After a couple of cracking recent threads I got to thinking about the Ss handling.

We all comment on just how good it is at handling, but how does it compare to other sports cars in a similar market, especially the Z4, TT & Boxster?

We will often see comments on this board about how we do with time trails e.g. the Top Gear one, was done in the wet and if only it was done in the dry. So does this make some of the other brands better handling in the wet than ours? And if they are better in the wet does it stand to reason they would also be better in the dry???

Does it corner better than a TT? my mate has one and it seems to handle pretty well especially in the damp and wet.

What about the Z4 and the Boxster? Mates of mine have each of those and on a recent track day I was impressed with the Z4, it seemed to glide round corners and was very capable, flattering the driver even. The Boxster's chassis seemed amazing, very unruffled, soaking up the corners.

I would say that the S is the hardest to drive of those 4 cars to get the most out of it - and that's the way I like it.

And finally what about the elise or VX220, surely they are better handlers?

 

Having driven all of the cars you mention.......

TT may well be good in the wet but doesn't even start to compare to the S (IMHO)..... I was amazed at how much I disliked its handling.... understeer, body roll, really bad scuttle shake in the roadster.

Z4 was very close to the S but prone to tramlining alos I could feel the driver aids doing their thing when pushing hard..... not bad overall but I thought the steering was rather vague/slow.

Boxster S I found it very hard to make the call as to which was better but bias towards the S2000 was probably a factor...... on reflection I would give the Boxster the nod but its marginal.

Elise and VX220...... fantastic handling defiantely better than all of the above but not in the same class.

Have you ever taken your S on the track?...... I thought the car was great before tracking it but was gobsmacked by how good it was on a dry track. On my first ever track day I could easily keep up with Elises and VX220s in the corners (and pass them in high speed sections) and had a great tussle with a modified TT coupe...... I could catch him up in the corners easily but the straights weren't long enough to get past safely...... after several laps with me on his bumper he let me pass and then I pulled away easily through the bends.

 

In the infamous Driven 'S2000 versus CTR' video, Johnny Mowlem was quite shaken and in fact nearly lost it at the first bend, complaining bitterly about the car "Only wanting to oversteer" He continued to complain for most of the lap . For those who think they could have done better, just accept that Mowlem is a pro with vast experience. Mowlem lost, the race despite gaining a huge distance advantage at the start due to putting the power down better off the line. Plato in the CTR got a lousy start anyway.

For me the whole thing summed up my feelings about the S. The tendency to oversteer which makes it such an exciting car to drive in the dry becomes a liability in the wet. I'm not rubbishing the S at all, as I've said elsewhere , I never had any problem with slowing down in the wet, and anyone who advocates you don't have to is doing no-one any favours..

Accept the S for what it is and I don't think any of the other cars in your list will replace it for buzz factor coupled with reasonable practicality, although they'd probably all be more benign on the limit in the wet.

 

Anyone basing an "informed" opinion formed around "That" particular piece of TV theatre should be taken outside and horse wipped to an inch of their lives

 

Like Wads I was blown away by the sheer speed and composure of the S2kip on track, as was the full time instructor that came out with me a few times. He said he'd never been in one and was completely shocked at what a great track car it was.

As for the driven stunt, I really can't except any of that at all. I have driven mine round that track so do have a vague point of reference. Yes I do know that Jonny Molem is on a plane of talent several hundred miles above mine but perhaps Plato is just better than him and really maxed the great potential of the CTR. Which for what it's worth is not too disimislar to his day job cars.

 

If that's what you want to believe. What would be the purpose of that particular piece of theatre anyway?

 

the same as all good theatre, entertainment.

 

I remember the traction control was switched off on the S before the race.........

 

That's right. They should have left it on!

 

Oooo i don't know, but the sceptic in me says it may have something to do with boosting of sales figures for the, then recently launched CTR, selling it to the masses of PFY's that watch Drivel, as being the next best thing to sliced bread.


All IMHHoviseatingO