David in LA

Its not just about the power...it also about the weight and the overall handling. For the past year I've been considering getting a Exige...it only has 240hp but 0-60 in 4 secs and will likely run rings around the 993TT and 996TT in any canyon or racetrack except those with very long straights.

Plus gets 30MPG and the motor and tranny are cheap and dependable....I short gearset for only $1500-1700!!!

nile13

David, Elise is a tough car to drive daily (try getting in and out). Exige will be same or worse, depending on the roof.

Having said thats, I consider it a damn perfect car. Period. I wish it had a better, more Italian note to the engine than that Toyota plant produces. But even wothout the sound, it is one perfect car.

Monique

My new to me Opel Speedster turbo has quite a bit more power to weight than my former RS ....

But as said above, it is a car you drive with the top off coz getting in with top on is serious gymnastics. (Get in it ala formula cat: hold the windshield and slide down)

But it is nice to have the rear end break loose on straight line acceleration ... :-)

Lots of TORQUE

David in LA

Isn't the Speedster more or less a rebadged Elise?

I live in Hong Kong so a "long drive" is 90 minutes and I take the bus or taxi or MTR to work most days - so an Exige wouldn't be a daily driver. To be honest getting in and out of the car would be the least of the inconveniences of owning and driving a car in Hong Kong....expensive parking, narrow roads, bad drivers and kamikaze bus/taxi drivers are much higher on the PIA-meter! And as far as noise a Larini exhaust combined with a supercharger whine and little sound insulation is not too bad...check out some of the video clips on youtube

Norske

Once you have forced induction, you will always miss it!. Regular cars are fun, but you ALWAYS miss the power.

NC TRACKRAT

I've instructed drivers at DE's in both the Elise and Exige. FWIW, if you're not extremely agile, slim and not too tall, forget these cars. Lots of fun but it takes a shoehorn to get in and out of them.

cohare

I came from a 996tt with ~ 500hp, I always wanted more power then I got caught by the problem of having too much power on the street. I love the 993 now that I have it, its a great car with enough power. I think my Lexus GS460 (DD) may be just as fast if not faster, def has more usable torque but I love the feel of driving the 993 and do it every chance I get.

If you want gobs of power this is probably not the car but, if you want a beautiful fun car the 993 is awesome and still usable with out doing acrobatics to get in and out of. Not to mention it will always be a classic..

AGC

I had a 91 Testarossa (V12), which I think had a little more power.

matt777

I've got a 460 hp 'Cuda. The car is the absolute opposite of my 993 in every way. They are both fun to drive but for different reasons. The 'Cuda seems to get more attention. Perhaps there is a bigger muscle car crowd around here.

Denise993

Put a supercharger in it... I don't think I could drive a non-SC 993 anymore.

nile13

David, I was in HK two years ago... pretty tough driving there, unless you go up into the hills. Beautiful roads up there with breathtaking views.

I was also in Singapore three times over the last three years and in Thailand in September... of all these Bangkok was so much worth than S-pore and HK traffic-wise and by sheer concentration of kamikaze, that it was scary.

But, yes, Hk is such a car culture, there are a lot of very neat cars. I think you'll love Lotus as a weekend gateway.

Monique - the first time I did the "grab the windshield and slide in" trick, the owner yelled at me. Apparently, the windshield frame can bend if you use it as a monkey bar. Not sure if it's true, but that's what he said. And any other methods of ingress/egress were... shall we say, difficult. I would not want to go to town for a couple of errands in that car. But driving it... ahhhh....

CP

I had an E39 M5 with 400 horses and HUGE TQ. I have a 993 Ruf BTR at 426 horses and even more TQ. Weights in at 3,100# so I have 7.3#/HP in my Ruf. That is the best of all worlds if you asked me.

BTW, the Ruf eats the M5 for breakfast, lunch and dinner anyday.

CP

Edward

HP/Tq are beautiful things!! But as already mentioned, it's all about the whole package. I see "power" like eye candy ..."looks" great, but ultimately offers short-lived satisfaction as the "whole package" must work to keep you there. Otherwise, you are perennially swapping cars, forever upping the ante. Once you find a car that most closely "does it all," that's the one you keep. For some it's a 993, others it's a TT, or whatever. Jumping in another guy's faster car is a great way to lure you away from a car you love, but in the end, the car you love is what keeps you warm at night ...so to speak

FWIW, I jump to a lower HP car every now and then (2-3x/month) ...my SC Trackmeister is stock engine/drivetrain, but with fewer interior parts, gutted ac, and well-sorted suspension. No love loss there ...what a blast to drive everytime I take her out, even if it is just a work commute!!!

Edward

CornerCarver

Well said!

007DT

My DD is much quicker than my P-Car. Certainly different all around. Each is my favorite car in one way or another. But both put a smile on my face.