focaljet-1
Are Sport Compacts dead?
Maybe here in the states if gas prices stabilize, LOL.
Insurance rates for younger drivers might be too much; there'll always be a SC segment here. Honda parts are everywhere and used compacts are cheaper than modding new V8 muscle.
I haven't read the link, but will now.
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EDIT: HAHAHA! I love how they use a pic of this $200,000 (Oops; make that $427,000...) SEMA Special '69 Camaro...
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Insurance rates for younger drivers might be too much; there'll always be a SC segment here. Honda parts are everywhere and used compacts are cheaper than modding new V8 muscle.
I haven't read the link, but will now.
EDIT: HAHAHA! I love how they use a pic of this $200,000 (Oops; make that $427,000...) SEMA Special '69 Camaro...
Z63R said it. SC's were born out of budget performance. There will always be a need for that. Then there is the aspect of being unique. Anyone can buy horsepower off the shelf.
Fast small cars will always have a draw.. I for one wouldn't mind seeing sport compact tuning move a little bit out of the lime light however..
Great article though. The great thing about the 60's era influenced styling is hopefully we will never see the unsightly like of the 80's 90's Camero, Firebird and Mustangs ever again. These models, at least visually were an insult to their heritage.
_michael
Fast small cars will always have a draw.. I for one wouldn't mind seeing sport compact tuning move a little bit out of the lime light however..
Great article though. The great thing about the 60's era influenced styling is hopefully we will never see the unsightly like of the 80's 90's Camero, Firebird and Mustangs ever again. These models, at least visually were an insult to their heritage.
_michael
We could argue this one all freakin' day...
If SportCompactCar/Tuner/Whatever/Mag says so, then it's a sport compact...
Look to what a manufacturer designates a model before the aftermarket gets to it.
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im agreeing with you.
Piss off; I wasn't talking to you directly.
Was ranting about the argument being fruitless in general.
WAIT! so you mean that the focus was to be an affordable compact car. Not meant for street racing, autoxing, track days, drag strips, show cars and modding?!?!?!?!? GET OUT!!!
We could argue this one all freakin' day...![Image]()
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If SportCompactCar/Tuner/Whatever/Mag says so, then it's a sport compact...
Look to what a manufacturer designates a model before the aftermarket gets to it.
What as ass!
Get over it!
I wasn't taking to you in particular.
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I'm outta here; enjoy the rest of the thread.
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Get over it!
I wasn't taking to you in particular.
I'm outta here; enjoy the rest of the thread.
Sport compact cars are typically front-engine, front wheel drive (FF) compacts or subcompacts driven by a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine. Typical sport compacts include the Acura Integra, Honda Civic, Toyota Celica, and more recently, the Chevrolet Cobalt.
sounds about right to me
I don't think sport-compact cars are dying off, but I do think that there has been an influx of V8-powered vehicles back on the U.S. market. Like the article mentioned, the Mustang, the 300/Magnum/Chrager, the GTO. Although the GTO hasn't proved to be very popular, the 'Stang and 300 have been. However, let's compare the number of rear-drive modern "muscle cars" to the amount of "sport-compact" cars. Mopar cars (mentioned above), Mustang and GTO.
There are way more sport-compact-style cars on the market at the moment. From the Focus to the WRX and all of the Cobalts, Civics, RSXs, Scions, Sentras, Tiburons, 350Zs, Miatas, and so on and so fourth in between.
I personally couldn't afford a new Mustang, nor would I want the gas and insurance costs and impracticallity that come along with them; they don't suit my needs. Let's face it: most muscle cars are pretty impractical. Granted, a Miata and a 350Z aren't the epitome of practicallity.
Muscle cars will always have a place in the U.S., but I don't see them replacing sport-compacts anytime in the future.
There are way more sport-compact-style cars on the market at the moment. From the Focus to the WRX and all of the Cobalts, Civics, RSXs, Scions, Sentras, Tiburons, 350Zs, Miatas, and so on and so fourth in between.
I personally couldn't afford a new Mustang, nor would I want the gas and insurance costs and impracticallity that come along with them; they don't suit my needs. Let's face it: most muscle cars are pretty impractical. Granted, a Miata and a 350Z aren't the epitome of practicallity.
Muscle cars will always have a place in the U.S., but I don't see them replacing sport-compacts anytime in the future.
We all hoped that someday the big automakers would come through with cars like the STi, SVTF, R32, SRT-4, Cobalt SS etc. Tuner cars ready from the factory with a warranty in tact.
Unfortunately, that has left us with great tuner cars that arent cheap. The SVTF was $19-21k new, Cobalt SS & SRT-4 is about the same, R32 is closer to $30k, like the STi and Evo.
