Boxster Spyder hoon
Discussion
Went for an afternoon hoon yesterday with the roof down in my Spyder. The car is just superb to drive. Now, I might be being mad here, but I wish there was a switch that knocked 75bhp off. The car is really much too quick for English A and B roads, the top of 2nd is 65mph and as for 3rd, you're well into illegal, and on the roads I was on, largely unsafe speeds.
For me anyway part of the fun is wringing the car out towards the top of the rev range. This car is too quick for that around a twisty country road. Still superb, maybe they should do a really lightweight version with the non S engine and 100kg less, that would be even better.
I'm still looking for the car that delivers the same or similar thrills as my old Caterham did at the same speeds. Maybe an impossible dream.
Joel
For me anyway part of the fun is wringing the car out towards the top of the rev range. This car is too quick for that around a twisty country road. Still superb, maybe they should do a really lightweight version with the non S engine and 100kg less, that would be even better.
I'm still looking for the car that delivers the same or similar thrills as my old Caterham did at the same speeds. Maybe an impossible dream.
Joel
I know what you mean, especially where I live it is hard to push it. I know I could likely have more fun in a very base Elise or early S1.
But... I also know I would miss the spyder and the many qualities it has, let alone that bit more comfort and quality over the Elise.
I ended up going on a hoon in France a few weeks ago for a couple of days. Just me and spyder. Had amazing time navigating everywhere on the a and b roads. Being able to push along for hours at a time with hardly any traffic. Brilliant. Though I did think my fuel tank had developed a leak at times, just seemed to plummet.
Roll on Le Mans 24hrsfor next trip away.
But... I also know I would miss the spyder and the many qualities it has, let alone that bit more comfort and quality over the Elise.
I ended up going on a hoon in France a few weeks ago for a couple of days. Just me and spyder. Had amazing time navigating everywhere on the a and b roads. Being able to push along for hours at a time with hardly any traffic. Brilliant. Though I did think my fuel tank had developed a leak at times, just seemed to plummet.
Roll on Le Mans 24hrsfor next trip away.
barchetta_boy said:
I'm still looking for the car that delivers the same or similar thrills as my old Caterham did at the same speeds. Maybe an impossible dream.
You're going to struggle there, there's nothing like... I suspect this might be a little closer: Ginetta G40R. Or maybe something leftfield like a Morgan 3 wheeler.We can do a straight swap with my Elise s2 190. Definitely wants to be rev'd to 7k-8k rpm and likes to properly shout about it. So the sensation of speed is 2x if not 3x also by the low seating position and the permanent awareness of anythin going on under your butt.
I honestly think its much safer to drive in anger than my 991s which would achieve atomic speed in a fraction of the time and without breaking a sweat. Only for you to lose your licence in this nation of speed obsessed law enforcement officers.
The trick is to find the (increasingly rare) unised country roads with good visibility. Seem to be confined to Wales, Yorkshire and Scotland tho... In the south east it's incredibly difficult to find a. An ok road which had more than 3 interesting corners b. has ok visibility c. Is not cluttered at any time of the day d. Not infested by cameras/ police and the likes
Or book a track day at silverstone/Caldwell/spa etc etc. you will not regret it.
I honestly think its much safer to drive in anger than my 991s which would achieve atomic speed in a fraction of the time and without breaking a sweat. Only for you to lose your licence in this nation of speed obsessed law enforcement officers.
The trick is to find the (increasingly rare) unised country roads with good visibility. Seem to be confined to Wales, Yorkshire and Scotland tho... In the south east it's incredibly difficult to find a. An ok road which had more than 3 interesting corners b. has ok visibility c. Is not cluttered at any time of the day d. Not infested by cameras/ police and the likes
Or book a track day at silverstone/Caldwell/spa etc etc. you will not regret it.
DS240 said:
I know what you mean, especially where I live it is hard to push it. I know I could likely have more fun in a very base Elise or early S1.
But... I also know I would miss the spyder and the many qualities it has, let alone that bit more comfort and quality over the Elise.
Interesting. I am toying with selling the Lotus and buying a Porker see http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=362776&... But I'm a bit unsure to be honest. And you've just touched on my concern. In almost all respects the Porker is a more developed, more useable and probably faster car that my Elise R, but the key question, particularly when its a toy and not transport, is whether the Elise is more fun and whether I'll miss it too much. I agree 100% with your sentiment about power - much more fun thrashing the nuts off a slower / less powerful car than having to hold back on something that is simply too powerful for normal roads.But... I also know I would miss the spyder and the many qualities it has, let alone that bit more comfort and quality over the Elise.
