Who's copying who?

[nsxtasy]

As far as being in the "same league" as the NSX, well, when it comes to raw performance the Z06 is indeed in the same league, in fact, a notch above. When it comes to fit, finish, elegance, etc, I would agree that it's not in the same league. I suppose it's like the difference one would find between a Chevy Cavalier and a Honda Civic.

Putting it all together, it's like the difference one could find between a 275 hp Chevy Cavalier and a Honda Civic.

There's no indication that Chevy copied the NSX with the C5. Other than being a 2-seater sports car with hidden headlights, the two cars are completely different.

I think the styling of the side vents is an obvious knock-off, and that particular styling element is what makes most people think the two cars look alike.

 

[naaman]

Well, at night, from certain angles, I have mistaken a C5 for an NSX, but never the other way around. Other than that, I don't really think that the NSX and Corvette look too similar. BUT! I can see how a casual observer (like, for example, my mother) would mistake one for the other.

But to people who are able to tell the layout of the car just by glancing at it (i.e. people here), the two look nothing alike.

That they are both obviously identifiable as high performance sports cars, they both have hide-away head lights, they both have the little vent on the side (albeit at opposite ends) and they are both somewhat "flat" from top to bottm, and maybe a few other styling cues, can give the average person the exact same impression.

This, I think is where the idea comes from that one looks "like" the other.

 

[PHOEN$X]

Putting it all together, it's like the difference one could find between a 275 hp Chevy Cavalier and a Honda Civic.

How about a Fiero and an MR2?

I think the styling of the side vents is an obvious knock-off, and that particular styling element is what makes most people think the two cars look alike.

How can anyone think that a mid-engine, exotic car like the NSX looks anything like the long-hooded, front-mounted engine Corvette? Personally, I think the Camaro ripped a lot more design cues from the NSX, from the black colored roof to the NSX-style rear spoiler.

 

[Ben]

I saw the 2002 JGTC Round 8 race at Suzuka, and I believe that there was a C5. It didn't do very well, however, while NSXs took 2 of the top 3 spots. NSXs would have made a clean sweep had one of them not been tapped and spun off the track.

-Ben

So basically we agree that the 'vette is a cheap knock off the NSX with a more powerfull (yet not necessarily reliable) engine. Despite this, the 'vette is an excellent handling sports car with great potentiol for power. I would love to see the C5S compete in JGTC.

 

[Jimbo]

I think the styling of the side vents is an obvious knock-off, and that particular styling element is what makes most people think the two cars look alike.

I disagree. Corvettes have had front fender side vents for a LONG time. My 1974 Corvette has similarly shaped side vents. Side vents in the Vette have a long history. People also say that certain red-bodied black-roofed Camaros look like NSXs too.

To me, the NSX looks pretty unique. The cab-forward canopy and the distinctive rear-end pretty much set it apart in my book.

-Jim

 

[BladesNSX]

I saw the 2002 JGTC Round 8 race at Suzuka, and I believe that there was a C5. It didn't do very well, however, while NSXs took 2 of the top 3 spots. NSXs would have made a clean sweep had one of them not been tapped and spun off the track.

-Ben

Yeah!! A fellow JGTC fan!!!

I saw the same race at Suzuka as well. My cuz (who loves the C5S even though I wooop him all the time in GT3 for PS2) saw what he though was a C5S when we watched a '02 round JGTC race. It was actually a car called the Mossler (Think thats how its spelled) you could go to JGTC.net and see (but keep the site in Japanese to see the gallery). Besides, Im pretty sure it is a GT300 class car; not GT500 like our beloved NSX.

We do get to see a sport NSX compete against the 'vette in Speed GT with the Comptech NSX. Hmm, anyone know when the next race is scheduled on speed(ahem, or is it NYaScar)channel?

 

[Jonathan]

I think the styling of the side vents is an obvious knock-off, and that particular styling element is what makes most people think the two cars look alike.

While I can see similarities, I think the C5 looks like it ripped more off from the late model RX-7 than the NSX, it's just that the RX-7 looks so much smaller in comparison, IMO.

 

[naaman]

Yeah, I've noticed this too. That side vent does a lot to give the two a comparable apperence, but I can't imagine mistaking one for the other, strangely enough. Wheras it seems more "excusable" to mistake an NSX for a Corvette or vice versa. Probably because the NSX and Corvette look so much more aggressive than the RX-7 and the way that the hood dips down in front.

