CSL, convince me please ?????

[Porscheplayer]

Hi all

I’m looking for a bit of advice, I currently have a Z4M Coupe which I can honestly say is the best car I’ve owned, I love it, but I could do with 4 seats instead of 2.
I’ve driven the CSL a few times and wasn’t that impressed really(sorry flame suit on) , I know it’s fast etc, but the use of carbon fibre means its has a few more rattles than my current motor and it didn’t seem to have much steering feel either. It did load up a bit in the corners, but around the straight ahead position the steering felt a little vague to me. I’d like to qualify the above by saying I don’t think I got the full measure of the car on my test drives. I don’t want to start a pissing competition or anything, so please don’t take my comments to heart. I test drove the CSL again after the very positive Evo magazine review and it mentioned the CSL had loads of steering feel, which is an important factor to me having owned Lotus and Porsche cars in the past, so I guess I must be missing something

I’m looking for a weekend car which can also be used for the more mundane trips if required, we have a couple more practical/cheaper cars on the drive, but it would be nice to go out sometimes as a family in the expensive one on occasion and have something for weekend blasts/track days


The CSL gets rave reviews and I’m sure I must be missing something, convince me please

Edited by Porscheplayer on Wednesday 9th December 16:59

[flimper]

More rattles than a Z4M, surely not! Have you considered an RS4?

[Porscheplayer]

I have, but I'm sticking to RWD for my "toy"

[thehos]

have you thought about a cs?

[Yanto]

Buy one.......I dare you.....

In 6 months, you'll wonder why you asked the question in the first place....

For more info, go to http://www.cslregister.co.uk

[dontdobends]

Yeah the csl was good in its time but they are getting on a bit now, you don't want your neighbours thinking you've come on hard times,i'd get a gayman

[shim]

CSL is not a family car, you are right, they will not enjoy the trips out in it!

dont buy it if you want to take the family out in it or you will be making excuses for the rattles and knocking and for opening your window everytime you get tot a tunnel

however if you buy it for yourself for the weekend it will be the best car you have ever owned

[DJ JULES]

I agree, Audi rs4!

[DJ JULES]

I agree, Audi rs4!

[DjSki]

Get a 911.

[Porscheplayer]

I've had a 911 and Cayman S, need a change

[ADM06]

Look at the CSL's lap time on the 'ring. It's faster than a lot of things that cost more, faster than the new M3 and Audi R8. That's gotta say something about way it drives.

Edited by ADM06 on Thursday 10th December 22:33

[mrdemon]

I think it's the best car I have even owned

and I have had a few cars.

[md23]

Read this

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Then go buy one... Enough said.

[Slippydiff]

Porscheplayer, look at the previous cars in my profile/garage and you'll see I've made the leap from Stuttgarts finest over to a CSL.
There is no other car that gives you steering feedback (and weighting) like a 911, don't bother trying to look for it in a CSL, you won't find it.

The CSL you tried, what tyres was it on ? was it's suspension standard ? do you know what geometry it was running ?

A car with standard suspension and correctly set up geometry has plenty of feel (not weight) both in the straight ahead position and as it loads up on turn in.

My car wears Michelin Pilot Sport 2s, you're welcome to come and have a drive of it if you'd like to.
I agree it doesn't have the really detailed steering feedback or weight of a 911, but once you've gained confidence in the messages it sends back, you'll come to realise that great though the 911 steering is, you don't actually need all the feedback and weight it provides in a car as balanced as the CSL.

The CSL does tend to roll a bit on initial turn in, this can be disconserting after driving a car such as a 911 with a much stiffer front end. Learn to make that leap of faith and trust that once the initial roll has ceased there is plenty of grip to be had, and you'll find that the CSL will carry the sort of corner entry and mid-corner speed that 911 drivers can only dream about(throw in a few bumps mid corner and the CSL gets even better)

HTH

[DjSki]

ADM06 said:

Look at the CSL's lap time on the 'ring. It's faster than a lot of things that cost more, faster than the new M3 and Audi R8. That's gotta say something about way it drives.

Edited by ADM06 on Thursday 10th December 22:33

Can't believe that if they were on the same tyres this would be true.

