounts in the Escalade done last summer, but they’ve already failed again. Now I’m wishing I’d done it myself (though I can’t figure out how you mess that up).

Ah, well - that is a textbook definition of a #firstworldproblem, right?

f(x) 1st > BLCKSTRM 04/16/2018 at 02:10

1

Lotus Carlton

from Wikipedia:

“The Lotus Carlton produced 377 bhp (281 kW; 382 PS) and 419 lbft (568 Nm) (of which 350 lbft (470 Nm) was available from 2000 rpm.) The car is capable of 0–60 mph in 5.2 seconds”

BLCKSTRM > f(x) 1st 04/16/2018 at 10:27

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And I think it was actually faster than the numbers suggest - likely limited by the tires back then.

That much power should have had it at 60 much faster than 5.2.

I’d love to see a head-to-head with the original tires compared to modern tires on a bunch of older cars.