Is the 987 Spyder worth the money…
Discussion
They’re 1300-1350ish kg kerb weight depending upon options. Still one of the lightest modern Porsche’s.
They definitely do feel light, I always think of the Spyder as a grown up version of an Elise.
I’ve still got an S1 Elise (own with a friend) and every time I get back into the Spyder, it gives me Elise vibes in the way you can thread it through the bends on a B road. It’s not the quickest straight line car I’ve had by far, but it’s one of the most fun.
Elise photo….just because…
They definitely do feel light, I always think of the Spyder as a grown up version of an Elise.
I’ve still got an S1 Elise (own with a friend) and every time I get back into the Spyder, it gives me Elise vibes in the way you can thread it through the bends on a B road. It’s not the quickest straight line car I’ve had by far, but it’s one of the most fun.
Elise photo….just because…
MrVert said:
They’re 1300-1350ish kg kerb weight depending upon options. Still one of the lightest modern Porsche’s.
They definitely do feel light, I always think of the Spyder as a grown up version of an Elise.
I’ve still got an S1 Elise (own with a friend) and every time I get back into the Spyder, it gives me Elise vibes in the way you can thread it through the bends on a B road. It’s not the quickest straight line car I’ve had by far, but it’s one of the most fun.
Elise photo….just because…
That’s exactly how I looked at it. I had an early S2 Elise for a number of years and loved it. (Would love a mint S1 now)They definitely do feel light, I always think of the Spyder as a grown up version of an Elise.
I’ve still got an S1 Elise (own with a friend) and every time I get back into the Spyder, it gives me Elise vibes in the way you can thread it through the bends on a B road. It’s not the quickest straight line car I’ve had by far, but it’s one of the most fun.
Elise photo….just because…
I moved to a 987 Cayman S. As nice as it was, I didn’t quite gel and missed the Elise.
Press release of the Spyder came out and ordered one pretty quickly. There are a lot of similarities, but does have a more grown up (comfier) feel to it. Although I’ve thought of selling at weak moments, there’s not really been anything else that has tempted me away from it.
Didn’t really worry about the weight thing. I had a/c and the radio. For me it is road car, not interested in some tiny gain on a track day with meaningless times or days rankings. Have some tunes or comfort have been far nicer than a slight weight savings.
Regardless of the a/c or radio being in, the Spyder will still be lighter than a similar Boxster S with the other weight savings.
elisered said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
ChrisW. said:
I think they are a motoring work of art ...
The latest refinement of hydraulic power steering ... you can feel the difference
The lightest Porsche of it's era < 1200Kg's
More than enough power
You can get into both boots whether or not the roof is up ... you can't do this with the later lardy 981 and 718 Spyder's
Two stage hood which is a delight if no real prospect of rain ... does make it more likely to be used useable in more variable weather conditions. The first stage has a fabulous Carbon Fibre frame that mounts onto the windscreen top and the rest is common sense taking a minute to erect (but you do need to stop).
The aluminium rear clamshell is lovely ...
And then it has lots of CR bits, but not the wider exhaust manifold which I guess gives a tune matching the CR rather better.
To sum up, I think a careful purchase could be depreciation free .... there aren't many cars about which I might say that in this market.
Lardy 981??The latest refinement of hydraulic power steering ... you can feel the difference
The lightest Porsche of it's era < 1200Kg's
More than enough power
You can get into both boots whether or not the roof is up ... you can't do this with the later lardy 981 and 718 Spyder's
Two stage hood which is a delight if no real prospect of rain ... does make it more likely to be used useable in more variable weather conditions. The first stage has a fabulous Carbon Fibre frame that mounts onto the windscreen top and the rest is common sense taking a minute to erect (but you do need to stop).
The aluminium rear clamshell is lovely ...
And then it has lots of CR bits, but not the wider exhaust manifold which I guess gives a tune matching the CR rather better.
To sum up, I think a careful purchase could be depreciation free .... there aren't many cars about which I might say that in this market.
