The best Porsche 911? Alpine A110? These are the Goldilocks cars | Ti podcast 199

Dan Prosser and Andrew Frankel discuss the best Goldilocks cars - the pick of the bunch, the highlight of the model range. Sometimes they are the most powerful, other times the least, and often they come from right in the middle of the line-up.
So which Porsche Boxster is best? How much power do you really want in your Caterham Seven? Is the most expensive Porsche 911 the best? Was the hardcore R the best Mercedes-AMG GT? What was the most enjoyable Audi R8?
#cars #sportscars #driving
1:52 Porsche 718 Boxsters
11:26 Caterham Sevens
16:20 Mercedes-AMG GT
19:32 Alpine A110s
20:38 Minis
22:30 Porsche 911s
32:26 Ferrari special editions
41:05 Audi R8s
42:48 Jaguar E-Types and more
This is episode 199 of The Intercooler podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.
The best writers, the finest stories and no ads, all on The Intercooler’s beautiful online car magazine. Visit www.the-intercooler.com.

[@DethThrasher1]

I definitely prefer the in studio setup you guys now have, but I often feel the episodes you do are rushed towards the end, It feels like you have way more content busting to come out and then for some reason you have to wrap it up super quick. Surely you can hit or even exceed the hour mark if you're on a roll and all cylinders are firing, like they so often are on the cast. I would've loved to hear more examples from Andrew rather than rushing them in the last couple of minutes, and why didn't Dan answer the listener's question too? I'm almost always left wanting more which is a good thing but I do think you guys could go at your own pace a little more without an arbitrary time limit. I'm never going to moan and free content but I'm a big fan and just giving my 2 pence.

[@ghowells5433]

I bought a Boxster GTS 4.0 last month after owning a 991.2 gt3 for five years and absolutely blowing me away, stunning car

[@Ketta3Sportback]

Awesome show as allways gyus, but why do you have to end the show only after 50 and a bit minutes ?!? You clearly have lots more to talk about, so why dont you ? I’m allways sad when the show is over so quicky 😓

[@mattcotton4413]

Big thumbs up for the productions in the whizzy studio, significantly more audible clarity and a higher level of production! 👍

[@TheBucketOfTruth]

100% yes I prefer having these on youtube in the studio vs going on apple podcasts. Not that it's a dealbreaker, but I like to watch on video when I'm actually home for these and also the audio quality is much better in the studio vs the two of you on zoom.

[@GolfDeltaHoliday]

Great pod guys, loved the chat about the sweet spot of the range. Hope Porsche listen to you and on the 992.2 we get the Cayman GTS engine in the entry level version.

[@RussellMiddleton]

Golf GTI vs R might have been another good one. On Boxsters, always found my base 987 a great road car - in that sweet spot where it accelerates hard but long enough to enjoy the soundtrack. I enjoy the podcast while I'm cycling so don't care studio vs Zoom. Do agree with the other comment that it often feels you're rushing through stuff at the end - could it go a bit longer? Thanks for all the great content.

[@michaelschneider-]

The best Porsche 911? .. Its the 911 you own. .. The '98 Carrera S (993) parked in the garage since new (I'd spec ) is the best 911. .. 99% OEM original. . . . . An informative discussion with two gents who are top shelf jounalist.. .. Subscribed. .. Studio broadcast audio is superb. .. Intelligibility is Right - On. Cheers, Vail, Colorado

[@user-qn6yt3zx3w]

Just stumbled across this, didn’t know it existed. Dan Prosser is brilliant.

[@paulcfyeung]

Frankel is also a brilliant journalist and his knowledge is quite out there! Have always enjoyed their podcast, along with Smith & Sniff for something (far) less car centric haha

[@michaelschneider-]

+1.. Ditto that. .. Give' em hell Herr Dan Prosser. .. Cheers

[@matrichards6816]

I do really enjoy the KZbin version partially because the app is touch and go and I can’t keep track of what I’ve seen. I don’t have a good podcast app and KZbin keeps it simple

[@neilgaydon5430]

Peak mid engine Ferrari is a manual f430 & carbon buckets so you ‘wear’ the car….and they’re super comfortable. A perfect road sports car.