So what do you reckon? Should you buy a Lotus or should I buy a Porker?
bordseye said:
Interesting. I am toying with selling the Lotus and buying a Porker see http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=362776&... But I'm a bit unsure to be honest. And you've just touched on my concern. In almost all respects the Porker is a more developed, more useable and probably faster car that my Elise R, but the key question, particularly when its a toy and not transport, is whether the Elise is more fun and whether I'll miss it too much. I agree 100% with your sentiment about power - much more fun thrashing the nuts off a slower / less powerful car than having to hold back on something that is simply too powerful for normal roads.
So what do you reckon? Should you buy a Lotus or should I buy a Porker?
I've previously owned an Elise R (and actually had an order in for the new Exige V6). I've had my Spyder since January and I love it. In my opinion, It's a better all round package than either the Elise or Exige. Better built, more useable, better power delivery than an Elise, stronger residuals, plenty quick enough for me etc. On the V6 Exige, I cancelled due to an continually delayed build at the back end of last year but when I finally drove one, although it was great, it just wasn't a £60k car to me so t was the right choice to go for a lightly used Spyder.So what do you reckon? Should you buy a Lotus or should I buy a Porker?
My advice would be go drive one!
bordseye said:
DS240 said:
I know what you mean, especially where I live it is hard to push it. I know I could likely have more fun in a very base Elise or early S1.
But... I also know I would miss the spyder and the many qualities it has, let alone that bit more comfort and quality over the Elise.
Interesting. I am toying with selling the Lotus and buying a Porker see http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=362776&... But I'm a bit unsure to be honest. And you've just touched on my concern. In almost all respects the Porker is a more developed, more useable and probably faster car that my Elise R, but the key question, particularly when its a toy and not transport, is whether the Elise is more fun and whether I'll miss it too much. I agree 100% with your sentiment about power - much more fun thrashing the nuts off a slower / less powerful car than having to hold back on something that is simply too powerful for normal roads.But... I also know I would miss the spyder and the many qualities it has, let alone that bit more comfort and quality over the Elise.
So what do you reckon? Should you buy a Lotus or should I buy a Porker?
However, I don't miss the Elise now. The spyder is in many ways a grown up Elise, but as said with many nicer features to live with. I would say any Elise/exige owner wouldn't regret the change. Give one a try, you'll soon know if you will miss the Elise.
My Spyder replaced an Elise 111R that I owned for 6.5 years, and absolutely loved. Rinsing that thing within in an inch of its life, every journey, second cam with the pipercross and stage II exhaust screaming, the tunnels, 8000rpm, accelerating out of corners with it completely planted...awesome...some great drives.
The time came when I craved a change. I thought I wanted a 911. Then I drove a Spyder. As the others have said, it's a lot like a grown up Elise. The build quality is like night and day in comparison, I can now put a bottle of wine in the boot without fear of it tearing through the body work. As much as I enjoyed the drop into seats over the sills in the Elise, ladies don't moan about the porker. The Spyder has those humps, the carbon bucket seats and a switchable PSE, and a proper PCM sat nav. The power means I can actually out accelerate normal cars in-gear. I have torque. Although I would say the extra 120bhp is not as noticeable as I thought it would be - maybe you just get used to what you have. I expected more punch below 4k rpm.
However, there are days I miss my Elise. I understand exactly what you mean about there sometimes being more fun in extracting 100% from a car, rather than only being able to extract 70% or whatever. I miss the rawness sometimes. That said, I wouldn't go back. All things considered the Spyder is the better package. I think I may go estate car + crazy car in the future. Although the Spyder is supposed to be a future classic...so maybe I hold on to it until the prices start doing what 996 GT3 prices are doing!
Good luck with your choice...
The time came when I craved a change. I thought I wanted a 911. Then I drove a Spyder. As the others have said, it's a lot like a grown up Elise. The build quality is like night and day in comparison, I can now put a bottle of wine in the boot without fear of it tearing through the body work. As much as I enjoyed the drop into seats over the sills in the Elise, ladies don't moan about the porker. The Spyder has those humps, the carbon bucket seats and a switchable PSE, and a proper PCM sat nav. The power means I can actually out accelerate normal cars in-gear. I have torque. Although I would say the extra 120bhp is not as noticeable as I thought it would be - maybe you just get used to what you have. I expected more punch below 4k rpm.
However, there are days I miss my Elise. I understand exactly what you mean about there sometimes being more fun in extracting 100% from a car, rather than only being able to extract 70% or whatever. I miss the rawness sometimes. That said, I wouldn't go back. All things considered the Spyder is the better package. I think I may go estate car + crazy car in the future. Although the Spyder is supposed to be a future classic...so maybe I hold on to it until the prices start doing what 996 GT3 prices are doing!
Good luck with your choice...
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