Boxster Spyder

[Porsche911R]

RSVP911 said:

Unfortunately the exhaust mod is nearer £k 5.5 / £k 6 I’m afraid - but it’s absolutely excellent

So you could not do a 981 after a 718 then :-)
I thought that might happen.

[philnotts]

RSVP911 said:

A tale of woe

The 981 Spyder is a very pretty car and on it’s own, is a real thing of beauty. However, put it next to a 718 Spyder and suddenly it looks less appealing - Porsche are very clever, the design move on’s are very subtle, but taken as a whole, i personally think it’s a far prettier, more purposeful car. This subtle move on is equally noticeable inside the car too. However the price gap still makes the 981 a far more sensible purchase.

So a word of warning; if you are thinking of buying a 981 or already own one, don’t park next to and definitely don’t drive, the 718 Spyder with a JCR mod and you’ll be absolutely fine & dandy.

Having ran both the 981 and 718 Spyders back to back for a few months i don't agree with this but i guess the world would be boring if we all had the same thoughts... I kept the 981 Spyder

[T2TC]

Phil did you own both at same time? What were deciding factors for you in keeping the 981?

Edited by T2TC on Sunday 2nd August 09:30

[Boxster7]

philnotts said:

Having ran both the 981 and 718 Spyders back to back for a few months i don't agree with this but i guess the world would be boring if we all had the same thoughts... I kept the 981 Spyder

That’s interesting Phil, I had a 718 GT4 alongside my 981, and made the same decision.



Major 981 plus points for me.... Sound (and the ability to change this depending on mood), interior, lack of tech ..... I don’t want/need Apple play, Porsche connect, start stop, cylinder de activation etc... Im not a fan of the rear end diffuser although I think the front of the 718 is nice.
Also don’t need cup 2’s, happier with my all conditions PS4S’.
Basically 3 pedals a stick no buttons on my wheel, heated buckets..... drive it in all weathers with a big smile :-)

Now don’t get me wrong, the 718 is an awesome machine and I fully understand why others would take the complete opposite view of mine.

Thankfully they are both brilliant cars that give huge pleasure to their owners.....

Enjoy those Spyder miles you all !!

[philnotts]

T2TC said:

Phil did you own both at same time? What were deciding factors for you in keeping the 981?

Edited by T2TC on Sunday 2nd August 09:30

For me it was the sound and looks of the 981 Spyder. I wasn't too keen on the styling of the 718 Spyder, especially all the black plastic trims used around the exterior.

I have been lucky enough to run each of the Spyder releases back to back throughout the years.

[MannyLon]

Boxster7 said:

That’s interesting Phil, I had a 718 GT4 alongside my 981, and made the same decision.



Major 981 plus points for me.... Sound (and the ability to change this depending on mood), interior, lack of tech ..... I don’t want/need Apple play, Porsche connect, start stop, cylinder de activation etc... Im not a fan of the rear end diffuser although I think the front of the 718 is nice.
Also don’t need cup 2’s, happier with my all conditions PS4S’.
Basically 3 pedals a stick no buttons on my wheel, heated buckets..... drive it in all weathers with a big smile :-)

Now don’t get me wrong, the 718 is an awesome machine and I fully understand why others would take the complete opposite view of mine.

Thankfully they are both brilliant cars that give huge pleasure to their owners.....

Enjoy those Spyder miles you all !!

Did you sell the GT4?
I have a 981 spyder and 718 GT4 on order. Hope I’m doing the right thing?

[av185]

Armitage.Shanks said:

TDT said:

av185 said:

Yep sort of, always found the 981 GT4 in no mans land primarily due to its basic detuned non GT low revving engine. Reasonably focused as a drivers car and good value too.

Equally the 981 Spyder fine for a weekend trip to the Lakes but essentially lacking focus as a drivers car and I'm not big into cabs either.

A GT3 lump with 8k rev limit lower down torque and more focused chassis steering brakes and suspension appeals more with the 718.

where is the GT3 lump?

That's what I thought. Hasn't the 718 got a newly developed (and therefore unproven for longevity) 4.0L lump?

Missed out 'sized' :

[T2TC]

philnotts said:

For me it was the sound and looks of the 981 Spyder. I wasn't too keen on the styling of the 718 Spyder, especially all the black plastic trims used around the exterior.

I have been lucky enough to run each of the Spyder releases back to back throughout the years.

They are some really nice garage shots! Nice dilemma as to which set of keys to pick up on your way out.

[daro911]

Geoff39GL said:

I think your picking the review to suit your opinion, I would sooner take the view of probably todays no1 motoring journalist rather than a YouTuber.

https://youtu.be/wHb3-aNuZzQ

Unlike many here I have actually driven the car and concluded the fun factor for my usage has been lost which was exactly how this youtuber felt In his summary. Finding one honest review was never to back up what I had already concluded long before that video was made

Then there were several owners of both models who I knew and they all kept the 981 and sold the 718’s Again reinforcing how I felt after my test drive

The journalists who tested the 718 Spyder on the press days were all singing from the identical hymn sheet and when that happens it made me determined to get a decent test drive as I didn’t think I could trust the journalists on this one.

