[Sauce]

Hey guy's, I thought I'd post up an article I recently wrote. I would love to hear your feedback etc. Hopefully it will be used by The Smoking Tire but nothing is for certain. Let me know your opinions good or bad, here it is!


“Bring Your Mancard” – Alex Sawelson

The world nowadays has become so amazingly advanced. You can have a face-to-face conversation with someone on the other side of the world, there are robots to clean your floor and that perfect set of tits is just a Google search away. Cars have followed the same trend as well. Walk into a Toyota dealership and spec out a V6 Camry and you have a car that will walk all over a Ferrari 308. You can go to BMW and tell them you want an SUV that will perform with hypercars of a decade ago, yup they have something for that also. So ,what is the result of a modern car built in a somewhat old school, minimalist sort of way? People have compared the techno-loaded cars versus the minimalist cars for years. Frankly, it has become quite stale and redundant. The consensus always seems to be that the techno cars are fast and effortless, the minimalist cars are slower yet can be more rewarding. Lets be honest here, the guys that are writing these reviews are usually just plain old. I am definitely from a different generation than them. I am from the generation of Call of Duty and Facebook. I do not have any glory days to reminisce over, I don’t have any allegiances to a genre of cars, I just like fast and fun. To me driving a GTR at 10/10th’s may be the most rewarding thing in the world, I don’t give a shit if the center diff kept me out of the weeds. I think it is going to be very interesting for me, a representative of the new generation, to take a look from the other side of the spectrum. That is where the Porsche Boxster Spyder comes in. This is a car that needs to be optioned with a radio and air conditioning, a car that needs to have the roof built with bare hands every time you want it on or off. Does a car like this appeal to the generation that grew up on Gameboys?



As you walk up to the Spyder, you realize how different the car really is than a regular Boxster. There are the obvious reasons, the rear deck lid, the wheels and the lower ride height for example, but it really separates itself in the details. Things like the seat brackets and all the hinges on the car being made out of billet aluminum. That is when you realize you can actually drive this car without a rainbow being tattooed on your forehead. Climb into the heavily bolstered sport bucket seats and you sink into the car, it feels like you are positioned as low as possible. This effect is even more pronounced due to the high fenders and the raised rear deck lid. The engine barks to life, and barking is really the best way to describe it. Give it some revs and they rise and decline so fast that it only gives you a brief second to appreciate the sound, I must do it again and again. The motor absolutely loves revs. Below four thousand RPM’s, it doesn’t feel like it is lugging along, but it just doesn’t make that much power. From four to five and a half it starts to feel a little bit more urgent, but right at about six thousand it becomes happy. The exhaust note completely changes, it gains a high pitch shriek, the throttle response is suddenly razor sharp, and each millimeter of throttle travel has an effect. You can feel the flat six right behind your head smiling at you, thanking you for letting it have some fun, just begging you to keep it boiling. The car never feels extremely fast, it never tries to decapitate you with G-force. If you get your kicks making pulls on the freeway, look for another car. This car has the 6-speed manual transmission and if you don’t keep it working you will get caught out of the power band. The best description of the power is that it wants to get you to the next corner as quickly as possible, and boy is that where the magic happens. No matter how fast you turn into a corner, the car feels as if you could have been going 50 miles an hour faster. As you feed in the steering, the car doesn’t roll, but you feel the weight set on the outside of the car and it just grips, simultaneously throwing your entire body onto the giant seat bolsters, no understeer, no oversteer, just insane speed. The standard steel brakes on this car are not at the same level as the chassis, the ceramic option would be worth considering. What I would do though is save whatever ridiculous rate Porsche is charging for those and get some giant Wilwoods or Brembos. This chassis shrugs off potholes, surface changes and bumps even near the limit, but the front lip though isn’t as conforming to bumps as the rest of the car. Going at a good rate that thing will scrape on dips, bumps, on camber turns, cigarette butts, anything. Man this thing is low, I guess that is why the lip is replaceable right? The car lets you know every time it damps a bump, glides over a crack or runs over a person, yet it never does it in an unpleasant way.

