GTP Cool Wall: 2013+ Porsche 918 Spyder

[huskeR32]

I'm going with sub-zero. I'm about as far from W&N as you can be when it comes to environmental matters, and any car that nudges the ball rolling towards a future where cars can have fantastic performance, and still be environmentally friendly, is a car that I'm on board with.

Is it gimmicky? Very much. Is it actually that environmentally friendly? Not really. But if it even slightly predicts what future performance cars can be, then we enthusiasts will be just fine.

Add in that it's a Porsche (can't help it, I love 'em), and that wonderful livery, and this car is pegged at the coldest end of the scale for me.

 

[JrDarknes]

Cool, because it looks freaking cool.

 

[Jahgee]

Sub Zero for the same reasoning I gave the Prius, it's the one that people are gonna look back on and say "This made X Mainstream" (X in this case is Hybrid tech in Supercars)

 

[McLaren]

Meh. Another "let's fill a non-existing gap in the market" special.

As long as there are buyers (and judging by the P1 & LaFerrari selling out, there certainly will be), there is a gap there in the market. There was just never anything there before hand to satisfy the buyers in it.

 

[Kent]

2013+ Porsche 918 Spyder nominated by Azure Flare

All of which adds up too... Uncool, simply because of its electric motors.​

Your post is Uncool.
Simple because you look like a tool when you dislike something for such a simple-minded reason.​

I could understand if we were talking about the days when electronics really messed up a car's behavior but in the modern market most cars actually benefit from electronics.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and yours is very uncool.

My opinion of the 918 is of course, sub-zero.

 

[Azure Flare]

I can't beleive there are people here saying it's uncool because it's a supercar and thus too shouty. Talk about right for the wrong reasons. It's the loudness and flashiness of supercars that makes them cool.

And then you turn around and say the 918 is Uncool "because hybrid".

 

[White & Nerdy]

And then you turn around and say the 918 is Uncool "because hybrid".

Exactly. This car is trying to be green as well as fast and noticeable, and in cars nothing is less cool than trying to be green. A proper supercar doesn't have any "pure electric whenever possible" mode, it's spewing decibels whenever it's running.

 

[Azure Flare]

Clearly, me trying to throw logic at you is a battle I'll never win..

 

[Roger the Horse]

 

[Azuremen]

Exactly. This car is trying to be green as well as fast and noticeable, and in cars nothing is less cool than trying to be green. A proper supercar doesn't have any "pure electric whenever possible" mode, it's spewing decibels whenever it's running.

Considering supercars are more defined by their use of bleeding edge technology that can't be justified on mass produced cars, I don't follow. Those highly sophisticated carbon tubs aren't exactly brute forcing anything, nor are extremely sophisticated V12's that spin faster than most tiny, rev happy Japanese motors. Again for the transmissions and driver assists, along with the elegant and out there interiors.

Supercars aren't about noise and burning fuel pointless - they are about having fancy toys that do fancy things you can't find on normal cars. This is why the Corvette isn't a supercar, and why the Viper is mocked as one because it was primitive in comparison to its revivals. It also why the NSX was considered in that range because of its quality, all aluminum chassis, and refined power and approach.

 

[Kent]

Exactly. This car is trying to be green as well as fast and noticeable, and in cars nothing is less cool than trying to be green. A proper supercar doesn't have any "pure electric whenever possible" mode, it's spewing decibels whenever it's running.

No actually that's a racecar, not a supercar.
Supercars are to be the cars that do everything and do everything extremely well.
Racecars are the cars that do sound, speed, and feel at any/all costs without concern for anything else.
Just my take on it but I really wonder about your opinion sometimes because of the biases.

 

[Azuremen]

Just my take on it but I really wonder about your opinion sometimes because of the biases ignorance.

FTFY

 

[Kent]

I dont want to pick on the person, I just dont agree. Too many times it seems like the picture of the forest is lost for the the sight of a single tree.

I mean electric motors, really?
It's like being angry about windows you dont roll down for yourself or or a horn you dont sqeeze to activate.
Actually I think I understand and Im replacing my car soundsystem tommorow.

 

[homeforsummer]

and in cars nothing is less cool than owning a piece of crap and revving it next to Prius drivers at the lights.

Ah, that's better.

 

[niky]

it's spewing decibels whenever it's running.

