- Jul 3, 2003
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So, I rented this baby this morning and drove it about 60 miles to see my friend in Seal Beach, CA. Man, what a car this is. Fun doesn't even begin to describe it...
Although, I feel kind of like I've been beat up today. My back hurts, I have a headache and getting in and out of that thing is like some sort of sick joke. With the top on you have literally fall into it butt first and then try to swing your legs in and around the steering wheel. It's much easier to do with the top off though.
The car is so viceral though, you can feel every bit of the road through the seats, the pedals, the shifter and the steering wheel. The car is very stiff and responds instantly to every input. Brakes are superb and I never found the limits of the car in a corner.
Compared to a WRX-STI I'd say take that car and lop off 1000lbs and kick it up a couple notches and you'd have this car...well, except for the practical interior and cushy ride of the STI (and an STI is cushy in comparison).
I drove it up to my friend's house this morning in the rain...the windshield wiper is okay but it's not great and the stereo is pretty much useless. I could only pick up two radio stations on it in Orange County and pretty much nothing comes in here in San Diego. When it did work it was buzzy and boomy and you can't hear it over the exhaust on the freeway anyway.
Once the roads dried up and the skies cleared I took the top off and really opened it up to see what she could do. Man, this thing cooks! It pulls strong from about 4k up to redline (I hit the rev limiter once...felt like someone turned off the engine). Man, the engine wails at full song too. Like a banshee. You cannot hear anything but the screaming coming from that little 1.8l Toyota engine.
The car leaps forward like a motorcycle. I took my neighbor for a ride in it and he commented on how it sounded and responded like a sport bike. He's right.
Anyway, the car is great fun to drive but completely impractical for even the shortest of daily driving. I can't imagine anyone ever buying one except for autocross or weekend joy rides.
Update-I kept if the entire weekend and enjoyed the hell out of it. I want one now...
So, I rented this baby this morning and drove it about 60 miles to see my friend in Seal Beach, CA. Man, what a car this is. Fun doesn't even begin to describe it...
Although, I feel kind of like I've been beat up today. My back hurts, I have a headache and getting in and out of that thing is like some sort of sick joke. With the top on you have literally fall into it butt first and then try to swing your legs in and around the steering wheel. It's much easier to do with the top off though.
The car is so viceral though, you can feel every bit of the road through the seats, the pedals, the shifter and the steering wheel. The car is very stiff and responds instantly to every input. Brakes are superb and I never found the limits of the car in a corner.
Compared to a WRX-STI I'd say take that car and lop off 1000lbs and kick it up a couple notches and you'd have this car...well, except for the practical interior and cushy ride of the STI (and an STI is cushy in comparison).
I drove it up to my friend's house this morning in the rain...the windshield wiper is okay but it's not great and the stereo is pretty much useless. I could only pick up two radio stations on it in Orange County and pretty much nothing comes in here in San Diego. When it did work it was buzzy and boomy and you can't hear it over the exhaust on the freeway anyway.
Once the roads dried up and the skies cleared I took the top off and really opened it up to see what she could do. Man, this thing cooks! It pulls strong from about 4k up to redline (I hit the rev limiter once...felt like someone turned off the engine). Man, the engine wails at full song too. Like a banshee. You cannot hear anything but the screaming coming from that little 1.8l Toyota engine.
The car leaps forward like a motorcycle. I took my neighbor for a ride in it and he commented on how it sounded and responded like a sport bike. He's right.
Anyway, the car is great fun to drive but completely impractical for even the shortest of daily driving. I can't imagine anyone ever buying one except for autocross or weekend joy rides.
Update-I kept if the entire weekend and enjoyed the hell out of it. I want one now...