Feelsome supercar roadster (100-150k)

[km83]

Hi all, long time observer here. I have had had the pleasure of owing a lotus elise, an aston v8 vantage and a couple of porsches (boxster s & 997 turbo).
I'm currently looking for something as a weekeday toy in the 100-150k range, would like it to be a roadster again for the extra driving sensation it lends to the experience. I was loaned a 991 carrera while my turbo was in for service and while it is a more balanced, ridiculously stable and fast enough, the electric steering has removed the delicate information that used to come through, furthermore the turbo charged engine is no substitute for the na flat 6 sound. I had a test drive in a ferrari and while the sound was wonderful and the steering rack was ultra fast and accurate the feel through the steering itself was quite dead.

Which cars you would recommend to have a look at which would have a lovely steering feel, delicious sound track (I don't mind turbo charged if there's one that has such a sound). It does not have to be the fastest in a straight line or around a circuit, I just want to be able to enjoy a nice mountain road to the maximum

[johnnyreggae]

All Ferraris are rubbish because I did not like the steering of whichever one it was I drove !!

Actually all supercars are rubbish if your criteria amount to best for mountain use: go back to Lotus

[12pack]

km83 said:

Hi all, long time observer here. I have had had the pleasure of owing a lotus elise, an aston v8 vantage and a couple of porsches (boxster s & 997 turbo).
I'm currently looking for something as a weekeday toy in the 100-150k range, would like it to be a roadster again for the extra driving sensation it lends to the experience. I was loaned a 991 carrera while my turbo was in for service and while it is a more balanced, ridiculously stable and fast enough, the electric steering has removed the delicate information that used to come through, furthermore the turbo charged engine is no substitute for the na flat 6 sound. I had a test drive in a ferrari and while the sound was wonderful and the steering rack was ultra fast and accurate the feel through the steering itself was quite dead.

Which cars you would recommend to have a look at which would have a lovely steering feel, delicious sound track (I don't mind turbo charged if there's one that has such a sound). It does not have to be the fastest in a straight line or around a circuit, I just want to be able to enjoy a nice mountain road to the maximum

How did you like your old AM V8V? If you’re not worried about objective numbers, want great steering feel, superb throttle response and the best sound, hard to beat a V12V roadster.

If you want to go a lot faster with all those things except perhaps the noise (throttle response fine at higher revs) get a Mclaren - great forward visibility and a lightweight tub.

Edited by 12pack on Saturday 19th January 17:40

[Shanksy87]

My list would start like this:

V12V voltante
SLS roadster
Ferrari CalT
650s Spider

Drive them all and see if they offer the experience you want. One man's steering feel is another man's direct, but numb experience not worthy of the price. Pick of that lot for me would be the SLS as I don't think you'd take a bath, they sound like thunder and i'm partial the to looks and slight nod to the GT capability over weekend toy.

Happy hunting!

[Lofty999]

Save £100k and buy a noble m12/400 if you want performance and the steering feel of a lotus.Had an Elise ,moved on to the noble which is great fun.Also have an f430 which is a great car but not as much fun to drive on the twisty stuff....go try one,they are very underrated.

Sorry,just realised you want a roadster!

[_Leg_]

johnnyreggae said:

All Ferraris are rubbish because I did not like the steering of whichever one it was I drove !!

Actually all supercars are rubbish if your criteria amount to best for mountain use: go back to Lotus

What a load of absolute rubbish. Have you even been to the mountains? What in?

OP, dont listen to this utter drivel. Link to part 3 of a 3 part video taking my 458 Spider up the Jaufen and Brenner Passes from Austria to Italy. Pissing down in part 3 (dry in parts one and two lower down the mountain and less twisty). Perfect car for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aduBDZUYsw0&t=...

As for one car being faster over another, on the road, anything Boxster S upwards is more than fast enough even for Europe. I've toured with groups of friends who have been driving everything from Megane RSs to a variety of supercars (and I've taken my Boxster S, Exige 350 Sport, F12 and 458 Spider to the Dolomites, Alps and Pyranese extensively over the years) and no matter what anyone is driving, the same drivers are the quickest because the driver is what makes the difference.

Buy what you like, drive it at the pace you feel comfortable and safe with. Everything else is b0llocks.

Edited by _Leg_ on Saturday 19th January 18:25

Edited by _Leg_ on Sunday 20th January 15:07

[icebite78]

OP do yourself a favour and go and buy a 458 spider ....i sadly sold my 458 and have regretted it ever since.

