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Ask HN: Why aren't there middle class cars shaped like Ferraris?

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Re: Ask HN: Why aren't there middle class cars shaped like Ferraris?

#21

Post by pmontra »

tyingq wrote: post #9

People buy Ferraris for the status as much as the performance. Something that looks the part but doesn't have the gravitas just doesn't appeal to a large enough audience. Pantera tried to make something like a cheap Ferrari in the 1970's. It was about $10k when average cars were $3k, and a Ferrari was $20k+. It did okay, but not a spectacular success. And, there have been a few cars that tried to look the part, witho…

This, and if it's cheap at least it must be as fast as the real thing or faster, to silence the people laughing at the owner of what they think is a fake.

Re: Ask HN: Why aren't there middle class cars shaped like Ferraris?

#22

Post by lightedman »

andr wrote: post #15

The Toyota GT86, Mazda MX5, and Nissan 370Z are examples of that. However, looking at how many models were discontinued (Honda S2000, Toyota Supra, Toyota Celica, Mazda RX8), maybe the market opportunity is not as big.

The Celica was not discontinued. I'm looking at a 2016 model right now, it's a clone of a Dodge Viper.

Re: Ask HN: Why aren't there middle class cars shaped like Ferraris?

#23

Post by lightedman »

Zak wrote: post #20
andr wrote: post #15

The Toyota GT86, Mazda MX5, and Nissan 370Z are examples of that. However, looking at how many models were discontinued (Honda S2000, Toyota Supra, Toyota Celica, Mazda RX8), maybe the market opportunity is not as big.

Additional current cars in this category include the Hyundai Genisis Coupe, Nissan 370Z, Porsche Cayman/Boxster, Alfa Romeo 4C, Chevrolet Corvette and BMW Z4. (Criteria: under $60K base price, looks like either a classic sports car or an exotic in my completely subjective opinion, actually likely to appeal to enthusiast drivers, also in my completely subjective opinion) More previous cars in this category include the…

Ah, the Fiero, aptly named given its tendency to explode upon impact from the rear. It's what killed one of my father's friend's wives back in the very early 90s.

Re: Ask HN: Why aren't there middle class cars shaped like Ferraris?

#24

Post by heavymark »

Middle class cars at aimed at different needs than highend cars. A highend car like a Ferrari may aim at image and performance solely and not consider how that car would handle/drive in adverse conditions like snow or concerns for MPG.

Most middle class cars are highly optimized shape wise for MPG as well as handling all types of road and weather which is why tires on performance cars look so different than middle class cars, because their goals are completely different.

Cars like Hyundai are building their own brands based on great technology, reliability, strong MGP etc. If they attempted to simply through that out the window and look like a ferrari, they would lose their core customer base and also not attract ferrari's customer base because they don't want a something lat looks similar on the outside but has lawn mower on the inside.

Re: Ask HN: Why aren't there middle class cars shaped like Ferraris?

#26

Post by tyingq »

pmontra wrote: post #21
tyingq wrote: post #9

People buy Ferraris for the status as much as the performance. Something that looks the part but doesn't have the gravitas just doesn't appeal to a large enough audience. Pantera tried to make something like a cheap Ferrari in the 1970's. It was about $10k when average cars were $3k, and a Ferrari was $20k+. It did okay, but not a spectacular success. And, there have been a few cars that tried to look the part, witho…

This, and if it's cheap at least it must be as fast as the real thing or faster, to silence the people laughing at the owner of what they think is a fake.

Good point. You can do well if you make a relatively inexpensive fast car, and you don't even need to make it look like a supercar to run with that pack.

The Mitsubishi Evo has been highly successful, and keeps up with much pricier cars...even bone stock, with no performance parts added. It looks like a typical 4 door economy car with some spoilers added. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ees2aZcDUn8 (BBC's Top Gear: Evo on a track versus a Lamborghini)

Add a bigger turbo and these things are scary fast.

Edit: That golf below is hilarious, but wouldn't fare well on a road that wasn't straight.

Re: Ask HN: Why aren't there middle class cars shaped like Ferraris?

#27

Post by Zak »

lightedman wrote: post #22
andr wrote: post #15

The Toyota GT86, Mazda MX5, and Nissan 370Z are examples of that. However, looking at how many models were discontinued (Honda S2000, Toyota Supra, Toyota Celica, Mazda RX8), maybe the market opportunity is not as big.

The Celica was not discontinued. I'm looking at a 2016 model right now, it's a clone of a Dodge Viper.

Can you link to a web page describing this car? The last Celica I'm finding reference to was discontinued in 2006 and looked nothing like a Viper.

Re: Ask HN: Why aren't there middle class cars shaped like Ferraris?

#30

Post by byoung2 »

lightedman wrote: post #22
andr wrote: post #15

The Toyota GT86, Mazda MX5, and Nissan 370Z are examples of that. However, looking at how many models were discontinued (Honda S2000, Toyota Supra, Toyota Celica, Mazda RX8), maybe the market opportunity is not as big.

The Celica was not discontinued. I'm looking at a 2016 model right now, it's a clone of a Dodge Viper.

It was discontinued in 2006 and brought back later. The same thing happened with the Camaro.
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