Spyder owners - where next? Anyone go back to Lotus?
Discussion
It seems many Spyder owners have come from Elises or Exiges. In many ways the Spyder is the perfect next car, and I think we're the types that Porsche targeted, and it seems to have worked. I'm after people's thoughts versus their old Lotus?
I did 70 miles with the roof off all afternoon today in my Spyder, just driving around the Surrey Hills, and loved it. However, maybe I'm just getting older (35), but I seem to do these drives less than when I had the 111R. Recently my thoughts turned to a V6 Exige, but when I sold the Elise I never thought I'd go back. Just don't think I can spend that kind of money on something with wing mirrors from a Metro! The Spyder is beautifully balanced, more powerful than my old car, direct steering.....but is it ever so slightly less involving? I drove the Elise pretty much at 100%, but find I don't wring the neck of the Spyder quite so much, I guess because it's ultimately more capable. Saying all this, at Castle Combe it was phenomenal!
Is it as much a 'go out to get a pint of milk and be gone for 2hrs' car?
Everything points to holding on to the Spyder, but what are current owners considering next? What did previous owners move on to?
R8 V8, V8 Vantage - definitely special, but are they that quick? 911 - I feel I should own one, but still not convinced I'll get on with the rear engined dynamics. Save my pennies for a GT3?
Thoughts? Tell me I should forget about other cars and keep this future classic that has all the ingredients of a Lotus but with Porsche build quality?
I did 70 miles with the roof off all afternoon today in my Spyder, just driving around the Surrey Hills, and loved it. However, maybe I'm just getting older (35), but I seem to do these drives less than when I had the 111R. Recently my thoughts turned to a V6 Exige, but when I sold the Elise I never thought I'd go back. Just don't think I can spend that kind of money on something with wing mirrors from a Metro! The Spyder is beautifully balanced, more powerful than my old car, direct steering.....but is it ever so slightly less involving? I drove the Elise pretty much at 100%, but find I don't wring the neck of the Spyder quite so much, I guess because it's ultimately more capable. Saying all this, at Castle Combe it was phenomenal!
Is it as much a 'go out to get a pint of milk and be gone for 2hrs' car?
Everything points to holding on to the Spyder, but what are current owners considering next? What did previous owners move on to?
R8 V8, V8 Vantage - definitely special, but are they that quick? 911 - I feel I should own one, but still not convinced I'll get on with the rear engined dynamics. Save my pennies for a GT3?
Thoughts? Tell me I should forget about other cars and keep this future classic that has all the ingredients of a Lotus but with Porsche build quality?
My experience of Lotus is pretty limited but I think the Spyder is always going to be less focused.
I think there are a few Spyder owners on here who have hung on to them longer than expected as it is hard to see where to go to next.
I've now had mine 3 1/2 years and have no current plans to change.
I think there are a few Spyder owners on here who have hung on to them longer than expected as it is hard to see where to go to next.
I've now had mine 3 1/2 years and have no current plans to change.
How do you find these cars in the sort of day to day environment? I've got a TVR which is great on the high days, but unless you go looking for these great drives then the car just ends up sitting in the garage. Can you use the Spyder regularly and leave outside in the rain without worrying about leaking? Quite tempted by these.
I have a Spyder and came from a Caterham and for me it would be a GT3 next, but only maybe one day. Personally I like the fact that the Spyder is a rare sight on our roads and a good all round weekender and track day car. After the Caterham it's a Rolls Royce but I do sometimes miss the rawness of the Caterham and ultimately will probably go back there one day but no itches to change anytime soon. Drove mine all summer roof down, now loving as much roof on, love it!:-)
Interesting comments so far - cheers all. Petty much what I expected!
OllyHill said:
How do you find these cars in the sort of day to day environment? I've got a TVR which is great on the high days, but unless you go looking for these great drives then the car just ends up sitting in the garage. Can you use the Spyder regularly and leave outside in the rain without worrying about leaking? Quite tempted by these.