And you might want to check that 987 weight
Edited by elisered on Monday 9th January 08:36
I found the original "The new Boxter Spyder Unleashed" which listed all the weight savings (many also on the CR) ... it states 1275 Kg for the manual, DIN. Clearly <1200 is now corrected in my memory Anything else you wish to query ?
Lots of great info and pics. My search has officially begun…..
However
…. I’ve started also to read up about Cayman R’s now. I completely ignored these years ago when a mate had a green one. But now I’m learning more about the Spyder, they are fast coming onto my radar. I wonder as my car won’t be a garage queen (done that in the past and never drove the car how it should have been driven ) maybe the R is a decent option and potentially 15% less money?
However
…. I’ve started also to read up about Cayman R’s now. I completely ignored these years ago when a mate had a green one. But now I’m learning more about the Spyder, they are fast coming onto my radar. I wonder as my car won’t be a garage queen (done that in the past and never drove the car how it should have been driven ) maybe the R is a decent option and potentially 15% less money?
I'm not sure they're 15% lower in price, same spec cars seem to me to be priced in a similar bracket.
Both been trading at £40-£45k for low miles versions for years now.
Having had both (R and Spyder) they're very alike, apart from the roof obviously
I think it'll be down to where you keep the car, what you use it for etc etc. Would you want / need the added security of the coupe?
The R is a great car, under appreciated by those who've not driven one.
The Spyder looks that little bit more exotic perhaps, the roof seems to add a tad of character to the experience, roof off there's more noise and sensory overload possibly, but it's down to your own preference which one you prefer.
In my view you can't go wrong with either.
Both been trading at £40-£45k for low miles versions for years now.
Having had both (R and Spyder) they're very alike, apart from the roof obviously
I think it'll be down to where you keep the car, what you use it for etc etc. Would you want / need the added security of the coupe?
The R is a great car, under appreciated by those who've not driven one.
The Spyder looks that little bit more exotic perhaps, the roof seems to add a tad of character to the experience, roof off there's more noise and sensory overload possibly, but it's down to your own preference which one you prefer.
In my view you can't go wrong with either.
Edited by MrVert on Monday 9th January 14:00
oxnop said:
I already have a quick Tesla and a family wagon (vw Cali) if you could just have one of yours (consider the price) which one would you have if you were me?
For the shear love of driving, the sounds it makes, the beautiful hydraulic steering and I just love the thing to bits...Porsche.And for a balls out mad b-road blast, insane levels of grip, it feels unburstable, and its a Homologation Special...GR Yaris.
I can't choose that's why I have them both...you will not be disapointed by any of them.
Loved my Spyder. Had it 2 years and put 9k miles on it.
Very well balanced. Suspension only good above 50 mph mind. Lovely steering and so responsive in any gear. You will love it. Amazing in summer with roof on and back window out. Side profile is beautiful.
Ended up with a 987.2 again but went 2.9 and modded. About to get the remap and bmc to go with the M&M exhaust and 200 cel manifolds. Sounds lovely. Bit slower but actually more fun IMO.
|
Fantastic cars and i daily mine. Budget around 1 - 1500 a year to run servicing and odd bits to keep them 100 pc and they won’t let you down!
Very well balanced. Suspension only good above 50 mph mind. Lovely steering and so responsive in any gear. You will love it. Amazing in summer with roof on and back window out. Side profile is beautiful.
Ended up with a 987.2 again but went 2.9 and modded. About to get the remap and bmc to go with the M&M exhaust and 200 cel manifolds. Sounds lovely. Bit slower but actually more fun IMO.
|Fantastic cars and i daily mine. Budget around 1 - 1500 a year to run servicing and odd bits to keep them 100 pc and they won’t let you down!