So we got the power, performance and look from the factory, but at too high a sticker price.
And what's worse, the manufacturers have put all their stock into these cars, that their bargain cars, cars that would make tuner cars, are no longer attractive, or really that affordable, to the young tuner market.
10 years ago, you could get a civic hatch for cheap, have reliable transportation, or if you chose, could strip it down into a 2000 pound street beast with some cash and elbow grease. Not so much anymore, a base civic goes for $13-17k, it's heavier, and more compact and difficult to work on without getting into motor swaps. This is just an example of course, but its pretty much the way it is now. Manufacturers have engineered out the modding capabilities of many of these cars, or just made them uninspiring to a point that tuners arent as interested as they used to be.
John & Derek, cant you read anything without startin some isht?! ; )
Unfortunately, that has left us with great tuner cars that arent cheap. The SVTF was $19-21k new, Cobalt SS & SRT-4 is about the same, R32 is closer to $30k, like the STi and Evo.
So we got the power, performance and look from the factory, but at too high a sticker price.
And what's worse, the manufacturers have put all their stock into these cars, that their bargain cars, cars that would make tuner cars, are no longer attractive, or really that affordable, to the young tuner market.
10 years ago, you could get a civic hatch for cheap, have reliable transportation, or if you chose, could strip it down into a 2000 pound street beast with some cash and elbow grease. Not so much anymore, a base civic goes for $13-17k, it's heavier, and more compact and difficult to work on without getting into motor swaps. This is just an example of course, but its pretty much the way it is now. Manufacturers have engineered out the modding capabilities of many of these cars, or just made them uninspiring to a point that tuners arent as interested as they used to be.
John & Derek, cant you read anything without startin some isht?! ; )
The number one problem with the SCC scene is that its repeatative. There seems to be nothing new even as new cars come out. The shows are the same the mind set is the same and too many times it seems as if the SCC tuners are more into keeping cool then sticking to the hobby for the love of it.
I see to many people buying sport compact cars, souping them up for show/go, and then selling them for money for th next car project. This is okay to an extent but if it reaches the point where the person is tired of making new cars and quits the hobby - that's when SCC scene starts dying. That's when people start saying the SCC is boring or there nothing new to it.
We need to learn from the hot rodders and muscle lovers out there. The love their hobbies not because its cool or because they want props, they're in the hobby because they love it and they love their cars. Many tuners don't love their cars they're only looking for performance numbers and thropies - hot rodders aren't like this. A hot rodder's love for his car is genuine and might last a life time and many of the sport compact car tuners need to feel and copy this.
I don't want SCC tuning as a simple fade of the past. I want the SCC scene to last well into the future as vintage cars and hotrods have done with their cars. I feel the SCC is maturing as the years go on but it might be a while before we're at the level that the vintage or hotrodders are at.
I see to many people buying sport compact cars, souping them up for show/go, and then selling them for money for th next car project. This is okay to an extent but if it reaches the point where the person is tired of making new cars and quits the hobby - that's when SCC scene starts dying. That's when people start saying the SCC is boring or there nothing new to it.
We need to learn from the hot rodders and muscle lovers out there. The love their hobbies not because its cool or because they want props, they're in the hobby because they love it and they love their cars. Many tuners don't love their cars they're only looking for performance numbers and thropies - hot rodders aren't like this. A hot rodder's love for his car is genuine and might last a life time and many of the sport compact car tuners need to feel and copy this.
I don't want SCC tuning as a simple fade of the past. I want the SCC scene to last well into the future as vintage cars and hotrods have done with their cars. I feel the SCC is maturing as the years go on but it might be a while before we're at the level that the vintage or hotrodders are at.
My line in the sand is 3000lbs. If it's over 3000lbs, it's NOT a compact. It used to be around 2750 or so, but these days that would mean... Base Mini and Miata?
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The 350Z is NOT a sport compact. It's a sports car. WRX is NOT a sport compact, it's a rally special.
Are sport compacts going away? I think the fad may be fading, the hype will calm down and/or shift to muscle cars. But the base "goodness" of what made sport compacts popular in the 80's will remain.
They're cheap, light, easy to mod, easy to repair and maintain. And they will ALWAYS screw with the musclecars and sports cars on very tight roads.
The 350Z is NOT a sport compact. It's a sports car. WRX is NOT a sport compact, it's a rally special.
Are sport compacts going away? I think the fad may be fading, the hype will calm down and/or shift to muscle cars. But the base "goodness" of what made sport compacts popular in the 80's will remain.
They're cheap, light, easy to mod, easy to repair and maintain. And they will ALWAYS screw with the musclecars and sports cars on very tight roads.
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