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

[km83]

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

That's interesting to hear, what was it about the steering you didn't like?

The aston i had and the porsche with the hydraulic steering gave a nice 'feel' through the steering.

Lotus will be sure to go back to one day, but would like to scratch the supercar itch, out of the ones you tried which fared best?

[km83]

12pack said:

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

It was very good, intoxicating sound, but myself and some friends and everyone online were be plagued with small issues which makes owning it too much of a headache which I would rather avoid, else the v12v roadster or a vanquish cab would most certainly be front runners.

Shall have to have a test drive of a mclaren

[km83]

Shanksy87 said:

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!

Had not thought of the sls, what a great idea. I assume it is going to be next to impossible to test drive one of those, do they drive similar to the amg gt then I could arrange a test drive of one of those with mercedes

[km83]

Lofty999 said:

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!

Good point. How is the steering feel through the f430, the ferrari I tried had almost zero sensation through the wheel

[km83]

_Leg_ said:

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

I've taken lotus, porsche turbo, boxster s to the mountains in switzerland. As you said the boxster was probably the ideal car plenty fast, well balanced, and had my exhaust done so sounded like a mini gt3. the lotus was lovley but when it got wet without any driver aids it gave too many hairy moments. the turbo is just a dream when you get to move open space (black mountains and more expanisve passes) but in the very tight bits (e.g stelvio) it wasn't nimble enough to get it into a nice stride.
Watched the whole video, lovely roads and as you said the car looks to be wonderfully suited to it.

[km83]

_Leg_ said:

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.

Looking at your selection of wonderful toys you've listed in your garage, I found the ferrari almost like the 981 boxster (had loan car some time back from porsche when gave my car for service), the steering is precise but just has lost the magical feeling of the 987 and even the 987 has lost much of the sensation of the steering feel of 986.

How does the 458 compare to the gt3 rs in steering feel?

[km83]

MDL111 said:

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

Shall have to give them

[km83]

dudleybloke said:

Ultima.

Looks a bit too hardcore for what would be primarily road use for me.

[km83]

70proof said:

https://youtu.be/N15v6CTcLN8

Listen to what he says fully

Thanks for sharing, that does indeed tick every box, shall have to get a drive of one

[km83]

Never you mind said:

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

Thankyou for your feedback, great to hear it coming from an elise that the lambo doesn't have you wanting to more. Were there any other cars you drove eg ferrari, mclaren porsche that you were impressed by or did they all fall short

[km83]

NoPaddleShiftForMe said:

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.

Stunning indeed