8 of the most underrated supercars | GRR
Is there such thing as an underrated supercar? They’re all pretty well loved by someone somewhere, but some do fly under the radar for whatever reason. Sometimes they’re received poorly at launch, only to come good with age as contemporary pressures ease. Others take all the praise when they're new and are simply forgotten about as time wears on. Some are absolutely mad to the point that if you buy one as a result of this article, we are forced to gently make clear that we won’t be held responsible for whatever happens – yes there’s a TVR on this list. So, let’s get into them.
1. Porsche 997 GT2
A Porsche? Underrated? Nonsense. It’s true, there are more obscure places to start, but out of all the GT cars is the 997 GT2 not the most unloved? In 997 terms it’s fully outshone by any of the five GT3 variants there were. It’s not even the most-celebrated 997 GT2, with the second-gen GT2 RS still retaining its crown as the most powerful manual-transmission 911 ever made. We’re here to remind you then that the first-gen 520PS (382kW) 997 GT2 continues to exist and continues to effectively offer the performance and interaction (more so, in fact) of the new Sport Classic, albeit minus perhaps the dynamic polish, retro aesthetic and modern creature comforts.
2. Ferrari 348TB
Yes of course, there aren’t many Ferraris that are underrated are there? The 348 like the 997 GT2 got a mediocre reception when new and was fairly outclassed by rivals at the time. With age, though, the 348 with its layover 1980s looks has started to make more sense. The styling is now classic rather than antiquated, the proportions were always good, the glamour of a Ferrari badge is there and the dynamics that were flawed when new, just fall under ‘old car’ now. Then there’s its trump card, the screaming V8 engine and manual transmission. In short, the 348 was born to be a classic supercar and as it reaches that status, can also now be considered underrated.
3. Noble M400
The Noble M400 – and Nobles in general honestly – come in the other way. It was fantastic when new, a standard-setter for driving fun. But somehow, it’s been forgotten about. Granted the glue smell, Mondeo V6 and Halfords aero don’t scream ‘Casino Square’ but for drivers, this thing was and remains, a thing to savour. So while the world goes crazy for old GT3s, late manual Lamborghinis and Ferraris, the lack of a big badge and its slightly dorky constitution means the Noble doesn’t get a look in. We can’t stress enough, it should.
4. Honda NSX
We mentioned the NSX in our overall list of underrated performance cars, but such is the loss on so many people for not considering what is a fantastic car, it bears mentioning again. Is it the most emotive of devices? No, it’s not Italian. Is it even the fastest? No, it’s not a McLaren. But if you admire truly innovative engineering, the NSX is a tonic to be explored. It looks great and, with the right model year, all of the car’s myriad systems work together strangely harmoniously. We promise, it’s a compelling thing that’s slept on too much in supercar circles.
5. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C6
Still the stereotype that American performance cars are no good persists. We see it in our comments but the reality has been the determination of some American marques, they’ve only gone and outdone the Europeans a number of times in the last two decades. Arguably one of the first, was the Corvette C6 Z06, which as a track car, could knock seven bells out of a contemporary Ferrari on its release in 2006. The 7.0-litre V8 with over 500PS (368kW) had very little weight to shift around, thanks to the Z’s magnesium and aluminium construction, and carbon bodywork. A chisel-jawed Detroil brawler on the surface, was a featherweight Muay Tai scrapper under the skin. They had their 15 minutes of fame way back when but still, these magnificent things aren’t appreciated like they should be.
6. TVR Typhon
Perhaps most emblematic of how quickly the world of cars can change, at least on this list, is the fact that TVR went from working on an expensive and sophisticated supercar, to non-existence, in just five years. The Typhon/T400/T440R triplets were designed to be TVR’s 200mph flagship, exemplifying a new era of competent sportscars for the marque. While they did form the basis of a cool racing car, they turned out to be expensive, mostly unwanted and properly terrifying to drive. Difficult in a marketplace at the time populated by the Ferrari 550 Maranello and then-new Aston Martin Vanquish. Over two decades on however, the TVR is now appreciable for what it is: a scary fast, epically-styled curiosity. Looking for old-school supercar thrills and genuine rarity? Look no further.
7. SRT Viper
The Dodge Viper was a car marred by its own legacy. Thought of as crude, uncompromising, a bit scary and a bit low-rent, the Viper, while beloved, was never the first choice in the supercar pantheon. Unfortunately, the third-gen car was tarred with the same brush, undeservingly so. While it was very much still a Viper, with its monster V10 and manual transmission, the cabin was much plusher and better equipped while the driving experience was much more refined. But in the 2012 supercar market, it was still quite Viper-ish. It was a good car, it just wasn’t refined to the standard of rivals, but being so might have left it not Viper-ish enough. We should have loved it – and bought it – it for what it was.
8. Ascari KZ1
Ascari had been simmering in the background, with its Ecosse supercar coming into focus around the same time Pagani and Koenigsegg burst onto the scene. But it was in 2004 that it made a play for the mainstream, aiming squarely at the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo. The KZ1 was a very good car by all accounts – well-made with a quality chassis and a solid BMW M5-sourced V8 engine. But it failed to capture the imagination. It was no one’s dream car, no one’s pinup. It missed the X-factor that turns transport into a raw object of desire. But its sheer competence means it genuinely is highly underrated.
Are there any underrated supercars you think we’ve missed? Are the ones mentioned undeserving? Let us know your thoughts…