The Thrill of Driving your Box/Cayman

[ImNoSaint]

Originally Posted by sd_boxster

While I do not promote or condone reckless driving, I believe that each of us has had at least one moment where we said, "Crap, if I'd been driving any other car, THAT would have turned out differently."

In my case, I was flying up a mountain road very, very early one morning and drastically underestimated my speed heading into a very sharp 30mph right-hand curve - I was going more than double that. In my previous car - and any other car I've ever owned, I would have understeered across the opposing lane of traffic and off the side of the road. The Boxster may have left a chunk of rubber or two on my side of the road that day, but damned if it was going to let me kill myself on its watch.

It was one of those moments when you realize just how much the Boxster can give, and forgive, before you really get in trouble.

The main artery to the area where I live is I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge, a twisty banking black ribbon that cuts through a canyon where the river doesn't, begging more right foot.

Just last Sunday I was bringing my just bought 2000 Boxster home from Santa Barbara, first time carving this canyon in it. It's a familiar place for me were I ride a Blackbird and drive a spec Miata, and a few years ago my 914. I don't condone recklessness either and try to keep my skills where they need to be. My wife and step son were following me in our Yukon.

I lost them in the first series of turns and accelerated through the gorge, justifying every dollar spent on this ride, unbelievable agility, adhesion and handling, a wonderful initiation to this car.

Out the other side is an offramp where I waited for my spouse to catch up. When she zipped by me unaware I mounted the onramp and in seconds was quickly on her tail flashing and peeling back the speed. While she caught me in her mirrors she didn't see debris in the road, plywood about 3X4 feet. The Yukon went right over it and its wash flipped it up about as high as the windscreen on the Boxster - not even time to think, just react. The 986 flicked to the right, the plywood flying by my driver side window.

Any other car? I hate to even think what may have happened.