When the E36-chassis M3 arrived for 1995, it blew us away. It was fast–like, really fast–with a zero-to-60 time of 5.9 seconds. Now? A new Toyota Camry would walk it.
And today’s performance cars live in an entirely new realm. I spent last week with a new BMW M4, the M3’s spiritual successor. Horsepower has been nearly doubled, cutting zero-to-60 times almost in half. We thought the E36 chassis was trick, but the latest M4 offers a foundation that’s so much stiffer and precise.
[2021 BMW M4 Performance Package review]
Then look at the rest of the field: The M4 isn’t even the fastest car out there. I recently drove a Porsche GT3 and a Ferrari Portofino, and either would whip that M4 quite handily.
These machines simply represent the latest steps in the performance progress manufacturers have been making for decades. In addition to tailfins, the ’50s brought V8 engines to the masses. The ’60s loaded on power and performance.
While the industry bobbled a bit through the ’70s as it fought with government regulations, unleaded fuels and increased safety requirements, we wound up with quick, cleaner cars. Disc brakes started to become common, too, so some of these vehicles could actually stop.
The ’80s brought us the near-universal application of fuel injection, and performance quickly came back. Many of us also enjoyed the practicality offered by the hot hatch revolution.
The ’90s improved safety–air bags, anti-lock brakes and the like–and added even more performance. A turbo? Why not two, as 300 horsepower became the norm. Engineers also made huge improvements in aero, yielding quieter, more efficient cars.
The biggest gains in the last 20 years? How about more safety, more efficiency and more refinement? Plus, electrification moved from novelty to mainstream.
Where people look back on the ’60s as the decade of muscle, that crown really goes to today’s cars. Modern performers like the latest Corvette, Shelby GT500, Porsche 911 GT3 and those Tesla sedans are truly revolutionary and not evolutionary. The performance bar has been obliterated when comparing today’s cars to past offerings.
Let’s look back just a few years. In the ’90s, anything that could reach 60 mph quicker than about 8 seconds was seen as fairly impressive. Now, that figure needs to be in the sub-4-second range to even be considered fast.
Last year, I took the BMW 318is that we built to a couple of track days at Daytona and VIR. It’s well prepped, well tuned and, I thought, pretty quick. It sports a built engine and tuned suspension. Compared to the slowest of today’s modern cars, my cool little E30 BMW was so badly trounced that it was embarrassing.
And these new cars offer so much more civility than my now-vintage BMW. In addition to otherworldly quick acceleration and performance, they’re also smooth, comfortable and efficient. Credit huge advances in turbocharging, fuel injection and engine timing.
Have you driven the latest Civic Type R? Sure, it’s fast, but it’s also surprisingly civil, too.
Are they future collectibles? Maybe. Some, like the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and Ford GT, didn’t seem to depreciate. People knew a good thing when they saw it.
Driving several of these recent performers got me thinking: Maybe it’s time for a truly modern supercar in the fleet. But which way to go? Do I borrow some money or apply for a second mortgage to pick up the latest Porsche, Shelby or BMW?
Or do I go the GRM route and drag home a later, standard-issue 911 that needs some work and turn that into a GT3-fighter? It would be a cool project, but am I up for a year of pain and parts? Just once, it would be nice to skip the process and get on the pole the easy way.
[First-time Porsche buyer's guide: 5 models perfect for scratching that itch]
All good projects seem to start with some bench racing, so that’s where I am now: What would you do–buy or build–and what modern performer has captured your fancy?
Comments
If I had the money, ND based FlyinMiata Habu. For less, I'd take my yellow NB, add :
1)Koni stage 2 kit with sway bars - FlyinMiata
2)Little-big brake kit
3)Butterfly brace
4)Torsen limited slip
5)Lighter 16" wheels with BF Goodrich Sport Comp S 2's
6)Carbonmiata Mazdaspeed replica spoiler with modest splitter, modest rear diffuser and low spoiler, all black carbon fiber or vynil wrapped to look like carbon fiber
7)Repaint the car tri-coat Corvette yellow
8)FFS Supercharger kit
It won't be the fastest thing out there and turbo kits can make more power, but I'd be happy with this.
Jay_W
SuperDork
9/14/21 1:11 p.m.
