Underrated Supercars

Callaway sledgehammer. it did 254 before the bugatti and mclaren F1 granted the test driver almost **** himself cause the thing was so unstable but still.

 

errr....not to be rude,but i actually think that the merc CLK-GTR is HIGHLY over-rated.i debuted around 1998(i think) to much fanfare;it was touted as the best LMP ever made,the best supercar money could buy,etc.
it was in fact quite disastrous for merc in the LeMans series.it even flipped(and
i mean mid-air 360dg. !!!) due to bad aerodynamics,unprovoked!
as a road car it was quick,but not that special to drive.a mclaren f1 is far,far better.todays equivalent of the clk-gtr?ahem! the SLR.
the bugatti eb110 is in fact quick,unique and good-handling;but unfortunately
was never developed to it's full potential.the veyron is a much bigger leap
in terms of tech than the eb110.
other under-rate "super" cars must be the Stealth B6,Koeniggsegg CCR,
Ariel Atom,Lotus Exige,Maserati MC12 and perhaps the B-engineering Edonis(a development of the eb110!!!!)

 

Vector W8, and some of the older Rufs as well.

 

I think Noble's are vastly underated. Both the GTO-3R and M400 are extremely fast and not too expensive. Also Noble is going to be introducing the M14 which is an upscale Noble with many luxury touches(Not sure if the M-4 is coming to the States). I consider Noble's to be supercars but I guess some might not.

 

Sledgehammer Corvette
XJ 220

 

I agree with Ralph, the XJ220 is the Rodney Dangerfield of supercars.

The BMW M1 needs to be on this list as well.

 

Does anyone remember the Aston Martin Bulldog? This is one of the 1st supercars I remember reading about in the '80s in an issue of "Sports Car Graphic". I believe it was supposed to be able to reach 200mph. I don't know if any were ever produced.

 

Porsche 959 should be on the list

 

Schuppan 962 CR
A few Ruf cars
EB110
Edonis

 

agree with the 220 and M1.

 

I don't think they were Dan. I am surprised you like the car given its odd, almost trapezoid like shape. Definitely a change from the norm and perhaps a breath of fresh air, but too much for me. I remember the astonishing performance numbers as well, but it seemed too 80's excessive with the angular shapes and do you remember the odd headlight set up? But 200+, well hard to push that aside. One book, "Dream Cars" that one could find in the bargain bin at Barnes and Noble had a few pages on it.

959 by far is underated. John is on the money as today people still marvel at how far ahead of its time it was. It still seems just as exclusive with the emssions testing and names associated to it. I still think its looks very sharp.

I'd say the XJ220 was more of a failure than the CLK-GTR, which was designed to be a race car more so than a road car. The Benz won its series, which was the purpose, and the shakey rule of a certain amount of road cars to get the car legalized was just a spin off. ( Last we seen this was with the MC12 which they didn't go for completely. ) As for the Jag, keep in mind many orders were pulled after the promised V12 was dropped, production and intro postponed, etc. I love the car, I think it looks amazing and pictures definitely dont do it a justice. But today they're changing hands at 200K and I read a story from a Wisconsin GT collector ( the midwest guys know him, ) about when Ford acquired Jag a huge lot of them sat covered by cheap tarps in the back just hoping the deposits and interest would return. Stats great, did hold the title of fastest production car for a month or two, but never really a hit or having the history in racing or collecting to merit it too many positives.

RocketBoy

PS: Great topic by the way.

 

NSX. The car is pure genius.

 

uh...I wouldn't put it in a "supercar" category.....

 

The design, for its time, was very unique and futuristic - didn't look like anything else. Back then, it blew me away. Today, not quite the same story. No one could argue its performance, though.

In a former life, I used to sell CAD/CAM software. One of the engineers working for the firm hailed from England, and used to work at Aston Martin. He told me that he had worked on the Bulldog, and actually got a ride home in it on his last day working for Aston. That is an experience that not very many people can relate to.

 

saleen S7...

 

I'm going to go with EB110, XJ220, and Porsche 959 and GT1.

 

Viper GTS. Those who've tried one on the internet or in a magazine often don't give it much merit. Others who've had the opportunity to try one on a twisty back road or, better yet, a track, will note the car's neutral balance, direct steering, and high levels of grip and torque. Not a supercar, say some? Looks the part, IMO. Interior materials pretty much on par w/an F40 (w/somewhat easier access and carpets). Fit and finish is good, overall, and paint quality might garner an "employee of the week" nod if applied in Maranello. Most importantly, for some, it offers a unique drive that will unlikely ever become routine. It's a pretty focused experience that doesn't offer much in the way of compromise. Put a GTS on a road or track with your preferred supercar. Or drive them back to back. The "just a Dodge" angle might fade pretty quickly from the glossary of the aspiring exotic/supercar owner that once contained it.

 

Some of the tuner 996TTs, like the world record holder 9ff car.

 

I wouldn't put the M1 in that category. I've driven them (my brother has owned 2), and they are comparable to a Boxer. And, having driven them back to back, I'd prefer the Boxer any day.

Of course, if you include the Boxer in this list, then the M1 is probably appropriate. But once you open the door to the Boxer, you need to include the Countach, Testarossa, etc., and you have sort of defeated the original purpose.

One category of cars which really are supercars, but are often ignored, are the Group B rally cars from the 80s. They don't have the top speed of some of the others, but otherwise they have phenomenal performance and rarity.

 

i thought the title of this thread was UNDER-RATED supercars.
c'mon.xj220?that was hyped to death.959?even the enzo is low profile
compared to this awesome tech tour de force at launch.noble?
the british press go on and on about it!viper gts?cripes!!!over-exposed.
yes,the nsx is a supercar,even gave ferrari a fright!and UNDER-RATED.
other examples would include :-
-light car company ROCKET
-grinall SCORPION
-panther SOLO
-maserati KHAMSIN/GHIBLI II
_ariel ATOM
-bristol FIGHTER
-B eng. EDONIS
-porsche 928
etc!!!!!!

 

nope, just don't see the NSX as a "supercar". Certainly a fine car, absolutely no argument there, but a "supercar", no way.

 

Aston Martin Le Mans Vantage (600bhp, 0-60 in 3.9 sec., 320km/h)

 

On the NSX;

Supercharged NSX. Like a mini McLaren you can drive to the mall.