[smoseley]

Originally Posted by Elanlover

Can't agree with that. First, show me where the definition of a sportcars, whatever that is, is universally accepted as true by all in the world. Its too subjective an issue for there to exist one definition as evidenced by the opinions expressed in this thread.

Here's a definition that I really like:

Sportscar:
While opinions differ as to the exact definition, most sports cars are rear-wheel drive, have two seats and two doors and are designed to provide excellent handling, acceleration, and good looks. A sports car can be described as a car whose dominant design consideration is driving performance. A sports car's main emphasis is on performance by superior road holding, braking, maneuverability, low weight and power rather than comfort, passenger space, and economy.

Originally Posted by Elanlover

This is where the falacies begin. I would agree that few, if any, hade developed a true sportscar with FWD for all of the problems mentioned above. Now, imagine if you will, a master car engineer that one day designs a FWD car that absolutely eliminates ALL of the above mentioned issues. Truly and completely. Now, would you say then its not a sportscar? I'm not saying the Elan did that. But, imagine a car being built that did.

Interesting that you started this paragraph talking about falacies and ended it with a presumption that an inate physical limitation can be overcome by some mystical future magic-engineering. Do you understand what "falacious" means? I'll attempt to explain by example. Please note the entire quoted paragraph above.

Originally Posted by Elanlover

Now, imagin a FWD car that eliminated 90% of those problems. Is that a sportscar? What about 80%? Where do you draw the line? RWD cars are not without their problems too you know. If you've driven the M100 Elan for any length of time or taken it on the track you'd probably feel that its eliminated 90% + of the FWD issues.

Don't get me wrong, I consider the m100 Elan to be a sportscar. A true, genuine FWD sportscar, in fact.

But at the same time I don't believe there's such thing as a FWD sportscar.

I hope you understand where I'm going with this. The m100 is like the amphicar. Let's start a thread asking "can a car be a boat?" Well, DUH... anything can be anything, as Jesse James proved to us. A cop car can be a donut shop. An ambulance can be a drag racer. A semi truck can be a motorcycle. But in order for us to accept a concept as a general truth, it has to exist in more than one unique instance. In other words, a fluke cannot define our reality for us.

And *I* for one believe the m100 was a fluke.