To find faults with this car you really need to nitpick. I am 6’3 and find the clutch pedal to be slightly off center to the right. The shifter could be more precise but it’s buttery engagement and clutch action make up for it. It is in no way a bargain for performance based on pure numbers, although it seems so when compared to its Cayman R brother. Things like the radio and air conditioning being options as well as the manual roof that can’t be sealed may be considered deal breakers to many. The car I drove has air conditioning but it is rather useless as the top should never be on this car. It also has the radio, which is actually very good, so if you enjoy your tunes you will be happy. The car is always loud, there is no way around it, with the top on or off you will have wind noise. The exhaust needs to be louder to make up for this, what you do hear sounds so awesome it deserves more presence, but that’s an easy fix. This frickin thing doesn’t even have door handles, just the very cool RS style pulls. If you want performance while being coddled, leave and go buy an M3, your man card can stay behind as well.

So now back to my initial question. How does this minimalist car sit with a child of the Y2K? Well in short, I absolutely LOVE it. It never crossed my mind that a dual clutch transmission could do what I am doing quicker, I never envisioned a car with an amazing traction control system pulling ahead as I add power and opposite lock. The car is just too sublime for that. What did cross my mind is how rare the type of car I was driving is. This a car that is rejected by most people, but the few people that do understand know what you are experiencing and you can feel the respect, that is very cool. This car ends up being so much more than what you think a 330 horsepower car without a roof should be and that is something that needs no explanation, it just needs to be enjoyed. Now back to that Google search…

[Hula-Hula]

[Sauce]

Originally Posted by Hula-Hula

Why the hate for someone trying to improve on something he might be interested in doing? I'm guessing you didn't read it but either way thats not really cool.

[Sauce]

I just realized the slight jab at the m3 and this being on a BMW forum. Lol!! That wasn't intentional at all, this is the just the forum I use so I posted it here.

[Hula-Hula]

Originally Posted by Sauce

Why the hate for someone trying to improve on something he might be interested in doing? I'm guessing you didn't read it but either way thats not really cool.

[Sauce]

Originally Posted by Hula-Hula

I'm sure you think it's funny! That's all that matters right. (Please post it one more time? I bet you will. Yay!)

[southlight]

Good review. There's some explicit language in there I wouldn't want to have in a Bimmerpost review, but maybe that's up TST's alley.


Best regards,
south

[Sauce]

Originally Posted by southlight

Good review. There's some explicit language in there I wouldn't want to have in a Bimmerpost review, but maybe that's up TST's alley.


Best regards,
south

Hey, thanks for the response. Yes the language was acceptable for TST, did you see Matt Farahs review of the Jaguar XKR? Definitely a lot worse than what I wrote! Bimmerpost would be a different story. I would never put profanity in an article unless I am 100% sure it is in context.

[GammaZeta]

Nice review, I was always a fan of the Boxster, until I drove one. It was another option besides my Z4M/Z3M. I LOVE the two seater concept, but when compared to my Z's, it was just too sterile.

However, with the Spyder out, my next car option just may include it.

[Sauce]

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

Nice review, I was always a fan of the Boxster, until I drove one. It was another option besides my Z4M/Z3M. I LOVE the two seater concept, but when compared to my Z's, it was just too sterile.

However, with the Spyder out, my next car option just may include it.

I agree, the standard Boxster isn't something I would drive personally. However the Spyder really is amazing. The motor just seems so eager and the chassis needs to be experienced, it is hard to describe.

[rfx45]

Originally Posted by Sauce

Hey, thanks for the response. Yes the language was acceptable for TST, did you see Matt Farahs review of the Jaguar XKR? Definitely a lot worse than what I wrote! Bimmerpost would be a different story. I would never put profanity in an article unless I am 100% sure it is in context.

Just a suggestion, I'd still remove any profanity out of almost anything you review or write, it comes off as immature and becomes more difficult to take seriously.

