Originally Posted by xenigo

The thing that I've never quite understood about auto journalism is their obsession with comparing cars on the basis of outright performance. It would make sense if you're in the business of driving cars in head-to-head driving competitions, but the bottom line is this: Once you start breaking 5 second 0-60 times, and are in the neighborhood of 12 second 1/4 mile times, comparing vehicles on the basis of acceleration and power pretty much become a moot point.

In the year that I've driven a BMW 335i, not once have I come across a vehicle that out-accelerated me, or out-handled me. The car can accelerate so quickly, and handles so extremely well, it's almost silly to think about vehicles such as the Ferrari 458 or the 911 Turbo.

If anyone has any intention of driving these vehicles at anywhere near their performance potential, you absolutely must be committed to either getting a hugely expensive speeding ticket... or more likely, arrested. And you can get arrested just as easily driving the Porsche Cayman S, Audi S4, or BMW 335i.

No need to spend twice as much to get in the same amount of trouble. ;)

Now, if you were to ask me what a more fair basis of comparison would be... I'd have to say quality of craftsmanship. In which case it's Porsche hands down for every aspect including performance, handling, build quality, and quality of materials. But strangely enough, auto journalists rarely mention those other more important and more practical points of comparison.