Lucid Dreams And A Pair Of Porsches: Members’ Rides

Autopian Member Willem is a musical composer living in Northern California where the weather is amazing, and EV charging infrastructure actually exists. What is one to drive in such an environment? EVs and powerful convertibles of course! Willem has had lots of unusual and incredible cars throughout the years, starting with a Mazda RX-4, and eventually getting to where things sit today with a Lucid Air sharing garage space with a couple Teslas and a pair of Porsches. Sounds like a terrific Member Rides lineup!

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How did you get into cars?

My dad was a rally master on the East Coast and had a DS19, and later an MGB and a Mazda RX4. My Mom drove a Saab 92 – these were Weird Car People. They subscribed to Car and Driver in the 70s and I was an avid reader, so you know the rest – Brock Yates, Bruce McCall, and later P.J. O’Rourke. My first car was an RX4! When I was normcore in the 90s, I drove a manual Outback, and I traded it in for a Clownshoe.

What’s currently in the garage?

• 2023 Tesla Model 3
• 2021 Tesla Model S
• 2012 Porsche Boxster
• 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet
• 2023 Lucid Air GT

Let’s start with the Teslas, how are they?

I think they’re amazing! I’ll never forget my first test drive in the 2015 Model S. It was like I’d imagined cars in dreams! I have an aircraft pilot’s license, and the Model S felt more like flying than… actual flying. I’ve driven the Hyundais and recommend them to people who won’t drive Teslas for “reasons,” but otherwise I think the 3/Y are the best overall mobility devices out there. And not just for the drivetrain, once you understand how the systems work, they make perfect sense (especially if you’re a new driver, like our son).

Apropos of nothing, I should note that my wife’s Model S has one of the few good Tesla vanity plates: LS6 SWAP. It got us out of a moving violation when the officer who pulled us over loved it so much that he let us off with a warning. It also led to me meeting Jason Cammisa, he saw the car and left a note on it – turns out he lived around the corner.

What do you love about EVs?

It’s all the usual stuff, environmental to some degree, but also the ease of use and simplicity. I love the simple brilliance of regenerative braking; I’ve never replaced brakes on an EV. It sucks that cars have to be so large and heavy right now, but that will change somewhat as the tech improves.

That being said, electric cars are so different in pure driving experience to ICEs that they can’t really be compared, only contrasted. And some people will always prefer one over the other. I favor electric cars overall for myriad reasons, but will continue to own manual transmission cars until a suitable electric emulation exists and will enjoy our 911 until an electric convertible appears.

I really do believe in the software-based computer-on-wheels mobility device. The potential is immense, and its future is way brighter than that of the flat-6 Porsche 911. But I believe there’s room (and need) for both. The physical pleasure of driving as we know it has the potential to be emulated successfully and further perfected in the EV realm, but it’ll take a little while. Puttering around in our new 911, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine a fully electric version with a noisemaker/shaker attached to the battery hanging out the back, and a drivetrain with little blips emulating the PDK (and, inevitably, a virtual 3-pedal and stick rig).

How did the 911 come into the picture?

I had an SL600, but made the decision to sell the Mercedes because I had an interested buyer, and my wife said something like “Y’know, if you bought a 911, and it was Miami Blue, and it had an automatic transmission so I could actually drive i, that might be OK…” Originally I was gonna keep the Mercedes and Boxster, but my wife’s interest in a 911 had to be acted upon! We’ll enjoy it for a couple of years and then see about that Genesis convertible with the Lucid parts…

How is it?

The short answer is I love it. I mean, it’s a 911! They’re purpose-built objects of desire. I’ve probably test-driven a dozen or so over the last five years, in various permutations, and always found them either too extreme (GT3, which seems the automotive equivalent of a genital piercing – maybe your highs are higher than anyone else’s, but you’re making quite a commitment) or underwhelming (the 7-speed Targa, with the tall gearing and extra weight, felt like too much work for a dilettante like me.

But the 992:1 rear-wheel drive, PDK Carrera S turns out to be the sweet spot. The acceleration I’m used to from my EVs, delivered in a refreshingly non-linear, “analog” way, and handling whose limits I will never remotely tap. Most significantly, there’s an addictive quality to the driving experience. The switches, pedals, steering and suspension work in concert, along with the reassuring thrum and tasteful noises from the engine.

What about the Boxster?

The Boxster happened because I missed driving stick after I traded my 2015 MX-5 in on our son’s Model 3, and a nicely spec’d car became available locally. While I am not a rev-matching heel-and-toe person, I just love manual transmissions, and this car feels especially good to me. The previous owner did a bunch of tasteful mods (shifter, clutch, exhaust) to make the car a little more engaging and aggressive, as well as added a kick-ass Sony head unit and speakers. It’s a different, more visceral experience than the 911, and I appreciate both cars for different reasons.

