Boxster Spyder

[JPF40]

Got mine just over a week ago.

I reckon its the best all round sports car I've ever owned, been great fun in the rain, sounds awesome, much faster than expected.

All this bks about the gearing is just that, 987 manual had fairly tall gearing as i remember.

Its so anal its untrue!

[Bieldside]

PorscheGT4 said:

NO gardener !!

It was his weekend off and the indoor cinema needed refurbishing so had to deal with that from my yacht in the Caribbean

[av185]

PorscheGT4 said:

The 981 range will go down in history as the worse steering feel cars with the face lift 981.2 cars better !

You driven a 981.2 then??

[av185]

PorscheGT4 said:

The GT4 and 981 Spyder are too fast for UK roads to get to that fun factor

[DAWSpyder]

ituned said:

PorscheGT4 said:

ituned said:

You are in good form today. Happy to stick with the Spyder, and delighted to secure the last of the naturally aspirated Boxsters with more torque and better steering.

But Torque just to cover up the long gearing, The 981 range will go down in history as the worse steering feel cars with 987.2 far far better and the face lift 981.2 cars better !

SO on that note you get to keep the worse steering range of Cars Porsche have ever made ! ;-p

Should I listen to the voice of experience who probably hasn't driven both, unlike me? Let me assure you that if you own an old model 987 Spyder, and you trade up to a 981 Spyder, that you'll not regret it. I couldn't fault the latest Spyder during my PEC blast. Fabulous steering, grip, brakes and extra punch, especially top end. Perfect road car manners too. I'll happily stick with my new Spyder.

As someone that has driven both and currently own both I beg to differ - the voice of experience makes some valid points.

These are very different cars that offer very different driving experiences. For weekend/track fun the 987 wins the days for me, the 981 is a more mature, more sophisticated car that I could drive everyday but a less engaging (IMO) drive. It's a great car but not a 'trade up' for some, including me, comes back to the same point that it all depends on what you're looking to get out of the ownership experience.

[AgoZone]

Here are some pics from Sunday. Unfortunately it was a rainy day so I just took it for a short ride.
I put spacers on the car last weekend (5mm front/rear) and also made some camber adjustments.
Now I look forward to take it to a trackday in April/May

RSVP911 said:

Thanks , have a great blast and report back if you can be bothered , views and photos much appreciated. If I am lucky enough to get one of these I'll be modelling it on your car - IMHO it looks the bees knees

[swimd]

av185 said:

PorscheGT4 said:

The 981 range will go down in history as the worse steering feel cars with the face lift 981.2 cars better !

You driven a 981.2 then??

I haven't but sadly he is right. Electrical power steering is getting better with every iteration and — according to every single review I've read — the 991.2 is a major step forward from the old car, so it stands to reason that this will also happen in the 981.2.

The thing is that nobody notices just how badly the electric rack affects the driving experience until you drive the two technologies back to back.

[dom9]

Ooooooof - That is STUNNING!

[av185]

swimd said:

av185 said:

PorscheGT4 said:

The 981 range will go down in history as the worse steering feel cars with the face lift 981.2 cars better !

You driven a 981.2 then??

I haven't but sadly he is right. Electrical power steering is getting better with every iteration and — according to every single review I've read — the 991.2 is a major step forward from the old car, so it stands to reason that this will also happen in the 981.2.

The thing is that nobody notices just how badly the electric rack affects the driving experience until you drive the two technologies back to back.

Was that the 991.2 with the 4 wheel steering though?

I would not swap my 991 GT3 4 wheel steering for the 997 GT3 hydraulic set up even though feel is arguably better.

It is by no means a forgone conclusion that the 981.2 steering will 'better' the 981.1. And even if it does, the 'minor' subtle steering improvement will pale into insignificance having regard to the 981.1 Spyders trump card over the 981.2......its last of the line normally aspirated engine compared to the 981.2 which will be relegated and strangled by a humdrum turbo four pot.......

[RSVP911]

AgoZone said:

Such a pretty car - thanks for sharing . Do the spacers actually do anything technical to the car other than aesthetically change the look by making the wheels fill the arch more ?

[jayxx83]

These new Spyders are really nice but cant help but feel they are just a marketing exercise when compared to what the original concept was. They really should have emphasized lightweight uncopromised driving feel as the gts is the perfect daily. Especially as you can get pdk with the gts. Bar the 3.8 which only gives it 3.5kg / HP vs the old ones 4kg / HP.

I can't see why anyone would want a Spyder over a gts if using as a daily.

Giving it a bespoke suspension / the GT4 set up with the 3.4 / short ratios and serial weight reduction would have been better than a 3.8 with sports suspension.