 

[Ben]

I think there really was a Corvette there:

http://www.jgtc.net/race/2002/02r8/028entry.htm

but, more research reveals that it's a completely built, from the ground up, C4, although when they're that modified, I assumed it was a C5.

http://www.zipspeed.net/en/

-Ben

Yeah!! A fellow JGTC fan!!!

I saw the same race at Suzuka as well. My cuz (who loves the C5S even though I wooop him all the time in GT3 for PS2) saw what he though was a C5S when we watched a '02 round JGTC race. It was actually a car called the Mossler (Think thats how its spelled) you could go to JGTC.net and see (but keep the site in Japanese to see the gallery). Besides, Im pretty sure it is a GT300 class car; not GT500 like our beloved NSX.

We do get to see a sport NSX compete against the 'vette in Speed GT with the Comptech NSX. Hmm, anyone know when the next race is scheduled on speed(ahem, or is it NYaScar)channel?

 

[huckster]

I dont see all that much similarity. Like said on the other who copied who post, there are some similarities that all sports cars share. Compared to the vette, the nsx front is slimmer with exaggerated wheel well humps, more like the porsche, and the back end is much sleeker and less 'muscular', more like the ferrari.

But even the above 'comparisons' are kinda ridiculous, because i really dont see much similarity. Now if you want to compare the viper, Ken has a pair of clown shoes around here somewhere

 

[nsxtasy]

Personally, I think the Camaro ripped a lot more design cues from the NSX, from the black colored roof to the NSX-style rear spoiler.

I believe there were other sporty cars with black roofs before the NSX. For example, when did the original Mitsubishi Eclipse come out?

 

[BladesNSX]

Ben your right!!

I wonder why I didnt see that covette. I'm gonna look and see where they placed 'cuz I never noticed it. I wonder why that 'vette, the viper, the porches, ferrari modena, and a couple other cars in GT300 cannot compete in GT500?

I've asked the question (and have been asked by people just getting into JGTC) and the only answer I can think of is that although these cars are capable of creating more horsepower, they may not be able to to finish the race with the extra strain on the engine. I know that sounds like too simple of an explanation. Wait....this needs to be placed as a new post.

 

[PHOEN$X]

I believe there were other sporty cars with black roofs before the NSX. For example, when did the original Mitsubishi Eclipse come out?

Not till 1989 (as a '90 model).

I guess I kept thinking of Camaro because of this picture:

 

[naaman]

What the heck happened to that car? You're right; with the roof all smashed down like that, it does resemble a Camaro, from that angle.

 

[nsxtasy]

What the heck happened to that car?

It did a slow speed rollover after sideswiping the tire wall on the inside of the exit of Turn 11 at Mid-Ohio during NSXPO '98.

 

[naaman]

Poor baby! My sympathies.

On another note: it's kinda funny that a Camaro looks like a smashed NSX.

 

[matteni]

It did a slow speed rollover after sideswiping the tire wall on the inside of the exit of Turn 11 at Mid-Ohio during NSXPO '98.

But the DC Sports exaust system lives on! Matter of fact it will be on the track the next to days - singing it's incredible song.

I know because I wrenched off the exhaust while it was hot - between sessions at Mid Ohio thanks to the real time racing team tools and a lot of support from others who convinced me to offer the money to help pay the deductable and swap exhausts.

David would be proud. Off topic - is he still active on these boards?

 

[nsxtasy]

David would be proud. Off topic - is he still active on these boards?

I don't know if he is lurking here on NSXprime; I have never seen him post. I know he has lots more demands on his time now than in the days when he started the lists and founded the NSX Club of America.

 

[Ben]

Not sure. I think the Japanese cars have a fair level of factory support, but I could be totally wrong. Even if not, I think the teams running Japanese cars have more sponsors and/or deeper pockets to keep things running, as well as hire the top drivers. The non-Japanese cars tend to be more one-offs or team sponsored/funded efforts.

-Ben

Ben your right!!

I wonder why I didnt see that covette. I'm gonna look and see where they placed 'cuz I never noticed it. I wonder why that 'vette, the viper, the porches, ferrari modena, and a couple other cars in GT300 cannot compete in GT500?

I've asked the question (and have been asked by people just getting into JGTC) and the only answer I can think of is that although these cars are capable of creating more horsepower, they may not be able to to finish the race with the extra strain on the engine. I know that sounds like too simple of an explanation. Wait....this needs to be placed as a new post.