Short answer…. Yes
But that’s easy for me to say, owned mine for over 12 years now and, despite a couple of ‘should I sell it’ wobbles and a lot of other interesting and exciting cars having come through the family, it’s the one that has stayed - for lots of reasons already mentioned but can probably be summed up by the way it feels - the Cayman R is probably the same (though we kept our spyder instead of our GT4)
In fact I’m really struggling as to what to get next (serial car owner) and am now going down the ‘bespoke’ route - can’t afford a restomod Porsche but picked up a rust free mk2 MX5 for the price of a decent mobile phone (was my first ever convertible and brand new car back in the day so fond memories) and handing it over to Rocketeer in a couple of months…. But that’s another thread to write….
But that’s easy for me to say, owned mine for over 12 years now and, despite a couple of ‘should I sell it’ wobbles and a lot of other interesting and exciting cars having come through the family, it’s the one that has stayed - for lots of reasons already mentioned but can probably be summed up by the way it feels - the Cayman R is probably the same (though we kept our spyder instead of our GT4)
In fact I’m really struggling as to what to get next (serial car owner) and am now going down the ‘bespoke’ route - can’t afford a restomod Porsche but picked up a rust free mk2 MX5 for the price of a decent mobile phone (was my first ever convertible and brand new car back in the day so fond memories) and handing it over to Rocketeer in a couple of months…. But that’s another thread to write….
I really enjoyed my 987 Spyder and it's one of the cars I've owned that I'd re-visit at some point. As mentioned before very spec dependent, you want the carbon buckets, lightweight wheels etc.
To put into perspective of how much I enjoyed the car as a driving experience I replaced it with a V10 Audi R8 and was so underwhelmed I sold the R8 within 6 months! Obviously the R8 was blisteringly quick but after the Spyder felt big, heavy on the road and not as special to me.
Have you thought about a series 3 Lotus Exige? I found mine was closest in experience to the Spyder but a lot quicker and more raw. Exige offers you the benefit of hard top and roofless as well.
To put into perspective of how much I enjoyed the car as a driving experience I replaced it with a V10 Audi R8 and was so underwhelmed I sold the R8 within 6 months! Obviously the R8 was blisteringly quick but after the Spyder felt big, heavy on the road and not as special to me.
Have you thought about a series 3 Lotus Exige? I found mine was closest in experience to the Spyder but a lot quicker and more raw. Exige offers you the benefit of hard top and roofless as well.
Big E 118 said:
I really enjoyed my 987 Spyder and it's one of the cars I've owned that I'd re-visit at some point. As mentioned before very spec dependent, you want the carbon buckets, lightweight wheels etc.
To put into perspective of how much I enjoyed the car as a driving experience I replaced it with a V10 Audi R8 and was so underwhelmed I sold the R8 within 6 months! Obviously the R8 was blisteringly quick but after the Spyder felt big, heavy on the road and not as special to me.
Have you thought about a series 3 Lotus Exige? I found mine was closest in experience to the Spyder but a lot quicker and more raw. Exige offers you the benefit of hard top and roofless as well.
I’ve not considered the Wxige but have been looking very closely at the supercharged Elise’s. I keep thinking I’ve definitely made a decision on which way to go, then I read or watch another review / ownership experience and make an about turn! To put into perspective of how much I enjoyed the car as a driving experience I replaced it with a V10 Audi R8 and was so underwhelmed I sold the R8 within 6 months! Obviously the R8 was blisteringly quick but after the Spyder felt big, heavy on the road and not as special to me.
Have you thought about a series 3 Lotus Exige? I found mine was closest in experience to the Spyder but a lot quicker and more raw. Exige offers you the benefit of hard top and roofless as well.
Big E 118 said:
I really enjoyed my 987 Spyder and it's one of the cars I've owned that I'd re-visit at some point. As mentioned before very spec dependent, you want the carbon buckets, lightweight wheels etc.
To put into perspective of how much I enjoyed the car as a driving experience I replaced it with a V10 Audi R8 and was so underwhelmed I sold the R8 within 6 months! Obviously the R8 was blisteringly quick but after the Spyder felt big, heavy on the road and not as special to me.
