Unbiased Test Drive Reports

On this blog, we regularly share test drive reports mainly focused on Porsche cars.

Most of the reports are written by my husband, and all the cars introduced so far have been “our own cars,” “cars owned by my husband’s acquaintances,” or “loaner cars borrowed from dealers during inspections”. None of the reports are commissioned by companies or manufacturers like professional automotive journalists.

Because of this, we write our honest impressions without much bias, and many readers have told us that our reviews have been “helpful when purchasing a car” and that they “look forward to the next test drive report.”

Thank you very much.

While we aim to write our test drive reports as “as neutral and easy to understand as possible,” personal preferences and subjectivity inevitably come into play. So today, I’ve summarized some key points to keep in mind when reading these reports, which I believe will make them easier to understand.

Key Points for Reading Blog Reviews

1. Our Family Prioritizes Driving Performance

Our family tends to place great importance on driving performance. Therefore, rather than focusing on luxurious interiors or comfort features, we emphasize “whether the suspension is firm,” “how the handling and brakes feel,” and review accordingly.

Regarding ride comfort, we prefer a somewhat firm suspension with a strong road feel rather than a soft, cushy ride. We are also accustomed to Porsche’s firmer suspension and ride quality (my Swift Sport is also lowered with firm springs).

For example, when I drove the 992 GT3 Touring, I told the owner, “I’d heard it was very stiff, but it’s surprisingly manageable even in city driving!” He replied, “No, that’s not usually the case. It’s just that Mina-san is used to stiff setups… lol.” (laughs)

Please keep this in mind when reading our test drive reviews.

2. Relative Evaluation Over Absolute Evaluation

Every time we test drive a car, I often feel that “human perception is surprisingly unreliable.”

Even when driving the same car, the impression and evaluation can vary greatly depending on the ride and feel of the car you drove just before.

For example, with the recently delivered GLB, since I usually drive a Swift Sport, my first impression was “It’s quite big!” But if I had switched from our previous Cayenne, I think I would have felt its compactness more.

Also, when I drive a 981 Boxster GTS right after a 992 Carrera, I feel “The Boxster’s suspension is so supple… it’s incredibly smooth, so even the passenger doesn’t get tired.” But after driving the GLB and then switching to the Boxster, I’m amazed at “What an incredible sense of rigidity!”

That’s why my husband always says he tries to write test drive articles “as much as possible with comparisons to other cars and relative evaluations,” keeping in mind that “human perception is unreliable.”

Instead of simply saying “the ride is smooth,” he writes “smooth compared to XX,” and compares acceleration, straight-line stability, handling, braking performance, and other points to convey a more balanced impression.

In the future, I hope you’ll also pay attention to “compared to what and how.”

3. Including Option Information Whenever Possible

A car’s driving characteristics can vary greatly depending on the options installed.

Especially with Porsche, I often hear that choosing driving-related options can make the car feel like a completely different vehicle.

For example, when driving a Cayenne equipped with PDCC, the roll is significantly reduced even on mountain roads, making it more comfortable. Ride comfort also changes depending on whether it has air suspension or coil springs. Cars with rear axle steering, even Panameras, have excellent maneuverability. My husband often says “ride comfort changes depending on the seats, too.”

The standard Seat Sport Chassis feels completely different in firmness, and cars with the Sports Exhaust System have different engine sound volume and quality from the usual.

There are many other options like PCCB, PASM… the list goes on.

Also, wheel size, tire type, mileage, and how the car has been driven (mainly on public roads or pushed hard on circuits and various roads) make a big difference.

That’s why on this blog, we try to include “what options the car has” as much as possible.

Clear and Understandable Test Drive Reports

Thanks to everyone, my husband gets to drive many valuable cars almost every week.

Recently, he says more people coming from afar to the Royu Driveway have been recognizing him and saying, “Are you the blogger?” or inviting him to “please try driving our car.” (Lately, it’s not just Porsche owners but also BMW, Alfa Romeo, and many other owners who approach him.)

We are truly grateful.

We will continue to do our best to write test drive articles that are as clear, enjoyable, and helpful as possible for our readers. Thank you for your continued support.