RE: Porsche Boxster Spyder is back!

[RichB]

georgeq said:

Visually the base 981 Boxster is a better looking car to my eyes.
Tell me I'm wrong...

You're not wrong. The new Boxster looks a bit like it's trying too hard with those head fairings. Too fat at the back

[k-ink]

I prefer this to the GT4 actually.

[Vee12V]

RichB said:

georgeq said:

Visually the base 981 Boxster is a better looking car to my eyes.
Tell me I'm wrong...

You're not wrong. The new Boxster looks a bit like it's trying too hard with those head fairings. Too fat at the back

Have to agree. Somehow doesn't look as special as the previous one.

[Goofnik]

Unlike the GT4, this has the same section-width tires (and normal tires at that) as any other Boxster, yet with the "Sport Chassis"/"Sport Suspension", including the super-stiff rear antiroll bar. This is now the slidey-est car Porsche sells, all 911s included.

Differences from the Boxster GTS:

Exterior
* GT4 front fascia
* GT4 rear fascia
* GT4 middle cooler
* SportDesign Mirrors
* Lighter 20” wheels
* Lighter weight electric/manual top
* New rear decklid
* Ducktail spoiler (yes, it raises and lowers)
* Regular taillamps (headlamps are smoked)

Mechanical
* 3.8L (+400cc) flat-six, 375HP (+45 SAE Net) @ 6700rpm, 310lb-ft (+37) @ 4750-6000rpm
* 6-piston (+2) 340mm (+10mm) front brakes, 4-piston 330mm (+31mm) rear brakes
* Dual-mass flywheel
* Manual transmission standard, no PDK option
* Porsche Torque Vectoring (and mechanical LSD) standard
* X73 Sport Suspension standard, no PASM option
* Smaller 54L fuel tank standard (64L no cost option)

Interior
* No A/C standard
* No audio system standard
* GT4 steering wheel
* Fabric door pull loops
* Optional Lightweight Sport Bucket seats (US, standard in EU)
* Body-colored dash trim standard
* Optional Spyder Classic interior package

30kg less weight, more torque, no more tire, X73 standard, and only 2HP shy of the same P/W ratio as a manual Carrera 2S.

Edited by Goofnik on Wednesday 1st April 19:45

[DodoRacing]

Arguably the Porsche that makes most sense in the current line up. True and honest modern sports car without going over the top and breaking the bank. Beautiful enough to turn back for a second look. Doesn't have a direct competitor. Just being itself. Perfect!

[gl20]

Corpulent Tosser said:

Petee said:

malucnojes said:

Potentially a stupid question but how does a 'flat' 6 from a 911 work in a Boxster that traditionally has a 'boxer' engine?

Potentially a stupid answer but I thought a boxer WAS a flat six engine...

Not just 6s any horizontally opposed engine, 2 cyl BMW motorcycles, 4 cyl Subarus, 4 cyl Afla Romeos.

Boxers are a type of 'flat engine' and both the 911 and Boxster engines are a boxer. It means each piston has it's own crankpin and, signficantly, this means each pair of pistons moves towards/away from each other at the same time (like two people boxing, hence the name) rather than both moving back and forth together. So the Boxer set up means you get a balanced engine rather than loads of vibration

[Pope]

Goofnik said:

Unlike the GT4, this has the same section-width tires (and normal tires at that) as any other Boxster, yet with the "Sport Chassis"/"Sport Suspension", including the super-stiff rear antiroll bar. This is now the slidey-est car Porsche sells, all 911s included.

Differences from the Boxster GTS:

Exterior
* GT4 front fascia
* GT4 rear fascia
* GT4 middle cooler
* SportDesign Mirrors
* Lighter 20” wheels
* Lighter weight electric/manual top
* New rear decklid
* Ducktail spoiler (yes, it raises and lowers)
* Regular taillamps (headlamps are smoked)

Mechanical
* 3.8L (+400cc) flat-six, 375HP (+45 SAE Net) @ 6700rpm, 310lb-ft (+37) @ 4750-6000rpm
* 6-piston (+2) 340mm (+10mm) front brakes, 4-piston 330mm (+31mm) rear brakes
* Dual-mass flywheel
* Manual transmission standard, no PDK option
* Porsche Torque Vectoring (and mechanical LSD) standard
* X73 Sport Suspension standard, no PASM option
* Smaller 54L fuel tank standard (64L no cost option)

Interior
* No A/C standard
* No audio system standard
* GT4 steering wheel
* Fabric door pull loops
* Optional Lightweight Sport Bucket seats (US, standard in EU)
* Body-colored dash trim standard
* Optional Spyder Classic interior package

30kg less weight, more torque, no more tire, X73 standard, and only 2HP shy of the same P/W ratio as a manual Carrera 2S.