[@DM-MayBee]

Wonderful show, the studio setup is great and a definite improvement on the sound quality. I also listen on the podcast to many of your shows and its a far more professional delivery of the show and gives great clarity of sound. Well done both, please keep the content coming our way. Cheers

[@choyayahyah]

I just tuned in for porsche 911 and ferrari convo. I think there's a huge discrepancy with owners and journalists when it comes to these cars. I owned a 992 turbo s for about 2 years and drove it almost every day and drove it long distance. It's a far better car than the standard 911, including a gts. I just traded it for a 992 gt3 touring manual and it's a wonderful car in a different way but as amazing as the car is, I still miss the turbo S. For a "daily supercar" there is nothing like it. And on the highway, the power is so accessible that nothing comes close. Sure I love the gt3 and will always want one but honestly, I want both. With Ferrari, I know owners of the pista who would never trade for not just a 488 gtb but not for a f8 not for a sf90 or any other car. They love that car more than anything else out there period. So, I'm not sure how you guys come to your opinions

[@FenderUsa]

They come to their opinions through their experiences. Sure there will be a difference between journos and owners, that's to be expected. This is from the point of view of two car journalists and their opinions are valid

[@choyayahyah]

@FenderUsa But that is exactly my issue. They are in and out of cars all the time and giving their opinions, which are mostly fine, but they don't really know the cars.

[@user-qn6yt3zx3w]

@choyayahyah - the Deman 4.5 conversion (to the GT3) gives you Turbo performance in a GT3

[@user-qn6yt3zx3w]

Drove a friend’s 488 on my favourite roads and I didn’t have a great time - just too fast and capable. Drove a sorted Cerbera on the same road a week later, and enjoyed it way more - speaks to my limited driving ability I’m sure, but the TVR was just so connected at legal+ speeds.

[@alDxT]

I 1000% agree with the opinion on the perfect Carrera T, I have 992.1 T and it's amazing. But then I thought... why can't they use the same 4.0 liter engine from GT4/Spyder and use it in the T... that would be a perfect T right there !!!

[@flat6croc]

4.0 in the Spyder RS is a different engine from the GTS. Offering manual would mean a lot of new work that wasn't done for the Cayman RS.

[@andrewhurstcars]

GTS naturally aspirated will be about 3.6 plus hybrid powertrain on top - there will be plenty of power!

[@FenderUsa]

Thank god they are going back to n/a A Carrera with a turbo has never sat right with me. It made the turbo lose its unique attribute in the range also

[@andrewhurstcars]

@@FenderUsa apparently they are doing 3.0 turbo for Carrera and Carrera S, and 3.6 n/a for GTS and a derivative of that for GT3! Let’s see what they come up with!

[@joeracer302]

@@FenderUsaI have a 991.2 Carrera T, and with a tune it is an absolute blast in the canyons. It is a very classic combo: 911 RWD, very linear 500’ish hp, little under 3200 lbs. It’s a really sweet combo with the GT4 short shifter and GT3 mechanical LSS that really likes to move. For the $100k it cost me it is really punching well above its weight class.

