I’m not exactly sure why your comparing the GT-R and Porsche Turbo in the first place. But really, maybe your the one to grow up. Kids may argue about which car is faster, exactly what you guys are doing, but at some point in time you’ll have to realize many features on these cars are at the total opposite end of the spectrum. Just a quick example, the Porsche your talking about, has had basically the same exact design for nearly 40 years. Yes, it’s been lightened, it’s been modified to the point where you could almost say it’s a completely new platform, it’s been bored and displacements been increased, but it’s still relatively the same car.

Enthusiasts have talked about a totally new 911 for quite some time, but I doubt it will happen, not atleast in the next redesign. I’m confident that it will be just like the last few, a few minor cosmetics, a few minor upgrades to further the evolution of the car. The GT-R on the other hand, is using relatively new technology that’s only been around for a few years, computer gadgets that 99% of mechanics have no clue how to work on.

You may be able to compare performance, but their totally different cars for different reasons. When you get into sedans and more mainstream vehicles, you’ll find it easier to compare them, as it’s all pretty much the same old news.

Just leave it there- Americans have different needs and different wants. Unfortunately, neither you nor EijiO1 have it right in my opinion, and your both assuming things. Let’s just say, American designers haven’t really thought about aesthetics until recently aside from concepts, and European designers never really thought about performance until recently aside from professional racing, but that’s just my view.

Considering that the waiting list of an F430, and most Ferraris, is like two years long, that the F460 is likely to ship before anyone who ordered the F430 this year is likely to get their’s, Considering that most people who have that kind of money will spend it regardless of “pedigree” or “heritage” which SALEEN’s is actually quite respectable in America, The S5S will sell just as well as any super car regardless of origin. Most people don’t buy a car at this level for it’s heritage. They do buy it because they think it’s cool, original, or just their style. Not everyone thinks the old stand-bys are for them.

Europe and other parts of the world are not my concern though they tend snap up American super sports cars, when they happen, just as fast as Americans with deep pockets maybe faster because they are the exotic imports over there.

Besides, selling such expensive cars, you are not going to sell very many. That’s the whole point. Exclusivity by price and availability. You have to go by percentage sold against units produced. Even then these type manufacturers do not build thousands a month but rather a few hundred a year and often strictly to order.

This is what has gotten Ferrari in some hot water because of their long waiting list. It’s cozy water, but it can have potential customers looking elsewhere if they feel they can not get a Ferrari when they want one. “I have $250K and I want a hot expensive car. But If I have to wait more than a few months, then forget it. I’ll look elsewhere. Maybe LAMBORGHINI, PORSCHE, MOSLER, SALEEN, SHELBY… “

“You dont get it do you? Z06 is a track car, I dont give a **** about the price because I dont live on the track. If I did for the same money I would rather have Porsche GT3 or Noble M15.

Here is my answer Porsche GT3 and Noble M15.”

Porsche GT3 Base = $106,000
Noble M15 Base = $129,000
COVETTE ZO6 Base = $ 70,175

Now i believe i said something along the lines of the “SAME PRICE”, not $30,000 to $60,000 more……so again, shut it….

I see your point of view… and I don’t disagree with the idea that if you pay $200K for a car it had better be one of the best. Unfortunately, that’s not what this is about. It’s about the “shock and awe” factor that the S5S represents. The utter disbelief that another small AMERICAN car company, SALEEN, could make a car that could threaten the much vaunted place you hold for Ferrari, Lamborghini, and the like.

The NISSAN GT-R did that to me. I got over that. You’ll get over this.

If $70K of CORVETTE will whup anything costing twice as much, makes you honestly feel like you are living the dream of driving your own race car, and do so with minimal fuss, then $190K may just put a hurt on everything else.

The American Sports Car has always but the “SPORTS” in all caps and first in the equation. Anything else never worked for the price offered. Even though DETROIT could deliver a EUROPEAN-style, top-drawer Supercar, The CHRYSLER ME412 comes to mind as one that could have been but wasn’t, it doesn’t happen, not because it can’t but because it isn’t really OUR way.

If you pay about $70K for a C6 Z06, the equation basically says you pay over $60K for the performance, and the rest is comfort. If you want more comfort look up customizers who will deck out you VETTE’s interior to put Ferrari and Lamborghini to same for a few grand more. But then it wouldn’t feel like a CORVETTE.

AMERICAN Sports cars are sports Equipment first, GM put more effort into making the C6 CORVETTE a more livable car than say the VIPER. However, it is still Sports Equipment first.

The S5S is will likely follow this model and be a stronger performer than a Ferrari or Lamborghini and not trick you into thinking you are buying a luxury car that happens to be fast. A car that, like the VIPER and CORVETTE, gives you the feeling of, to quote DR.Phil, ” driving a race car with a car” which I think most will find more fun in the end.

The point, Europe developed it’s own breed of Sports car, where the words “sports” and “luxury” are usually fairly equal. America puts the “Sports” in a higher priority more often.

As for your questions of Comfort, Quality, and Handling… Only a neophyte tries to make that argument because they don’t have any real life experience with those criteria. If you are looking of Comfort, buy a luxury car. For Quality, then drive the car for 100K miles treating it like you mean to keep it then ask again after that. Handling? Master the car fully. Learn to drive fast and learn drive every car you want to compare fast. After that, you can answer the question yourself.

There are thousands of different cars in the world. All meant to fulfill differing needs and tastes. You only limitation is how much you are willing and able to spend.

Here is my answer Porsche GT3 and Noble M15.

The greater majority of Sports car owners do not downplay other sports cars. They simply adore the one they have, lament the ones they don’t, and think of others as interesting. That’s my experience.

But then I know nothing about you other than your uninformed fan-worship of obvious super car names. Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche have been on the short end of the stick for years. If you hadn’t noticed that then you are just a fan-boy. America and Japan are catching up fast. Only a blind fan would not see this or ignore it.

That is a mark of a neophyte.

On the other hand, I love sports cars period. But I like to see change. I get very bored hearing “Ferrari this” and “Porsche that” over and over again. I enjoy hearing from newer names like Koenigsegg (European) and Fisker (European), and names you normally don’t hear in the same sentence as past favorites, Like CHEVROLET CORVETTE, DODGE VIPER, NISSAN GT-R, and others.

Instead of apparently trying to be a deliberate jackass, just enjoy the arrival of yet another bad-ass car, regardless of who made it and where it was made.

Maybe you should start taking your own advice as your abvisouly talking out of your ASS…and i said “**Z06**… find me a European car that could match the Z06 in performance for the same price or shut it…..” so i suggest you shut it…

Can’t and don’t are two very different things. You may wish to ignore the fact that America simply does not have the same sort of Car makers Europe does, but every time America steps up Europe steps down. Even if it is for a year or two.

Only recently, the last decade or so, have smaller more focused car makers like SALEEN made themselves more apparent. It’s only going to get harder for Europe over time.

Reputation and image will give way as well as these newer smaller companies pay their dues.

America made the cars the world wanted to bet before. That day is coming again and sooner than most would dream or be willing to admit to.

AMEN!