The Joy of Beside the Seaside: A Thrilling Track Showdown Between Two Iconic Cars

As I stand beside the seaside, surrounded by two of my favorite driving cars, I can barely contain my excitement. The Porsche 911 Carrera S is my first choice, boasting a powerful 3.8-liter engine that produces an impressive 355 BHP. Earlier this year, Tiff had the pleasure of driving this beast on the track, and I must say, it was absolutely unbelievable. Now, I get to pit this magnificent machine against another iconic car, the lightweight Lotus Esprit 240R.

The Lotus Esprit 240R is a new addition to the brand's lineup, featuring a supercharged 1.8-liter Toyota engine that pumps out a respectable 240 BHP. On paper, it may seem like the heavier Porsche has the upper hand, but I'm eager to put my money where my mouth is and find out who will emerge victorious on the track.

As we get underway, I take a moment to appreciate the sleek design of both cars. The Porsche's aggressive lines and bulging fenders only add to its menacing presence, while the Lotus Esprit's slender profile and pop-up headlights give it a more agile and sporty appearance. Of course, as much as I admire their looks, my main focus is on getting them down the track as quickly as possible.

I take a deep breath, settle in, and begin the countdown. "Start the stopwatch!" I shout, eager to see who will come out on top. The Porsche 911 Carrera S crosses the line in an impressive 52.6 seconds, edging out its rival by just 0.18 of a second.

But what sets this car apart from its competitors? For starters, it comes equipped with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), which lowers the vehicle by 10mm to provide optimal track performance. This clever system is paired with massive beefy brakes that offer unparalleled feedback and control. And let's not forget the incredible grip – I've never driven a car with such sticky tires.

Of course, this level of performance comes at a price. The Porsche 911 Carrera S is priced at £65,000, making it a true investment for any serious driver. However, those willing to part with their hard-earned cash can upgrade to the exclusive Sport Package, which adds an extra £4 under £44,000. This package includes a range of goodies, including 50 BHP more power, a fancy interior, uprated brakes, adjustable dampers, and – best of all – a portion of active suspension management.

But what about the Lotus Esprit 240R? Can its smaller engine and lower price point give it an edge on the track? I take a moment to appreciate its nimble rear-wheel drive layout, shod in sticky tires that seem to hug the asphalt. The steering is razor-sharp, with a direct connection that makes me feel like I'm driving the car itself.

As we head back into the fray, I find myself acutely aware of every movement – every shift, every turn, and every braking point. The Lotus Esprit 240R may not have the raw power of its opponent, but it's clear that it has something special up its sleeve. And when it crosses the finish line in a blistering pace, it becomes painfully clear that this tiny car has won my heart.

I glance over at the Porsche 911 Carrera S, now just a fraction behind. The lead may be small, but I know that this is only the beginning of a thrilling rivalry between these two iconic cars. Until next time, when we'll pit them against each other once again in another epic showdown...

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enoh I do like to be beside the seaside especially when I have cars like this to pit against each other first up the Porsche 911 Carrera S it's got a 3.8 L engine and 355 BHP Tiff drove it earlier in the year and said it was unbelievable on the track to make things interesting we're going to put it up against another of our favorite driving cars the bantamweight Lotus Siege this is the brand new sports 240r model it's got a supercharged 1.8 L Toyota engine and produces 240 BHP so what do you think is going to win the more powerful heavy car or the less powerful rter car place your bets this 911 costs £65,000 worth every penny you beta is the first to be fitted with the Porsche active suspension management which basically lowers the car by 10 mm to make it really good for track work this thing is just so wonderful beautiful big beefy brakes that tell you exactly what's going on now I'm not here to act lyrical about such a machine I'm here to ring its neck start the stopwatch I just have to be a little bit careful not to put the power on too early and not to go into the corners too quickly the 9/11 crosses the line in 52.6 seconds just 50 exceeded 240 RS will be made and yes you will pay for that exclusivity a FIV under £44,000 so what do you get for your extra cash well you get get 50 BHP more a fancy interior uprated brakes adjustable dampers and an adjustable front anti-rot basically a portion active suspension management but with spanners you sit really far forward in it which is good because you are almost on top of the front wheels which makes you feel exactly what is going on all the time such a fabulous Nimble rear wheel drive sh see steering that is just so direct my hands might as well move the tires and have I told you about the grip whoa whoa whoa I have never driven a car with quite so much grip start that clock at the radar the ex sieg is a nuts whisker ahead but that tiny Advantage has been reversed by the headpin and the porter holds on to its slim lead to win by just 0.18 of the secondsoh I do like to be beside the seaside especially when I have cars like this to pit against each other first up the Porsche 911 Carrera S it's got a 3.8 L engine and 355 BHP Tiff drove it earlier in the year and said it was unbelievable on the track to make things interesting we're going to put it up against another of our favorite driving cars the bantamweight Lotus Siege this is the brand new sports 240r model it's got a supercharged 1.8 L Toyota engine and produces 240 BHP so what do you think is going to win the more powerful heavy car or the less powerful rter car place your bets this 911 costs £65,000 worth every penny you beta is the first to be fitted with the Porsche active suspension management which basically lowers the car by 10 mm to make it really good for track work this thing is just so wonderful beautiful big beefy brakes that tell you exactly what's going on now I'm not here to act lyrical about such a machine I'm here to ring its neck start the stopwatch I just have to be a little bit careful not to put the power on too early and not to go into the corners too quickly the 9/11 crosses the line in 52.6 seconds just 50 exceeded 240 RS will be made and yes you will pay for that exclusivity a FIV under £44,000 so what do you get for your extra cash well you get get 50 BHP more a fancy interior uprated brakes adjustable dampers and an adjustable front anti-rot basically a portion active suspension management but with spanners you sit really far forward in it which is good because you are almost on top of the front wheels which makes you feel exactly what is going on all the time such a fabulous Nimble rear wheel drive sh see steering that is just so direct my hands might as well move the tires and have I told you about the grip whoa whoa whoa I have never driven a car with quite so much grip start that clock at the radar the ex sieg is a nuts whisker ahead but that tiny Advantage has been reversed by the headpin and the porter holds on to its slim lead to win by just 0.18 of the seconds\n"