Raleigh Cars & Coffee, 4th February 2012

Cars and Coffee is always an opportunity to see both the newest, coolest stuff (the first Nissan Leaf I saw was at Cars & Coffee) and some old classic iron as well.  It seems like each month there's a "star," a car that people crowd around to get their first good glimpse of.  Guess what it was this month?

If you guessed it was the Fisker Karma, you'd be correct.  There was a crowd around the Finnish-built extended-range electric vehicle like flies around a pile of rotten fruit.  Errr, bad metaphor.  And if that looks like a GM LNF (which I really need to stop writing about), that's because it is.  This is the first Karma I've seen in the flesh, and the overall impression was: this is a big car.  Like, 7-series long.  Huge.  Dramatic looking too - Henrik Fisker's styling language translates well.  Despite the exhaust dump right behind the passenger side front wheel, it's eerily silent at parking lot speeds.

The interior is pretty cool, but at $102,000 base MSRP it better be.  The back seat is Aston Rapide small; odd considering the long wheelbase, but there are a lot of batteries in there.  The solar panel roof is pretty cool as well.

Nothing makes a Ferrari 308 and Ferrari 612 Scaglietti fade into the background quite like a bright red Porsche 959 - one of 337 produced, and surely less than ten in the states considering these had to be individually federalized.  No idea how much this is worth, but I'd guess at least a half-million dollars.

Perhaps not as fast as some of the Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but a legitimate unmolested Integra Type R is still quite a rare sight in the states.

This is the first MkVI Golf R I've seen in the 'states.  This is the all-wheel-drive, larger turbo version of the GTI, which replaces the VR6 powered R32.  There aren't going to be many of these here.

The Evora is clearly a Hethel product, but it's so much more of a premium car than the Elise and it's derivatives.  It pulls eyes like a much more expensive car, and it's got a real interior.

There's more to this '04 Cobra than meets the eye.  I got a ride in this one recently, and can report that the 3rd gear acceleration is alarming.  That's because it doesn't get any grip in 1st or 2nd even with 295-width Comp T/A KWD's in the back.  More details soon.

There's a special place in my heart for the 993 Turbo: the last air-cooled turbo 911.  Still gorgeous.

Tempted?  Which would you rather have?

According to the owner, this new-style Viper ACR sees regular track time and makes 680 wheel horsepower.  Rear tires on this monster?  345/30/ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sports.

Much love for Ford's mad, pointless supercharged Lightning pickup.

Is there such a thing as a stock Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?

It's a tough crowd when no one's paying attention to your bright red 911 Turbo.

And finally - I'd bet a Comptech centrifugal blower solves the S2000's low end torque problems!

Gallery with additional images below.  If you'd like to join the fun, Raleigh's Cars & Coffee meet is held the first Saturday of every month in Brier Creek, off of Highway 70.