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Originally Posted by sooner
So what is proper driving?
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Hi,
On a Boxster, that would mean no dropping the clutch, or lugging the engine. Don't consistently bounce off the rev limiter or redline. Keep them moving as their cooling systems usually lack the excess capacity common in American cars and too much heat can kill an engine, especially a mid-engine where there is less airflow to aid in cooling, leaving it 98% up to the Oil and Coolant.
Not that you have to drive like an old lady, quite the opposite, these things were meant to be driven, but they lack low-end torque, stay in the sweet spot and keep the engine where it's operating at it's best and where it was designed and geared to run. You simply can't compete with American Muscle in the same way, they are totally different cars and can be driven a different way, their excess horsepower and torque will accomodate less driver skill without grenading the engine. They'll almost always beat you off the line, but you should overtake them in the first turn.
One of the attractions of Euro cars to me is that the driver must be more skilled to get the same performance from the car without killing it, much more skill than it takes to wring the same performance out of a Japanese or American car.
In these types, the driver must be able to point it correctly and brake properly (no small feat to do well), but in a Euro car, in addition to these things, you also need to understand (read feel) and know how to make the
machine work - the driver is more essential to the actual
operation of the car as opposed to just the
driving of the car.
Realize that I am not dissing Japanese or American Cars (I've owned several examples of each and loved them), or their drivers and fans, just pointing out some of the ways they are different than Euro cars. There's sure to be some opposition to my views and that's OK. Perception always carries with it a certain amount of subjectivity...
Happy Motoring!... Jim'99