Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/02/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]So far, I've gone through 2 Miatas (1990 and 1995) and a Porsche (1987 911 Carrera) all of which were wonderful cars, but presently, my current car of love is the Honda/Acura NSX. It isn't lithe like the Miata or Lotuses (Loti?) but similar weight as the Porsche I had. At under 3000 lb with an empty tank, it would be considered very light by today's standard, and without too much gadgetry that really distracts me from driving. The suspension is supple enough for daily driving, while quite poised even on the pot-holed twisties around the Bay Area. The engine doesn't have ridiculous amount of power by today's standard (270bhp) to overpower the relatively svelte set of tires (215mm front, 245mm rear) either. I don't know about the latest incarnation, but Miatas were brilliant: it was exquisitely balanced, and taught me all the things about vehicle dynamics. With its skinny 185mm tires, it was easy to do all sorts of asphalt ballet. The Porsche was the most visceral thing I've ever driven for more than a few minutes, giving me the sensation that hot 20W50 ran through my veins. Sure, a new familiy 4-door sedan will blow the doors off the NSX, but it's fast enough, both in straight line and in curves, and stops fast enough. It never was a best-performer in any category, but the balance of its attributes was/is exquisite. The electronic interventions are minimal, just enough to keep me from the worst. Still, there is a part of me itching to get a Lotus one of these days though. Before then, I'd have to build a garage at my house which wouldn't be easy on the hillside on which we live. Which Lotus? The Seven of course. A friend who owned a series of Lotus Europas, and V-12 Ferraris said that I made a very wise decision buying the Honda. After all, it's a Honda, yet performs better than its contemporaries like the 348, Esprit, and the 964 Carrera 2. On 2/3/08, Adam Bridge <abridge@gmail.com> wrote: > > I agree that the Elise is a real sports car in the old meaning from > the 50s & 60s. I only wish I could get into one! I had an Elan S2 when > I was in the Navy, my wife and I loved it. But now we need a GT so we > bought a 2007 Corvette. It's not light, half again an Elise or nearly > so, but it handles wonderfully, much much better than earlier models. > If you haven't driven one on a rough windy road then you're missing > something. Not an Elise but we can drive across the country with great > comfort which we couldn't do in the Lotus. > > Adam >