"505 - morphine not found" (morphine500)
04/16/2015 at 15:00 • Filed to: QOTD
0
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"505 - morphine not found" (morphine500)
04/16/2015 at 15:00 • Filed to: QOTD | 0
| 8 |
So, good people of Oppoland / Jalopverse, I have a problem I need your help with. I want to find and name a class for the Maserati Shamal. Seems easy enough, but it somehow isn't. My problem?
I think it's not a GT
because it isn't spacious enough for that, heck, every other Biturbo derivative is more spacious than the Shamal.
But it's not a true sportscar either
because it's just a bit too refined for that, quiet at speed, lot's of bolstering on the seats, a good ride, and not a hint of nervousness in the corners.
I would say it's probably closest to these two:
So the question is: what do you call the category that has the Mercedes 500SL in it?
Cebu
> 505 - morphine not found
04/16/2015 at 15:14 |
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Gran Sport vehicles.
lucky's pepper
> 505 - morphine not found
04/16/2015 at 15:16 |
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If GT doesn't work for you (which is what I would call it), how about sports/luxury coupe?
R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
> Cebu
04/16/2015 at 15:20 |
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^This guy got it right here 505
itschrome
> 505 - morphine not found
04/16/2015 at 15:23 |
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Is unreliable a class?
ly2v8-Brian
> 505 - morphine not found
04/16/2015 at 15:45 |
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car class. Because it is a car.
BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
> 505 - morphine not found
04/16/2015 at 15:50 |
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Grand Touring or Gran Sport would probably be the closest, both under the over-all umbrella of performance cars and the sub-category of sport coupes.
A GT Coupe doesn't necessarily need to be big, just relatively comfortable with more amenities considerations than a true minimalist sports car would usually grant. Sometimes that includes rear jump seats, sometimes not, but as long as the cabin is notably comfort-oriented and capable of long trips, and the car has both handling performance, and an abundant amount of power to cruise long distances, as well as propel the car with authority, Grand Touring is probably applicable.
Gran Sport/Grand Sport is probably somewhere between a Sports Car and a Grand Touring car, with more size and power than a typical functionally-minimalist sports car, but less luxury and long-distance consideration (for less weight, relative to vehicle size), and more handling and performance focus than distance-driving comfort.
A Maserati 2+2 is still a Maserati, I can't imagine that it is as de-contented as a Fiat or lower-optioned Alfa... so luxury and comfort for at least the driver and front passenger are probably still involved... which I would suggest toward Grand Touring, and even Wikipedia refers to it as then-Maserati's flagship Grand Tourer.
GT classification doesn't diminish the performance potential, though.
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505 - morphine not found
> BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
04/16/2015 at 16:15 |
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Thanks, I think this helps.
And no, it's not de-contented at all, loads of cow hide in there, and quite a few amenities of the era, but for example the seats aren't heated, heck, they aren't even electric. I don't miss these, don't get me wrong, but those would be on probably all other GT cars of the era, while a sports car can make do without them because weight savings.
On the other hand, it is surprisingly quiet and comfortable at speed, while the driving position is flawed in several ways, so no, i wouldn't call it an athletic drivers car either.
Gran Sport it is.
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505 - morphine not found
> Cebu
04/16/2015 at 16:15 |
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cheers, i think we'll go with this one. boxerfanatic gave a longer answer with the same result, and i have to agree with you guys - the Shamal is a Gran Sport class vehicle.