By Boxster to Wakayama

Recently, Wakayama Prefecture was in Shirahama to participate in the Porsche Track Experience at the former Nanki-Shirahama Airport site in Shirahama.I drove the Boxster all the way from my home to Shirahama.By the way, my husband and daughters were headed there in a Panamera.

The distance from my home to Shirahama is about 180 km. The day before, when I met the mothers of the kindergarten students, they told me, "You said you were going again tomorrow, be careful.Yeah, but it's not as far away as Fuji, and since it's in Shirahama, it's closer this time.I say."

No, no, no...Shirahama is pretty far away too (-_-)"

I was told that my sense of humor was beginning to be out of step with the rest of the world, and I realized it keenly.

Even though 180 km is close to our family's long-distance travel, I was a little nervous because I had never driven such a long distance in a Boxster, but I thought again after actually driving this distance in a Boxster.

The Boxster is a good car to drive anywhere.

And.

You can drive on highways, mountain roads, or public roads.The low-speed ride is not bad, the highway is smoother than one would expect, and the car is stress-free everywhere you drive.

Also, fuel economy was not bad, as we had heard rumors. On the way there, we were forced to drive slowly in first gear for about 2 km between Ebie and Awaza due to heavy traffic on the Hanshin Expressway.Total fuel consumption for the trip was 10.2 km/L(9.8l/100km)It was.

That's pretty good!

Also, when I went to Fuji last month in a BMW 320i, I was often interrupted or unable to accelerate as expected and ended up being pulled in front, which was stressful. Of course, the 320i is a more than adequate car and has high speed stability, but I am sorry for comparing it to the Porsche...The Boxster GTS is still comfortable on the highway because it accelerates with great extension as soon as you step on it a little!It was.

However, many expressways in the Kinki region have two-lane vehicles and sections with heavy traffic.(It will be one lane for a while from the Arita IC.)The Boxster was almost always driven in a safe cruise mode, which did not allow the Boxster to show its power.... On the other hand, when driving on a wide highway with little traffic on weekdays, such as the Chugoku Expressway, I thought I should be more than careful not to drive too fast.

However, even in situations where the Boxster forced me to drive at a trot on the highway, I enjoyed just downshifting a bit and listening to the sound of the engine in Sport Plus mode.(w since it's my husband's Panamera that goes in front of me and I'm not a stirring driver).

You can make many changes by yourself and never get bored of driving.I was able to drive without tiring myself if it was only about 180 km to Shirahama by this.

Manual car, fun!

This time, "theI'm so glad I got to drive a manual car.I thought again, "I'd rather drive a car with an AT than a car with an AT. Of course, I think AT cars are smoother to shift gears, faster to drive, and more enjoyable to drive. And above all, it is easier.

Manual cars, on the other hand, I'm still not very good at shifting gears, and the fuel economy is definitely worse than AT cars, but still...You can feel like you are driving with your own arms.However, I think it is the best part and the fun part.

It is also nice to be able to experience the process of gradually getting better at the controls.

Until I got into a manual car."I don't want to have to shift gears every time I'm in traffic or do anything tedious.I thought it was a "one-size-fits-all" approach, but in fact, it was that part that was the deepest and most interesting.

I am also glad I bought the BMW 320i. If the only manual car in our house had been a Boxster, I would still be scared to death and would have ended my life without being able to drive a manual car.

We have received a number of letters from readers in the past, asking forWhy don't you practice driving a manual car other than a Porsche? You'll improve faster that way.and advice," he said.I can't see how my everyday ride could be a manual car."I guess I'll have to buy it myself to practice.After much thought and consultation with my husband, I decided to buy a MT car myself.

And as I practice driving the 320i every day, I became accustomed to the manual controls, I am no longer intimidated by the manual Porsche cars, I can drive the Boxster normally, and now I am about to open the door to a new world again.

At first I was full of anxiety, but I'm glad I took the plunge then, and I'm glad I did.I am also grateful to my husband for allowing me to have an additional MT car in the form of a replacement for my Golf.

And I genuinely want to drive better and better now.

I used to have no interest in cars at all and rather dismissed their existence as useless.Ahhh, I've been completely brainwashed by my husband over the years...Today, I feel that "W