Griff 500 vs Boxster S
Discussion
Was in pub last night with neighbour who has a W-reg Boxster S. Nice car and he's rightly proud of it. However, it got to bit where we discussed which was fastest. He reckoned that if the road had some twisty bits in it he'd keep up. In the interests of goodwill I didn't argue the point but personally think I'd wipe the floor with him. What does the PH panel think?
I've got a Chimaera and a Boxster S. 280bhp vs 260bhp. The BoxS is a little heaver so its more like 280 vs 240.
In a straight line the Chim would pull away. Not quickly but it would. The Griff with another 40bhp again would pull away quickly. I know - I've tried it with a mate!
Then you come to the "in-the-corners" argument. And you could only ever find out on a track day by (ahem!) videoing the laps and then (at some later point, of course) timing them. My BoxS has CONSIDERABLY more grip than our Chim.
In the real world cornering speed is limited by visibility anyway and the Chim/Griff has more than enough grip to exceed the speed at which visibility becomes the limiting factor.
So each is as fast as the other on the road. Even when it comes to overtaking - at which the Griff/Chim has a natural power advantage - one only needs a significant power advantage to ensure one can pass safely. The BoxS is sufficiently more powerful than the average road car to do that.
Its always a bit of fun debating this - as the cars a similarly priced - or were when new. But the end result is the same - the cars are different. The BoxS is fast enough. The Chim (and Griff) is more than fast enough. The BoxS has other compensating factors - like more grip and wonderful brakes - if you can find somewhere to use them!
In a straight line the Chim would pull away. Not quickly but it would. The Griff with another 40bhp again would pull away quickly. I know - I've tried it with a mate!
Then you come to the "in-the-corners" argument. And you could only ever find out on a track day by (ahem!) videoing the laps and then (at some later point, of course) timing them. My BoxS has CONSIDERABLY more grip than our Chim.
In the real world cornering speed is limited by visibility anyway and the Chim/Griff has more than enough grip to exceed the speed at which visibility becomes the limiting factor.
So each is as fast as the other on the road. Even when it comes to overtaking - at which the Griff/Chim has a natural power advantage - one only needs a significant power advantage to ensure one can pass safely. The BoxS is sufficiently more powerful than the average road car to do that.
Its always a bit of fun debating this - as the cars a similarly priced - or were when new. But the end result is the same - the cars are different. The BoxS is fast enough. The Chim (and Griff) is more than fast enough. The BoxS has other compensating factors - like more grip and wonderful brakes - if you can find somewhere to use them!
Griff faster in a straight line no doubt.
Round the twisty bits, well I think that it would depend on how smooth the road/track is and if its wet or dry.
If the road is smooth and dry the griffith should be faster particularly on medium to fast corners. If the road is bumpy then the griffith might struggle. All IMHO
Its all a bit academic if the driver doesnt know what he/she is doing with the car and cant exploit the potential of the car.
Round the twisty bits, well I think that it would depend on how smooth the road/track is and if its wet or dry.
If the road is smooth and dry the griffith should be faster particularly on medium to fast corners. If the road is bumpy then the griffith might struggle. All IMHO
Its all a bit academic if the driver doesnt know what he/she is doing with the car and cant exploit the potential of the car.
Ultimately, it depends on the abiltities of both drivers who are having the discussion, regardless of the car.
I, for a fact know, that on a specific stretch of road, with normal traffic and wether conditions, I can leave point A in a VW polo (Station car!) at the same time as a mate in a Boxster S, race to point B and he will only be a car length in front.
Therefore, IMO, it depends on the skill of the drivers, bottle factor and general road/traffic knowledge.
However, having said all that, with the same driver driving both (which I have done) I feel they are fairly well matched cars. Griff - faster, more feel, Box S - more grip, better brakes. The +'s & -'s balance each other out over a cross country sprint.
I, for a fact know, that on a specific stretch of road, with normal traffic and wether conditions, I can leave point A in a VW polo (Station car!) at the same time as a mate in a Boxster S, race to point B and he will only be a car length in front.
Therefore, IMO, it depends on the skill of the drivers, bottle factor and general road/traffic knowledge.
However, having said all that, with the same driver driving both (which I have done) I feel they are fairly well matched cars. Griff - faster, more feel, Box S - more grip, better brakes. The +'s & -'s balance each other out over a cross country sprint.
RichB said:
So each is as fast as the other on the road.
So what you are saying is that whilst both are adequatly fast enough for normal visibility and road conditions, given a nice straight open road the Griff 500 will provide a much bigger grin when you floor it! Rich...
When you *floor* it - quite probably. But there are plenty of other considerations. I get a great big grin on my face planting it in Clearways and exiting onto the pit straight at Brands as the car just grips and grips and grips.
Mind you it was a total gas doing it in a Caterham which didn't! Whoohoo! What a fantastic car...I wish I could drive it properly!
But back to the comparison - they're both great cars - but appeal to different aspects of driving, have different strengths when it comes to practicality and so on.
My experience is that they both as reliable as one another too...which is to say...not bad but not good either!
Rich...I reckon that down a twisty road I'd be faster in my Griff 500 than a Boxster S would be. However, it wouldn't be by much and I'd need a change of underwear afterwards.
It wasn't until I went on one of Don Palmer's driving courses that I found out just what the Griff can do, and just what it can't!
It wasn't until I went on one of Don Palmer's driving courses that I found out just what the Griff can do, and just what it can't!
I went to Le mans a couple of years ago with a group and ended up following a Boxter S.
The guy could really drive and I found myself praying on every sharp bend that I would come out the other side (I have a Tuscan). Must admit though I dont like Boxters it was mighty quick on the twisty stuff!
Then we got on a nice longggggggg straight I nailed it and stayed level with him sisde by side at about 140 then gunned it! Ha left him for dead. Then pay back every bend he was about 6" off the back of me!
All I can say is I would sooner follow a Boxter into a bend than lead him in a Tuscan!
The guy could really drive and I found myself praying on every sharp bend that I would come out the other side (I have a Tuscan). Must admit though I dont like Boxters it was mighty quick on the twisty stuff!
Then we got on a nice longggggggg straight I nailed it and stayed level with him sisde by side at about 140 then gunned it! Ha left him for dead. Then pay back every bend he was about 6" off the back of me!
All I can say is I would sooner follow a Boxter into a bend than lead him in a Tuscan!
Psychobert and I saw encountered a Boxster S being driven very hard on the way to le mans last year. It was with the ferrari boys and was playing with a 360 on the approach to Alencon. I must say it wasnt fairing too badly either. Both of us were v surprised at how well it was doing in keeping up.
After driving a tuned Boxster S (330 real BHP) I can say that acceleration wise the standard S can't keep up with a standard 5 liter Griffith. The tuned Boxster would be pretty much the same. Brakes however completely different ballpark. The brakes of the Porsche, amazing, compared to the brakes of the Griffith's anyway. If any of you get the change, drive a new Porsche turbo and try the brakes on that. I can guarantee that you will be VERY impressed. I reckon if you let two average drivers compete in both cars, the Porsche will win, it's so simple to drive fast. Put two race drivers in them, I don't know. Who will give you the most pleasure and fun... The Griffith offcourse.
Fred
Fred
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