Jul 25, 2008 11:59:29 AM
- Porsche-Jeck
- Rennteam Master
-
- Loc: Rheinland , Germany
- Posts: 4856, Gallery
- Registered on: Jun 27, 2005
BoxsterS vs. Lotus Elise SC on Nordschleife
Having become a NoS addict myself I was looking forward to read the recent copy of Autobild Sportscars featuring a comparo of the two cars at NoS 
Interesting as the concepts of both cars are quite different: Elise has the edge in terms of power/weight (4.1 kg/hp vs. 4.8 kg/hp) whereas the Boxster has the edge in terms of topspeed.
The author/driver ("chief testdriver" of the mag - quite experienced on NoS, he drives the 24h and the VLN series) is a fan of lightweight cars btw.
Comments on the Elise SC:
Steering very direct, but too much "play" in the center position. At corner entries first a bit unwilling, thereafter very "progressive" steering.
A bit tricky at the Hatzenbach serpentines (load change --> risk of the rear end becoming loose).
On the other hand excellent road holding at the fast Flugplatz corner, whereas the BoxsterS feels a bit nervous at this corner (I can confirm this
).
Fuchsröhre (foxhole): both cars very fast, Boxster feels more composed here due to excellent steering feel.
Brakes: not enough feedback, hard to modulate (danger of "over-braking" at the braking point after fast downhill section ending at Wehrseifen (which is the slowest corner of the track).
Comments on the BoxsterS:
Perfect brakes (car was equipped with PCCB), perfect steering
, PASM excellent for both - track (ab-) use/road driving.
Laptimes
Lotus Elise SC: 8:41.9 - BoxsterS 8:35.7
Seems that HvS is still a very fast guy considering the Supertest laptime (8:23) with the 3.2 BoxsterS - though Sportauto lap is a couple of hundred meters shorter (AB Sportscars seem to do the full lap).
The Lotus was equipped with the Yokohama Advan sport tires (should be good for 7 sec. or so compared to normal road tires).
Straightline performance: Elise has a (small) edge up to 130 km/h, Boxster gains half a second up to 160 km/h, at 180 km/h the two cars are even again, thereafter the BoxsterS has the edge.
Sportauto has tested the Lotus ExigeS (243 hp) a couple of weeks ago in their Supertest (car was 3 sec slower on NoS compared to the 3.2 BoxsterS).
Sticker prices for the Lotus have become a bit crazy these days IMO: "just" 5 k Euro less compared to the BoxsterS (comparing base prices for both).
Interesting as the concepts of both cars are quite different: Elise has the edge in terms of power/weight (4.1 kg/hp vs. 4.8 kg/hp) whereas the Boxster has the edge in terms of topspeed.
The author/driver ("chief testdriver" of the mag - quite experienced on NoS, he drives the 24h and the VLN series) is a fan of lightweight cars btw.
Comments on the Elise SC:
Steering very direct, but too much "play" in the center position. At corner entries first a bit unwilling, thereafter very "progressive" steering.
A bit tricky at the Hatzenbach serpentines (load change --> risk of the rear end becoming loose).
On the other hand excellent road holding at the fast Flugplatz corner, whereas the BoxsterS feels a bit nervous at this corner (I can confirm this
).
Fuchsröhre (foxhole): both cars very fast, Boxster feels more composed here due to excellent steering feel.
Brakes: not enough feedback, hard to modulate (danger of "over-braking" at the braking point after fast downhill section ending at Wehrseifen (which is the slowest corner of the track).
Comments on the BoxsterS:
Perfect brakes (car was equipped with PCCB), perfect steering
, PASM excellent for both - track (ab-) use/road driving.
Laptimes
Lotus Elise SC: 8:41.9 - BoxsterS 8:35.7
Seems that HvS is still a very fast guy considering the Supertest laptime (8:23) with the 3.2 BoxsterS - though Sportauto lap is a couple of hundred meters shorter (AB Sportscars seem to do the full lap).
The Lotus was equipped with the Yokohama Advan sport tires (should be good for 7 sec. or so compared to normal road tires).
Straightline performance: Elise has a (small) edge up to 130 km/h, Boxster gains half a second up to 160 km/h, at 180 km/h the two cars are even again, thereafter the BoxsterS has the edge.
Sportauto has tested the Lotus ExigeS (243 hp) a couple of weeks ago in their Supertest (car was 3 sec slower on NoS compared to the 3.2 BoxsterS).
Sticker prices for the Lotus have become a bit crazy these days IMO: "just" 5 k Euro less compared to the BoxsterS (comparing base prices for both).