[@jinxjinx7594]

Love your work and podcast! Would love you guys to test/comment on the last of the Lotus Evoras at some point--namely the GT410 Sport--Quite interested to get your take on the care as it stacks up today and against Porsche--and if the new Emira is actually a step backwards--mebbe another 'goldilocks' car

[@JoshuaKoerner]

Studio is way better. Needs some attention to the lighting part of things now ;)

[@Ollie_5]

981 GTS or 718 GTS 4.0?

[@johnnyboy1586]

The porsche t comes with limited slip diff where as the standard carrera doesn't

[@rotteneggconcept]

have we reached peak car , since every car released has more sensors , Limiters and technology ? we've reached a point where 2 tonnes cars are no longer just range rovers, sports cars are now 2 tonnes , and Lotuses now weigh 1600kg. i think Cheaper resto-mods will probably take on new characters i.e MK1 golf gti resto-mods /remake ,ford focus ST Mk1-2 resto-mods /remake

[@larssonnsx]

The best Porsche went full circle. Hypothetically the best 911 would be a carrera T with six speed manual and 4.0 engine from Caymen GTS. Why not save a lot of money and buy a manual Caymen GTS?

[@alecrl1]

The Spyder RS is an absolute toy not for everyday use and will hold its value for ever so it can sit in the garage.

[@theroadblog2858]

I like your carchatting. Very calm and factual. But a bit more humor and stupidity/stories. Could be a nice addition. Oh, and more light on the video side. It looks like you are sitting in the dark!

[@fraserwright9482]

Are you an automotive journalist in the South East? Do you believe Dab of Oppo described your literary career? Does Richard Tuthill make you feel inadequate? Are you angry at EVs/SUVs in the same way Morgan owners are at closed cars being described as Sports cars. Then join us as we fail to understand car culture beyond 2010 and what people get from cars in the present day.

[@RyanLink]

Surprised at how poor your guys ability was to define the differences beteeen the spyder and GTS. Spyder runs 991.2 GT3 suspension, engine has more power and revs to over 8000 GTS revs ro just over 7. Not to mention the looks, GT4 front end. Rear clamshell design. Anyone taking a GTS over a Spyder thinking it’s basically the same car is stupid. And you guys should have done a better job as journalists explaining the differences

[@neilturner6749]

I think you’re significantly over-egging the advantages of the (non RS) Spyder over the 4.0 GTS, Ryan: There’s only a 200 rpm redline difference (8000 vs 7800) not the 1000 you mention, and the “scientifically-conducted” independent performance review (there only been one as far as I could find - by Car & Driver several years ago I think, using Cayman GTS) showed a 0.2 sec 0-60 advantage, which would naturally result from the much fatter rear tyres on the GT4/Spyder. It would seem that the power outputs (delivered around 500 rpm below redline on both cars anyway and not at max revs) are essentially the same and the quoted 5% power differential is likely a concoction of Porsche’s Marketing Dept. The GT3-derived front suspension on the Spyder might be worth a few seconds per lap on the Nurburgring, but that’s a tiny differential and has the downside of making the steering annoyingly nervous on public roads. The suspension settings on the Spyder are notably firmer than the GTS. Again this carries an advantage on track, but on the road I’d contend it’s actually a performance disadvantage because it’s overly firm and makes the car skittish (ie less confident grip in the real world) as well as tiresome to drive for anything more than a quick blast. Residual values on the Spyder will be better (I think actual production numbers wont be vastly dissimilar as Porsche hardly made any GTS from mid 2020 to mid 2022 whilst focusing on Spyder production with the limited parts supply available in that period). That advantage will diminish if you put the same miles on a Spyder than you would on a GTS, so the offset against the higher list-price will only become notable for collectors/investors who bought a Spyder to sit in their garage and drive it 300 miles a year. Looks-wise : yes the Spyder is stunning roof-down, but it’s weird roof-up, and it’s fiddly mechanism is an irritating compromise in versatility unless you live in California. It’s more of a fine-weather toy for Europeans than a practical proposition. Please be clear I’m genuinely not crapping on the Spyder here - part of me would’ve loved to have one if I could afford a big car collection, but I’m a “real-world Joe” buyer and having driven a Spyder (ironically there were no GTS demonstrators available at that time due to restricted production) I realised I couldn’t live with its shortcomings and waited 20 months for a GTS instead. I didn’t think I was getting a cut-price Spyder, I believe I’ve actually got the better car for my (and most people’s) actual needs (as the boys in the vid also suggested).

