GTS vs. R8 V8 (vs. Spyder)
Discussion
I currently have a Boxster Spyder. I love it, but it could be time for a change. I am thinking 997 GTS or R8 V8.
I feel like I should own a 911 at some point, but know ultimately I won't like the weight distribution. Just want to have owned one to have an opinion. I think the gen 2 997 is ideal as it doesn't have the numb steering of the 991, but has the sorted engine versus the gen 1. Then there's the R8 (V8). Always wanted one, and will love the layout. Plus it's rarer, and possibly more special...but maybe thirstier and slower than a GTS?
We are talking weekends, possibly a two week trip across Europe, and one track day per year.
Or keep the Spyder?
Thoughts?
I feel like I should own a 911 at some point, but know ultimately I won't like the weight distribution. Just want to have owned one to have an opinion. I think the gen 2 997 is ideal as it doesn't have the numb steering of the 991, but has the sorted engine versus the gen 1. Then there's the R8 (V8). Always wanted one, and will love the layout. Plus it's rarer, and possibly more special...but maybe thirstier and slower than a GTS?
We are talking weekends, possibly a two week trip across Europe, and one track day per year.
Or keep the Spyder?
Thoughts?
The run out special 997 GTS is a lot of car for the money and much more desirable to my mind than a regular 997.
The R8 is much rarer and more of a spectacle to look at. You see 997s everywhere.
I've driven but not owned both. The R8 had a Capristo exhaust so wasn't standard but sounded incredible. People ignored the 997; they did not ignore the R8 (even with exhaust switched to quiet) - whether you like that is up to you. I can't really say I noticed any difference in acceleration but on paper the GTS should have the edge - it's around 100kg lighter IIRC. For touring I'd have thought that the storage in a R8 is poor.
You already know it's a personal choice thing!
Good luck - nice problem to have...
The R8 is much rarer and more of a spectacle to look at. You see 997s everywhere.
I've driven but not owned both. The R8 had a Capristo exhaust so wasn't standard but sounded incredible. People ignored the 997; they did not ignore the R8 (even with exhaust switched to quiet) - whether you like that is up to you. I can't really say I noticed any difference in acceleration but on paper the GTS should have the edge - it's around 100kg lighter IIRC. For touring I'd have thought that the storage in a R8 is poor.
You already know it's a personal choice thing!
Good luck - nice problem to have...
Tough choice and im lucky enough to have owned the R8 V10 and now the 997 Turbo S Cab. The R8 is a stunner on the road and gets lots of attention, the 911 does occasionally but not nearly as much as the R8.
R8 is not great for touring space wise but the V8 or V10 engines are fantastic and on the track it performs incredibly due to the mid-engine balance.
Pic of both of mine before the R8 departed into the sunset...miss it for sure.
good luck...if you went with the R8, you won’t be disappointed
R8 is not great for touring space wise but the V8 or V10 engines are fantastic and on the track it performs incredibly due to the mid-engine balance.
Pic of both of mine before the R8 departed into the sunset...miss it for sure.
good luck...if you went with the R8, you won’t be disappointed
I have only ever seen R8s (a) driven by blonde women of a certain type and/or (b) driven very badly and/or (c) driven in Kensington. I have never seen one driven well outside of London on a good road.
Irrespective of its actual abilities, the R8 is a car for posers. I would go for the relatively understated 911 (esp given that it will perform just as well, if not better).
Irrespective of its actual abilities, the R8 is a car for posers. I would go for the relatively understated 911 (esp given that it will perform just as well, if not better).
keep the Spyder.
R8 will feel slow and wide and you do have to rev it out.
ALso the R8 has no space for euro trips to take any thing.
Would have to be the V10 and then you have high fuel costs.
911, well the GTS is nice but will it be 22k better than a Spyder.
I also think prices might drop a bit from the 60k they are now.
Both will be slower on track than a Spyder, but that's a mute point at only 1 a year.
Spyder will hold the better money over the 2 also.
A lot of Spyder owners fancy a change, but when push comes to shove, if you enjoy driving nothing really comes close at the money.
So we all keep them and it's the same cars which are talked about, R8, 911 etc etc
If you want to have a change and like the drive, move sideways and try a Cayman R it's more usable but driving a coupe just seems better. Some times just owning a new colour makes you feel like you have a whole new car.
I could NOT buy a GTS over a Cayman R esp with the 20k it would cost for a car which imo is not as good.
Hence why I own both...Spyder and Cayman R.
Spyder is a toy Cayman R is a tool
R8 will feel slow and wide and you do have to rev it out.
ALso the R8 has no space for euro trips to take any thing.
