When I first heard of a Countach I thought it was an Italian gynecological instrument

Alright time for a new direction. All of you post your 80s pics!

I think it's funny that some people here say, I would buy a Ferrari before I buy a Lambo.
- See to me, Ferrari's make even less sense. Why not buy a Porsche before you buy a Ferrari? After all, Ferrari makes more money selling MERCHANDISE, T-Shirts, Hats, etc. then they do selling cars. So aren't they essentially a garment company before a car company? Their entire F1 endeavor is used to promote their clothing brand more so than their cars. And how often do I see a Ferrari at the track? Maybe 1 out of every 200 cars.

How often do I see a Porsche at the track, maybe 120 out of 200 cars. And that includes new Porsche's, old Porsche's, stock, race, street, etc.

So, if you're going to drop a dime on a car that may never hit the track anyway. Or hit the track just once or twice, why not buy a Lambo? At the very least, they're a little more obscure than the Ferrari that you see everyday living in Los Angeles.

Who said anything about Porsche being worse than Ferrari. They're both the best substitutes for each other.

Is there any point to buying either of the brands if you're not going to track the cars?

Vin, I track my cars, so obviously I'm biased in answering that question. I think all sports car should be tracked. But not everyone who buys an exotic car does so because they are speed freaks. Some people buy them because they love the sound of their engine. Some people buy them because it is a symbol of their hard work and ultimate success and something they can be proud of..

And some people buy them because they see the cars as works of art.

It's not just about which car turns the fastest lap. I personally would love to own a Lambo Murc. and even though I'm a track driver, would probably not take it to the track more than once.. There is something so special about those cars.. It's the X FACTOR.. Not something you can put your finger on exactly. It's not the fastest, or the best handling, or the best mechanical, but it still makes my heart, head and stomach gush when I see one. (Minus the gaudy colors that I don't like.)

And even though Lambo's aren't the FASTEST... They still are SUPERCARS in every way shape and form.

If only people that tracked cars bought these brands they wouldn't be around for long.

Just because you don't track a car doesn't mean your not a car guy/gal and don't appreciate one that can be tracked.

I love to drive cars that can be tracked. It's a huge rush and loads of fun.

Sorry, I don't agree. I would love to go to the track soon though and try it out.

Yes, I remember it well, and it is a very fitting car in this thread about 80's excess, style, purpose, etc. :thumbup:

Start with the de Tomaso Mangusta. Beautiful design, slow, unsafe, unreliable, poorly constructed, but did I mention beautiful design?

This evolves into the early Pantera. Nice design, a little faster, safer, and more reliable.

And then came the destruction of that design over the next 15 years or so, essentially turning a nice design into a caricature. This took us into the '80s, and was all about competing with cars like the Countach. Add on body kits, tacky spoilers, poorly-engineered turbos, etc.

Interesting story on the Mangusta, it is a translation of the word mongoose. Why a mongoose? Because it is one of the few animals that can beat a cobra. Guess who the competition was?

I think there is, at least for me. I don't have a Ferrari on my want-to-buy list, but I could imagine owning one. I would like to own a Porsche in the next few years. I can't imagine wanting to own a Lamborgini. I didn't even like them when I was 14.

I wouldn't track any of these cars if I owned them (I haved tracked 2 Ferraris, and that was fun, but I didn't own them). I would simply appreciate the style, the engineering, the driving experience, and perhaps as a differentiator between the cars listed, the heritage or pedigree. That is what Lamborghini is missing to me, it is essentially the same as a kit car. Ferrari and Porsche have history, and the name stands for something. (This is one of the reasons why I like BMWs, and the primary reason why I don't like the X6, as I think it weakens BMW)

Can't same the same thing about the Veyron, as far as pedigree, the grill shape notwithstanding. It is an engineering masterpiece, but it is more the product of a laboratory than a design studio, IMO.

The best Countach review was from Cesar Csabe (sp?)

He said what's the point if you can't even go to the Wendy's Drive through in it!!
:bustingup

JCL ... I haven't seen a lot of different exotic cars on the road ... but of the ones I've seen ... the panteras look the "flattest". They are just so low to the ground!

I don't know the actual numbers/dimensions but panteras look lower than the countach.

There's something about watching one come over the horizon ... then watching it from behind as the blade-like car with HUGE rear tires roars away! :thumbup: :D

Anyways ... I love them panteras!