Edited by Goofnik on Wednesday 1st April 19:45

Rear wheels are wider at 10.5J x20

[Goofnik]

Pope said:

Rear wheels are wider at 10.5J x20

Still a 265-section width as the Boxster/S/GTS, so claims the brochure (though that would be a seriously stretched tire). It'll offer a hair more grip, but nothing like the 295s shod on the 11Jx20s on the GT4. I agree, something is amiss. My guess is a 285-section width, not 265 as the brochure claims.

Edited by Goofnik on Wednesday 1st April 20:39

[SFO]

Goofnik said:

Interior
* No A/C standard
* No audio system standard

no cost options

[Goofnik]

SFO said:

no cost options

Right, but the point is, compared to a GTS, they are normally not there (which was the point of the list -- differences from a GTS). Moreover, in a GTS you don't have the ability to have them not installed by the factory.

Edited by Goofnik on Wednesday 1st April 21:24

[SunDiver]

Can you actually buy one of these then?

I had a LOI in for the GT4 and did the whole deposit thing on launch day but couldn't secure a car for this year or next.

Are mere mortals likely to be able to bag one of these, or is it the same deal?

[RichB]

SFO said:

Goofnik said:

Interior
* No A/C standard
* No audio system standard

no cost options

All for the sake of saving 30kg, or less than the weight of a Labrador dog. In a 350bhp car you'd never notice!

[981C]

Goofnik said:

Unlike the GT4, this has the same section-width tires (and normal tires at that) as any other Boxster, yet with the "Sport Chassis"/"Sport Suspension", including the super-stiff rear antiroll bar. This is now the slidey-est car Porsche sells, all 911s included.

Differences from the Boxster GTS:

Exterior
* GT4 front fascia
* GT4 rear fascia
* GT4 middle cooler
* SportDesign Mirrors
* Lighter 20” wheels
* Lighter weight electric/manual top
* New rear decklid
* Ducktail spoiler (yes, it raises and lowers)
* Regular taillamps (headlamps are smoked)

Mechanical
* 3.8L (+400cc) flat-six, 375HP (+45 SAE Net) @ 6700rpm, 310lb-ft (+37) @ 4750-6000rpm
* 6-piston (+2) 340mm (+10mm) front brakes, 4-piston 330mm (+31mm) rear brakes
* Dual-mass flywheel
* Manual transmission standard, no PDK option
* Porsche Torque Vectoring (and mechanical LSD) standard
* X73 Sport Suspension standard, no PASM option
* Smaller 54L fuel tank standard (64L no cost option)

Interior
* No A/C standard
* No audio system standard
* GT4 steering wheel
* Fabric door pull loops
* Optional Lightweight Sport Bucket seats (US, standard in EU)
* Body-colored dash trim standard
* Optional Spyder Classic interior package

30kg less weight, more torque, no more tire, X73 standard, and only 2HP shy of the same P/W ratio as a manual Carrera 2S.

Edited by Goofnik on Wednesday 1st April 19:45

Has the GT4 'stubby' gear lever also?

[toerag]

[robm3]

DodoRacing said:

Doesn't have a direct competitor. Just being itself. Perfect!

Errr I think you'll find the Jaguar F-Type in a variety of guises is a direct competitor.

[Vee12V]

robm3 said:

DodoRacing said:

Doesn't have a direct competitor. Just being itself. Perfect!

Errr I think you'll find the Jaguar F-Type in a variety of guises is a direct competitor.

Exige v6 roadster - though arguably more hardcore.

[Carl_Docklands]

mini site is live on the Porsche UK website

[TWPC]

georgeq said:

Is it just me or did the Cayman GT4 become a lot less desirable over night... I'd take this over a GT4 any time of the day, it's not like I would use the GT3 bits on the road.

Hopefully this will put a decent dent into the 987 Spyder residuals.

Exactly what I thought too.

I read somewhere that a family in Suffolk has now won £1m twice in the Euromillions lottery. Surely my moment is coming...

For the record I would really like it in that baby blue colour of the old 997 GT3 press car, but looking at the configurator it doesn't appear to be available. Boo. Would probably have it in white then.
Also I would get the air con and radio.

[AD64]

Is this another great Porsche car that you cannot actually buy?

[Spyder3400]

I quite like it but wonder what people's thoughts are on the £60k price tag. In 2010 the Boxster Spyder was £44k and had an equally good standard spec. £60k seems a bit steep for a hot Box.