The difference that makes Hendrix's legendary rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" memorable, while most finger-shredding twenty-thousand-notes-a-minute "Speed Metal" is forgotten after the first twenty-three bars of high-speed thrash is this:

Silence.

The proper use of silence, like the proper use of line spacing, simply makes the noise all the more epic when it happens.

If you want noise all the time, come listen to the diesel bulldozer blatting away outside my living room.

I swear, it's more annoying than that song they play at the malls every December...

 

[homeforsummer]

The proper use of silence, like the proper use of line spacing, simply makes the noise all the more epic when it happens.

That's one of my favourite things about every video review of the 918 so far. All start off in electric mode and then WHAM! (), the noise comes in. Absolutely brilliant.

 

[huskeR32]

Exactly. This car is trying to be green as well as fast and noticeable, and in cars nothing is less cool than trying to be green. A proper supercar doesn't have any "pure electric whenever possible" mode, it's spewing decibels whenever it's running.

To most, a "proper" supercar checks several, if not all, of the following boxes:
-fantastic performance
-attention-grabbing styling
-use of exotic materials and breaking-edge technology
-exclusivity due to a high price, limited production, or usually both

The 918 checks all of those boxes. Apparently you have one additional criteria, and you won't compromise on it: A supercar must share your political views. That's neat.

 

[Crash]

I think supercars in general are uncool, however, hypercars get bumped to a meh just out of sheer ridiculousness and exclusivity. This one has great performance without being very shouty, so it gets a cool from me.

 

[Worst_Driver]

It gets a cool, would be subzero from an engineering point of view, but I always think of how much lighter it would be without the added weight of the electric powertrain.

Consider me a dinausaur that don't follow the times, but I prefer my supercars with a manual and V10 or bigger.

 

[Kent]

It gets a cool, would be subzero from an engineering point of view, but I always think of how much lighter it would be without the added weight of the electric powertrain.

Consider me a dinausaur that don't follow the times, but I prefer my supercars with a manual and V10 or bigger.

Weight v. power, the end all battle of engineering.
However, you should also consider how that weight adds to the power.
Sure it's batteries and a motor (I assume) but it's also insane torque. I'd say that's something to consider before you count the extra weight as a disadvantage.

 

[Encyclopedia]

Exactly. This car is trying to be green as well as fast and noticeable, and in cars nothing is less cool than trying to be green. A proper supercar doesn't have any "pure electric whenever possible" mode, it's spewing decibels whenever it's running.

How is trying to be green uncool?

Anyway, it gets a cool from me.

 

[White & Nerdy]

It works on the same principle as this site's "flashy cars are uncool because flashy people are uncool and flasy people drive flashy cars" assertation, only it's actually correct. People who actually care about greenhouse gas emissions are, as a rule, desperately uncool. They are anti-enthusiasts - instead of making up excuses to drive somewhere because they like to drive, they feel guilty about driving and try to walk or bike instead.

That's the kind of person who buys a green car.

So, this is a "guilt-free" supercar for people who don't like cars and try to avoid driving them whenever possible. And since you people like to crack on supercars that will probably never be driven hard and will only be used for showing off around town, that oughta earn plenty of "Uncool" votes.

The other thing is, a supercar should not be "guilt-free". It should be wasteful and conspicuous, enraging every liberal who sees it. You should not be able to drive a car this fast without compromising any dedication to environmental responsibility you may have.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Generalization by both people who say flashy cars are uncool due to people who own them part of the time, and hybrid/eco friendly gas and diesel or electric are uncool due to a few elitist people, is stupid. Generalizations are asinine and those serious about them are inane if they can't see over it.

Now, there are some who say one or the other just to be sarcastic and I usually don't pay them any mind, but those who are serious that's a different story.

 

[homeforsummer]

You should not be able to drive a car this fast without compromising any dedication to environmental responsibility you may have.

You do realise that driving a car this fast involves kicking in a 600-horsepower V8 engine? And the whole idea of the electric part of the drivetrain is that aside from further boosting performance, it's most effective when not driving fast? So doesn't actually go against your blinkered assumptions of what a supercar should be in the first place?

I have to wonder whether I'm on your ignore list. Either that you're just being incredibly rude and not responding to anything I post any more.