Have you thought about a series 3 Lotus Exige? I found mine was closest in experience to the Spyder but a lot quicker and more raw. Exige offers you the benefit of hard top and roofless as well.
I’ve not considered the Wxige but have been looking very closely at the supercharged Elise’s. I keep thinking I’ve definitely made a decision on which way to go, then I read or watch another review / ownership experience and make an about turn! To put into perspective of how much I enjoyed the car as a driving experience I replaced it with a V10 Audi R8 and was so underwhelmed I sold the R8 within 6 months! Obviously the R8 was blisteringly quick but after the Spyder felt big, heavy on the road and not as special to me.
Have you thought about a series 3 Lotus Exige? I found mine was closest in experience to the Spyder but a lot quicker and more raw. Exige offers you the benefit of hard top and roofless as well.
Thread bump; while it wouldn't be my main motivation I can't help but feeling that in the years post 2030 (if that deadline gets stuck to) cars like this are going to be mega money...so I'd get one now.
Personally, having spent a bit of time in one I'd definitely go manual. The PDK is very effective, and isn't a bad choice, but when the manual is that good then why wouldn't you?
Personally, having spent a bit of time in one I'd definitely go manual. The PDK is very effective, and isn't a bad choice, but when the manual is that good then why wouldn't you?
I'm not sure I could live with the trade-off of loss of usability for the performance gain over my 987.2 S - and I certainly couldn't live with the 100% increase in price. Having said that, I met a bloke the other day who described himself rather modestly as a 'lifelong jobbing racing driver' (F1 and Le Mans history plus decades of racing Porsches) who had sold his 'pension fund' 2.7 RS to a collector; they were some distance apart on a price and the collector offered the 987 Spyder from his collection in part-exchange to bridge the gap. The Spyder had never been used; all its 50 or so miles had been accumulated on trips to get it serviced, have new tyres fitted etc.: so the chap I was speaking to felt he could realize a solid £10 - £15k profit over and above their agreed part-exchange value if he sold it on.
With this in mind he agreed the deal, delivered the RS and picked up the Spyder, PDK gearbox and all: 30 minutes into the drive home in it he was sufficiently smitten to have changed his mind about selling it altogether and he's keeping it - so perhaps they do have something about them.
With this in mind he agreed the deal, delivered the RS and picked up the Spyder, PDK gearbox and all: 30 minutes into the drive home in it he was sufficiently smitten to have changed his mind about selling it altogether and he's keeping it - so perhaps they do have something about them.
Richard (the builder of the CLR lightweight 996 C2 that shed just over 250kg and ended up sub 1090kg but retained the vast majority of its OE interior trim) also owned a 987 Boxster Spyder. It was proper lightweight spec car, including PCCB’s. With a lightweight battery it tipped the scales at ... drumroll
1210kg
1210kg
Edited by Slippydiff on Wednesday 6th September 16:05
Thankyou Henry !!
But most of them will be 1275Kg's ish ... my heart is in the air-cooled lightweight Porsche's and of course I have my "ultimate 981 GT4" which is not so far away from a CR (great cars for the money) ... so my Spyder once fettled from lack of previous use became a 3.2 Clubsport.
3 cars in that spec, 2 main press cars and one back up press car (mine), Richards is back in the UK owned by Phil Hindley of tech 9.
And the one in most UK vids or mags.
Then I still have mine, I don't think Richards was 1210kg that was the goal with a new exhaust and LWFW which never happened, I think it was 1240kg with his battery and taking the roof off.
most will be well over 1300kg of course with PCM, AC with roof etc and PDK back up even more and wrong wheels seats etc. will see 1350kg again.
PCCB saved zero weight, as the 4 pot 330 mm set up was then 350mm 6 pot set up so just about a like for like weight, nothing like putting a 380 Steel vs a CCB disk back to back and saving 1/2 the disk weight.
what did happen was the car was well over braked though and thus it's fun to drive, take people out even instructors and then smash the brakes most people s
t themselves.
