Drove the GTR today.

[blue2000s]

For me, fast lap times are about as meaningful as what Paris Hilton has to say.

If I raced the car and had a reputation or career that depended on it, yes. But at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, with miles of twisty, rising and falling roads calling and no stopwatch running, I want a car that I can enjoy near the speed limit, not at 3x the limit. A chassis and steering that are responsive and communicative, but limits that aren't herculean lead to a more rewarding and entertaining drive to me. If the car doesn't "wake up" or show much personality until 100mph, and I don't live at the race track, I probably wouldn't enjoy it.

The video game comment really turns me off. If you've got the car doing all the work and you just sit there and turn the wheel, I'm not interested. By the way, I'm not saying the Boxster is the end-all for me either. I've got a 1st gen Rx-7 that has the Boxster easily beat at driving entertainment (as do the old 911s). What I am saying is that the enthusiast community, including the magazines, put way too much emphasis on a car's track prowess, where real world driving is what most of us do.

[JAAY]

I have driven every p car except for a cgt. My friend kinda runs a porsche dealership . As for the nissan having no soul. It is just a different thing. You are very connected to the car in ways a boxster could never be. Anything you want the car to do it does. As for not being able to use all the power..... LOL I used it all over the place. The car only make something like 420-470 to the ground but it is tuned amazingly and when you shift it on point. The twin clutch tranny is amazing when you upshift or downshift. The harder you drive it in race mode the better it reacts to any little bit of input you give it. I am taking it out tomorrow again I will try and get some video from in the car if anything I will get some good shots of it. We are going to a meet out in sag harbor if you are local. Arriving there around 915 am.

[CRCGuy]

But is it the electronics that allow the car to do whatever you want it to do? I think that's the part that would take the fun out of it for me. But as I said, it's all subjective and to each his own. I will test drive one soon to see.

I don't want a CAR to do everything I want it to do.

I need the DRIVER to make the car do what I want it to do.

No need to learn how to drive fast if the computer takes care of it for you I guess

Probably not for me. I need the back end to pass me by every now and then to remind me I'm the one controlling the car and need to polish my skills, not the other way around I guess...

[CRCGuy]

I wonder how Nissan decides whether you are "worthy" to test drive one?

I can just imagine the number of "kids" that must walk in there to give it a shot and get turned away.

Can't hurt to try I suppose.....tho I never see them out in the lot--they're always tucked in the showroom. And would be willing to bet they wouldn't let me drive one alone!!

[spine911]

Originally Posted by CRCGuy

But is it the electronics that allow the car to do whatever you want it to do?

I don't want a CAR to do everything I want it to do.

I need the DRIVER to make the car do what I want it to do.

No need to learn how to drive fast if the computer takes care of it for you I guess

Probably not for me. I need the back end to pass me by every now and then to remind me I'm the one controlling the car and need to polish my skills, not the other way around I guess...

Sounds just like the Porsche PDK to me, or the Nissan GTR DCT ; which are both types/variations of the twin-clutch gearbox, double clutch transmission.

Welcome to the New Era of Automobile Engineering.....

[blue2000s]

How do you define connected? What's the oldest Porsche you've driven?

Originally Posted by JAAY

The twin clutch tranny is amazing when you upshift or downshift. The harder you drive it in race mode the better it reacts to any little bit of input you give it.

That's another turn off, you couldn't get a clutch if you want it. What fun is letting the car shift for you? I've driven the F1 transmission in the Maser GT, maybe good for Michael Schumacker, but LAME to me.

Nah, cars are getting heavier, less involving and doing everything for you. The Elise and Miata are the only real sports cars left for sale in the US.

[JAAY]

Whether or not the computers are driving or not P cars only handle as good as they do because of r&d or technology. As for the oldest p car I have driven is irrelevant. New technology is great and the gtr is a amazing car.

[944boy]

How amazing will it be in ~10 years when electrical contacts start to corrode and things start to fail?

PASM is much better than I ever imagined, but when I need to replace a strut coil-overs are going on. No point in $$$$$$ per strut for what will most likely will be a hard to find and expensive part.

I think modern cars will start to head down the path of the 928 as time goes on. Electrical gremlins will drop the desirability of an otherwise awesome car.

[JAAY]

Or they could be like us and wonder when ims will fail

[nola911]

I would certainly like to get one of the road. I'm going to ask Nissan for a test drive.