You also need to edit and have it proofed, some sentences could be written better like this one:

I do not have any glory days to reminisce over, I don’t have any allegiances to a genre of cars, I just like fast and fun.

It just doesn't sound right to me, read out loud and you might notice how awkward the sentence ends.

This sentences as well:

As you walk up to the Spyder, you realize how different the car really is than a regular Boxster. There are the obvious reasons, the rear deck lid, the wheels and the lower ride height for example, but it really separates itself in the details.

Sounds a bit redundant no need to put "for example" in there, assume the reader is smart enough to know it.

Overall, the content is not bad, it just needs to be written better. You'll improve as you move forward but you still have a few ways to go.

[Sauce]

Originally Posted by rfx45

Just a suggestion, I'd still remove any profanity out of almost anything you review or write, it comes off as immature and becomes more difficult to take seriously.

You also need to edit and have it proofed, some sentences could be written better like this one:



It just doesn't sound right to me, read out loud and you might notice how awkward the sentence ends.

This sentences as well:



Sounds a bit redundant no need to put "for example" in there, assume the reader is smart enough to know it.

Overall, the content is not bad, it just needs to be written better. You'll improve as you move forward but you still have a few ways to go.

Awesome man, I really appreciate you taking the time to read it and point these out to me, that is exactly what I am looking for. This is the first time I've ever had the opportunity to write an article like this so I knew there would be a lot to work on. Thanks for pointing a couple of them out!

[GammaZeta]

The original 1st and 2nd gen Boxster looks, IMHO, haven't held up well. But the Spyder with the styling details really is amazing looking.

[justinnum1]

love love love the boxster spyder, i will own on some day

[Sauce]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

love love love the boxster spyder, i will own on some day

When that day comes you won't be disappointed!

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by Sauce

When that day comes you won't be disappointed!

Yea, my dad had a 911, i actually learned how to drive manual on it(clutch was so siff lol) im a sucker for porsches. I also plan on owning a gt3 i got make some dough

[Sauce]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Yea, my dad had a 911, i actually learned how to drive manual on it(clutch was so siff lol) im a sucker for porsches. I also plan on owning a gt3 i got make some dough

My pops had a 996 GT3, probably the only new porsches I would take over the Spyder are the GT3 and GT2. It just feels so much more special than a 911. Porsche really makes the best cars.

[epbrown]

As text, I'd say it could use some polishing and more paragraph breaks.

As content, it seems a bit naive - saying you have no glory days is wrong, as you're smack dab in the middle of them. And a Boxster Spyder is minimalist in the same way Marilyn Monroe is chubby - just different standards for different time periods.

[Sauce]

Originally Posted by epbrown

As text, I'd say it could use some polishing and more paragraph breaks.

As content, it seems a bit naive - saying you have no glory days is wrong, as you're smack dab in the middle of them. And a Boxster Spyder is minimalist in the same way Marilyn Monroe is chubby - just different standards for different time periods.

Your two points are kind of what I was going for. You are right, I am right in the middle of my glory days, which is the same to say that I am still building on them, not reminiscing. The Boxster Spyder is undoubtedly one of the most minimalist cars you can buy CURRENTLY, which again kind of pertains to the age thing. It's clearly not a Bugeye Sprite, but cars like that CAN"T be made anymore, but it is certainly in that style. Different standards for different time periods nails it on the head, that is why I thought it would be interesting from my perspective.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Sauce

Why the hate for someone trying to improve on something he might be interested in doing? I'm guessing you didn't read it but either way thats not really cool.

I think it's because you posted this in the wrong sub-forum

It belongs here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=36

[JoeyO]

Your paragraphs are a little bit too long. I read about half way through them and then jump to the next paragraph. Make them more concise and use fewer words, IMO. See how other auto editors do it.

[Sauce]

Originally Posted by aajami

I think it's because you posted this in the wrong sub-forum

It belongs here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=36

My fault, there's so many it's hard to keep them straight.