02 Apr 07
Every change in speed and direction was more intense as you sit perilously close to the tarmac - and are a prime target for indiscriminate lorry drivers to lose underneath their wheels. All of my senses were on high alert - I triple checked any lane change before committing - not helped by the wind deflector-mounted wing mirrors that might as well not be there and the rear-view mirror which, no matter how much I try to adjust it, just showed a nice reflection of my chest.
Corners, roundabouts - basically any movement which requires more than a nano-millimetres worth of movement from the ultra-quick steering wheel required a well-controlled right foot. With 260bhp on offer and no weight over the rear wheels, power oversteer is only a toe twitch away.
Still, keep everything controlled and the CSR is just fabulous. No other car can traverse roads quicker: the ultra-light weight means blistering performance; the four-pot brakes make for insane speed-shaving ability; and the fully independent rear and F1-style inboard front suspension make the CSR stick to the road like a limpet. The steering is so communicative - every bump, crack, camber change, pothole and wet patch is delivered straight to your palms, making driving any other car feel like you're wearing oven mitts.
However, for all its ability, you feel as if you're missing out on something with the CSR as you can never stretch it anywhere near its full capabilities on the road - there's always something stopping you from fully opening it up. But then, there's always the track...
