Driving experience: Which cars is it most similar to?

[luciddaydream]

Just wondering which cars this badboy is most similar to in its driving feel. Lets exclude horsepower.

NSX? Ferrari 458?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Sandalwood]

I've heard a first-gen NSX, but I have never driven one so that is anecdotal from a guy I met at a road rally.

For me it's a mix. I've felt bits of lots of cars from my past, from the turn-in of my old Bertone X1/9 to the power delivery of the supercharged 6 in the F-Type. The ride/handling balance feels perhaps most German to me, with thoughts of an M3, a little Cayman/718, etc.

This is, however, only the third mid-engined car I have owned, and their unique combo of a relatively high roll center but desirable polar moment of inertia give a unique feel that is a challenge to compare to front-engine performance cars. I'm just happy it rides so well and remains so predictable in the twisties.

 

[benjh1028]

Modern Porsche 914

 

[TomAce]

I think Thomas from Throttle House nailed it, he said: „When Miata meets Porsche“.

And I would add Porsche 911 because of the weight distribution that Emira shares with the 911. Though Emira is more playful and less serious.

Because when it comes to track times you will always lose against such a Big Player.

 

[seriously]

I am guessing from specs that this drives similar to an F360 with a different engine experience - more torquey engine vs. high revving. But the notchy 6 speed, the general power to weight, the mid-engine layout. I would imagine it's not that far off. Just doesn't have the crazy high revving V8 sound. Kind of fits the old supercar vibe of the car.

Can't really think of modern cars that are similar other than the cayman which overall feels more refined and sedate. The Emira feels more rough and dramatic in its delivery.

 

[morphious]

For me, it feels like a Toyota MR2 (MKII) mated with a Acura 1st Gen NSX.

 

[seriously]

For me, it feels like a Toyota MR2 (MKII) mated with a Acura 1st Gen NSX.

With more power. Or an NSX with supercharger.

 

[MickOpalak]

And I would add Porsche 911 because of the weight distribution that Emira shares with the 911.

The Emira only shares the weight distribution across the axles. Its polar moment of inertia is vastly superior to a 911 and why it changes directions so much better than a rear-engined car.

 

[TomAce]

The Emira only shares the weight distribution across the axles. Its polar moment of inertia is vastly superior to a 911 and why it changes directions so much better than a rear-engined car.

Do you have data to back this up?

I can only tell you what I have experienced during my drift training and the Emira had very much in common with the 992 GT3 who also attended this training.

I once also had the opportunity to drift 981 GT4 in a wet circle and it was way easier to initiate and hold the drift, reason for this was the weight distribution of 45:55 which made ist so easy and of course a limited slip differential that has a fixed ratio not like the Torsen that we have in the Emira.

 

[morphious]

With more power. Or an NSX with supercharger.

Yes, with more power.

 

[MickOpalak]

Do you have data to back this up?

You don't really need data to observe this. While both may have 60% of the car's weight over the rear axle, the 911 has the bulk of that weight (the engine) behind the rear axle while the Emira (or any rear-midengined car) has it in front of the rear axle. This gives the 911 a pendulum affect that is difficult to recover from. That's why early 911s were known as widow makers and later 911s were saddled with stability control, traction control, torque vectoring, and AWD to offset this. Unless the 911's engine is made of helium it's not going to handle like an Emira much.

Explanation of polar moment of inertia

 

[seriously]

Was interested so found these pictures....

> The Emira is clearly rear heavy with majority of weight nearly over the rear wheel.
> The 911 is rear heavy with the majority of the weight behind the rear wheel.
> The Cayman is most neutral with the majority of the weight in front of the rear wheel.

This explains why the Emira can feel a bit more like a 911 than one would normally assume. The cayman is the most purely mid-engined and contributes to its neutral feeling. Funny to see that the 911 and cayman have flip flopped their drivetrain distribution - the 911 allowing for rear seats and the classic rear bias.

In the end the Emira is kind of a middle ground between the 911 and cayman from a continuous weight distribution perspective, not just discrete F/R figures.

 

[Tomwa]

The 911 benefits from the gas-tank being in the front of the car from a weight balance perspective. I wonder what the scales say in a Dry vs Wet situation.

 

[marc1adrien]

In terms of my own experience, it feels like a much more capable NA Miata, or my old RX8. Similar engagement and predictability and playfulness, albeit with a much larger envelope.

In terms of what I tell people, I feel that the best description is that it drives like an excited terrier chasing a ball.

BTW one of the things I was told by a senior engineer at the factory is part of the design is to enable you to feel the movement of the center of gravity as g forces change by mapping your head into the middle of the car as much as possible. His comment was they wanted you to be able to feel the CG moving by allowing the cr to "motorboat" a little before taking a set stance in acceleration, braking or cornering.

And it doesn't quite feel like a 911 to me. 911s feel very much like they have a pendulum weight hanging out the back, which you can use if you know how...a bit like the feeling of riding a bike with a trailer.