Weekend Wheels

It’s Friday afternoon, you’ve had a crazy week at work and the weekend is beckoning. The weather forecast is perfect and you have your favourite passenger waiting, bags packed, for you to collect them. All that remains is for you to open the garage door and remove the covers of your dream weekend car. But what car would that be?

Different strokes for different folks, as they say, so in the interest of a little fun, the CAR team has put together their dream list of weekend wheels.

 

Lancia Hyena Zagato – Peter Palm

With only 24 around, this stunner packs the punch of the Delta Integrale that won so many rallies in the late 1980s. With turbo power and four-wheel drive, this will not only be incredible fun to whisk around a few mountain passes, but most people would have no idea what it is, so expect lots of puzzled frowns – and smiles.

 

 

 

 

Ferrari F40 in Maranello – Nicol Louw

I think all car nuts need to drive the car that they had on their bedroom wall during childhood. The F40 has always captured my imagination and where better to experience the undiluted Ferrari spirit than in its birthplace. Throw in a factory and museum visit, plus a session on the Fiorano test track. The beautiful woman on the seat next to me will obviously have to be my wife, although I will send her shopping during the day so that my emotional connection with the other (scarlet) lady can be pure!

 

 

Porsche Boxster Spyder PDK – Ian McLaren

It’s tempting to say the new 2012 Boxster, based on its evolved looks and, on initial reports, improved dynamics, but I would be quite happy with the “old” Boxster-based Spyder PDK. The stunning mid-mounted 3,4-litre flat-six engine offers more than enough smile-inducing power, while the dual-clutch PDK transmission delivers ultra-refined and slick gearshifts. Let’s not forget that it looks fantastic too.

In truth, if it were only myself in the car for the weekend, I would probably choose the race-ready 911 (997) GT3, but for a slightly more leisurely, top-down, wind-in-the-hair comfort, over the duration of a weekend away – preferably in picturesque Franschhoek – with my wife, the Boxster Spyder would tick all the right boxes. I would probably sneak out early on Sunday morning – en route to buying fresh milk of course – for a solo blast over the pass though…

 

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder – Sudhir Matai

This was a very hard call to make. I went through all the possible permutations. For a moment I considered the “Sebastian Vettel” option, ie a Red Bull RB08 on Spa-Francorchamps. Then I realised I’d probably be really shyte driving a Formula One car and spread myself all over the Belgian countryside. My other “dream” is driving a racecar at every single track in SA, but, as luck would have it, I am currently fulfilling that one. One of my favourite cars is a BMW M3, though, as accomplished as that car is, the car that gets the nod for this particular exercise is the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. As old as the baby Lambo is, the looks are still arresting and if you don’t see it first you are sure as hell likely to hear it. The normally aspirated V10 is a rev-hungry unit that makes the most ludicrous noises. I’d have the topless version mostly because I would choose the Western Cape to explore. I have driven in several countries and it is very difficult to top the roads of our Western Cape province. Within an hour of leaving the city you can be blasting up a mountain pass and not long after be winding your way along the Indian Ocean. At the right time of year you can even stop and watch whales frolicking in the water and it can’t get much better than that…

 

 

Ford Mustang GT500 KR Super Snake – John Naude

This icon-based Ford would be perfect for a weekend drive out. The noise of a big 5,4-litre supercharged V8 engine alone gets me excited. Power can be increased to a venom-spitting 600 kW, so the weekend would be all about heading to my nearest racetrack to challenge man and machine on the drag strip…

 

 

Porsche 911 (993) GT2 – Wilhelm Lutjeharms

There are several potential cars I could put on this list. A Ferrari wouldn’t be out of place, especially since I’ve never driven one yet… The iconic McLaren F1 is a must drive, and so would a Bugatti Type 57S Atalante. Thing is, for me, a road needs to gel with a car, meaning the road and the car should complement one another. I have experienced this to a certain extent, having driven both a 997 Carrera Targa and Boxster Spyder over the Austrian and Swiss Alps – both memorable occasions. It may sound a little monotonous, but I would always return to my favourite mountain passes in the Alps. Which car would I choose, if only one were permitted? That’s easy – the 993 Porsche GT2. I won’t go into a detailed explanation – it’s not needed.

 

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL – Terence Steenkamp

Arguably the most beautiful car in the world, whether in fixed- or open-top form. I can’t think of another car I’d rather drive over a weekend (although a BMW 507 comes close) or, in fact, own…

 

 

 

 

Any Subaru Rally Car – Duwyne Aspeling

I would like to go tearing up earth and water through as many farmyards from here to Timbuktu using my side window as a windscreen.

 

 

 

 

 

Dodge Viper ACR – Kyle Kock

If my weekend included a track day – I’d be particularly inclined to go for the Dodge Viper ACR, the last great American muscle car. With an 8,4-litre V10 that produces 450 kW and 760 N.m of torque, as well as race-inspired wings and spoilers, this track-bred, street-legal non-ESP monster would humble all in its path. It also has enough low-down grunt to drive it all the way home in sixth gear afterward…

 

 

 Audi R8 Spyder – Juliet McGuire

This is no easy choice, but living in Cape Town, I would have to choose a cabriolet for the weekend. It’s a toss up between the Porsche Boxster, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster, and the Audi R8 Spyder. After much deliberation I have decided to go with the Audi. I have always had a love affair with this car and couldn’t think of a better way to spend a weekend than driving along the Rooi Els coastal road in this beast. Picture it: sun shining, wind in your hair, a beautifully smooth road, and an ice-cold glass of wine waiting at your destination. Perfection!

 

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder – Kelly Lodewyks

We were asked to choose a car – any car – that we would like to spend the weekend with. This is Cape Town, so I immediately knew I’d want a drop-top. It would have to be a stylish one that can turn heads, but can eat up the tarmac with ease when I put foot down. My choice (for today – as it may differ if you asked me next week) is the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. I’m one of the few people on the team who hasn’t driven a Lamborghini, and I really want to. The styling is aggressive, it has 412 kW and 540 N.m, and I’d love to tackle some local mountain passes as well as cruise the coast line in this…

 

Tags: Audi R8 Spyder, Dodge Viper, Ferrari F40, Ford Mustang Super Snake, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, Lancia, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, Porsche