[ADM06]

DjSki said:

ADM06 said:

Look at the CSL's lap time on the 'ring. It's faster than a lot of things that cost more, faster than the new M3 and Audi R8. That's gotta say something about way it drives.

Edited by ADM06 on Thursday 10th December 22:33

Can't believe that if they were on the same tyres this would be true.

Maybe they'd be similar, which is still pretty impressive since one lacks about 95bhp and isn't mid-engined.
I was more impressed with the 530bhp supercharged CSL's time anyway.

[Porscheplayer]

Slippydiff said:

Porscheplayer, look at the previous cars in my profile/garage and you'll see I've made the leap from Stuttgarts finest over to a CSL.
There is no other car that gives you steering feedback (and weighting) like a 911, don't bother trying to look for it in a CSL, you won't find it.

The CSL you tried, what tyres was it on ? was it's suspension standard ? do you know what geometry it was running ?

A car with standard suspension and correctly set up geometry has plenty of feel (not weight) both in the straight ahead position and as it loads up on turn in.

My car wears Michelin Pilot Sport 2s, you're welcome to come and have a drive of it if you'd like to.
I agree it doesn't have the really detailed steering feedback or weight of a 911, but once you've gained confidence in the messages it sends back, you'll come to realise that great though the 911 steering is, you don't actually need all the feedback and weight it provides in a car as balanced as the CSL.

The CSL does tend to roll a bit on initial turn in, this can be disconserting after driving a car such as a 911 with a much stiffer front end. Learn to make that leap of faith and trust that once the initial roll has ceased there is plenty of grip to be had, and you'll find that the CSL will carry the sort of corner entry and mid-corner speed that 911 drivers can only dream about(throw in a few bumps mid corner and the CSL gets even better)

HTH

Thanks for the quality input and kind offer. Just the sort of information I was looking for.
I think the problem might be, I’ve never had the CSL demo’d to me properly by someone who car actually peddle it and on the test drives the route hasn’t played to the CSL’s strengths, i.e. to much traffic or not being able to load the car up in the corners.

[Slippydiff]

Porscheplayer said:

Slippydiff said:

Porscheplayer, look at the previous cars in my profile/garage and you'll see I've made the leap from Stuttgarts finest over to a CSL.
There is no other car that gives you steering feedback (and weighting) like a 911, don't bother trying to look for it in a CSL, you won't find it.

The CSL you tried, what tyres was it on ? was it's suspension standard ? do you know what geometry it was running ?

A car with standard suspension and correctly set up geometry has plenty of feel (not weight) both in the straight ahead position and as it loads up on turn in.

My car wears Michelin Pilot Sport 2s, you're welcome to come and have a drive of it if you'd like to.
I agree it doesn't have the really detailed steering feedback or weight of a 911, but once you've gained confidence in the messages it sends back, you'll come to realise that great though the 911 steering is, you don't actually need all the feedback and weight it provides in a car as balanced as the CSL.

The CSL does tend to roll a bit on initial turn in, this can be disconserting after driving a car such as a 911 with a much stiffer front end. Learn to make that leap of faith and trust that once the initial roll has ceased there is plenty of grip to be had, and you'll find that the CSL will carry the sort of corner entry and mid-corner speed that 911 drivers can only dream about(throw in a few bumps mid corner and the CSL gets even better)

HTH

Thanks for the quality input and kind offer. Just the sort of information I was looking for.
I think the problem might be, I’ve never had the CSL demo’d to me properly by someone who car actually peddle it and on the test drives the route hasn’t played to the CSL’s strengths, i.e. to much traffic or not being able to load the car up in the corners

Absolutely, my sat nav took me through London from Bromley to the A40 last Tuesday. Sleep deprived, thus very tired, fed up and wanting to get home, the CSL was not the car I wanted to be in

It is a hooligans car of that there's no doubt. Get it on the right road and it all makes perfect sense. S5 engaged, multiple tugs on the paddles accompanied by staccato blips of the throttle on the downchanges, it doesn't get better.
If you're in the Midlands any time I'll take you for sedate drive in mine

[Marlow11]

sorry to drive straight past you OP...........but Slippydiff

Could the CSL be used as an everyday car with not much milage involed?
What is the SMG gearbox like, any problems, traffic, generally really

cheers