[@RyanLink]

@@neilturner6749 I Think youre misunderstanding the premis of initial question. What is the best car in the range lineup. The RS i agree is a lot of money more than the GTS, which is what they pointed out, but the non RS Spyder is not. The non RS Spyder at list price was 11k more than a Boxster GTS. Now they clearly made the argument for why the RS is not £50K better than a GTS, but that argument cannot be made for only £11K when comparing GTS vs Spyder. For £11K more you are getting a fully fledged GT product. you are getting a 4.0 flat 6 with 420HP revving to over 8000RPM, you are getting one of the most beautiful Porsche convertibles arguably ever produced. you are getting a car that does 0-60mph in 3.7 compared to 4.5. You are also getting a car without a Boxster badge (which matters to some) and a car that is going to depreciate a lot less. The roof on the NON RS Spyder an be deployed in less than a minute, its not as much of a faf as the RS or as many people seem to suggest. If you still think that the GTS is better value thats fine, but i think they should have done a better job at explaining the differences. I have a Spyder, a 992 Carrera T and a 488 GTB, and the Spyder hands down is the best car i own.

[@neilturner6749]

@@RyanLinkok respecting your personal opinion (I didn’t buy the GTS on value, I actually think it’s the better car but we can agree to disagree on that) so only going to quibble about the performance and power - you’re quoting Porsches own figures which independently tested have shown to understate the GTS to show a false difference in engine output. Also I think you quoted a PDK figure acceleration time for one vs a manual for the other. PDK vs PDK it’s two-tenths which is down to the wider tyre not power. Coincidentally enough I get to occasionally exercise a friend’s 488 and I don’t enjoy it very much and neither does he - regrets swapping out his 458.

[@Vegas3RSPilot]

I test drove a 2011 Boxster Spyder here in Las Vegas and with the top up in the summer and the top did not provide enough protection from the heat so I passed on it. If the new Spyder RS has the same material for the top, then it's a car better suited for California, Florida, and Hawaii.

[@jameswillard1]

@@neilturner6749 you lost all credibility with me once you started saying that the 718 Spyders ride was “overly firm and skittish” as it is clear you’ve never driven one but instead subscribe to the typical Porsche BS that the GTS is always the most perfect Porsche because of its all around ability. It’s like guys who own Carrera T’s believing that they actually have the superior car to a GT3 when in actuality the ride is not much different but the handling is in another galaxy 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@BubuBarong]

I'm sorry guys. So snobbish, so naif, so left field. Unsubscribed, both from YT and Ti. Testing an RS in the cold and wet with Cup2s... come on! The GTS and the RS are on two different levels chassis wise before engine wise. Not to mention nobody in their right mind would choose the MT in the 4.0 GTSs/Spyders/GT4s... Very, very disappointed. Cheers from Italy anyway!

[@FenderUsa]

Why not choose the MT? Because the long ratios? Also you are really overreacting to their opinions on said cars

[@BubuBarong]

@@FenderUsa Sorry mate I'm a fan, not a hater but how on Earth an Alpine A110 is a 10/10 car with crappy interiors and almost no luggage space and an RS is an 8/10 car on the basis of a test in the wet and cold? Let's be serious here...

[@eugenux]

why would no one choose a manual.. when changing gears using your hand and your feet feels(and is!) infinitely more satisfying than touching a paddle. So sorry but the ppl like you are those who, in the end, will kill the sports car as we know and enjoy.. and for what, for the sake of comfyness... that's sad, really sad.

[@eugenux]

changing gears with your hand and your feet gives you infinitely more satisfaction in a sports car so why would no one choose a manual gearbox in such a car?, if you treat and judge your special/fun car by the same criteria as daily drivers, why bother with a sports car in the first place?

[@BubuBarong]

@@eugenux did you try the MT on the 4.0 litre cars? I suspect you didn't