RE: You Know You Want To: Porsche Boxster Spyder
Discussion
V8RX7 said:
A Spyder is a convertible so delete all non convertibles and tell us what else is available.
Personally (and I'm a non owner) I think the looks alone justify the price over the Boxster
996 Turbo, 997 C4S, Corvette, Tuscan II (possibly V8 converted), Honda NSX, Ferrari 355, Ferrari 360, DB9, V8V, Supercharged Elise, etc.Personally (and I'm a non owner) I think the looks alone justify the price over the Boxster
Tuvra said:
996 Turbo, 997 C4S, Corvette, Tuscan II (possibly V8 converted), Honda NSX, Ferrari 355, Ferrari 360, DB9, V8V, Supercharged Elise, etc.
They are all good options but all of those are likely to cost more to run than a newer, low mileage Spyder that is probably still under warranty, particularly if you buy now and let someone else cover the initial depreciation.Some of them are also much older, less usable, slower, more common and I doubt you can get a good 360 for £35k for example.
If you're just looking at purchase price then sure, there are plenty of options. As an overall package, it's pretty hard to beat.
I really like these, and it is surprising that the Porsche engineers were permitted to make such a focussed version of their junior model.
The lead engineers on the Cayman and Boxster product lines must be continually frustrated with how much they are allowed to play, whilst being constantly restrained from making their product too effective compared to the senior 911 range.
Lets face it, if the 911 didn't exist, the Cayman and Boxster could spawn some proper interesting "toys" ... A Cayman GT3 RS
The lead engineers on the Cayman and Boxster product lines must be continually frustrated with how much they are allowed to play, whilst being constantly restrained from making their product too effective compared to the senior 911 range.
Lets face it, if the 911 didn't exist, the Cayman and Boxster could spawn some proper interesting "toys" ... A Cayman GT3 RS
Have never got on with the front-end styling of the modern 911 / Boxster. Why do they have to have such a huge, gawky front overhang when the engine is behind the driver? They just look big & unweildy next to 964 & earlier 911s. I guess that with 4WD 911s all the transmission gubbins has to go in the nose, but the opportunity to pour the front bodywork over the front wheels has not been taken.
Tuvra said:
996 Turbo, 997 C4S, Corvette, Tuscan II (possibly V8 converted), Honda NSX, Ferrari 355, Ferrari 360, DB9, V8V, Supercharged Elise, etc.
996 Turbo - Too old and too costly to run, no long term warranty.997 C4S - Was looking at these myself, 35k would get you a 2006 car with 40k miles from Porsche, though the extended warranty would run out in only three years.
Corvette - LHD American , need I go on.
Tuscan 2 - Cheap, very fast but no long term warranty and reliability issues would put me off.
Honda NSX - Looked at these also, too slow but well balanced and already a classic.
Ferrari 355 Spyder - Very little available for 35k, mainly LHD and unloved cars. High maintenance and no long term warranty.
Ferrari 360 Spyder - Nothing available for under 40k last time I looked.
DB9 Volante - Too heavy, a GT rather than a track focused car. Nothing good available under 40k.
V8V Roadster - As the DB9
Elise 220 - As track focused as the Spyder but not in the same league. I had a VX220 Turbo previosuly, loved it.
The Spyder really is a bargain if you are looking for a track focused car that you can still warrant, looks great, has outstanding built quality and is rare.
Nothing else compares. ;-)
I really like this but have to agree that the roof is a major turn off. I'm sure it's easy to put on etc but it just looks naff. Instead of doing this, I'd have much preferred it if they'd made this into a proper targa top with a small removable\stowable metal roof section.
I think this would have made it more practical and a lot more special, almost like a mini Carrera GT as that has the exact roof arrangement I am talking about. Why they felt the need to design this contraption when they had a perfectly suitable solution worked out for the Carrera GT 10 years ago I have no idea.
I think this would have made it more practical and a lot more special, almost like a mini Carrera GT as that has the exact roof arrangement I am talking about. Why they felt the need to design this contraption when they had a perfectly suitable solution worked out for the Carrera GT 10 years ago I have no idea.
It always amuses me to see how much people moan that you can't often drive a convertible in the UK with the roof down. When I had a roadster I just put a coat, hat and gloves on and enjoyed some roofless action whenever I got in it - the only weather criteria is 'dry', which happens more often than you'd think.
The Boxster Spyder is one of my favourite cars EVER and to be honest, it is gratifying to see how much people don't like it, because one day, I want one
The Boxster Spyder is one of my favourite cars EVER and to be honest, it is gratifying to see how much people don't like it, because one day, I want one
BS75 said:
The Boxster Spyder is one of my favourite cars EVER and to be honest, it is gratifying to see how much people don't like it, because one day, I want one
Are you sure you're reading the right thread? Most people seem to be fans of the car, albeit with enthusism constrained by practicalities around the roof.Mind you, there's always V4MX5 who prefers something knocked together in the shed at home.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Are you sure you're reading the right thread? Most people seem to be fans of the car, albeit with enthusism constrained by practicalities around the roof.
