dillsrotary

for everyone that creates a thread about how your gas mileage doesn't match the sticker, here is a list of so called sport cars that present good gas mileage. as for the list, the only one i'd take (or even call a sports car) is the one of the lotus's. but i do have a sweet spot for the mini, probably cuz i just watched the italian job

10 best gas friendly sport cars

DOMINION

Yeah only good car is the Lotus Exige

mysql101

is the Acura RSX really a sports car? It's got a small 4 banger, it's FWD, and it looks like a sedan..

I only saw 3 in that list that I'd consider sports cars.

alcimedes

The Scion tC is a sports car? WTF. This is a crappy list.

It's also a bit annoying that they list the gas milage for the crappy engine version of the cars, but use the high powered version to make the list of a "sports" car.

The eclipse "sports" version is 18/27.

Winfree

Some of their owners have been misled into thinking so - but they don't have much zoom:

Yesterday, I took mom to SLO (San Louis Obispo), and we are passing near Cal Poly/ Questa College, in our little Blue 8. We stop at a light, and a Acura, pulls up. Our windows are tinted so they don't realize that they are dealing with just a couple of little old ladies. They rev up their engine a couple of times and do some show off sound effects. I sort of slid into neutral, and checked out our engine's ability to red line. That jet-engine/vacumn sweeper demonic scream just went up and up and up - The kids are suddenly looking over to see what is really beside them, with a lot of body movements indicating shock and awe - especially when they realize they are being grinned at by two little granny ladies - Mom, age 94, resembles the Cript Keeper, was waving at them as they turned into something in our rear view mirror -
Mom turns to me and says "That kind of snaps your garters, doesn't it?"

tjbourgoyne

Excluding the Lotus, I would not consider any of these sports cars either. Even the 8 is pushing it. Who defines what a sports car is? The maker, insurance company....I have no idea and whoever comprised that list doesn't have a clue either.

dillsrotary

shouldn't the C6 be on there, supposed 30mpg highway from the ls

Winfree

Allstate Insurance considers the RX-8 to be a 4 door Sedan, but the kids in the neighborhood recognize what it is: "That's one cool sports car, what is it ?"......

tjbourgoyne

A true sports car has superior styling, handling, and performance. It sacrafices space and fuel to do so. 2 seaters were the standard for years but there seems to be more grey areas today with better engines and lightweight materials. Hence there are more definitions (classes) of sports cars. IMO a high performance, superior handling 2 seater is a sports car. All the others belong somewhere else, including my beloved 8.

mysql101

I agree with much of what you said, but consider this:

The RX-8 has almost exactly the same dimentions as a Porsche 911. It has the same weight, and yes, even the same number of seats.



So how is the Porsche a sports car and the RX-8 isn't? Surely it's not based on horse power, the 911 (even today) has far less ponys under the hood than ferrari and other higher end brands.

CERAMICSEAL

Yeah, since when could a front wheel drive be considered a sports car?

dillsrotary

tell that to ferrari : 12 cylinder, 0-60=4.5, 1/4 = 12.7

tjbourgoyne

Eliminating back seats are a criteria IMO. Is a car that is frightening fast with backseats truly making the ultimate sacrafice? It's compromised because it could go faster without em. There are slow cars with no backseats and they compromise power for fuel efficiency. Ok, now give me a minute to call the fire dept.

Winfree

Beautiful, styling suggests the 8 is comparable, just a little less Italian Leather.
do you have any Lambo pix? Honda, Civic, VW? Not in the same class! Just ask a jury of highschool aged males - although they show an inordinate fondness for the Viper

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

agree to all previous comments, list is not complied accordingly oh well. Love the Garter comments Winfree made me laugh, not to mention good for you for reving your engine like that

Winfree

Rotary God suggested for the health and well being of the car, red lining a requirement
Discovered on my own it can also be good for the health and well being of drivers and passengers.

Questionable behavior was also due to our mission which was to take pictures of Mom pretending to get a Tattoo at the Rose and Dragon in Pismo Beach. Pictures needed to horrify my sister (The Troll) who forbade Mom to have a sports car - We figured a few shocking photographs of other questionable activities would help break the news of Mom's ownership of an 8 more gently. Story can be found in Thread "How did you find your car " - String: The Dog told me to buy it.

NotAPreppie

The tC is a great car but, having owned one for 3.5 months, I agree it's not a sports car. More of a "sporty car".

No MR-2 Spyder. I suppose it's not in production anymore. I only consider it because it was the only light-weight, mid-engined car for around $25k.

tjbourgoyne

Good point. The article should have stated "sporty cars" and the Lotus should not be in the mix. It's a sloppy article to say the least.

hedgecore

Exterior dimensions are somewhat close...but not inside.

The 911 is a 2 seater...those seats are there as nothing more than a design exercise...that space is for golf clubs.

unless you move the seats all the way up and lean them all the way forward, there's no real hope of ever fitting an adult in there, hahahaha!

tjbourgoyne

What a gimmick. I like the carpeted lumbar system.

05TiGr8Lady

Me too...

VikingDJ

The RX8 is just so unique, it really belongs in a different classification. the term " sports car" has become a subjective thing, whereas in the past it was a true type of individual car. The RX8 has a mix of everything, with a big downside being that it doesn't deliver the kind of power to match it's below average gas mileage.

Those numbers are simply not accurate in many cases, but are more obtainable in sporty cars such as those listed. I would have liked to see the S2000 in there because although it's EPA rated 20/26, I'm experiencing better then that. It's more like 22/28, but of course if you vtec the car often you'll see below 20. Either way it's not that far off from that list, and with the exception of two cars on that list, it's a true economical and reliable sports car. I'd like to see a chart that bases performance vs gas mileage, rather then create a subjective form of what people consider to be sports cars in today's time. I guess I'm being biasly selfish, because I know the S2000 would be right up there. For what you get performance wise, the Exige and Elise (due to their light weight) are the only cars above the S2000 in my opinion for overall city/highway mpg in a true sports car. The Miata is right there too (maybe above the S2000 if you exclude overall performance) because although it's not as fast, it's still a quick little superb handling car that is not only reliable, but gets very good gas mileage. Even then it's pretty darn close, unless those cars actually get better then the EPA, which I don't know so I can't prove it.

mysql101

My son fit in the rear seats just fine. He also sits in the rear RX-8 seats just fine. None of my coworkers want to sit in the rear of my RX-8, so I'd say they're pretty even

hedgecore

How old is your son? Somewhere between 4 and 10? My cousins fit in my 2003, but it's a tight fit, the older one is now 10. A few weeks back i gave my GF's friend(5'2" tiny asian girl, one of the smallest adults around) a ride home from a party and the only way she fit in back was for the passenger seat to be WAAAAY forward. Eventually, she sat sideways so my GF could move her seat back and even then her head was crunched up against the ceiling. She would have fit in the RX8 without issue.

I can't imagine you have ever put 4 adult people(little kids don't count) into your 911, have you? The cabin shape on the 911 doesn't allow for working back seats quite like the RX8 does. Headroom is much smaller than the 8, legroom is almost none and shoulder room is reduced as well.

mysql101

my son is currently 7, but he was several years younger then I had a 993.

I know what you're trying to say - and it's more than just headroom, the width of the seat in the 911 is a lot less.

While you can fit 4 adults into the RX-8, given my height, it's not comfortable because I have to put my seat forward.

Anyway, my point is that the 911 and the RX-8 had the same dimentions. Same weight. The RX-8 just makes a lot better use of the space. Even with two "normal" seats, it isn't any less of a sports car than the 911 because of THAT one point.