Porsche to Hokuriku

This doesn't happen often, but about a year ago'This past November, I was in Hokuriku (Toyama/Kanazawa) for an overnight business trip assignment.'However, after that, due to the new Corona virus, my work was cancelled one after another. However, after that, due to the new Corona, my jobs were cancelled one after another, so I thought I would lose this business trip to Hokuriku as well.

However, the other day we received the final word from the other party that the project will be carried out as planned, so we decided to go ahead with the project.I decided to take this opportunity to go to Hokuriku by car.I did. (If I were coming from Kansai, I would normally take the Thunderbird.)

We had originally planned to go with a notebook, but my husband

If you're going to drive such a long distance, why not take a Porsche?

so I decided to go with my Boxster (981GTS), which I hadn't driven recently.

Then, in advance, the destination and "The weather looks good for next week, which is a relief!I was excitedly preparing for my first business trip away from the children in several years, when the day before the trip, my husband was told that he was going to be away from them for the first time in several years.

The weather in Toyama and Ishikawa changed to heavy rain only on the two days we were planning to visit.

He said.

."What? ! Seriously! It was so sunny yesterday!I immediately checked the weather forecast, only to find that the forecast had changed to heavy rain for the two days I was going. And the maximum temperature is 11 degrees Celsius...it's so cold!

Somehow, I feel like the weather changed as soon as I decided to take the Boxster, but maybe I'm overthinking it... Well, I've been allowed to play the rainy girl for many years, so this is about as much as I can expect.

Driving on the highway in a Boxster

On the first day, I had to go from my home to Toyama, which, according to Googlemap, would take about 5 hours. I didn't know Toyama was that far away...

Dr. Google showed me a route via the Hokuriku Expressway via Meishin, but my husband told me to take the

Because weekday morning hours are often crowded around Shiga from Kyoto on the Meishin.Better to take the Maizuru Expressway from the Chugoku Expressway and then the Hokuriku Expressway from there.I think. It's a long way, but the roads are clear, it's pleasant, and I think we'll get there quicker as a result.

I decided to go accordingly. Indeed, the Otsu, Kusatsu, and Kyoto-Higashi Interchange areas of the Meishin Expressway are always crowded.

And on the day of the event, as it had been a long time since I had seen a Boxster, I said, "You know what?I'm still excited about sports cars.I was driving the car smoothly with a grin on my face, but when we passed Maizuru, it started to rain. It was coming after all...it was raining faster than I had expected. We came to the Mikatagoko PA, but we couldn't see any scenery because of the fog.

If it had been sunny, we would have had a beautiful view...we thought, and hurried on. After that, we took several breaks and were planning to have dinner at the Oyabegawa SA when we arrived at this point.

I can't get out of the car... (-_-)

When I looked outside, the wind was strong and people with umbrellas were quite wet, so I gave up and decided to go to Toyama Station, my destination. Usually when I eat at an SA, I mainly take care of my children and don't have time to savor my meal.I was quite looking forward to eating a local meal alone in SA this time.I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not.

And from there to Toyama, it rained so hard that the windshield wipers couldn't keep up, and the next day, when I came home from Kanazawa, it rained as far as Fukuchiyama, butI managed to complete the 800 km round trip by myself without incident.

Porsche Boxster Attraction

I had never driven a Boxster on the highway in such heavy rain, but before we left, my husband told me

On the highway, it's just fine if only the legs are sporting and stiff. ButNormal feet are safer in heavy rain because they are more stable.I think so.

I was advised to do so, so I did, and was able to run with ease throughout the race.

The Panamera I used to drive was heavier and more stable in heavy rain because of the four-wheel drive, and the feeling of sinking down and gripping the ground was more reliable, but I felt that the Boxster could also be driven without any worries.

I'm so proud of you!

And after all, the engine sound of this 981 Boxster GTS is great, really, really great. (I always say the same thing, don't I?)

I know it's completely a matter of taste.As far as engine sounds go, I like the 981 Boxster GTS the best of all the cars in my house.Span! and the engine sound that grows in response to rpm when the driver steps into 3rd or 4th gear gives me goose bumps no matter how many times I hear it.

Fortunately, there was little traffic on this day, and there were quite a few times when there were no cars in front of or behind me, so I was able to get a good view of the tunnel on the Maizuru Expressway.I can't tell you how many times I downshifted for no reason, accelerated, and tasted the engine noise (laughs).

And being able to drive this car manually was also the best of both worlds. Of course, the performance of the recent PDK is excellent, so I think it is also pleasant to operate and drive with paddle shifters.

But the pleasure of stepping on the clutch with your foot, moving the shift lever with your hand, and operating the car rhythmically in tune with the car, plus the sound of the engine, well, it's just...just...great (vocabulary).

Compared to recent new Porsche models, the 981 Boxster leaves more room for human hands to operate, in a good way... The clutch is heavy, and the feeling of almost stalling the car if you are not careful when starting off is also enjoyable. Well, if you ask my husband...

If you are talking about the fun of driving by yourself, older Porsches are more enjoyable.

I'm still a beginner, not an expert MT rider, so I've never been able to blip by myself, and I like the 981 because it only turns on auto-blipping when I press the sports-plus button. I like the 981 which turns on auto blipping only when I press the sport plus button.

In fact, after the 992 was delivered, I drove the Boxster for the first time in a long time in the Ashiu Driveway, and I was surprised to see the "Hey, I'm not as impressed as before... maybe it's because the performance of the 911 is still amazing...I honestly felt that the "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do.

But now that I think about it, that's not what the Boxster is about.The road I drive my Boxster on is Ashiyu Driveway every time, so the freshness of the road was gone and the excitement was weakened.I think it is just that.

After driving on many roads for the first time in the Boxster this timeI found the Boxster to be a really pleasant and fun car.I also thought the car had just the right amount of power, and I could enjoy driving it on any road, including ordinary roads, giving it a strong partner feel.

And I was reminded that the sound of the engine and the manual operation are the two main attractions of our Boxster.

I was having so much fun that when I got home, even though I was supposed to be tired after work, I couldn't fall asleep because of the adrenaline rush, and I told my husband, "I'm not going to sleep.If one day you ever say you're outgrowing your Boxster, I'll buy it back from you! I'll do my best to make that happen!I said to my husband, "I'm sorry.

Yeah, what's the point of doing that between a husband and wife?

I was rushed into such a situation (explosion).

Also, I had Kanazawa oden for the first time in Kanazawa, and it was delicious. I am not a gourmet by nature, so I usually end up eating at convenience stores or chain restaurants wherever I go, but I thought it would be nice to go to a different place and try a local specialty like this.

Next time, I want to run in Hokuriku on a sunny day (laughs).