The performance available at relatively affordable prices these days is pretty incredible.
If you're willing to buy a base, last year model Mustang GT. You can get nearly 500hp reliable HP for around $30k.
In terms of measurable data, acceleration, mechanical grip and performance capability, yes. In terms of visceral response and engagement, absolutely not.
One of the most aspects with modern cars as that the engineers (or their bean counter overlords) seem to have forgotten that you need a lubrication system capable of handling the lateral loads that 275 tires are capable of delivering. Whether that be strictly through added capacity, baffles in the pan, better pumps or restrictors to prevent over oiling of one side of an engine while another gets starvation.
JAdams
New Reader
9/14/21 1:56 p.m.
In reply to jerel77494 :
I did something really similar and I absolutely love it. I've owned faster but I'm not sure there is much else that checks all of my boxes for more "fun."
1992 Miata. TDR Rotrex Supercharger. Flex fuel. FM Fox Coilovers. Blackbird Fabworx GT3. Torsen. Bracing. LBBK (whenever it's back in stock). And much more
It is soooo good! I'd take this car over my old LS swapped FD almost any day.
Opti
Dork
9/14/21 2:12 p.m.
In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :
I think that comes down to a usage scenario. 99.9% of cars will never see a track were sustained high g corners are a concern. The cars that are marketed that way tend to have it addressed, and the more pedestrian versions dont. Track cars have needed modification since there was track cars.
I think we are at the golden era of ICE performance cars. New car emissions hit its lowest in like 2005 or 6 and has been rising since. With the current scrutiny on emissions and the emergence of better electric cars, I doubt we will have this performance from ICE powered cars for the everyman. Youll probably still be able to get them, but i doubt it will be cheap. If electric powered performance will be available for the everyman is yet to be seen.
Driven5
UltraDork
9/14/21 2:12 p.m.
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:
In terms of measurable data, acceleration, mechanical grip and performance capability, yes. In terms of visceral response and engagement, absolutely not.
In other words: We are entering the golden age of car-performance, but exiting the golden age of performance-cars.
Opti said:
I think we are at the golden era of ICE performance cars. New car emissions hit its lowest in like 2005 or 6 and has been rising since. With the current scrutiny on emissions and the emergence of better electric cars, I doubt we will have this performance from ICE powered cars for the everyman. Youll probably still be able to get them, but i doubt it will be cheap. If electric powered performance will be available for the everyman is yet to be seen.
Not really sure what you mean by emissions were lowest in 2005 or 06, as they have been going down every year. While the current minimum emissions is still sulev30, in a few years, the lowest will be SULEV20 and the entire fleet average will be SULEV30 for new cars and light trucks. MD and HD trucks are significantly down as well- as I've worked on emissions reductions for pretty much all phases except diesel.
There's been a very significant decline in ICE emissions, and with new EU and China rules- they will just get lower along with the upcoming CARB and EPA rules.
Opti
Dork
9/14/21 3:53 p.m.
In reply to alfadriver :
I cant recall the source a friend sent to me showing emission on cars trending upward in 2005. Maybe it was all cars on the road, or per capita or some weird metric made to frame it a certain way. Even so I still dont believe gas powered performance cars made for the everyman are long for this world.
You can already see the market sentiment shifting. Multiple manufacturers have said they will go all electric in the future, California said they will ban new ICE cars by 2035.
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:
In terms of measurable data, acceleration, mechanical grip and performance capability, yes. In terms of visceral response and engagement, absolutely not.
One of the most aspects with modern cars as that the engineers (or their bean counter overlords) seem to have forgotten that you need a lubrication system capable of handling the lateral loads that 275 tires are capable of delivering. Whether that be strictly through added capacity, baffles in the pan, better pumps or restrictors to prevent over oiling of one side of an engine while another gets starvation.
I don't think manufacturers should be expected to build track cars for street car prices.
Look at popular cars, a dry sump system is in the THOUSANDS for something like a Corvette/Camaro/Mustang. Why would manufactures incur these extra costs for the bare minimum who need it?
This sounds like more of the "I don't buy new cars, because manufacturers don't build new cars I like, because I don't buy new cars."
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Photograph Credit: Chris Tropea