Mine is a weekend car, and stays outside all year round, with no problems. There's a reasonable amount of wind noise at 85+ (apparently), at which point it gets a bit draughty too. In torrential rain, a few droplets will get in, but not much. I don't see why you couldn't use it everyday.we have a Spyder and that's it - it gets used in all weathers, for all situations and I love it.
2.8 years ownership
64,000 awesome miles
top down c60% of the time
4 sets of rear tyres
2 sets of fronts
29 mpg +
12 bags of horse s
t
1 complete bicycle + kit + passenger
2 complete bicycles + kit - no passenger
2 week holiday luggage for 2 + passenger
42" colour telly (twice)
fun fun fun :-)
IMHO - it's not noisey - it's fast as feck - PDK is sublime (once you learn how to drive it) - it's surprisingly practical - services are cheap as chips - I have only ever seen 2 on the road - it begs to be THRASHED - paddles make the car - performance, handling, bomb-proof build quality and reliability . . . who can ask for more???
khushy
2.8 years ownership
64,000 awesome miles
top down c60% of the time
4 sets of rear tyres
2 sets of fronts
29 mpg +
12 bags of horse s
t1 complete bicycle + kit + passenger
2 complete bicycles + kit - no passenger
2 week holiday luggage for 2 + passenger
42" colour telly (twice)
fun fun fun :-)
IMHO - it's not noisey - it's fast as feck - PDK is sublime (once you learn how to drive it) - it's surprisingly practical - services are cheap as chips - I have only ever seen 2 on the road - it begs to be THRASHED - paddles make the car - performance, handling, bomb-proof build quality and reliability . . . who can ask for more???
khushy
Came from Caterfields to Elise to Cayman. So I suppose if the trend continues I'll be in a Merc SL next 
In reality though, if Alfa see fit to put a manual box in the 4C, then that would be a serious consideration for swapping the Cayman in. My perfect car lies somewhere between a Cayman and an Elise. This appears to be the first serious contender for that in a long time. The Evora is too I suppose, but I have issues with Lotus build and am not ready yet to go back to them.
As for the Spyder / Elise thing, my brother still has both and has no real intentions of selling either. Saying that, he drove an F-Type recently and was seriously smitten, so maybe he's going soft too
In reality though, if Alfa see fit to put a manual box in the 4C, then that would be a serious consideration for swapping the Cayman in. My perfect car lies somewhere between a Cayman and an Elise. This appears to be the first serious contender for that in a long time. The Evora is too I suppose, but I have issues with Lotus build and am not ready yet to go back to them.
As for the Spyder / Elise thing, my brother still has both and has no real intentions of selling either. Saying that, he drove an F-Type recently and was seriously smitten, so maybe he's going soft too
Edited by juansolo on Saturday 12th October 23:28
So does this lack of supply and enthusiast support mean that our cars will begin to appreciate? Maybe eventually...
The 4C looks great and by all accounts so far drives pretty well too, but you should get 6 cylinders at that price! I think they'll be a rare sight, which will only add to the appeal.
The 4C looks great and by all accounts so far drives pretty well too, but you should get 6 cylinders at that price! I think they'll be a rare sight, which will only add to the appeal.
Having only had my Exige for 5 weeks before I bought my Spyder I can't say whether I'd still have it 2 years later. ( really enjoyed my short time with it though!)
Whilst I've mused on here many times about changing the Spyder for something else, I just can't!
Something about it that just won't let me let it go - it really is a special car (even with fat boy seats...)
I've often wondered what a V6 Exige would be like, but have so far resisted a test drive.
Perhaps one day in the future.
But for now, and the foreseeable, the future's bright.
The future's white.
(And I've just spent a st load on a SSK and refurbed wheels for the Spyder, so it's got to stay...)
Whilst I've mused on here many times about changing the Spyder for something else, I just can't!
Something about it that just won't let me let it go - it really is a special car (even with fat boy seats...)
I've often wondered what a V6 Exige would be like, but have so far resisted a test drive.
Perhaps one day in the future.
But for now, and the foreseeable, the future's bright.
The future's white.