The 3 cars in this spec also had no Sports mode wart and were all leather as the leather dash weighs less than the plastic ones. Porsche 3 press cars were def speced to be the lightest possible and were very expensive cars with PCCB and leather dash options.
def a modern classic and atm none for sale in manual I think. A know a few very rich new owners who have snapped the last few up lately.
Seem very under valued to me vs the prices for LHD cars, should be £80k+ in the UK but not good enough for cars and coffee over a GT4 RS I guess.
I now have even a rarer car from the same era so I might have to let my Spyder go after 10+ years of ownership :-( My retirement car is my new to me 997.2 2WD manual GTS which is circa 90 UK cars and feels like the Cayman R's daddy and is over 3 seconds faster than one 100-200 kph.
The x51 was really the mezger under studdy engine which in fact did go racing in the 981 Clubsport or as close to that engine as possible. The 3.8 X51 lump has the wow factor imo and of course the 997 GTS has much shorter ratio's so only 67mph in 2nd vs modern GT cars at 85 MPh +
Infact the 992 ST is like a remake of the 997.2 GTS ! . NA engine, manual, 2WD, Short ratio driving machine with no RWS etc. funny how things turn about in Porsche land, it took them a long time to realise Shorter ratio's were the way to go !!
I have ripped 100lbs out of my GTS to date and just about to fit some Ohlins to it, it's a very special car to own and drive, I feel very lucky to have owned all these Porsches and of course the new GT4 and GT3's also. I still have 3 Porkers though so 2 will have to go as I plan to retire in March and it's too much hassle to look after 5 cars.
And the one in most UK vids or mags.
Then I still have mine, I don't think Richards was 1210kg that was the goal with a new exhaust and LWFW which never happened, I think it was 1240kg with his battery and taking the roof off.
most will be well over 1300kg of course with PCM, AC with roof etc and PDK back up even more and wrong wheels seats etc. will see 1350kg again.
PCCB saved zero weight, as the 4 pot 330 mm set up was then 350mm 6 pot set up so just about a like for like weight, nothing like putting a 380 Steel vs a CCB disk back to back and saving 1/2 the disk weight.
what did happen was the car was well over braked though and thus it's fun to drive, take people out even instructors and then smash the brakes most people s
t themselves.The 3 cars in this spec also had no Sports mode wart and were all leather as the leather dash weighs less than the plastic ones. Porsche 3 press cars were def speced to be the lightest possible and were very expensive cars with PCCB and leather dash options.
def a modern classic and atm none for sale in manual I think. A know a few very rich new owners who have snapped the last few up lately.
Seem very under valued to me vs the prices for LHD cars, should be £80k+ in the UK but not good enough for cars and coffee over a GT4 RS I guess.
I now have even a rarer car from the same era so I might have to let my Spyder go after 10+ years of ownership :-( My retirement car is my new to me 997.2 2WD manual GTS which is circa 90 UK cars and feels like the Cayman R's daddy and is over 3 seconds faster than one 100-200 kph.
The x51 was really the mezger under studdy engine which in fact did go racing in the 981 Clubsport or as close to that engine as possible. The 3.8 X51 lump has the wow factor imo and of course the 997 GTS has much shorter ratio's so only 67mph in 2nd vs modern GT cars at 85 MPh +
Infact the 992 ST is like a remake of the 997.2 GTS ! . NA engine, manual, 2WD, Short ratio driving machine with no RWS etc. funny how things turn about in Porsche land, it took them a long time to realise Shorter ratio's were the way to go !!
I have ripped 100lbs out of my GTS to date and just about to fit some Ohlins to it, it's a very special car to own and drive, I feel very lucky to have owned all these Porsches and of course the new GT4 and GT3's also. I still have 3 Porkers though so 2 will have to go as I plan to retire in March and it's too much hassle to look after 5 cars.
GT4P said:
Pflanzgarten said:
PorscheGT said:
I might have to let my Spyder go after 10+ years of ownership :-(
Your PH account doesn't accept emails but mine does, I'd be interested in having a chat about your car.Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff