Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber • Hacker News Board

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#21

Post by hkmurakami » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 1:55 AM UTC

akuma73 wrote: post #8

arcanus wrote: post #2

Has Lamborghini ever made a car that had actual technical merit as a racecar? I'm general, supercars are vastly overpriced for what you get. You can easily crush most for a fraction of the price with a dedicated track car. But simultaneously, no supercars are remotely practical on the road, and in fact are not even fun to drive on the street because of speed limits. Some supercars have been a good investment, such as…

The point is to broadcast your economic status.

To add, when broadcasting your economic status, the more impractical that purchase is, the better.

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#22

Post by cpursley » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 1:57 AM UTC

arcanus wrote: post #2

Has Lamborghini ever made a car that had actual technical merit as a racecar? I'm general, supercars are vastly overpriced for what you get. You can easily crush most for a fraction of the price with a dedicated track car. But simultaneously, no supercars are remotely practical on the road, and in fact are not even fun to drive on the street because of speed limits. Some supercars have been a good investment, such as…

Agreed. Lambos are status symbols.

A carbon fiber supercar that impresses me (and is actually raced and wins ~ see last week's Le Mans) is the new Ford GT. You even have to submit a video interview because Ford wants actual enthusiasts, not "collectors", to purchase them from the limited run.

https://www.ford.com/performance/gt/

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#23

Post by Obi_Juan_Kenobi » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 2:05 AM UTC

walrus01 wrote: post #17

"Carbon fiber everything" is a really great marketing strategy for a veblen good, primarily because CF is light and looks sexy, but I'm not sure it's a huge technical achievement. If you look at full-CF road bike frames in 2002, 2003 or so they were a super premium priced hand crafted thing. Now they are a commodity item from China and Taiwan that you can buy for $600 if you're building your own road bike. Example: "…

I still ride a cheap mail-order monocoque road bike from ... 2004? The knockoffs were available pretty much from the outset as they generally were just used molds or copies, all made in the same factory. Still rides beautifully and I've never seen the need to 'upgrade'.

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#24

Post by eanzenberg » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 2:08 AM UTC

arcanus wrote: post #2

Has Lamborghini ever made a car that had actual technical merit as a racecar? I'm general, supercars are vastly overpriced for what you get. You can easily crush most for a fraction of the price with a dedicated track car. But simultaneously, no supercars are remotely practical on the road, and in fact are not even fun to drive on the street because of speed limits. Some supercars have been a good investment, such as…

Do enthusiast car engines last longer than track car engines? Because I remember hearing that true track race car engines last a very short amount of time before they need work done. Maybe because they live at higher rpms?

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#25

Post by sundvor » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 2:13 AM UTC

cpursley wrote: post #18

joshu wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Modern modern ones are a bit cramped but are as practical as any other sports car (that is, not particularly.) There is a Lamborghini series (super trofeo) but not much beyond that. I rarely even see them at track days. Quattro drive (or whatever it is called now) is not really awesome for road racing. It causes too much understeer. That said, I heard the Huracan is much better than previous cars. (I own and have tra…

What's funny about supercars is you rarely see them on the track. It's the folks out there with their spec Miatas having all the fun. I've passed more 100k+ Vipers, M5s and Ferraris on track day in a first-gen 130bhp Miata than I can remember. Working on a Chump car ( http://www.chumpcar.com/ ) build with my brothers now. I've met people racing in that series who've owned every supercar imaginable. But when it's a be…

Nice. There's something about showing up people with vastly deeper pockets than ability...

I recall finally passing a GSXR1000 on my lowly CBR250RR about a decade ago on Philip Island, last few corners. He repassed me on the pit straight but then I got him back by nailing T1 and stayed there. That felt pretty sweet. (I'm a tall / heavy guy compared to the 250, so suspension etc was not proper; the GPR70 tyres were just about the only good thing)

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#26

Post by joshu » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 2:25 AM UTC

cpursley wrote: post #18

joshu wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Modern modern ones are a bit cramped but are as practical as any other sports car (that is, not particularly.) There is a Lamborghini series (super trofeo) but not much beyond that. I rarely even see them at track days. Quattro drive (or whatever it is called now) is not really awesome for road racing. It causes too much understeer. That said, I heard the Huracan is much better than previous cars. (I own and have tra…

What's funny about supercars is you rarely see them on the track. It's the folks out there with their spec Miatas having all the fun. I've passed more 100k+ Vipers, M5s and Ferraris on track day in a first-gen 130bhp Miata than I can remember. Working on a Chump car ( http://www.chumpcar.com/ ) build with my brothers now. I've met people racing in that series who've owned every supercar imaginable. But when it's a be…

Lots of people have more money than skill. It happens.

