This trait is common to front-engine cars
that have the transmission (or in this
case, torque tubes) bisecting the cabin.
Side-to-side space is at a premium, and
the seats pay the price by shrinking. Think
of the last couple generations of Corvette
or Dodge Viper, RIP. The Porsche had the
best seats of the test.
Roof or no roof, all three of these
machines are supercars. However,
because we’re unable to test or lap cars,
we don’t have empirical numbers to guide
our anecdotal hands, guts, and brains. As
such, ranking these three comes down to
good, old-fashioned feelings—which, when
you’re deciding between cars of this ilk, is
what it really comes down to anyway.
“I got goose bumps as I was driving up
the mountain,” Cortina said of the 720S
Spider. “This thing is very fast.” Do we call
Miguel Captain Obvious? Sometimes.
Senior editor Scott Evans added: “We
used to call the 911 Turbo S ‘weaponized
speed,’ but McLaren has usurped that title.
There’s so much motor in this thing. Every-
thing else is clouded out of your brain.”
As for my own notes: “Have I ever
driven up Angeles Crest quicker? It does
100 mph in third gear. I should clarify that
it calmly does the hundo in third.” It’s such
a bizarre/unique experience, the ability to
go that quick with that much control.
You find yourself serenely thinking,
“The glass panel above my head starts
vibrating at 100 mph, stops at 106 mph,
but then resumes shaking with slightly
more gusto at 108 mph. I’ll have to inves-
tigate. After lunch.” This car just isn’t
normal. There are no straights; you’re
constantly arriving at corners. As I’ve long
said, alien technology for the street.
Although perhaps not a spaceship
from another world, the AMG Roadster
is no slouch. Every time I looked, I was
bordering 90 mph. In this company,
the car might seem a bit outgunned on
paper, but seat of the pants, the power felt
competitive. Keeping up with the other
two was neither a problem nor an issue.
This impression was bolstered by the fact
that the GT R Roadster is by far the best-
sounding of the trio.
The Porsche’s sport exhaust manages to
change the sound from two industrial-
strength hair dryers to four, but as Evans
pointed out, “Even with the exhaust
closed, it’s got more of that classic angry
sewing machine chatter than it’s had in
years.” Sure, but the AMG crushes it,
sonically speaking. Puts a hurt on the
McLaren, too.