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I am sure most of us sometimes reflect back to what use to be the great things in era's gone by,but we sometimes overlook our current times.
Growing up thru the first golden era of Muscle Cars as a young kid in the late 60's/70's before emission regs and politicians killed most of our dreams I think we should sometimes pause and think of what we have now.
We are now living thru another truly FANTASTIC golden era of performance cars that are available to us.
We have come back the full circle with cars that offer Much more Performance,Better Handling,Better braking and are much Safer vehicles.
Buy a Cayman,911,Nissan GT-R,Zr06,M3 or whatever takes your fancy - BE EXCITED AND LIVE THE DREAM NOW - as we are in another Golden Era and it will not last forever!!!!
In the future we will all look back and say I remember when --
+1
The combination of limited oil and the Green Movement, I feel, will have a large impact on what we take for granted today. I think there are things to look forward to that will be more enviroment friendly but you gotta enjoy this moment in history it is a great one.
I agree with both of you from a performance and technology perspective. I think we'll squeeze out a few more good years before oil prices start impacting the technology in an (arguably) negative way.
From a styling perspective, my personal opinion is that the golden era was 1998-1999. Virtually all of my favorite exotic cars were available in one or both of those model years.
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2008 Porsche Boxster - X1 Arctic Silver Metallic, V9 Black Top, P77 Leather Sport Seats, 342 Heated Front Seats, AT Black Full Leather, 403 19" Carrera S Wheels, 475 Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), 435 Sport Steering Wheel, XSC Porsche Crest in Headrest, 490 Sound Package Plus, 551 Porsche Windstop (Deflector), 584 Storage Box
I understand where you're coming from, as I've thought about the muscle car era too and how, for a long time, vehicle performance languished. BUT, with the crunch of the early 70's came new technologies that had to be introduced and reckoned with. Most of those technologies have been improved to the point where we enjoy the vehicles we have today.
I think there is a good chance that the same scenario is happening today. Here's where my mind says we could be going in regards to performance vehicles: one example is that instead of having a 410HP, 3700 lb M3 that gets 20 mpg, how about going back to the original M3 with modern tech? 250HP with 2500 lbs. Improved handling, fuel efficiency, braking, etc. Active aero, etc
...We are now living thru another truly FANTASTIC golden era of performance cars...it will not last forever...anyone agree?
wholeheartedly. in fact, for better or for worse [depending on how one chooses to look at it], as far as high-performance gasoline-burning internal combustion engines for the masses are concerned, i believe that we have already entered the final stage of that era and that it will all be over in a very short period of time.
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phil
2007 cayman - one year
1997 boxster - eleven years
1970 911t coupe - eleven years
1964 356c cabriolet - nine years
wholeheartedly. in fact, for better or for worse [depending on how one chooses to look at it], as far as high-performance gasoline-burning internal combustion engines for the masses are concerned, i believe that we have already entered the final stage of that era and that it will all be over in a very short period of time.
For BETTER!
Less cars in front of me on the highway.
At near $5.00 a gallon there are still too many people who can afford to drive cars. Maybe at $10 a gallon the decrease in traffic will make the government double bridge tolls to keep government workers employed. That will put driving out of the reach of even more people.
The Golden Age is coming!
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It does seem that forces are in play that would severly impact the way cars will perform in the future. I have had the feeling before. With the impact of the post 1968 anti smog regs, and then fuel mileage requirements, there has been an increasing volume of affordable, beautiful high performance cars. My old E46 M3 not only out performed my 65 GTO 0-60, but had the grace, beauty and handling at a very affordable price.
I suspect as long as there are automotive races using gasoline powered engines, there will be gasoline powered high performance cars available to the public. It will be more expensive. But the technology that has emerged since the muscle car era has been nothing short of unbelievable.
Interesting that when some mention the cost of gas going over $5/gal that somehow this is going to slow down or stop performance development. Gas has been that price or much higher for years now in a lot of countries, and that hasn't killed the production of any of the cars we now have. The States is becoming less of a player in the global market and if the markets there slow down, other developing markets will emerge no doubt. Whether some of these vehicles come to the States in the future may be the question. This is a significantly different picture than in the '70's.
I am going for a midnight drive towards west Texas to stop at my favorite diner near Lubock for a stack of flap jacks....the world is coming to an end as we know it and I for one will enjoy it until they turn out the lights.....enjoy while you can.
Interesting that when some mention the cost of gas going over $5/gal that somehow this is going to slow down or stop performance development...
the deck does seem stacked against us.
my prediction: the higher cost of gasoline here in the united states, and elsewhere, is only one of several salient factors that will surely have a profound influence on the configuration and performance capabilities of most future vehicles equipped with conventional gasoline-powered internal-combustion engines.
political mandates and economic realities yet-to-be-defined including increasingly-stringent tailpipe-emissions standards, higher-mileage requirements, urban and suburban roadway congestion, revised land-use decisions and significantly higher costs for life's 'other' essentials - like food, water and energy in general; healthcare too - and even new techologies will all-too-soon have a compelling impact on what people will drive and how they will drive them.
to quote an old carly simon song [something i've never done before], "these are the good ole days"
my suggestion: enjoy 'em while they last, cuz they probably won't last long.
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phil
2007 cayman - one year
1997 boxster - eleven years
1970 911t coupe - eleven years
1964 356c cabriolet - nine years
I think our sport is much more adaptable than is being discussed. In the very near future I will be super happy to drive a new Tesla electric sports car around Sears Point in an effort to better my best time that I made a few years before in a Cayman S. In 7 or 8 years from now, I will be quite happy to take a tour to all of the many new Russian and Chinese race tracks. And once there, rent a new super fast, hi tech hybrid racer at each track, that stores the kinetic energy I make while braking for a turn, and then use this same stored energy to give my car an extra boost on exiting. And in places like CC, we will still be talking about suspensions, trannys, body mods, competitions, tires, which car is better, improving driving habits,.. etc.
Europe and the USA are now paying gajillions of good USA dollars and Euros to the Arabs and Russians and Chinese and Indians. And these blooming nations are all very happy to take our good USA dollars and Euros and use them in our best western traditions,... to make some great and fun hi performance motorsport.
If you look at the total rising number of wealthy people around the world who will fit the current Porsche ownership profiles over the next ten years,... it will be many many many TIMES greater than ever before. Porsche could be 3 times bigger than it is now, and still be in maybe third or fourth place as the World's largest builder of super hi performance sports cars. The amazing new motorsport choices that will be presented to the many many millions in the future world who can afford it, will continue to grow beyond any imagination... Not without some more serious limitations in some areas, but the sport will grow and grow long past our life times.
Kinetic Speed Shop Platinum
Kinetic Speed Shop was formed in April, 2005 by partners Nic Jonsson and Russell Smith, each sharing a common vision of developing a facility and team of professionals that would deliver the most cost effective, first-class products & services in the industry as well as enable the organization to competitively race on professional levels.
Kinetic Speed Shop knows cars inside and out and has the in-house resources such as our fabrication, composites, paint/body, engine, and electronics departments to make any changes and improvements your race car may require. Kinetic’s staff of drivers, engineers and mechanics specializes in car set-up and have extensive race experience in many series giving them the capabilities to work on all types and levels of high-performance cars. Staff series experience includes:
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