The very best part of driving the Miata is the frustrated point by from the Ferraris.

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#27

Post by mysterydip » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 2:26 AM UTC

cpursley wrote: post #18

joshu wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Modern modern ones are a bit cramped but are as practical as any other sports car (that is, not particularly.) There is a Lamborghini series (super trofeo) but not much beyond that. I rarely even see them at track days. Quattro drive (or whatever it is called now) is not really awesome for road racing. It causes too much understeer. That said, I heard the Huracan is much better than previous cars. (I own and have tra…

What's funny about supercars is you rarely see them on the track. It's the folks out there with their spec Miatas having all the fun. I've passed more 100k+ Vipers, M5s and Ferraris on track day in a first-gen 130bhp Miata than I can remember. Working on a Chump car ( http://www.chumpcar.com/ ) build with my brothers now. I've met people racing in that series who've owned every supercar imaginable. But when it's a be…

I raced a Chump car back in 2011, and it was the best racing I've had in my admittedly limited experience. If you're not going for first place but just to enjoy some competition endurance racing, it's great value for money and a good time.

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#28

Post by joshu » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 2:27 AM UTC

eanzenberg wrote: post #24

arcanus wrote: post #2

Has Lamborghini ever made a car that had actual technical merit as a racecar? I'm general, supercars are vastly overpriced for what you get. You can easily crush most for a fraction of the price with a dedicated track car. But simultaneously, no supercars are remotely practical on the road, and in fact are not even fun to drive on the street because of speed limits. Some supercars have been a good investment, such as…

Do enthusiast car engines last longer than track car engines? Because I remember hearing that true track race car engines last a very short amount of time before they need work done. Maybe because they live at higher rpms?

The more aggressively tuned an engine is, the less time it runs before it needs a rebuild.

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#29

Post by taxicabjesus » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 2:33 AM UTC

cpursley wrote: post #22

arcanus wrote: post #2

Has Lamborghini ever made a car that had actual technical merit as a racecar? I'm general, supercars are vastly overpriced for what you get. You can easily crush most for a fraction of the price with a dedicated track car. But simultaneously, no supercars are remotely practical on the road, and in fact are not even fun to drive on the street because of speed limits. Some supercars have been a good investment, such as…

Agreed. Lambos are status symbols. A carbon fiber supercar that impresses me (and is actually raced and wins ~ see last week's Le Mans) is the new Ford GT. You even have to submit a video interview because Ford wants actual enthusiasts, not "collectors", to purchase them from the limited run. https://www.ford.com/performance/gt/

One of my wealthier passengers was closing up the family's winter home in north Scottsdale. I asked my usual questions, and eventually he told me how the garage at the pickup location had one of the million-dollar Porsche 911's, and that their Ford GT was a much better car...

In Colorado, the Hummer H1 was completely worthless in the winter. His 4wd suburban hybrid was great in the snow.

Re: Lamborghini Is Forging Ahead with Forged Carbon Fiber

#30

Post by pm90 » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 2:40 AM UTC

Shivetya wrote: post #5

arcanus wrote: post #2

Has Lamborghini ever made a car that had actual technical merit as a racecar? I'm general, supercars are vastly overpriced for what you get. You can easily crush most for a fraction of the price with a dedicated track car. But simultaneously, no supercars are remotely practical on the road, and in fact are not even fun to drive on the street because of speed limits. Some supercars have been a good investment, such as…

One thing to understand is that a lot of new wealth is not in Western nations and some, regardless of where they live, have access to where they can play with their toys. Throw in exclusivity which some makers exploit by having limited run versions. While the prices are silly, one can ask why would anyone pay more than 20k for car when that can buy you safety and comfort for four? Just like my impulse purchases can b…

Exactly. Luxury good manufacturers have recognized this trend a while ago, that the nouveau riche from non-western countries have a tendency to purchase all these toys in a me-too competition with their counterparts in the west.

Its a shame since I would expect them to have better sense than that to have accumulated that much wealth. Then again, its their money so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