The last analog cars versus today's offerings

I'm with you on that. Something more refined (ABS, a/c, airbags, traction control, etc) than a 308 but along the lines of it

 

Today's cars are infinitely better than those built in the 80's or earlier. NO question. Faster, safer, better creature comfort, more reliable, etc. It's about the driving sensation you get.

Today's cars all seem very much alike to me when you putter around town at less than 40 mph (like most of the time you drive them). A 458 engine at 9 grand is simply amazing --- its also going 65 MPH when you shift into 2nd. That's the problem. Seriously -- who needs a car that goes 210 mph?

I'm not knocking today's cars. They are pretty darn awesome. The question is -- can't we get back something also that we have lost?

 

Back when I had a Maranello, I used to go for a drive early Sunday morning. After warming up, I drive a car like a motorcycle. I give it gas and shift by ear. Not full throttle, but enough to get going. One morning as I shifted into third, I realized I was doing 90 mph. I hadn't even gotten out of my neighborhood, which had a speed limit of 35 mph. I felt like I was in total control, but in reality you're never in control doing 90 mph on public roads, not to mention neighborhood streets.

 

Ps. Make it a little bigger than a Miata.

 

Just discovered the Honda S660 which is a Kei car, and legal to import in Europe, though probably not in the US.

Its 11ft long, and 4ft 8" wide, has a three cylinder engine with a six speed manual available, its RWD and weighs 830kg. The picture makes it look bigger, but its tiny; the same size as a Suzuki Cappuccino.

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An Abarth 205a is exactly the same length, and just 2 inches slimmer. Rather than go bigger, I would like to see a modern Italian car along these lines. The Honda is very good value indeed, but the Italians have the heritage to make a tiny car with a more exotic drivetrain and charge for it. Imagine a one litre V12. I wonder would people buy it?

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I wouldn't agree with TexasForever on a a 4 cylinder engine. The A110 has because that is what Renault can make available. However, if BMW can make a charismatic 1.6 litre straight six for the GT motorbike, then it can be done.

 

I am not going to argue that a small light car would be fun to drive. I agree with that. However, when you look at a value proposition..... will people pay a Ferrari premium for something like a Lotus/miata type of car? More cylinders might sound wicked, but making more cylinders is expensive.... even if they are small. This day in age I can see a turbo 4 or 6..... but now you are competing against Porsche...... will Ferrari make money on that? I do not know the answer. I think if Ferrari goes to a minimalist design they will need to sell lots of units in order to be profitable...... that means more factory space.... etc which now complicates other product lines. FCA already has Alfa..... that is the everyday minimalist Ferrari and the perfect product platform for such a car. It would be much easier to have a manual Alfa that meets the bill, rather than a manual minimalist Ferrari.

 

Yes, I imagine the customers would be similar in numbers to those will buy an MV Agusta F4 at 25% more than the Honda S660 above. Small numbers, and the SUV is the order of the day instead. I doubt Fiat would use Alfa for anything like this though.

 

Totally agree with u. The new cars are too accesible to me and feel video game ish.


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As a new Alfa convert, I kind of agree. The 505hp V6TT they already have is amazing. In Europe you can get manual Quadrifoglios. If the 4C had that engine in manual, I'd probably get one today. At 2,465lbs, it would probably time-travel.

I was going to say that if Ferrari made a new, lightweight sports car for $150k I would get it. Of course, the dealer cars right now they want to sell in that range: 2010-12 458s.

 

Hit the nail on the head....
I too am getting bored with the newer cars. Mclaren? Won’t even turn a slight bit to look at one, too tech-y.
You are so right about all the electronic nannies saving poor drivers, making them look like heroes, especially on track. The first car that did this was the GTR, all the cool kids got them and set track records with their computer cars...boring.
Everyone has different standards of raw or visceral or analogue. But essentially it’s the car that evokes emotion.
For me the gold standard is a Lotus, raced them for many years and daily drove them. Pure to Me.
But for today’s era and where my collection would be going would be:
NA
Single clutch
(Manual)
Every time a manufacturer went turbo, I left them as a customer (BMW M series, Ferrari, etc.). Holding on to Lambo as last NA, but.......
Finally, Sound. I can’t tell you how musical a symphonic exhaust note puts tremors in my veins.
Like you, going backwards in time in my collection.
Here is a dream collection of mine followed by what I loved in exhaust notes.





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Buy a Lotus. It'll even top out at 150.

 

Sadly, I don’t fit very well. I can get in, but it’s snug.


