Do YOU Even Want A Sports Car In A World Where 700 Horsepower SUVs Exist?

This past weekend I took out my BMW M2. It’s been about three weeks since I pulled it out of the garage and gave it a run.

Admittedly so, I am a bigger fella standing 6’8 and around 275 pounds. Getting in and out of cars always takes a bit of an effort, but even as of late my normal-sized friends and family they tend to find sporty things a bit overkill.

These days we have things like the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk equipped with the Hellcat V8 good for over 700 horsepower. And then there’s things from the German contingent making anywhere from 560 to now an upcoming 670 horsepower in the all-new Audi RS Q8.

Rather than having to worry over space and utility, you can have your cake and eat it too. While these will certainly not displace things such as mid-engine supercars like the McLaren 570S, I am starting to cool off over things like the Mercedes-AMG C63 S and BMW M4, for instance.

I was even talking to a dear friend of mine who’s a self-admitted M-phile and it seems that the newer stuff doesn’t really move the needle for him anymore. But an X5M, on the other hand, is on his shopping list.

So, Spies, I’ve got to ask: Do YOU even WANT a sports car in a world where high-performance, 700 horsepower SUVs exist?

TomM - 7/19/2018 6:57:00 AM

+1 Boost

Suvs are not sports cars - period
Even when made by Porsche -their Higher center of gravity simply does not allow for the same spirited Driving experience as a properly developed sports car - not matter how many electronic "helpers" they employ.

I too am a big fellow - and I too have better room and comfort from larger than sports car vehicles - but there are many sedans out there (Often from AMG) that I can be comfortable in - the will wipe away any SUV when it comes to Handling.

However - the run up in Crossover and SUV sales poses another point - that Sports car Handling is simply not a MAJOR break the bank consideration for most vehicle purchases - as most are simply bought for transportation as an appliance. It may turn out that the "performance" part of the equation was important to far less people than we would think - and even they might buy a Truck or SUV for their purpose.

PUGPROUD - 7/19/2018 8:39:54 AM

+1 Boost

Big powerful SUV's are great on motorways and straight line acceleration. For back roads and the twisties its all about light weight and handling where sports cars excel. One of each suits me just fine.

absent - 7/19/2018 8:53:25 AM

0 Boost

I agree with the view that driving a hardcore sports car in regular traffic with frequent stop and go, potholes and trucks all around, does not make much sense.
I also agree with the view that large or small SUVs do not make sense the way we mostly see them on the road, usually driven by single female on the way to Neiman Marcus or Whole Foods.
Inefficient and overkill where a medium sedan or station wagon would be sufficient.

MDarringer - 7/19/2018 10:13:57 AM

-2 Boost

Given how automatics have more cogs and shift faster than a human-operated manual, they really are the better choice more and more and that is from someone who adores manuals.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 7/19/2018 8:56:02 AM

+2 Boost

@Agent001- If I was as big as you I would not look at any vehicle where I was not totally comfortable. As a 95 percentile driver most will not be a good fit for you. At your height, I would likely get an F150 King Ranch and be done with it.

Agent00R - 7/19/2018 11:11:41 AM

-2 Boost

Agent 00R**

001 is a big fella too...

MDarringer - 7/19/2018 11:18:07 AM

-1 Boost

How big is big? I'm 6'2" and find headroom lacking. My best friend from childhood is 6'4" and has to crank his seat back to get comfortable.

MDarringer - 7/19/2018 10:12:54 AM

-1 Boost

I love a crossover or an SUV, but while I want power, I would want luxury more than an apex clipper. If I have 700 horsepower under the hood, it had better be in a muscle car or a sports car (not that the difference is that big anymore).

405er - 7/19/2018 11:29:38 AM

+3 Boost

I've had a 2006 M3 convertible since 2010 that I've used as my weekend fun car. Two years ago, I bought an Audi SQ5. Not only will I never buy a car again that's not an SUV, but I only drive the M3 once a month now just to keep it "fresh" and I swear I never thought I'd say this, but I really don't miss the 6 speed except when I take it out. Just can't bring myself to sell it since it has low miles and I know I'll never buy another car with a manual transmission.

MDarringer - 7/19/2018 11:54:22 AM

-3 Boost

Sell it to a Bimmerfest methboy.

valhallakey - 7/19/2018 2:50:52 PM

+2 Boost

I want both. When I need groceries in a hurry, the SUV. When I am going out to dinner up in the mountains, the sports car. Unfortunately neither is good for off roading which is why we need Raptor like SUVs quick.

MDarringer - 7/19/2018 3:01:59 PM

0 Boost

I predict there will be a Bronco Raptor.

t_bone - 7/19/2018 10:42:24 PM

+2 Boost

Fun = lightness. Many an enthusiast was minted in the seat of a Civic, and a DX one at that. Many muscle SUV drivers haven't experienced it and are doomed to chase something they shall never find...

MDarringer - 7/20/2018 11:43:17 AM

0 Boost

"Fun = lightness" is an opinion and certainly NOT a universal statement. To apply your idiocy, because the Spark weighs 1400 pounds less than an AMG GT it is a lot more fun. I can assure you, it's not.

MDarringer - 7/20/2018 11:59:04 AM

0 Boost

A Mustang V6 or Ecoboost is heavier than a GT86, but the Mustang by far is more entertaining to drive--not to mention faster around the course--than the horrid Toyoburu.

Ditto base Camaro.

t_bone - 7/20/2018 6:47:23 PM

+2 Boost

Spark is a high center of gravity car (like an SUV!). Did you ever drive a Honda CRX back in the day? No power, no weight, but low and fun at any speed. Crushed like a tin can too, of course, but that's another discussion.

MDarringer - 7/21/2018 10:32:29 AM

0 Boost

@t_bone now you're "birdwalking" and trying to pretend your thesis holds water. Your thesis was that lightness = fun. Your thesis is total BS.

jcarys - 7/20/2018 10:44:23 AM

+2 Boost

Any SUV on the road does not respond like a M2 or a Cayman. If your personal opinion of which car you want to drive changes, well then that's your opinion.

I never "worry over space and utility". Last weekend when I went scuba diving, I loaded up all the equipment in my normal sized trunk. When I go grocery shopping, everything fits easily in that same trunk. If I need a larger vehicle to move furniture, I just go rent one for the day.

MDarringer - 7/20/2018 11:12:00 AM

0 Boost

I like power in my vehicles, but I would NEVER assume a high-power SUV was anything other than a cruiser. I have hot lapped a few high-power SUVs. For example, the Cayenne turbo I drove never let you forget it was a big pig in running shoes. Sure, its limits were high, but even at 5/10ths it felt like fatty fatty tub-o-lard in a tutu.

2ndbimmer - 7/21/2018 10:07:44 AM

+2 Boost

I was at a track event at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL and every "purist" laughed at the idea of an SUV "sports car". The marketing company told them just to try. Reluctantly everyone ended up driving either an X5M or X6M. There were Cayenne Turbo's, etc. as well. They couldn't believe how amazing the X5M and X6M were. They just couldn't stop smiling.
Of course, their expectations were low since they had their guard up and of course you had the few people that said they would buy it, only if it came in a manual. All of their minds had changed about a well built SUV.
I would 100% drive a high HP SUV.