I’m extremely excited for the electric 718 replacement, although I will probably wait a while ’til calling one my own. I don’t imagine the range being anything to write home about initially, and I think I’ll enjoy my old-school Boxster for a few more years.

If you could only keep one or the Porsches, which would it be?

I like the Boxster manual transmission experience way more than any 911 I’ve driven, and I love how exciting the Boxster can be at 40 miles per hour. It’s the closest thing I’ve got to a “pure” automobile, with relatively minimal tech, and I’ll probably keep it until convertible EVs with “manual transmissions” appear.

The Boxster has a different feeling from the 911, being lighter and mid-engined. I would suppose it’s a better design for a sports car. But the rear engine is such a novelty! That shove under acceleration, and the playful suggestion from the back end that it might just break away if it weren’t for the computers. I love driving stick, but if I had to choose between the 911 and the Boxster, I’d give up the Boxster, keep the 911, and get a CTS-V or something.

What made you decide to get a Lucid?

I really believe in the company and the technology. It’s still unbelievable to me how useful, fun and efficient this car is, even after living with it for a year and a half. I think Teslas are pretty fun to drive. The Model 3 is kind of a miracle and more car than most of us will ever need, but the Lucid really is special.

Although it’s too gigantic to ever “shrink around you” (like, oh, a 992) it feels delightfully agile (for its size), and the cabin is tasteful, luxurious, and refreshingly American. There is SO much space. It is breathtakingly swift, yet wafty. Much like the future-retro spaceship it resembles. The massage seats are so effective as to be almost invasive. The Dolby Atmos system is probably the best sound I’ve heard in a car.

Any teething problems coming from Lucid being so new?

There’ve been a handful of minor software glitches, usually with the audio system, and often amusing – for example, turning on at particular GPS locations around town, or playing the same Charli XCX track all day and refusing to shut off. The motors whine enough to be noticeable, and it’s annoying because my family’s Teslas are practically silent.

It refused to let me open the door once, but Lucid tech support had me back in the car within 10 minutes. It was super annoying to be locked out of my car, but whatever stupid thing happened, it was quite efficiently unhappened by the nice folks at Lucid Control.

When I finally got back into the car, I waved my hand, as if the operator could see me. I could swear I heard a brief murmur of response, but it might’ve been my imagination. Or Lucid can see into my car, when they want/need to. Granted, I briefly considered selling the car that afternoon – seriously, WTF?. But I really do believe in the company and the technology. I will consider trading this in on a Gravity to see what the company has learned, provided the massaging seats make it to the SUV.

Anything you wish Lucid did differently?

I think for a first vehicle they did an amazing job, coming right out of the gate with a more compelling product that any of their competitors. I’ll stand by that statement even if you disregard the Lucid’s obviously superior driving range. As we all know, making cars is hard, and selling a high-end vehicle by an unknown manufacturer in a competitive, dynamic market is almost impossible. But the one car they’ve made is great.

Also, I’m hugely excited about the rumors that Lucid will be providing the powertrain for the Hyundai’s upcoming Bentley-fighter.

You’ve had quite an extensive collection of cars. Which would you say is the best you’ve owned or own, and why?

I think the best car would have to be the Lucid. Other than not being a tossable sports car, it is everything I want from a car. It is efficient, fun to drive, spacious, (ahem) reliable … a mobile office in which to listen to music/check e-mail/hotbox.

Anything you would add to a dream garage?

The Genesis luxury EV convertible, although we know hardly anything about it, sounds and looks right up my alley. As has been stated often in these and other pages, big luxury coupes are a natural for electric drivetrains, since that’s the effect they’ve been going for for 100+ years.

I did some research on the Rolls Royce Spectre after chatting with a brand ambassador at The Quail last year (which I attended in jeans and a disdainful sneer, lest you judge me) based on the “It’s the quietest car ever made” which is hugely exciting to me. My number-one automotive dream is probably to own the quietest car available. I dunno if it could ever be a Rolls, though, even though it’s beautiful for what it is.

Generally, I think people should drive what they love and pity the haters for their sad lack of purpose, but a Rolls-Royce cannot help but be triggering, even in its mere invocation. Maybe a used one in a couple of years? And design a custom wrap so it looks like a rusted crap can? A super-quiet rusted crap can?

Sounds like an ideal Rolls experience! Thank you for sharing your cars with us, Willem, and let us know if we can revisit your fleet as new additions arrive!

If you’re a member keep your eyes open in the coming weeks for a link to a new member survey (we’re still working our way through backlog). And if you’re not a Member – what are you waiting for? Join today!