I will admit to skimming page 1 then skipping to the end. Does that mean I'm going to face a lot of competition if I'm ever in a position to buy one? Damn.
BS75 said:
It always amuses me to see how much people moan that you can't often drive a convertible in the UK with the roof down. When I had a roadster I just put a coat, hat and gloves on and enjoyed some roofless action whenever I got in it - the only weather criteria is 'dry', which happens more often than you'd think.
The Boxster Spyder is one of my favourite cars EVER and to be honest, it is gratifying to see how much people don't like it, because one day, I want one
To be honest I would feel a bit of a berk driving round in a roofless Porsche in cold weather, In fact I'd feel a bit of a berk driving anything without a roof in cold weather...The Boxster Spyder is one of my favourite cars EVER and to be honest, it is gratifying to see how much people don't like it, because one day, I want one
That's probably why this car doesn't appeal to me that much...
smilo996 said:
So its cheap. So many better looking car on the market. And lets face it. All it says is I cannot afford a 911. Which at 20K clearly you cannot.
I could have got a 997, and went from a Cayman S. Cayman was talented but dull compared to Spyder. Drove 997 C2S at Porsche experience and let's just say, I did not regret buying the spyder. The spyder has that little bit of magic that make it great to own rather just appreciating its talents.
No rain = roof off. Just put heating up and wear warmer clothing.
Edited by DS240 on Wednesday 30th January 13:52
smilo996 said:
So its cheap.
So many better looking car on the market.
And lets face it. All it says is I cannot afford a 911.
Which at 20K clearly you cannot.
Is it - depends on your wealth but for 95% of the population it's not cheapSo many better looking car on the market.
And lets face it. All it says is I cannot afford a 911.
Which at 20K clearly you cannot.
Such as ?
Utter b
ks there are loads of 911's cheaper20K !!! - I'll buy all you can find - most are around £35k
Are you sure you replied to the right thread ?
rob.kellock said:
I think Chris's pricing is optimistic.
There are 2 only Spyders left on the official Porsche used car locator website, up at £37500 and £38000. There have been no more than 5 at any one time for months now. A blue one at 911Virgin sold in a matter of hours this weekend before they even put any photos up of it. And we're still in January...
I have one of the first ones in the UK, supplied in May 2010 and it's now done nearly 14000 miles. I have used it at weekends, driven to LeMans, done a couple of track days and a few laps of the Evo triangle in it. As a second car it has been absolutely sublime. Any doubter needs to drive one back to back with a 987 Boxster S, the difference in the way theey drive is striking. Chris hits the nail on the head - the car adds up to so much more than the sum of its parts.
The roof doesn't leak. It doesn't leak when its parked and bit doesn't leak when you drive it in heavy rain. It takes a minute to put up or take down when you know what you are doing and, sad as it may sound, it adds to the charm of the car and your relationship with it, it makes it feel special. Unless it's actually raining, I drive mine with the roof down at every opportunity.
My bugbear - the windnoise at motorway outside lane speeds with the roof up. I didn't buy it for motorways though and if you stick to sensible speeds it's tolerable. If you do like hoofing it down motorways in the rain it won't be the car for you.
The nicest surprise is the anti-road rage. Nobody has given me any abuse and I have had nothing but kind comments whenever I have been out in the car. Boy racers have given me the thumbs up and one told me "your car is well peng mate!".
People genuinely ask to take photos of it. The closest I got to an "incident" was when I left it in a car park briefly and a bunch of skater boys tucked a Top Gear "UNCOOL" card under the wiper.
Highly recommended!
Apart from that french rain that soaks you that is......There are 2 only Spyders left on the official Porsche used car locator website, up at £37500 and £38000. There have been no more than 5 at any one time for months now. A blue one at 911Virgin sold in a matter of hours this weekend before they even put any photos up of it. And we're still in January...
I have one of the first ones in the UK, supplied in May 2010 and it's now done nearly 14000 miles. I have used it at weekends, driven to LeMans, done a couple of track days and a few laps of the Evo triangle in it. As a second car it has been absolutely sublime. Any doubter needs to drive one back to back with a 987 Boxster S, the difference in the way theey drive is striking. Chris hits the nail on the head - the car adds up to so much more than the sum of its parts.
The roof doesn't leak. It doesn't leak when its parked and bit doesn't leak when you drive it in heavy rain. It takes a minute to put up or take down when you know what you are doing and, sad as it may sound, it adds to the charm of the car and your relationship with it, it makes it feel special. Unless it's actually raining, I drive mine with the roof down at every opportunity.
My bugbear - the windnoise at motorway outside lane speeds with the roof up. I didn't buy it for motorways though and if you stick to sensible speeds it's tolerable. If you do like hoofing it down motorways in the rain it won't be the car for you.
The nicest surprise is the anti-road rage. Nobody has given me any abuse and I have had nothing but kind comments whenever I have been out in the car. Boy racers have given me the thumbs up and one told me "your car is well peng mate!".
People genuinely ask to take photos of it. The closest I got to an "incident" was when I left it in a car park briefly and a bunch of skater boys tucked a Top Gear "UNCOOL" card under the wiper.
Highly recommended!
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