981 Spyder - Speculation
Discussion
g7jhp said:
Hopefully the roof will be better than the existing 2-piece 987 Boxster Spyder routine which makes a Lotus Elise look practical!
Year 4 just coming up and never driven with suncap on Admittedly its my dry weekend garage queen but talking to Spyder owners who do use the roof it becomes second nature putting it on or taking it off and it has been well engineered so there is no need for tugging or fiddling around to get it to fit. I can confirm it's an easier job than my 1989 911 Speedster ever was which would often need two people pushing down on the clamshell in order to get the catch to lock properly! and when putting the roof back up the struggle would be trying to get the 2 header rail catches to line up and lock. For sure the Spyder is not only easier & quicker but it doesn't leak either (no personal experience) while the 89 Speedster came with an official disclaimer declaring it wasn't 100% water tight Think the 981 will have an equal following and a lot of speculative buyers given the 987 now holding/rising back in value. The 987 has seemed to ignite a following and a lot of attention in magazines. The 981 seems to have finally got real recognition as a sports car in its own right rather than the 'poor mans Porsche'.
Agree with you guys, had mine 4 years now which is the longest of any car and couldnt think what to replace it with. The roof does get a lot of chatter, but off in under a minute and on it maybe a little more, it only comes out on sunny days so once its off it stays off till it goes back in the garage under the cover.
Cannot wait to venture into France in it for the first time this summer, favourite day of the year when the charger gets unplugged and it ventures into the Spring weather :-)
Agree with you guys, had mine 4 years now which is the longest of any car and couldnt think what to replace it with. The roof does get a lot of chatter, but off in under a minute and on it maybe a little more, it only comes out on sunny days so once its off it stays off till it goes back in the garage under the cover.
Cannot wait to venture into France in it for the first time this summer, favourite day of the year when the charger gets unplugged and it ventures into the Spring weather :-)
FWIW - and probably not a lot, Autocar have a lot to say about future and present 981s (and 911s) in this weeks issue.
They are speculating on a Boxster Club Sport (rather than, or maybe in addition to a Spyder) with a little more power and a lot less weight.
A little more power is easy to see but a LOT less weight more difficult - and Autocar don't specify HOW. Beyond, obviously, a manual roof of some sort, it gets more difficult now that 981s already have a lot of alloy panels. AC, radio and some sound proofing removal will gain a little (the AC/radio add will doubtless be an option many choose) a smaller petrol tank (does that really fool anyone?) Perhaps slightly lighter wheels. A titanium exhaust? - unusual on cars but commonplace on upmarket bikes.
Interesting in the same issue is a comparison test between the 911GTS, 911GT3 and Cayman GTS. It's a bit light on detail but they clearly prefer the handling of the Cayman to either the GTS or GT3 on the road.
They are speculating on a Boxster Club Sport (rather than, or maybe in addition to a Spyder) with a little more power and a lot less weight.
A little more power is easy to see but a LOT less weight more difficult - and Autocar don't specify HOW. Beyond, obviously, a manual roof of some sort, it gets more difficult now that 981s already have a lot of alloy panels. AC, radio and some sound proofing removal will gain a little (the AC/radio add will doubtless be an option many choose) a smaller petrol tank (does that really fool anyone?) Perhaps slightly lighter wheels. A titanium exhaust? - unusual on cars but commonplace on upmarket bikes.
Interesting in the same issue is a comparison test between the 911GTS, 911GT3 and Cayman GTS. It's a bit light on detail but they clearly prefer the handling of the Cayman to either the GTS or GT3 on the road.
Edited by bcr5784 on Saturday 14th February 16:59
Johnthepotter said:
Daro - I too had a 911 Speedster many years ago (wish I'd never sold it, given current prices!!)- and agree Spyder roof much more practical.
Yes the values today compared to when I sold in 2003 after 14 happy years together 
are enough to make me 
But on a fun factor and even looks too the Spyder has more than made up for the loss of profits
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No... Porsche a lot of other manufactures will utilize different wheels for testing. Pretty common practice. When the production version debuts the wheel designs will match on all four corners
I think it's funny how everyone hasn't noticed before... And give it as a reason that the Spyder photos are fake!
1240kg according to the EVO article... 100kg below the GT4.
Could be possible with a smaller tank (-8kg) AC delete (-15kg), radio delete (-7kg), buckets (-10kg) and the old, completely manual version of the roof (-30kg), smaller 3.4 engine (-20kg) and other weight savings (-10kg).
//edit: fixed numbers
Could be possible with a smaller tank (-8kg) AC delete (-15kg), radio delete (-7kg), buckets (-10kg) and the old, completely manual version of the roof (-30kg), smaller 3.4 engine (-20kg) and other weight savings (-10kg).
//edit: fixed numbers
Edited by swimd on Sunday 15th February 18:11
swimd said:
1240kg according to the EVO article... 100kg below the GT4.
Could be possible with a smaller tank (-8kg) AC delete (-15kg), radio delete (-7kg), buckets (-10kg) and the old, completely manual version of the roof (-30kg), smaller 3.4 engine (-20kg) and other weight savings (-10kg).
//edit: fixed numbers
Not a chance :-) it has a new style electric roof and if it lifts the rear like the R8 that's more weight.Could be possible with a smaller tank (-8kg) AC delete (-15kg), radio delete (-7kg), buckets (-10kg) and the old, completely manual version of the roof (-30kg), smaller 3.4 engine (-20kg) and other weight savings (-10kg).
//edit: fixed numbers
Edited by swimd on Sunday 15th February 18:11
Will be interesting to see though. But cannot see how it's going to save much over the BGTS bar the 918 seats, AC and PCM unit delete.
Navanod said:
Love it! Just submitted a deposit at my dealer! #1 on the list! Looks to have the GT4 brakes and Ducktail spoiler! Makes you think it will borrow a few other pieces. Hopefully the 3.8? So is April still the launch date? Would that mean a Shanghai debut? I think Geneva will be GT4/GT3 RS focused. Shanghai makes sense as its where Porsche launched the 981 GTS.
Just make sure that you have that #1 allocation in writing from the dealer otherwise, you might be getting your hopes up. We saw this on the GT4 thread. Number #1 might just mean you are the first person to turn up with money, not the first person who will get a car and you may not even get a car at all, judging by the way the GT4 thread has played out.Carl_Docklands said:
Just make sure that you have that #1 allocation in writing from the dealer otherwise, you might be getting your hopes up. We saw this on the GT4 thread. Number #1 might just mean you are the first person to turn up with money, not the first person who will get a car and you may not even get a car at all, judging by the way the GT4 thread has played out.
I have it in writing! I have a 1k deposit down.I was #4 on the list for the GT4, but retracted that once the latest spy photos hit for the 981 Spyder.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
I agree with MrDemon, IF the new spyder roof is electric & none remove able it loses an intrinsic part of the whole philosophy of the car.
A 981 spyder on ceramics would be a lovely thing to own.
New roof is an update of the Gen 1 concept. Still a Suncap still lightweight but now good for the new top speed when in place A 981 spyder on ceramics would be a lovely thing to own.
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