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I consider my 1980 308 GTSi to be an analog car because the FI is mechanical, not electronic, and it has no nannies. It was a bucket list car, but I'm not really thrilled with the performance. It's a hoot to drive, but very slow by today's standards. I'm glad I bought it, though, because it lead me to the 360 manual. That car has the perfect balance to me: ABS, traction control, air bag, and steering assist (The 308 is a chore in parking lots), but it still has a raw feel and the manual. I just have to have a manual in a sports car. Paddles are okay for a GT.

 

Everyone seems to agree with what Ferrari should introduce as a further model in their line up but you all know what is coming instead ... the FUV or whatever it is called. The new generation does not want what we grew up with and learned to love. Everything now is just too damn clinical in how the cars behave. Each brand is now becoming too similar in the driving sensation. If you blindfolded a non car person they would not know whether they were in a Ferrari, Mclaren or Lambo and that would probably also apply to some petrolheads as well.

 

Question - If Alfa made your (not talking to anyone in specific) perfect car, would you not buy it, because it didn’t have the prancing horse on the hood?

Or

Would you buy a manual 4c with a Ferrari badge that cost an extra $50k?

 

I get your frustration. I am not 70 but remember the 70s and 80s well. No stiching, no air side bags, no autoshift, no gazillion radars all over the place and airplanes and drones checking your speed or private car hired by the gov to nail you for a 3 km/h over (for the euro guys)
times have changed. What I have to say is in all of this I do like the double clutch F1 used in manual mode. Mc Laren / PDK porsche are just superior to the manual stick. For the rest, heated seat, burgmeister and even the butt ice cooling options are just what younger people want.

As much as you may look down upon the comfort, it is gonna get worst. I see young guys swearing for Teslas. I call them the "whoosh" cars. You think the new exotics cars are too easy? Try a Tesla!. Some just are all excited about the 0-60 time. They think it is the greatest car experience ever. Me? if I just want the 0-60 thrill, I take the highest rollercoaster. I stopped arguing about this. They are things one cannot understand if he has never tried them.

 

My nephew's GF had a Tesla and took me for a ride. I had to admit the 0-OMG acceleration was pretty thrilling. Likely the fastest I've ever experienced in a car. I really wasn't expecting that much g-force on takeoff. Impressive for sure.

But the rest of it didn't do anything for me at all. The interior reminded me of GM in the 90s, plus that computer monitor in the middle of the dash - Nothing really refined about it.

They've since sold it. She got bored with it and now has some random BMW. My Ferrari is slower than her Tesla, but I'm never bored with it.

 

My Analog 1987 TR: A/C, mechanical fuel injection, electronic ignition, single lug wheel nuts. What it does not have: ABS, power steering, paddle shift, cruise control, check engine light, power seats. Takes a little muscle to drive!

 

1979 - my 308GTS has been put around November build...

 

I would buy a manual 4c with a Fiat badge if it had a naturally aspirated V6 or V8 with 400hp.

 

And the cabin a little bigger...


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I haven't owned any of the recent(ish) super cars but have driven several (430, 458, Huracan, and several GT3s) at local track events over the last few years. They were all fantastic (especially the GT3s!). However, they just don't do that much for me. I would've had more fun at each of the events with one of my air-cooled 911s. I'm not a brand-loyalist and appreciate cars from many different manufacturers. The common theme throughout all of the cars that I like is that they're simple, fun and engaging. To that end, I just don't enjoy the newer cars as much. I'm not as concerned about cutting-edge electronics and ultimate capabilities as much as I am spending enjoyable, engaged driving time behind the wheel. Honestly, I could have fun and be perfectly happy with an old Volvo 122 or 544, a chrome bumper Spridget, an old Alfa Spider, or even a chrome bumper, manual trans C3 Corvette.

I recently purchased a Mondial 3.2 Coupe. It's a very engaging car to drive. You hear, feel, and smell it. It involves all of the senses and you have to be active in its operation. It has a radio. However, I'm not sure if it even works as I haven't bothered to turn it on. I get the same return on the time that I spend with my '86 Carrera. They're not fast by today's standards, nor do they have the handling abilities of modern performance machines, but they're both very rewarding cars to spend time with. They're perfect.

Although, they're not Italian, two cars that personify the simple, fun, analog (with just enough modern technology built in) driving experience for me are the Honda S2000 and the Lotus Elise. Both are bare-bones (especially the Elise!), engaging, and pure drivers' cars. Perhaps you could lump the Evora into this category as well for those that would like a bit more room.

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