RE: Spyker C8 Spyder: Spotted

[blahblop123]

355 torque at 7500rpm ?? vtec kicked in yo ??

[Mr Whippy]

One of my fave supercars!

They look great in my view

Dave

[Escort3500]

Just horrible looking. Dan Dare builds a kit car.

[babygorilla]

Dealer principal at Audi M25 in Watford has/had one. Sat it in the Dealership next to the R8's, ostensibly to show it off. I always thought he was hoping someone would take it off his hands.... Lovely interior though.

[Mr Whippy]

Escort3500 said:

Just horrible looking. Dan Dare builds a kit car.

The thing is they are fantastically built. It feels more like a one-off finished to perfection than a kit-car!

I bet they go fapping quick too with that big Audi V8 and not much weight to lug around.

[Christian85]

Not for me I'm afraid.

[Escort3500]

Mr Whippy said:

Escort3500 said:

Just horrible looking. Dan Dare builds a kit car.

The thing is they are fantastically built. It feels more like a one-off finished to perfection than a kit-car!

I bet they go fapping quick too with that big Audi V8 and not much weight to lug around.

I've no doubt they're well built and will go like hell, but the design is a dreadful jumble of styles and influences. Do like that bonkers interior though

[Mr Whippy]

Escort3500 said:

Mr Whippy said:

Escort3500 said:

Just horrible looking. Dan Dare builds a kit car.

The thing is they are fantastically built. It feels more like a one-off finished to perfection than a kit-car!

I bet they go fapping quick too with that big Audi V8 and not much weight to lug around.

I've no doubt they're well built and will go like hell, but the design is a dreadful jumble of styles and influences. Do like that bonkers interior though

Hehe, I've liked it from day one... it's rear 3/4 is ever so fussy as the body pulls back in but generally it's not so bad.

It's certainly a form that looks best in the skin though. Photos can make it look a bit odd.

I remember when it was launched there were lots of options and some make it quite tasteful hehe

[A4B]

I took those photos on behalf of the seller, looks amazing in the flesh!

We went for a short blast, nothing prepares you for the sound!

Vid here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUAH99WL6CM

[spyker138]

I actually own one. Tried everything supercar at P1 and decided upon one of these and a 1954 XK120 as my fun open two seaters. They are terrific to drive, with no servos or traction control or whatever, and handling which is fun, but not foolproof (be careful). Not as much power as current stuff but more than fast enough to challenge my ability, and for proper fun at non racing speeds. Think Elise with an amazing sounding V8 and exemplary fit and finish etc.

The XK is for fun at still lower speeds.

[Vetteran]

Watched a business programme about the Spyker company specifically about this car and its importance to the company. Once you have witnessed the owner, his dress sense and management style, you can understand why the car looks like this. The important debut for the car was Pebble Beach. The colour chosen for the car was unusual - a kind of purple decided upon by the boss. As I recall only one person viewing the car liked the colour.

[bobberz]

It's interesting how much of a Marmite car this is. I've always thought they were one of the most beautiful modern cars, so it was surprising to me when many people thought it was ugly. Well, beauty in the eye of the beholder, and all that.

If I won the lottery, I think I'd have one simply for the interior! Similar themes to Pagani, but even more steampunk! The propeller steering wheel has to be my all-time favorite steering wheel design! Too bad it wouldn't be legal (no airbag) in the Land of the (un)Free and Home of the Regulations.

[spyker138]

bobberz said:

The propeller steering wheel has to be my all-time favorite steering wheel design! Too bad it wouldn't be legal (no airbag) in the Land of the (un)Free and Home of the Regulations.

Actually I am in the US and many Spykers over here pre-2010 have propellor wheels.. and some later ones have retro fitted them. Spyker had an exemption for many years. People usually fit a racing harness to make up for the lack of airbag. Of course Spyker provide quilted leather covers for the harnesses too!

[ja9ae2]

bobberz said:

It's interesting how much of a Marmite car this is. I've always thought they were one of the most beautiful modern cars, so it was surprising to me when many people thought it was ugly. Well, beauty in the eye of the beholder, and all that.

If I won the lottery, I think I'd have one simply for the interior! Similar themes to Pagani, but even more steampunk! The propeller steering wheel has to be my all-time favorite steering wheel design! Too bad it wouldn't be legal (no airbag) in the Land of the (un)Free and Home of the Regulations.

It really is! I remember dragging a friend miles so they could behold the wonder of the C8, and they thought I'd gone mad. People's reactions are part of the appeal though I think with this car.

[bobberz]

spyker138 said:

bobberz said:

The propeller steering wheel has to be my all-time favorite steering wheel design! Too bad it wouldn't be legal (no airbag) in the Land of the (un)Free and Home of the Regulations.

Actually I am in the US and many Spykers over here pre-2010 have propellor wheels.. and some later ones have retro fitted them. Spyker had an exemption for many years. People usually fit a racing harness to make up for the lack of airbag. Of course Spyker provide quilted leather covers for the harnesses too!

That's right; I forgot about the exemption. [/facepalm]

I wish TVR would've had a similar arrangement, but I guess they were too "high volume"!

[Mr Whippy]

ja9ae2 said:

bobberz said:

It's interesting how much of a Marmite car this is. I've always thought they were one of the most beautiful modern cars, so it was surprising to me when many people thought it was ugly. Well, beauty in the eye of the beholder, and all that.

If I won the lottery, I think I'd have one simply for the interior! Similar themes to Pagani, but even more steampunk! The propeller steering wheel has to be my all-time favorite steering wheel design! Too bad it wouldn't be legal (no airbag) in the Land of the (un)Free and Home of the Regulations.

It really is! I remember dragging a friend miles so they could behold the wonder of the C8, and they thought I'd gone mad. People's reactions are part of the appeal though I think with this car.

I think it's just nice that someone can make a good looking car that doesn't fit the contemporary fashions of the day.

So many cars look great today, or fit the fashions of today, but date badly.

The C8 will age very well in my view.

Dave

[El Guapo]

[RoverP6B]

Lovely, lovely, lovely car. Really, really want one. That interior is just gorgeous. The exterior is more of an acquired taste, but I like it. Add in the Lotus-designed chassis (it's a big Evora, I'm told) and the sound/reliability of the Audi V8, and no nannies...

[Bish]

I used to work at Hunt & Keal in Kensington and we where a Spyker dealer. I had great fun taking our demo (Silver C8) to shows etc. I wil lays remember the brakes being a real struggle and filling it up a nightmare.....filler cap was in the upper air scoop and was pretty trick to fill without constant clicking out.

However the noise and the looks did it for me, especially tooling around London aged 23!

[rubystone]

I have always loved them and would have it in a heartbeat if it were more 'keenly' priced. Totally wacky. Totally me