Alright, time for a lengthy review post.
Porsche 991 Carrera S: I’ve actually driven this car twice. A 7 speed manual last year and a 7 speed PDK recently. A very well built car. Felt like it was all carved from one solid piece of aluminum. Couldn’t find any single fault that stood out. Definitely felt bigger than the 997 generation on the road. Electric steering also doesn’t offer the same feedback as the hydraulic system of old, but I don’t mind. It’s transitioning more into a GT car than a pure sports car. Shape is iconic and classic, with some modern touches. I think the rear end on this car is gorgeous. Interior is a big jump up from the old cars in terms of technology. A lot of the interior design philosophy and tech have transferred from the Panamera into Porsche’s whole range. It’s no longer Spartan like the old cars, although there was a certain appeal to that as well. Transmission wise, PDK is the way to go imo. Lightening quick response. Among the best of the dual clutches in the industry right now. I did not like the 7 speed manual. It’s a lot clunkier than the silky smooth 6 speed boxes in the Boxster/Cayman/997 911.
My only problem is that it feels too sterile for the amount of money you’re spending. At $100+K, you want something a little more special and crazy. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s an astonishing car for an all around daily driving machine. Possibly one of the best, but for some reason it didn’t instill that “Gotta Have It!” feeling in me. I think most people that buy 911s have been dreaming about them their whole lives, so it’s a huge accomplishment for them (and rightfully so), when they finally acquire theirs. I’m still quite young, and have been driving all kinds of cool cars for a while, so I’ve never really felt that connection to a 911 I suppose.
Jaguar F-Type V8S: The most disappointing of the cars. I drove this at the launch last year, then again last week.
Let’s talk about the first time I drove it. I was so in love with it. The most exciting thing to come out of Jaguar in decades. Looks are gorgeous as you are all aware, and the exhaust rumble can wake the dead. Seriously, it’s absolutely ridiculous. Sounds like the 4th of July coming out of the rear. Since it was brand new last year, I didn’t have the chance to push the performance. Only had the opportunity to take it around town at civil speeds. I didn’t care because all I could do was revel in all its supercharged V8 glory and drop dead sexy looks. The one I drove was pearl white, with red leather interior, and carbon fiber wheels. I was raving about it for days to my friends after driving it, saying it’s probably the best car you could get new for $100k.
Took off the rose tinted glasses the second time around. I was given the keys by the dealer and allowed to take it out alone for an extended session. Sat down, adjusted the seats, and pushed the ignition button and all those memories of excitement came rushing back. But the more I drove it, the more I realized that this car is not for me. Engine felt like it was too much for the chassis to handle. The back end would constantly slide out, even with traction control on. It sort of eclipsed everything else about the car. Guess it doesn’t help that it’s hundreds of pounds heavier than the competition. Instead of me being in absolute control, I felt like the car was driving me instead. That honking V8 dictating the whole experience. Slower response, lazier handling, and almost impossible to put power down without smoking the rear tires. The interior quality is also not up to par for the price it commands. This example was less than a year old, but the switches and leather had worn more than my 4 year old Porsche. Terrible depreciation as well. The sticker on this car was $107K new. Now, only a year and 9K miles old, dealer was asking $83K with room for negotiation I’m sure. All in all, not a confidence inspiring driver’s car like the others it’s going up against. Who knows, maybe the R coupe is better. But for the moment, it has sadly been eliminated out of the running. One thing I do give them credit for is the transmission. The ZF 8 speed was the best automatic I’ve ever used. Not quite as good as a dual clutch setup, but it snapped shifts quickly and smoothly. I think they’re currently testing a manual unit for next year. We’ll see how that pans out.
Corvette Stingray Z51 3LT: The most surprising of the cars by far. I was never really a vette guy. I always admired its bang for the buck performance, but the interior has historically been shit and I never saw myself driving one. All of that changed with the new car. Fresh exterior looks, soft leather surfaces everywhere (in 3LT form at least), supportive race bucket seats, and modern technology throughout. The 7 speed manual was great. Better than the one in the 911 IMO, although the gearing seemed too long. I never went higher than 4th gear throughout the whole test drive. Awesome torque. Pulls hard throughout the whole rev range. Felt strange driving a huge V8 coming from a boxer 6, but I quickly got used to it. It is a massive car, but seems to shrink around you when you drive it. I felt like I could place it exactly where I wanted to in the turns. The best new performance car for the money in the industry right now. Comparably equipped, it’s about $50K cheaper than a 911S, and I honestly cannot say it’s $50K worse. Hats off to the team at GM. They really knocked it out of the park with this one. The Corvette is finally a world class sports car, no excuses or justification necessary.
I’m just not sure I’m ready to deal with the stigma attached with owning a Corvette. I was getting my Boxster washed yesterday, and ran into the owner of a Stingray in the line in front of me. I shit you not, this guy was a walking stereotype. He was about 70 years old, wearing a tracksuit, and had gold chains around his neck.
Porsche Cayman GTS: Man, this thing really stole my heart, but I guess you can’t go wrong when the recipe is 2900lbs, mid-engined, 340hp, and RWD. Beautiful GT3-esque leather/alcantara interior and vastly improved exterior from the previous gen. The whole cockpit wraps around you and the car feels much smaller and lighter than the 911. The sports exhaust on this car was great as well. Pops and burbles every time you let off the throttle. Very addicting. It’s adaptive, so you can tone it down if you need to. Same with the suspension. Kind of a jeklyl/hyde car. You can drive it comfortably around town and get pretty good mileage or take it to some twisty roads or racetrack and feel right at home. Possibly the best handling car in the group as well. I could take any turn at any speed without upsetting the car. Stuck to the road like glue. I felt the most comfortable driving it, but that might be because it is the most similar to my Boxster. It flows like a river through a series of bends. You feel totally connected to it. Everything is so smooth and predictable. I honestly don’t know what else you could want from a sports car. Don’t think there is a better experience available unless you spend considerably more and step up to a Ferrari 458 Italia.
A lot of my thoughts echo those of Steven Sutcliffe from Autocar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxXrDIevmlY
Only thing stopping me from ordering one is spending $90K+, and still hearing the “lol, poor man’s 911” comment from ignorant folk.
Audi R8 V10: This was my first R8 drive. I never drove the V8. From what a friend told me, the V8 is a bit anemic and doesn’t have the performance to back up the exotic looks and price tag. The example I drove was a Spyder, but I would go for a coupe if I got one. White with carbon blades is my dream combo. Absolutely intoxicating sounds coming from that Lamborghini V10 that revs to over 8K RPMs. Out of all the cars, definitely the one that felt like a true supercar. Gated 6 speed manual was one of the best I have used. Every gear banged with a reassuring clunk. Think reloading a bolt action rifle. The clutch was also super soft, and it was a very easy car to drive. Throws the notion of traditional supercar out the window. I could see myself driving this everyday without issue if I got one. Got a lot of attention everywhere we went. Still looks fresh, even after being on the market for 6 years. Clean used ones are still around $130K, so the most expensive option by a good margin. Hoping the new Huracan based model being revealed next year drops the price on the current cars.
So, in summary, if I was to buy a car now, it would be between the Corvette and Cayman. If I was to wait until next year, probably an R8 V10.(And if I somehow won the lottery, I'd be heading straight to the nearest Ferrari dealer for a 458 Italia)
