986 as a future classic

[southernstar]

Particelwave, its a question of balance and connecting the driver with the road. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. steering feel and feed back.
2. precision on turn-in
3. cornering balance (no excessive understeer or oversteer)
4. cornering balance on bumpy roads (yes, go-carts can handle well on smooth pavement, but....)
5. Braking distances
6. Lack of fade on repeated heavy braking.
7. Brake feel and the ability to modulate.
8. Brake balance (and here a mid-engined car has an inherent advantage over a front-engined one, as the inevitable weight transfer forward under heavy braking does not overwork the front brakes).
9. Pedals set up to enable heel and toe (or ball to side of foot) downshifts on a standard transmission.
10. Relatively close gear ratios and a relatively light shifter effort (snick, snick, rather than slam/slam).
11. Decent acceleration, especially for passing and coming out of turns (drag racing from a standstill does not really matter).
12. An interior that allows a proper driving position with good visiblity of the road and instruments, plus seats that hold the driver in place during hard cornering and braking.
13. A 'sporty' exhaust note.

It all about balance and feel and connectivity between man (or woman), the machine and the road. Ultimately the whole of a good sports car is often greater than the sum of its parts and, the Porsche Boxster is a decidedly good sports car!

Brad