Would have to be the V10 and then you have high fuel costs.
911, well the GTS is nice but will it be 22k better than a Spyder.
I also think prices might drop a bit from the 60k they are now.
Both will be slower on track than a Spyder, but that's a mute point at only 1 a year.
Spyder will hold the better money over the 2 also.
A lot of Spyder owners fancy a change, but when push comes to shove, if you enjoy driving nothing really comes close at the money.
So we all keep them and it's the same cars which are talked about, R8, 911 etc etc
If you want to have a change and like the drive, move sideways and try a Cayman R it's more usable but driving a coupe just seems better. Some times just owning a new colour makes you feel like you have a whole new car.
I could NOT buy a GTS over a Cayman R esp with the 20k it would cost for a car which imo is not as good.
Hence why I own both...Spyder and Cayman R.
Spyder is a toy Cayman R is a tool
As discussed, a tough choice. I have a GTS and last year spent a week with a friend in Germany who has an R8 V8 Spyder.
Performance wise, there's really so little in it that it doesn't count in the real world. Driver responsiveness and ability make way more difference. After much autobahn driving I think the GTS has marginally better in gear times, but if someone produces figures to show otherwise I'd believe them. It's really close.
The Audi feels more exotic, especially the Spyder with its flat deck with the roof down. It also has a more super car type cabin, but it depends on what you want. I like having rear seats, classic understatement, and being able to park it on London streets. My friend is lucky enough to be able to keep his under a cover in an temperature managed garage and enjoys the relative exclusivity.
Have fun making your mind up. And obviously drive both so it's an informed decision.
Performance wise, there's really so little in it that it doesn't count in the real world. Driver responsiveness and ability make way more difference. After much autobahn driving I think the GTS has marginally better in gear times, but if someone produces figures to show otherwise I'd believe them. It's really close.
The Audi feels more exotic, especially the Spyder with its flat deck with the roof down. It also has a more super car type cabin, but it depends on what you want. I like having rear seats, classic understatement, and being able to park it on London streets. My friend is lucky enough to be able to keep his under a cover in an temperature managed garage and enjoys the relative exclusivity.
Have fun making your mind up. And obviously drive both so it's an informed decision.
andy102 said:
R8 V8 was a big disappointment to me, V10 is better. Looks special but drives like any fast Audi, the 911 is the opposite, doesn't look that special but drives brilliantly.
GTS is the pick of the bunch, unless you want a GT3
Agree with this....the R8 is poor and whilst the V10 is arguably better, neither can compete with the 911 for true driver interaction.GTS is the pick of the bunch, unless you want a GT3
The 2 wd GTS (I prefer PDK but the manual is also good unlike the naff 991 manual box) is a great overall package with perfect neutrality to the now defunct hydraulic steering, and I would vouch for it being as quick as a 458 in the 'real world' on spirited A and B road drives.....
Easily worth the extra £ over any Boxster or Cayman, residuals on proper spec and mileage GTS have changed little over the past 18 months and will stay firm largely due to the restricted number available and 'sports GT' evolvement and inert electrical steering of the 991.....
ORD said:
I have only ever seen R8s (a) driven by blonde women of a certain type and/or (b) driven very badly and/or (c) driven in Kensington. I have never seen one driven well outside of London on a good road.
Irrespective of its actual abilities, the R8 is a car for posers. I would go for the relatively understated 911 (esp given that it will perform just as well, if not better).
Don't go generalising will you Irrespective of its actual abilities, the R8 is a car for posers. I would go for the relatively understated 911 (esp given that it will perform just as well, if not better).
The GTS has a different suspension setup and feel to the Carrera S. Whilst clearly not showing the true characteristics of some mid engined cars, the car feels particularly well planted and the wider '4' body also improves stability and reduces the typical 'corkscrewing' effect often felt in some Carreras......
GTS is an amazing car, mine looks particularly shiny after a detail last weekend. I drove an R8 (V8) and a Vantage V8 before the GTS, as well as a C2S. The GTS ticked more boxes for me drive wise, which is the most important thing to me. The Vantage wins hands down on looks over both but felt a bit heavy and in comparison to the GTS, not that quick. Was disappointed with the R8 full stop, the V10 I'm sure is a different animal. To get a C2S up to the spec I got from a GTS meant there was little difference price wise and prefer the wide body so was an easy decision.
Only thing to bear in mind with the GTS if you're looking to track is the centre lock alloys. Not the cheapest thing to have on them if you're doing a few track days, as the hubs need work after a certain amount of mileage. As they're centre locks, realistically you have to go to OPC to get them removed so some aren't fans.
Edited by andyc11 on Thursday 20th March 09:49
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