[g7jhp]

jayxx83 said:

These new Spyders are really nice but cant help but feel they are just a marketing exercise when compared to what the original concept was. They really should have emphasized lightweight uncopromised driving feel as the gts is the perfect daily. Especially as you can get pdk with the gts. Bar the 3.8 which only gives it 3.5kg / HP vs the old ones 4kg / HP.

I can't see why anyone would want a Spyder over a gts if using as a daily.

Giving it a bespoke suspension / the GT4 set up with the 3.4 / short ratios and serial weight reduction would have been better than a 3.8 with sports suspension.

Both the 987 Spyder and 981 Spyder were marketing exercises.

I'd take a 981 Spyder over the 981 GTS car the looks alone...plus the engine.

[Fokker]

jayxx83 said:

These new Spyders are really nice but cant help but feel they are just a marketing exercise when compared to what the original concept was. They really should have emphasized lightweight uncopromised driving feel as the gts is the perfect daily. Especially as you can get pdk with the gts. Bar the 3.8 which only gives it 3.5kg / HP vs the old ones 4kg / HP.

I can't see why anyone would want a Spyder over a gts if using as a daily.

Giving it a bespoke suspension / the GT4 set up with the 3.4 / short ratios and serial weight reduction would have been better than a 3.8 with sports suspension.

You take the gts. I'll have the spyder and be several thousand pounds better off when I sell it down the line.

[AgoZone]

Drive it and you will get the answer!

jayxx83 said:

These new Spyders are really nice but cant help but feel they are just a marketing exercise when compared to what the original concept was. They really should have emphasized lightweight uncopromised driving feel as the gts is the perfect daily. Especially as you can get pdk with the gts. Bar the 3.8 which only gives it 3.5kg / HP vs the old ones 4kg / HP.

I can't see why anyone would want a Spyder over a gts if using as a daily.

Giving it a bespoke suspension / the GT4 set up with the 3.4 / short ratios and serial weight reduction would have been better than a 3.8 with sports suspension.

[bcr5784]

jayxx83 said:

These new Spyders are really nice but cant help but feel they are just a marketing exercise when compared to what the original concept was. They really should have emphasized lightweight uncopromised driving feel as the gts is the perfect daily. Especially as you can get pdk with the gts. Bar the 3.8 which only gives it 3.5kg / HP vs the old ones 4kg / HP.

I can't see why anyone would want a Spyder over a gts if using as a daily.

Giving it a bespoke suspension / the GT4 set up with the 3.4 / short ratios and serial weight reduction would have been better than a 3.8 with sports suspension.

Can't really see there is much scope for further REAL weight reduction - all 981s are 44% aluminium - the 987 Spider only had aluminium doors . Re gearing, since everyone complains and they didn't do it with the GT4 there must be a cost issue, so can't see they would do it for the Spider. And, given they have designated the GT4 as the track orientated car it doesn't seem sensible to aim the Spider at exactly the same market. Giving it the 3.8 does at least allow it to pull its gears better and amortise costs of the 3.8 installation over a larger number of cars.

It's not my cup of tea, but I can see why it makes perfect sense to Porsche and to those who want or are happy enough with silly roofs, silly humps and silly door pulls. And as others have said, the fact that it will likely hold it's value better than most 981s does make it quite a "sensible" buy.

[PorscheGT4]

Fokker said:

You take the gts. I'll have the spyder and be several thousand pounds better off when I sell it down the line.

what a dull way to own a car, just for money :-( that's a shame

[daro911]

PorscheGT4 said:

Fokker said:

You take the gts. I'll have the spyder and be several thousand pounds better off when I sell it down the line.

what a dull way to own a car, just for money :-( that's a shame

Strange comment I think it's just an added bonus of having the best version of a 981 Boxster to date and less potential depreciation due to low numbers available

You're GT4 daily driver v your ex "R" is that the same mistake you reckon 987 Spyder owners switching to 981 version are now making

[Fokker]

PorscheGT4 said:

what a dull way to own a car, just for money :-( that's a shame

You like to antagonise people don't you pal. Its one reason to have a Spyder no the only reason.

Also wouldn't you say that not driving your car is also a way of not enjoying it!

knob

[PorscheGT4]

daro911 said:

Strange comment I think it's just an added bonus of having the best version of a 981 Boxster to date and less potential depreciation due to low numbers available

You're GT4 daily driver v your ex "R" is that the same mistake you reckon 987 Spyder owners switching to 981 version are now making

Nope
KEY POINT HERE IS : I have kept a 987.2 car to drive :-).

[PorscheGT4]

Fokker said:

knob

"You like to antagonise people "
to quote you back
"I'll have the spyder and be several thousand pounds better off"

lol pot , kettle and all that st, you quoting how much richer you will be to another owner by choosing the Spyder !!!

personal abuse always comes out , that's a shame ! and I am not your pal btw ;-p

Edited by PorscheGT4 on Wednesday 18th November 09:55