Most liked posts in thread: Golf R aka GTI-R

I have an Elise on my car shopping list - I really hope that this will be the year to buy one.

I have had the pleasure of driving a 'bone stock' Elise back-to-back with my, ahem, modified Mini.

I personally find that the Mini is easier to drive at/near the limit. Partly because as you edge closer to the limit the warning signs are understeer based Sure the MINI is very neutral for a FWD car but it will yell at you as you get near to the limit of adhesion. I personally feel that I can drive the Mini at ~90% all (track) day long, with occasional bursts up to 92% but not much more. You can also be slightly sloppy and a little heavy handed with the Mini, it does suffer fools unless you whack a huge rear sway bar on the thing. Backing off in the Mini seems to sort most things out.....

The Elise however is more technical. 90% takes some working up to, not just because of the speed that you can carry, but also because it demands a much gentler touch than the Mini, very small adjustments can be made easily, but if you try to make a big adjustment at that level, things go bad, fast. Backing off mid-bend is a real issue and once the pendulum starts it is only pure luck that keeps you out of the tires. Hence my angle/devil comment.

On my benchmark track (Streets of Willow) I am a couple of seconds a lap faster in the Elise, but still about 1.7 seconds slower than the Elise's owner. On the flip side he is a whole second / lap faster in my Mini than I am. So yes it comes down to driver, but also I am less comfortable playing around beyond 90% in the Elise. It takes a steady hand, small adjustments and lightning reactions. Most of which I do not posses. I still intend to get one though

 

The Elise will definitely challenge you to improve your driving skills. I love mine ['05 Elise with Katana supercharger]. If you can fit in one, it's worth putting on your "must have" list.

The MINI is a very easy car to grow into. My #848 is still very easy to drive; it'll understeer or oversteer at will, yet be completely neutral if you drive properly. It's not tough for me to hang with stock Exige S's on the track, but I get walked by modded 2-Elevens. Then again the 2-Eleven's I can't hang with also have 245 wide Hoosiers and 80 more HP with much less weight!

Back to the Golf R [feeble attempt to stay on topic, LOL] I think it'll be a fantastic hot-hatch for most enthusiasts. It'll give people that wished the MINI actually seated 4 in comfort a good drive.

 

topgear had a review of the gti r thing
sooooo sloowwwww and heavyyyy