(And I've just spent a s
t load on a SSK and refurbed wheels for the Spyder, so it's got to stay...)Spyder is one of the best cars made in the last 10 years.
Not a lot I can add to that statement, bar if you want one with a hard top buy a Cayman R.
R is the best all round sport car I have owned out of 50cars.
Not a car for sale today or in the last 5 years which can go head to head with a Cayman R.
Nothing Porsche make or Lotus or Alfa can do what the R can do.
manual of course makes the cars.
Not a lot I can add to that statement, bar if you want one with a hard top buy a Cayman R.
R is the best all round sport car I have owned out of 50cars.
Not a car for sale today or in the last 5 years which can go head to head with a Cayman R.
Nothing Porsche make or Lotus or Alfa can do what the R can do.
manual of course makes the cars.
Interesting thread which is relevant to where I am as a Spyder owner.
Previously owned an Elise R, 997C2S and a couple of Caterhams (the last being an R400 Duratec I built myself).
I wanted something more usable than the Caterham so put a deposit down for one of the early V6 Exige which was then delayed a number of times, along with the negative press Lotus was recieving I cancelled my order and bought a 2 year old Spyder.
My Spyder is, in some eyes, the ideal spec. White, manual with sport shift, bucket seats, PSE, Spyder wheels etc. It's now coming up for three years old and has only done 6000 miles. So, it most likely has decent residuals too.
But for some reason, I still find myself looking at the clssifieds. I just can't see me keeping the Spyder forever.
V6 Exige is still an option but I do struggle to see the extra £25k to change from the Spyder.
It's a third car for me and I've only done 1000 miles this year so I'm wondering if an Atom might be worth a try. Not ideal in the north east of Scotland though and I need to remind myself why I sold the last Caterham.
Other options -
GT3, 997 GTS, F430 all worth a look but like the Lotus, are they worth the extra £££ over a very competent Spyder.
Latest model Supercharged Elise perhaps has more appeal?
Previously owned an Elise R, 997C2S and a couple of Caterhams (the last being an R400 Duratec I built myself).
I wanted something more usable than the Caterham so put a deposit down for one of the early V6 Exige which was then delayed a number of times, along with the negative press Lotus was recieving I cancelled my order and bought a 2 year old Spyder.
My Spyder is, in some eyes, the ideal spec. White, manual with sport shift, bucket seats, PSE, Spyder wheels etc. It's now coming up for three years old and has only done 6000 miles. So, it most likely has decent residuals too.
But for some reason, I still find myself looking at the clssifieds. I just can't see me keeping the Spyder forever.
V6 Exige is still an option but I do struggle to see the extra £25k to change from the Spyder.
It's a third car for me and I've only done 1000 miles this year so I'm wondering if an Atom might be worth a try. Not ideal in the north east of Scotland though and I need to remind myself why I sold the last Caterham.
Other options -
GT3, 997 GTS, F430 all worth a look but like the Lotus, are they worth the extra £££ over a very competent Spyder.
Latest model Supercharged Elise perhaps has more appeal?
Great question. After only two weeks (and 600 miles) with my Spyder I feel qualified to reply.
I had a 4.3 big valve TVR Griffith for 5 years - visceral, raw, noisy, every drive an event, bags of soul, fast but frightening. Despite what die-hard TVR fans will tell you, this is not a car I ever trusted on mid-corner off-camber undulations (never mind just a straight line under acceleration) even with newly-fitted, properly set-up coil-overs. A phenomenal car, and one I miss more than any other - but I never really trusted it. Of course that's part of the fun but when I'd had my fun I moved on...
...to an Elise 111S. This was the antithesis of the TVR. fastish, hugely capable, totally confidence-inspiring, incredibly good fun to drive hard on track, very rewarding with it's responsiveness and feedback. What a car. But I sold it after a year because it didn't make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It didn't really have that sense of occasion, or the exhaust note to die for.
After three years with an 80s BMW retro car it was time to get back into something driver-oriented. I wanted the best of the TVR and the Elise in one low-maintenance package. Gone are my days of lifting the bonnet every weekend. These days other commitments mean I need a car that is 'turn-key' and safe enough to take the kids out in. I also wanted something I hoped would be a safe place for my money...
