I meant the Zonda F

 

Sarky? Me? Absolutely

And it's about to get worse.....

You get the black and white ones for free (how generous!) but you pay to have them coloured in?

How much do you pay for that? I'm dying to know.....

 

The main difference in regards to the chassis and suspension setup of the two cars is,

In the Honda, it feels like you

 

No problem! The big discount is because we buy more Porsches than all other UK company car schemes put together...... allegedly.

As mentioned previously I didn't like the old Boxster in either 2.7 or 3.2 form (after several days testing both) they lacked that something special that the S2000 has by the bucket load. The 987 is a much improved car and the designers themselves are on record as saying that they had the money to do a "proper job" this time round.

If you want something with noticably better straight line performance the new 987S may still disappoint you...... it defianetly feels quicker than the S2k in ALL situations...... its quick away from the line and from a roll.

The main difference is in the handling department...... the S2k is very very good but the 987 is a league ahead especially on bumpy country roads. On roads I know well from many miles thrashing the S2000 the Boxster feels much quicker and more stable in the twisty bits. On a smooth road the S2000 wouldn't be that far behind but if you throw a few bumps into the mix the Boxster should romp away...... mainly because its ability to soak up shocks is much better than the S2k. A good example of this is a favorite corner near Marlow:

http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?clie...&multimap.y=252

The right hand corner on Marlow Road (just after coming off the A404 roundabout) has a very bumpy surface that would make the Honda drift wide on the turn at speeds over 45mph (trying to keep a tight line in the outside lane), I can take the same corner in the 987 without drifting wide at upto 60mph...... also if you carry on up the same hill there are several tightish corners where the extra grip (265 Pilot Sport tyres) and torque allow faster exit speeds than I could manage in the S2k. Heel toe downshifts are very easy in the 987 such that I get it right 90% of the time now (which is good!)...... it was a bit hit and miss for me in the S2k.

I (and Mole) have PASM adaptive suspension which is great...... in normal mode it soaks up most bumps on the daily commute but for a weekend blast sport mode gives you a very firm ride and virtually zero body roll (sideways or fore/aft).

Before anyone mentions traction control only being for wimps..... in the dry you will almost certainly run out of nerve before the PSM cuts in and spoils your fun/saves your bacon....... I've pushed the car to my limits in the dry without once seeing any intervention from PSM and I don't think I'd want to go any faster! In the wet its easy to pop the tail out in a gentle slide (at low speeds) without the TC doing anything to stop you. I friend of mine has been in the passenger seat of the S2000 with me on many occassions...... we recently went for a run down to Dorset and found a good sweeping bend that was revisited 3 or 4 times..... by the last run my mate was swearing uncontrollably while laughing his head off, when he calmed down he described the cornering ability as "absolutely sodding amazing"

If you go for a test drive make sure you go to an official Porsche dealer...... if you like it and want to see what it can really do tell the sales guy that its good but very hard to feel the limits on the public road, also mention that you intend to use the car on track...... if he doesn't bite and offer you a "Test Drive Plus" on the spot ask if he can get you a place.

Test Drive Plus is something that all of the official dealers do (each have 2 or 3 places each month) that involves testing the car on track...... mine was at Millbrook where you get to drive the twisty/hilly Alpine circuit and the high speed bowl (150mph if your pro driver is in a good mood and trusts you after the twisty drive)..... he then shows you what the car car do on the handling course

To sum up I would hand on heart say the 987S is a better drivers car than the S2000 BUT its still not quite as exciting. Oh and just like the S2000 the 987 is a car that gets better every time you drive it!

 

Your gonna love this one. I think it was

 

Oh Mole - the phrase 'Fish in a barrel' springs to mind....

Wouldn't a set of felt tips be cheaper? Or do Porsche sell them too, with special Porsche badges on in a little Porsche pouch for

 

[QUOTE=MarkB,Aug 10 2005, 03:45 PM] Oh Mole - the phrase 'Fish in a barrel' springs to mind....

Wouldn't a set of felt tips be cheaper? Or do Porsche sell them too, with special Porsche badges on in a little Porsche pouch for

 

Thank you both for your info especially Wad who took more time to write things in detail.

Well I couldn't resists and left work a little early and took a spin in the new BoxS.

I have to agree with everything you have described. The Box feels to have more power and the torque is really something. I am head over heels for the handling, the suspension is the biggest factor I have noticed and it is leaps ahead of the S2K. I drove it on some bumpy country roads and the car always felt composed and compliant. The torque is immense and the noise is far better now. I like the interior too.

I think I might order one this week but at the moment I am trying to get the car for a day or two for test driving to be 100% sure of it. The problem is that they can't insure me for this and my insurer won't allow this.

My biggest reservation about the Box used to be just as I described it to you via PM, that it lacked something special and I couldn't put my finger on it either. It is still missing something but is leaps better than the 986. I think the fact that the chassis and suspension are so good the car felt underpowered but now it feels better. It makes a better proposition for me now and might go ahead in a few days. I am satying away from BoxaNet though, too many arses there. Well more than here anyway.

Will keep you posted.

 

Sorry, I didn't make myslef clear. By pointlessness, I meant some of the options available, many of which, I'm sure you'll agree, are really pointless. A good gear shift action is not pointless, in itself.

 

Firstly.......You arse licker
Secondly..glad you enjoyed the test drive. What wheels was the one you tested on 18s or 19s? Did it have Pasm? You can tell by the three buttons on the bottom of the centre dash, just under the heater controls. Theres another button on its own thats for the psm.
I had an initial test drive and then asked to have it again for a day, the insurance company were fine.
The one thing I did not do was take a passive car for a test drive and then a pasm equipped one for a test drive and i think i should of. I dont think it would of altered my opinion as pasm is just brilliant. Just a flick of the switch transforms the car from comfortable tourer to firm sports car. But I would like to hear how there compare back to back.