Not that you've ever come up with a remotely sensible or viable counterargument to anything I've posted anyway. But it'd be nice to at least see you try...

 

[Bopop4]

[quote="White & Nerdy, post: 9081270, member: 125744"they feel guilty about driving and try to walk or bike instead.

That's the kind of person who buys a green car.

The other thing is, a supercar should not be "guilt-free". It should be wasteful and conspicuous, enraging every liberal who sees it. You should not be able to drive a car this fast without compromising any dedication to environmental responsibility you may have.[/quote]

Oh noes, exercise.

I would buy a green car.

A wasteful supercar means a slow(er) supercar.

If you waste fuel by turning it into noise instead of power, and you're going to lose on the track.

................/>The point>>\
>>>>>>>/ ... Your head...\>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[Kent]

You do realise that driving a car this fast involves kicking in a 600-horsepower V8 engine? And the whole idea of the electric part of the drivetrain is that aside from further boosting performance, it's most effective when not driving fast? So doesn't actually go against your blinkered assumptions of what a supercar should be in the first place?

I have to wonder whether I'm on your ignore list. Either that you're just being incredibly rude and not responding to anything I post any more.

Not that you've ever come up with a remotely sensible or viable counterargument to anything I've posted anyway. But it'd be nice to at least see you try...

Shouldn't even bother responding to him, he clearly doesn't know anything about what he spouts off.
918 owners not driving hard? I mean, does he realize who the people are buying these cars or how much money they have to spend on trackdays and new tires?
Does he not realize the benefits to a car's performance when it runs an electric motor with a gas engine?

Does he really think that one day he can berate other people's cars because his 80's Sunfire is such a sporty car and then try to tell the world what a supercar is supposed to be?

That's like a gay man saying what a sexy woman should be. 👎

 

[homeforsummer]

918 owners not driving hard? I mean, does he realize who the people are buying these cars or how much money they have to spend on trackdays and new tires?

I'd defy anyone not to drive hard after seeing the 918 review vids on the internet. Sadly, W&N seems to think that all hybrids are created to an equal, low standard and driven in the same manner.

 

[Roger the Horse]

Sorry, W&N, supercars don't enrage me, they make me smile, generally.

They're all desperately uncool, however.

 

[Wolfe]

It works on the same principle as this site's "flashy cars are uncool because flashy people are uncool and flasy people drive flashy cars" assertation, only it's actually correct.

Do you think you're being clever or persuasive when you make statements like this? You just sound like an 11-year-old trying to imitate Jeremy Clarkson. The remainder of your anti-green rant is also highly derivative.

 

[OriginalCheezIt]

It works on the same principle as this site's "flashy cars are uncool because flashy people are uncool and flasy people drive flashy cars" assertation, only it's actually correct.

I'm gonna go with @Wolfe on this statement.

People who actually care about greenhouse gas emissions are, as a rule, desperately uncool.

How is caring about our future uncool? Surely you must care about your future, it's the responsible thing to do.

They are anti-enthusiasts - instead of making up excuses to drive somewhere because they like to drive, they feel guilty about driving and try to walk or bike instead.

Correct me if I am wrong, but car enthusiasts are quite boring to non-enthusiasts, are they not? I'll even admit that my enthusiasm about automobilia is rather uncool. But I'm not so set in my enthusiasm to where I believe progress shouldn't be made in the way we travel. Walking and biking are all around more favorable to me for traveling short distances (3-5 miles for walking, 5-10 for biking). In short, it is considered cool to be an anti-enthusiast.

That's the kind of person who buys a green car.

It doesn't take an anti-enthusiast to buy an environmentally friendly car. I would buy one.

Pretty, isn't it?
That is the Fisker Surf. 100% electric, and 100% enthusiast friendly. Sure, you won't hit 200MPH in it, nor does it run on powdered kitten faces, but it is certainly cool.
True enthusiasts don't need speed to enjoy a car.

The other thing is, a supercar should not be "guilt-free". It should be wasteful and conspicuous, enraging every liberal who sees it.

And that's why supercars are almost invariably uncool.

You should not be able to drive a car this fast without compromising any dedication to environmental responsibility you may have.

Why shouldn't you?
Surely Porsche asked that very question when designing the 918, and look what they have now! They built the very first hybrid hypercar, one that has now set the trend for all hypercars to come.

I can't think of anything cooler than that.