So I looked at the following (yes some meet the criteria better than others...):
Noble M12 GTO
Ferrari 348
Ultima GTR
911
Maserati Gransport
...and of course Boxster Spyder.
The Spyder won for a number of reasons:
(1) The engine is where it should be
(2) It is full of character (humps, buckets, Spyders, PSE, alcantara - but they all have that special feeling)
(3) Fast enough
(4) Relatively sensible servicing (I hope)
(5) Open-top (it's a second car so why not?)
(6) Sound track
Now having lived with it, albeit for a short period, I am convinced it's a keeper. The drive is as capable as the Elise, but just a little more comfortable without being cosseting. It's as thrilling as the TVR, but utterly trustworthy in all conditions. It even has mini-GT racer looks (which I did like about the GTR) and it's user friendly (once you're in) without being 'normal'.
For £35k I can't see what to change for. I have to say I sat in the Exige Roadster at Goodwood and was very taken with it, but for £55k (which makes it irrelevant as it's way beyond my budget) there were too many reminders of the Elise. As a mini Ferrari, allegedly capable of out-accelerating a GT3 to 100 it sounds fun, but for how long? The Spyder feels more independent in its character and yet full of Porsche DNA.
I suppose if the Exige falls in value and the Spyder retains its value (which in terms of 'investment' I am hoping it will!) I may make the change one day, but I can't think of anything I'd rather be in right now.
So that's one less Spyder on the market!
I had a 4.3 big valve TVR Griffith for 5 years - visceral, raw, noisy, every drive an event, bags of soul, fast but frightening. Despite what die-hard TVR fans will tell you, this is not a car I ever trusted on mid-corner off-camber undulations (never mind just a straight line under acceleration) even with newly-fitted, properly set-up coil-overs. A phenomenal car, and one I miss more than any other - but I never really trusted it. Of course that's part of the fun but when I'd had my fun I moved on...
...to an Elise 111S. This was the antithesis of the TVR. fastish, hugely capable, totally confidence-inspiring, incredibly good fun to drive hard on track, very rewarding with it's responsiveness and feedback. What a car. But I sold it after a year because it didn't make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It didn't really have that sense of occasion, or the exhaust note to die for.
After three years with an 80s BMW retro car it was time to get back into something driver-oriented. I wanted the best of the TVR and the Elise in one low-maintenance package. Gone are my days of lifting the bonnet every weekend. These days other commitments mean I need a car that is 'turn-key' and safe enough to take the kids out in. I also wanted something I hoped would be a safe place for my money...
So I looked at the following (yes some meet the criteria better than others...):
Noble M12 GTO
Ferrari 348
Ultima GTR
911
Maserati Gransport
...and of course Boxster Spyder.
The Spyder won for a number of reasons:
(1) The engine is where it should be
(2) It is full of character (humps, buckets, Spyders, PSE, alcantara - but they all have that special feeling)
(3) Fast enough
(4) Relatively sensible servicing (I hope)
(5) Open-top (it's a second car so why not?)
(6) Sound track
Now having lived with it, albeit for a short period, I am convinced it's a keeper. The drive is as capable as the Elise, but just a little more comfortable without being cosseting. It's as thrilling as the TVR, but utterly trustworthy in all conditions. It even has mini-GT racer looks (which I did like about the GTR) and it's user friendly (once you're in) without being 'normal'.
For £35k I can't see what to change for. I have to say I sat in the Exige Roadster at Goodwood and was very taken with it, but for £55k (which makes it irrelevant as it's way beyond my budget) there were too many reminders of the Elise. As a mini Ferrari, allegedly capable of out-accelerating a GT3 to 100 it sounds fun, but for how long? The Spyder feels more independent in its character and yet full of Porsche DNA.
I suppose if the Exige falls in value and the Spyder retains its value (which in terms of 'investment' I am hoping it will!) I may make the change one day, but I can't think of anything I'd rather be in right now.
So that's one less Spyder on the market!
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