Mountain Drive Revelation

[m3bs]

Just returned from a 550 mile road trip which included 200 miles through the hills of TN, NC and north Georgia. The more I drive this car the more impressed I am with it. I was blown away with how satisfying the car is to drive on roads like that. It just feels so natural, the balanced weight of all of the controls, the turn-in response, and overall stability are unmatched by any of the other cars I’ve taken on this route, including my 981 GT4. The seats are awesome as well! I was there with a friend driving a pristine E92 M3, and we traded drives on part of the Cherahola. It was shocking to see how soft, heavy and slow that car felt in comparison. It has 414 HP, but if it’s not wound up close to 7000 rpm it sure doesn’t feel like it. That gets old on the road.

I know I’m “preaching to the choir” here, but I didn’t expect it to be as good as it was. I have been close to buying a GT4RS recently, but I’m putting those plans on a high speed hold. I know it will be faster on track, but in the real world I don’t think it will be any more enjoyable to drive. On the track, the giant killer aspect of the CTR will be fun. It may not do sub 2:00 at VIR (with me driving, at least) but then, it’s just a Honda, right?

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[Clark_Kent]

Thanks for sharing this, super helpful. I agree with just about everything here with one exception, more on that later. Small gas tank, rev hang, wastegate rattle, and other minor gripes aside, Honda nailed it. The FL5 is peak Type R - it's just that good and is a bargain at sub-$50K.

Similarly, I took my tuned 982 GT4 through the North GA mountains, Cherohala Skyway, and Tail of the Dragon last fall. The car felt at home and made easy work of those roads - it flat out flew through those sweepers. I expected nothing less, but now looking forward to taking the FL5 on the same route soon for comparison.

BTW, Cherohala is so underrated IMHO. There's a lot of talk about Tail of the Dragon, but I prefer the Skyway. It's longer, you can carry more speed, less crowded, scenie pull offs, and more enjoyable.

And here's where we part company: if you desire the 4RS and have an opportunity, I would take it and get out of the 981 GT4.

 

[Tougefl5]

The dragon is really for locals and running it late nights. Otherwise it's packed with Harley riders and boomers in convertibles.
The Cherohala is the ticket.
My next touge trip is going to the back of the dragon in Virginia.

 

[m3bs]

Thanks for sharing this, super helpful. I agree with just about everything here with one exception, more on that later. Small gas tank, rev hang, wastegate rattle, and other minor gripes aside, Honda nailed it.

And here's where we part company: if you desire the 4RS and have an opportunity, I would take it and get out of the 981 GT4.

I was worried about the fuel situation, but I actually got way better mpg than I expected.

As for the RS, it gets complicated….. I think driving it on the road would be an exercise in frustration. Then there’s the center lock wheels, no local dealer to address potential warranty issues, etc. Plus, it irritates me that a $200K car is hobbled with struts front and rear…

 

[AZCWTypeR]

I live within 10 miles of seriously awesome mountain roads and the CTR doesn't disappoint. The road surfaces here are very grippy. The car just turns and goes with a few hints of side slip. There is near zero margin for error driving along cliffs, no guard rails, but never a panic moment in the CTR.

Because I live in a rural area, the car says my fuel mileage since new is >30 mpg. I know this wouldn't be the case on city surface streets.

I've autocrossed, done track days, did Skip Barber's Formula Ford 3 day racing class, and owned sports cars most of my life. The CTR is awesome on twisty mountain roads and a satisfying daily driver.

 

[optronix]

I was worried about the fuel situation, but I actually got way better mpg than I expected.

As for the RS, it gets complicated….. I think driving it on the road would be an exercise in frustration. Then there’s the center lock wheels, no local dealer to address potential warranty issues, etc. Plus, it irritates me that a $200K car is hobbled with struts front and rear…

You're onto something. I'm not in a position to consider a 4RS, but I am staging plans to acquire an Emira or another Boxster soon... and having second thoughts.

On the road, I struggle to find a reason to want for anything more than this platform gives. I do wish it made a better sound, and it does lack the sense of occasion driving something like a 4RS or Emira would grant (i.e., those cars turn heads wherever they go, for better or worse)... but as far as inputs and engagement, the FL5/DE5 delivers that in spades.

Money no object sure, I have dozens if not hundreds of cars on my "cool wall" that I'd love to occupy a spot in my imaginary warehouse that houses my collection. But I think I've arrived at the conclusion that the only actual reasons I would buy any other car at this point is if I wanted to get more serious with track use, or get a drop-top with a fantastic engine note for the open air experience.

In that sense switch that allocation to a Spyder RS and you're golden... but a GTS 4.0 or even a 981 Spyder/GTS will accomplish the same goal on the road... especially since you've already sort of alluded to the limitations of the RS cars in the sense that you'll only very rarely have an opportunity to explore the upper limits of the rev range legally on public roads.

 

[SGPkaz]

OP- great write up. Huge fan of the Cherohala, highly underrated. I get up there with the Civic X+ wake the dragon event in my Si. The surrounding roads are where the real magic is. Check out moonshiner 28 too!

 

[qingcong]

BTW, Cherohala is so underrated IMHO. There's a lot of talk about Tail of the Dragon, but I prefer the Skyway. It's longer, you can carry more speed, less crowded, scenie pull offs, and more enjoyable.

The Tail of the Dragon was not super enjoyable for me. You spend most of your time shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear, and shifting into 2nd while you're approaching a hairpin turn is kinda stressful given how far the shifter needs to travel and how 2nd gear has that extra resistance being a lower gear. Cherohala was more of a 3rd and 4th gear drive, which is the sweet spot.

 

[m3bs]

ToD is way overhyped. I did it last time just to be able to say I’ve been, but we skipped it this year.

 

[jcb]

TotD looks like a parking lot on recent YouTube videos...best road I ever drove was on my way to VIR from the north....sadly, got lost and have no idea where I was (this was pre carplay....so had a garmin but not one with updates, etc.). Best roads ever....not roads that are "known"..... Portugal and Spain are supposed to have some amazing roads too.

Bottom line, there are likely good roads hidden all over....and it is probably best to let them stay hidden....

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