Unlike some I think both cars are brilliant and whilst one might be swayed by the GT tag on the 718 I am swayed by smiles per miles and for me that meant keeping the 981 and passing on my option for the 718.

The bottom line is 981 or 718 Spyder both will appeal to many folks for different reasons and I am sure that will remain the case now they have quite different characteristics

[Boxster7]

MannyLon said:

Did you sell the GT4?
I have a 981 spyder and 718 GT4 on order. Hope I’m doing the right thing?

Yes I did, I could have kept both, but because I’m not a regular tracker and for the reasons I mentioned above, I decided to lose the GT4.
The Spyder was always staying...... 26k miles and counting:-)

They are both brilliant cars, it’s just a choice which does it for you.

[RSVP911]

Porsche911R said:

RSVP911 said:

Unfortunately the exhaust mod is nearer £k 5.5 / £k 6 I’m afraid - but it’s absolutely excellent

So you could not do a 981 after a 718 then :-)
I thought that might happen.

Yep- the 718 chassis is a massive move on - only really realised after driving a 981 again.

[Porsche911R]

RSVP911 said:

Yep- the 718 chassis is a massive move on - only really realised after driving a 981 again.

As always every car is a nice car untill you drive a better car, then it's hard to go back :-)

At least that's one less out the 981 PH Hype :-p

As I have always said ALL Porsche cars are good cars, but very few are great ones.

[TDT]

RSVP911 said:

Yep- the 718 chassis is a massive move on - only really realised after driving a 981 again.

It’s interesting now that people will have a choice of chassis dynamic.

981 Spyder is a hot rodded 981 GTS.... the X73 focused on road... thinner tyres (235/265) giving a overall smaller contact patch.... car can more around, and a light footed touch.

718 Spyder is a drop top GT4...full adjustable GT coilover setup.... more overall grip with larger contact patch...(245/295)... GT cars typically have a locked down feel, can’t unstick them without big use of throttle... overall more serious, higher limits.

So it really depends what you prefer.... This is the core appeal of the 718 Spyder is the chassis... Porsche have chosen to position this way with the GT line now

Entry level GT...chassis = 718 GT4/Spyder
Mid level GT...chassis + engine = GT3
Top level GT... chassis + engine + aero = RS

[MannyLon]

Porsche911R said:

As always every car is a nice car untill you drive a better car, then it's hard to go back :-)

At least that's one less out the 981 PH Hype :-p

As I have always said ALL Porsche cars are good cars, but very few are great ones.

Yes there is a lot of hype created by haters. I’ll keep my 981 thanks.

[Singh911]

I prefer the slightly softer setup of the 981 spyder in a convertible - as opposed to the more hardcore GT product.
IMO it suits a convertible better.
I think its easy to get hung up on these things, generally there's a trend to focus on the metal too much and less on the driving.
These are all about driving. I'd love to see and read a lot more about great driving trips than the technical niceties of one model v another, which has its place, but is far overdone imo.

[Porsche911R]

Singh911 said:

I prefer the slightly softer setup of the 981 spyder in a convertible - as opposed to the more hardcore GT product.
IMO it suits a convertible better.

My GT4 ran the roads better than the 981 Spyder , the x73 while I love it for me, it not a soft set up for people who want a soft set up esp on low profile 20" wheels.

[Singh911]

Not comparing like for like, but my spyder is more compliant than my gt3 (which is on ohlins r&t). Both are set up well @ CG

[Porsche911R]

Singh911 said:

Not comparing like for like, but my spyder is more compliant than my gt3 (which is on ohlins r&t). Both are set up well @ CG

Ohlins road and track are cheap dampers with high spring rates !!

the word "track " gives a bit of that away.
Many find the GT4 too soft on track, ie it dives on it's brakes, it wears outers on your tyres due to roll etc etc.

Like for like a OEM GT4 PASM off rides better than a X73 Spyder.

I like the x73 it makes the car more exciting at lower Speeds, but that's not what we were talking about.

[av185]

Largely depends what you want to use the 981 Spyder.

Great useable package at the money (new) as an away weekend car.

As a focused drivers car relatively not so great imo.

Edited by av185 on Monday 3rd August 14:39

[MannyLon]

av185 said:

Largely depends what you want to use the 981 Spyder.

Great useable package at the money (new) as an away weekend car.

As a focused drivers car relatively not so great imo.

Edited by av185 on Monday 3rd August 14:39

Focused enough for me and many others. It never was intended for track work.