Four Seater Convertible

Vapor1 said:
Hey Mike, was thinking about your options a little more. Since I can't afford one myself, might as well live vicariously through someone else :)

I would highly suggest searching out and driving a Jaguar XKR-S. There were only something like 250 of them brought into the states, but a quick look on AutoTrader shows a few for sale. I've driven the hard top XKR-S, and a couple Convertible XKR's, both are just spectacular. They did a fantastic job of keeping all the weight low and between the wheels, so it rotates easy and is very responsive. It doesn't understeer unless you go into a corner really heavy, steering gives nice feedback, and the brakes feel great. I wish it had a true manual transmission, but their flappy paddle sequential is good, better than BMW's IMO. On the list so far it's probably the closest feeling to a 911, but with a whole lot more fury coming out the tailpipes. Honestly the sound alone is reason to buy one!

They're also quite a bit faster than advertised. One locally was pulling 11.2-11.4 @ 125mph 1/4 mile times all day long on street tires. Supposedly the same guy did a 10.8 on drag radials, bone stock otherwise.

Jaguar-XKR-S-convertible-4.jpg
Click to expand...

Now you're talking! Gorgeous!
 
I'd buy an Audi any day of the week before a Honda. I also know a lot of mechanics.
 
Great video! Based on the video alone, I'd go Porsche!:safe: But think Iw would've said Porsche even without seeing the video!:P

Can't believe they said the steering feel from the R8 is better than the Porsche. I don't have electronic steering in my S4 but it still feels quite numb. Can't imagine how much number the Porsche is with electronic steering.

Some great choices, Mike! I can easily live with any of these whips!
 
I have no dog in this hunt, but when did you decide to go from a family-four-seater sport convertible to a two-seater Mike? I thought the four-seat was a requirement?
 
MikeCh said:
I have no dog in this hunt, but when did you decide to go from a family-four-seater sport convertible to a two-seater Mike? I thought the four-seat was a requirement?
Click to expand...

It was, but I'm finding it pretty limiting. Best choices for that are 911 and M4.

It's between a new M4 Cab and a 2013/2014 911 C2S Cab - same money.
 
This is my 4th Porsche....once you own one, you'll understand that the back seats are irrelevant.
 
I keep on coming back to the Audi R8 Quattro with the six-speed manual transmission. I live in Chicago so the four wheel drive is a necessity in the winter! In between R8's I had the Jag XKR convertible which was more powerful than my R8 but frankly a bit boring to drive. Having separate winter tires and wheels is also a necessity if you make the R8 your daily driver which to me is what this automobile was made for!!
 
Mighty nice, both the Targa and wife! Notwithstanding, there are different strokes for different folks. The 911 is iconic and an amazing car, no doubt, but up here in my part of the country, you see one every few blocks; you see one R8 every couple days. Two months ago I spent a weekend in Alabama at the Porsche driving school. We drove 911s's (MT), Boxster GTS's (MT) and Panamera Turbo's (PDK) on the track going 125 miles per hour. They were awesome. Then we got to do a few launch controls on the 911 Turbo, which was a absolute blast! The front of my face felt like it was behind my head with all of that G-Force! The weekend was capped off by having a 918 on open display, but unfortunately not for us to drive. However, notwithstanding the amazing driving on the 3 mile Barber track, I was glad to come home to my steel-cage 6-speed manual transmission R8. Put your hand around the shift knob and you are in auto-nirvana territory!
 
BTW, tomorrow I am test-driving a Porsche 914 dating all the way back to 1976. Have any of you guys or gals ever driven one? A real blast to drive, notwithstanding the 110 or so horsepower; they are some serious horses in there. In third gear, the fuel-injected motor provides an amazing amount of acceleration. They probably don't do 0-60 in under 5 or 6 seconds or so, but are nonetheless a blast to drive. I heard that new Miata that just came out is also tons of fun to drive, notwithstanding that our 911's and R8's are probably twice as fast. Everything is relative!
 
RDSChicago said:
I keep on coming back to the Audi R8 Quattro with the six-speed manual transmission. I live in Chicago so the four wheel drive is a necessity in the winter! In between R8's I had the Jag XKR convertible which was more powerful than my R8 but frankly a bit boring to drive. Having separate winter tires and wheels is also a necessity if you make the R8 your daily driver which to me is what this automobile was made for!!
Click to expand...


Good call , the R8-V10/6sp is my current squeeze . Incredible car. I've had 5 911's in the past including two Turbo's & FWIW, my opinion is that as a generalization , German performance cars over the last 20 years have become softer, larger , more comfortable and have definitely lost some of the edge that buyers like me loved. I have pretty consistently over the last 15 years , always had an M5 & a German sports car in the Garage so I've observed the steady evolution (if it can be called that) of the German performance ethos . This is a function of their market . Given the condition of roads in North America , as well as the general preference amongst even performance car buyers for amenities and of course for automatic/paddle gearboxes , speed limits and more to the point - the drivers own capabilities. Stands to reason and without being controversial , it's a fact that European drivers are leagues ahead of the average NA driver in driving skill . I live and drove in the UK for 15 years. Getting a license there is still regarded as a privilege to be earned .

The R8 is a wonderful Driver's car IMHO . I'm old school - if you want the quintessential Porsche experience , the best car they make is the Boxster S. As always YMMV
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top