One of the best cars ever made.

[Taffy66]

I've just bought my first Ferrari. a 458 Italia and i'm totally besotted with it..I would try and get a 458 Spider for £150k as the Ferrari mystique needs to be savored at least once in someone's lifetime.

[johnnyreggae]

But OP appears to have rejected Ferrari !

"the steering itself was quite dead.

Which cars you would recommend to have a look at which would have a lovely steering feel"

Edited by johnnyreggae on Saturday 19th January 19:12

[_Leg_]

johnnyreggae said:

But OP appears to have rejected Ferrari !

"the steering itself was quite dead.

Which cars you would recommend to have a look at which would have a lovely steering feel"

Edited by johnnyreggae on Saturday 19th January 19:12

Which one?

I have cars from the 30s right through to moderns including an RS1600 BDA and whilst my 458 doesn’t have the steering feel of that obviously (no PAS) I’ve driven my 458 at pace over 23000 miles and it has great steering feel. Indeed I would say that it has one of the best front ends of any car I’ve driven with a loose and predictable rear, just how I like my cars, and women.

[MDL111]

Maybe some kind of air cooled 911 convertible or targa (well that would be a 70s car)
Or a Ferrari 328 targa

[dudleybloke]

Ultima.

[_Leg_]

MDL, they would have better steering feel but I’ve been reticent about touring in my older stuff to date. Im not sure how much I trust them to do 2000-3000 miles in one trip.

Plus the mod cons....it’s all a trade off I guess. TBH IMO the 458 in any guise has more than enough steering feel and the front end has so much grip, it's very easy to trust it.

Edited by _Leg_ on Saturday 19th January 19:59

[Vergis]

LP560 Lamborghini. Great value for money now and ticks all the boxes!

[Lee3185]

At the price point mentioned don’t think there is anything that could beat a 650S. Carbon tub, hard top roof & lambo doors!

[LotusJas]

OP if you want Lotus-like steering feel, it has to be Lotus or McLaren. Both give lots of feedback.

For sound it has to be Lamborghini though.

[ghost83]

Mclaren for good turn in and feedback and it’s lovely imo

Ferrari for its wailing v8 bouncing off mountain and canyon walls

Lamborghini for The same reason but v10

[70proof]

https://youtu.be/N15v6CTcLN8

Listen to what he says fully

[Never you mind]

km83 said:

Hi all, long time observer here. I have had had the pleasure of owing a lotus elise, an aston v8 vantage and a couple of porsches (boxster s & 997 turbo).
I'm currently looking for something as a weekeday toy in the 100-150k range, would like it to be a roadster again for the extra driving sensation it lends to the experience. I was loaned a 991 carrera while my turbo was in for service and while it is a more balanced, ridiculously stable and fast enough, the electric steering has removed the delicate information that used to come through, furthermore the turbo charged engine is no substitute for the na flat 6 sound. I had a test drive in a ferrari and while the sound was wonderful and the steering rack was ultra fast and accurate the feel through the steering itself was quite dead.

Which cars you would recommend to have a look at which would have a lovely steering feel, delicious sound track (I don't mind turbo charged if there's one that has such a sound). It does not have to be the fastest in a straight line or around a circuit, I just want to be able to enjoy a nice mountain road to the maximum

I've had an Elise - kept it for several years and was my daily - and currently own an Gallardo LP560-2. I've often compared it to my old Lotus as it feels like a bigger, better sounding Elise. With it being RWD the steering on it is very very good, doesn't push out as much as the 4WD ones and with their being less weight above the front wheels I feel you get better steering feel. It is an E-gear , not a manual but I don't miss a clutch pedal and every downshift is hit with total perfection , not as agricultural as the pre LP cars but it's not as good as a Ferrari in this respect. However it doesn't distract from the car and when pressing on you still have a real connection as you drive it like a manual.

The noise is something else, the howl of the V10 really is special . I could imagination, that in a spyder, while winding your way through some nice country road that it would be just so intoxicating and something that you wouldn't tire off.

In short, get a RWD Gallardo. Even Jay Leno thinks RWD Gallardo's are fabulous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG2hd29JIVU

[NoPaddleShiftForMe]

2019 Corvette ZR1 Convertible. 755 hp, 715 lb-ft, available with 3 pedals, 0-60 under 3 seconds, 200+mph, super rare in the U.K. and looks stunning.