In your position I'd probably go for a Lotus of some description, Elise R, Exige R... or beyond that...

It'd be a Caterham... I took mine to Europe (and many others do), go for a Superlight R, R300, CSR. Performance and handling are superb. I do miss mine (and it was only a 1.4 SS).

As for DC2 - it is difficult to find a good one that is (a) unmolested and (b) leggy. They are wonderful, I've had two. I drove a DC5 and they are very good but not as focussed as the DC2...

 

I appreciate your input, but I just can't warm to Porsche at all, if I could I'd already have one.

I have driven the Boxster S hard on track and it was just plain boring, I want to be challenged by a car. The gearbox was abysmal too.

The S maximises your consciousness of what you're doing with it, so it has to be step further in that direction.

Caterham is definitely a step in the right direction, but out because I don't have a garage, I'm afraid. Though if you can drive one of those to Europe, an Exige is certainly on the cards.

 

No, mine has the touring pack which helps a bit for Euro hoons. The upcoming upgrades will take it to perfomance pack levels circa 265ish HP.
I've already got an M/sport air intake on it as well as the 2 stage sports exhaust. They add a marginal 4 HP to stock. Can't say i've noticed too much as the exhaust was already on from the factory, intake was afterwards, but that has increased low & mid range throttle performance.

Handling i'd think there was nothing in it between NA & supercharged except for when the charger does kick in you are sometimes hanging on if you are not switched on. I haven't driven an NA car though so what do i know.
It is very involving & rewarding drive. Handles better than the S2k in the wet although i don't use stock AO48's anymore.

 

Lets be clear, nothing is as Exciting as a drive in an Exige S. It's just a bit nuts. Try a tweaked one and it's another jump again.

For me it's never a daily drive, but definately the best / most fun thing i've owned, and the most relaible.

I drove to Spa / Ring twice in it, and it's noisy at 80-90 and left my ears ringing. Pulling into motorways is like a game of chance, and there is no rear view mirror. I will have another though.

But, I think a tweaked Cayman S can offer a better all round package.

 

Surely you must have never driven the Cayman.

I am a big fan of the S2000 but the Cayman is a different world altogether.

Its cosseting yet powerful, can be wild but at the same time very very focused.

Believe me I have driven many cars, and the Cayman will fit your bill perfectly.

On the track an Exige is the car to have. However out of the track its completely insane, I would not want one for commuting.

Surely MB and myself cant be wrong?

 

Yes you can! The Cayman's fine, but think bigger Exige...

OK, the Evora S isn't out yet; nor is the convertible.

But you can have a brilliant driving car without looking like tick-box twat!

 

No, I haven't driven the Cayman - I do like the look of it and the principle, but I've just been put off Porsche by other experiences. The abuse my mate gets when he's driving his Boxster S around is alarming. Mind you, he does have a Porsche badge on his Reg plate just in case people might miss the one on the bonnet! Whichever way, other than being alittle more plush, there is nothing that merits a Boxster S over an S. But, if I can get a test drive in a Cayman, then I can satisfy myself whether its the one or not.

Echo, didn't your Exige come with a removable roof as well? What tyres are you using instead of the sticky OEM ones?

I'm not interested in ticking boxes, I just want the best tool for the job without blowing cash unnecessarily. I'm sure I could wait a year for an Evora and use an Exige in the meantime.

 

i am saying nothing.

no point.

no one listens to me.

 

The roof comes off all of Exiges, it's just some allen bolts, but the roof provides the function of feeding the intercooler with air on the S - so i'ts not advised to remove it.

I found A048's superb in all weather. I used to give mine big stick in the wet and it was fine (traction control on or off)

But there are better road tyres out there of course!

Just to repeat though, it's not a car for touring in imo!

 

Steve, as MB says roof comes off. Mine came with the soft top option anyway but i sold the soft top almost immediately as i think they look shat without & as he says the scoop for the intercooler is on the roof.

AO48's are excellent but the winter before last there was lots of black & normal ice around here out in the sticks so i had to change or risk a big off. Stuck Conti Sport 2's on (cheaper too) & haven't looked back. Gret all round tyre & exceptional in the wet.

I disagree with Mark on the touring. I drove it to the south of france last year doing 2500 in a week & it was by far the comfiest performance stuff i've driven & that includes a Boxter. It surprised me but then it all depends on body shape, posture so its whatever suits. I did another shorter hoon a few weeks later & felt the same, hence my love of the car.

Yes, it can be insane but like the S2k the performance is staged. Don't thrash it & it bimbles around quite nicely in the traffic. I don't feel crowded on the roads next to big stuff.
As has been said the only problem is rear vision but i got used to that quite quickly & don't find it a problem now. I suppose being a daily driver i am used to all its quirks. Wing mirrors need to be positioned properly & the addition of convex add ons helps the blind spot on the nearside.