[dr_gille]

TriGem2: - thanks - all better...fur smoothed out..
Mista Wilson: Yup - downshifted, applied too much power, I equate hooking
with being a bit too hot... and this whole polar center of inertia kinda caught
up with me. Arguably, I'm a mid engine newbie, but no stranger to 11/10ths
driving.
mikefocke:'Zactly the input I was looking for. I've been leaning towards
the Michelins, but for the price of admission, they better be able to walk on
water. Might end up pondering on your top three, and then scouting out the
best deal available.

Back to TriGem2:
Actually, one of the things that crossed my mind was going to 16's. But closer
inspection revealed that in the front, the caliper is fairly tight, and in the back,
there's some suspension bits (tie rod end?) that are very close. I don't think
16's would fit.

I'm not sure what the delta was on dangly bits (i.e. rotor diameter, caliper sizing
blabla) between the various years of Boxti.

As my wife says "sweety - the sky is a different color in your world"... and I say
"ummm, yeah, that's 'cause I'm REALLY color blind - why do you think I bought
a yellow car? Its 'cause I can find it easy in the parking lot at work...."

Having said all that, I'm not above firing up Pro/E and designing up a wheel that
fits my specs. Something that will clear the suspension stuff, and still give me
a 16" diameter.

Why am I on this pursuit? Gather 'round the fire gents - its story time.

Back in '91, I happened to stop by Firebird Raceway, (south of Phoenix, AZ, where
I live) on a Saturday. They were having, for lack of a better word, some sort
of run-what-you-brung, historic sports car, get out on the track and beat the
crap outta your machine, drive-fest.

Firebird raceway has a long straight, a carousel at the end, and the backfield
return has some minor twistybits with bumpy spots off in the rough.

The cars were pretty much anything that qualified as SCCA from the late 50's
through the early 70's. MG's, Triumphs (TR4,5,6,7,8), Austin Healey, Jag, OSCA
Corvette, (Vic Edelbrock was taking some laps in his split window, until he
blew an oil cooler hose) and Porsche.

So, they had various heats during the day, and there would be half a dozen
"reasonably" matched cars out on the track. Truth of the matter was though,
that some of the cars couldn't have been more different.

It was an amazing opportunity to watch a vast spectrum of design engineering
solutions really get thrashed, and see who turns out on top.

There were two cars in particular that seemed particularly well matched, although
one was just slightly better than the other, always retaining the upper hand.

It was Jaguar against Porsche.

While they were matched, the two cars could not have been more different.

The Jaguar looked to be either an original, or re-created 62XKE- Low Drag Coupe,
or a 63/4 Factory Lightweight. The rubber on it was narrow, and tall on
famously sexy knockoff alloys.
In modern terms, probably 235/65/15's at best. The car was a coupe, and was dark green. It was slightly lowered, but not much.

The Porsche was a seriously flared and lowered 914 variant, Chrome Yellow,
and sounded smoother than a 4-pot, so I rather suspect it was pushing a 6.
Tires were steamroller 265/50/15's or whatever was close to that which could
have been available in '91. I don't think you could have rolled a pop can under
the car, it was very low, and there was almost zero travel to the suspension.
It had infinite roll stiffness.

Both cars were naturally aspirated, no turbos, and from the crackle of the
exhaust, and slightly rumply cams, I would estimate probably around 350hp
for either one. Could have been higher or lower but not by a hell of a lot.

The flag drops, and the Jag pulls out front because it just had better low
end torque. They headed down the straight first, and the Porsche got into
the power band and pulled up even with the Jag (on the right)
and stayed there until the end of the straight.

They both headed into the left carousel, the Porsche still to the outside of the
Jag on the corner. He had more grip, and had really wound it out on the straight
to keep up. The Jag had to slow down a bit, and almost lost it, but not enough
to let the Porsche ahead.

Then they hit the twisty bits. Some quick/tight bumpy left right stuff. The Porsche
had to drop back. He skittered and bounced through there like a hockey puck
on a brick patio. Flat, of course, but the tires were hardly touching the ground.

The Jag on the other hand, bounced and leaned like a baby carriage, but the
tires always stayed in contact with the road, and ultimately, it gripped
like a longclaw tomcat on shag carpeting.

The Porsche never passed the Jag.

It went on like this for 10 laps.

Even though the Porsche was 10 years newer in technology and easily had
twice as much tire on the road as the Jag, it couldn't use the traction, because
it wasn't on a high speed oval.

After that experience, I developed a serious case of Jag lust - but could never
wrap my head around the legendarily unreliable Lucas Electrics.

'Twas not to be.

My only solace was then to trundle out to the parking lot and hop in really, what
was a baby jag, my 1989 Miata. Sure, it gave up 150hp to the cat, and was actually HEAVIER than an XKE (ahh, the brilliance of monocoque)
But it was mine, and cornered like a slot car, and nobody could catch me going down a mountain.

I had a set of Michelins on that Miata. Got 60,000 miles out of them.
The Miata never broke. I revved it to redline EVERY SINGLE DAY I drove it, for
195,000 miles. Mobil1 from Day 1.
I would change the oil when I got around to it. Usually 3 to 6k.
After 17 years, it still had the original brake pads on it.
I only put 1 of the following on it. Clutch, waterpump, alternator, radiator.

That's it. During that time, I shudder to think what it would have cost to maintain
an old E-Type.

Nevertheless, the Miata finally had to go. That was 2 years ago. I have missed
it every day since, until three weeks ago when I bought the Boxster.

I did my homework. Actually would have wanted a 2005 and up, but they're
still fairly pricey. 2000 was the first year for the S, and first years for anything
usually aren't as good as the second year.

Late 90's Boxsters seemed to be having some teething pains, but its nice
to have the perspective of time passed to see what crops up.

So I bought an '01-S. 250hp vs 116 for the Miata should be a vast improvement.
It was a hangar queen, with only 54k on it. Just broken in.

The 01S is about as darn perfect as I could have dreamed. The torque of the
flat 6 is amazing, and second gear is a total hoot. Having 6 to row through
is a blast, although at times, 5th seems a bit superfluous.

My chief complaint has been the miserable tires it came with. As previously
mentioned, the YokelHama HowlMaster 3000's are louder than the radio,
louder than the exhaust, louder than Bubba's Monstertruk driving next to
me.

They are of course, the easiest thing to change. But to what?

My Quandary. And the Jag lesson. I drive in the real world.
Smooth, Fast, and as much under the radar as possible.

I really have no complaints with the ride. From a suspension standpoint.
Its reasonably compliant, has the correct amount of roll stiffness, and jounce.

The tires though. Sucketh Greatly. Jarring sidewalls, and NO WARNING of
IMPENDING DOOM. I would actually be faster down the road with tires that
let me know GRADUALLY that they are going to totally LET GO.

Arguably, if you haven't spun it, you're not trying hard enough, but I used
3 lanes getting a handle on this baby. I was a bit chastened, but happy
I didn't smack'er into the looming rock wall.

Overall, I'm exceptionally pleased with the car so far. Its my first from
der-faderland, and I'm looking forward to driving the wheels off it.