Are supercars POINTLESS? Corvette Z06 vs Rivian R1T: DRAG RACE (by Carwow)

[Rade]

I will always have a soft spot for my 3-ton 1974 Mercury Monterey Coupe with a 4bbl and 440 horsepower engine. I would have some dolt revving his Camaro at the light next to me. I would just push the brake pedal hard and step on the gas. The torque would begin to build and the car would begin to rise. The light would change and I would release the pedal. My 5,800 pounds of Mercury iron would take off like the USS Enterprise going into warp drive; smoothly and without a sound, leaving the dolt in my dust.

All at 3mpg (back when gas was under a dollar).

I get that these day with morons and their pickups thinking my R1T is just a mindless toy to blow off at the lights. I get the same reaction when I leave them in the dust, as well.

At considerably better MPG/e.

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[iansriv]

what if Rivian built a supercar?

 

[Dark-Fx]

what if Rivian built a supercar?

That would be RAD.

 

[Glembi2]

A buddy of mine sold his BWM M3 and bought a Mini Cooper. Why? He said driving a slow car fast was more fun than driving a fast car slow. I suppose a Rivian fits into each category, depending on whether you need to turn.

 

[zefram47]

I’m entering the phase of life where I think it’s a complement, though I know which I’d be able drive faster though a twisty alpine road.

I will say that as someone who loves to flog lightweight cars through canyon roads, the R1T is capable of carrying *way* more speed than I'd have thought possible even on the stock AT tires. Only really did it once and had to back off because it was mildly terrifying knowing how much it weighs. Torque vectoring on the quad is magic so long as you aren't a complete gorilla and respect the weight on corner entry.

 

[Time2Roll]

Drag racing itself is a bit pointless.

 

[zefram47]

Do you know if they'd allow an R1T in Solocross?

At least for SCCA autocross they have a rule that the track width needs to be wider than the height of the vehicle. The numbers I just looked up say the height in the Lowest ride height is 70.4 in and the track width is 67.3 in. They don't really account for the low center of gravity for EVs in the current ruleset for safety. There may be other groups that would allow it, but the other two (BMW and Porsche clubs) really only allow the German SUVs to participate due to their event insurance. I have taken my Gen1 Quad on a skid pad and it was entertaining. The torque vectoring worked to the point that in AP / Sport I couldn't easily get it to over/understeer much...in drift mode it would play though. I also got to take it to a snow-cross once and finally figured out that drift mode was the best.

 

[zefram47]

A buddy of mine sold his BWM M3 and bought a Mini Cooper. Why? He said driving a slow car fast was more fun than driving a fast car slow. I suppose a Rivian fits into each category, depending on whether you need to turn.

MINIs are surprisingly fun and I only had the two-door electric one. Still surprised some folks at a local autocross series with one.

 

[iansriv]

Drag racing itself is a bit pointless.

So many things in life are but that never stopped us from doing them. Cheers.

 

[iansriv]

I will say that as someone who loves to flog lightweight cars through canyon roads, the R1T is capable of carrying *way* more speed than I'd have thought possible even on the stock AT tires. Only really did it once and had to back off because it was mildly terrifying knowing how much it weighs. Torque vectoring on the quad is magic so long as you aren't a complete gorilla and respect the weight on corner entry.

Agree. It's a brilliant truck/suv capable of doing things other trucks/suvs cannot. A sports car it is not.

 

[Time2Roll]

So many things in life are but that never stopped us from doing them. Cheers.

There used to be skill involved with drag racing. Now with traction control, computer controlled shifting the transmission, launch mode etc. may as well just shout the 1/4 mile time to each other.

 

[SwampNut]

There used to be skill involved with drag racing. Now with traction control, computer controlled shifting the transmission, launch mode etc. may as well just shout the 1/4 mile time to each other.

Yeah, even my EV motorcycle is now just "go" without any danger unless you disable everything. Going back to an old 1100 superbike after a while on the EV bike is eye-opening. Wait, I have to try to not loop it off the line????

 

[HaveBlue]

Quick versatile efficient and fun but any beater BMW will eventually catch it after 100mph.

 

[skyguyscott]

Acceleration is not nothing, but for me, the real kick in driving is cornering, which is why my beloved RX-7 remains my favorite car I ever owned (not driven, but owned) Having written that, it is also true that no pickup I have ever owned or driven has the performance in both acceleration and cornering like the R1T. Even with the sport tires, it won't give you go-cart turning like my Mazda, but that fact that it even approaches that feel is remarkable, especially when you compare GVW!

 

[impulsoren]

If only tire swaps were as easy as touching the screen then this discussion might be a little different.
I’d like to drive in lowest with ps s5 tires at times, and it could replace a sports car of the larger variety (but not a little lightweight 2 seater) but most of the time I need the AT tires at standard or high ride height.

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