[PeteGray]

A few months ago I bought a 996 turbo. I've always liked the 996 and for me the turbo was the obvious choice. Mine has the benefit of a Tubi exhaust and race cats and a minor remap. It sounds really good and goes very fast.

Being in a smaller, more obviously looking 'sports' car has a childish appeal to me and the sheer thrust and overall quality of the Porsche started to make me think that maybe this was the car for me, the car above all others and the one to steal my heart. I was falling in love - or so I thought.

A few days ago I got the Bimmer back on the road....

We all know this but it's worth saying again - what an unbelievably good car the CSL is. WOW!

There's something magical about the way the CSL flows down a road; snorting, snarling and rasping away like a big sports bike. I don't claim to be a great driver and I must be about two continents and a bus ride away from realising it's full potential but, it makes me feel totally in control of a proper thoroughbred - and what a great feeling that is.

In equal measure I feel scared, exhilarated, alive and totally on top of it. After the last few drives I've been buzzing and thinking who can I call to rave at about how good it is, who's going to listen to me this time?

The Porsche is a very good car and to have both puts me in a very fortunate position; it really is a wonderful combination. The Porsche handles very well, much better than I thought it would from reading the general view about it being a cruiser. The steering in particular is excellent and I had thought the damping was about perfect too until earlier this week.

So the CSL wins and it turns out the Porsche remains a tasty piece on the side.

Postscript: The 911 is manual. I prefer the SMG. It suits the CSL perfectly.