RE: You Know You Want To: Porsche Boxster Spyder
Discussion
The Spyder is an incredible car, one of the best cars (with the roof off) to look at on the planet and an amazing machine to drive. I've had a number of them on 24 hours tests and even had a deposit on one, but in the end decided that the Cayman R was a better option for me, especially as the car lives outside! I have no doubt the Spyder will hold value well over the coming years and can't see them dipping lower than £30k; I suspect a few garage queens might also command a high premium in the long term future. Having said all that, the roof is a little fiddly (much more fiddly than an Elise/VX220) and doesn't quite look right, so if that is the only thing holding you back, go for the equally impressive Cayman R.
One of my neighbors has one of these along with a 997 GT3 RS. (or had, haven't seen either of them in months - they're probably tucked away for the winter).
They look great in person, and I think, crazily, I'd pick the Spyder over the GT3 RS. Just seems more usable more of the time, despite the leaky roof (and a lot cheaper...).
They look great in person, and I think, crazily, I'd pick the Spyder over the GT3 RS. Just seems more usable more of the time, despite the leaky roof (and a lot cheaper...).
This prompted my first post!
The Spyder has been a regular on my Pistonheads Classified searches over the last few months. (Along side a BMW 1M and Lotus Evora S). I've never really been a huge Porsche fan (sorry Monkey), but LOVE the look of the Spyder.
I do worry about the 'tent' though!
Captain Muppet said:
How does the roof compare to an S1 Elise in terms of fitting hassle and leakiness?
It's slightly easier to fit than the Elise. It's in two parts, the Elise is obviously 5 when you include cant rails etc. You can stop an S1 roof leaking completely, not sure on the Spyder. Personally I think the S1 looks pretty good roof up (as long as it's tight and not old/saggy. I think the Spyder looks pretty crap roof up.
Nice car though.
MDian said:
The Spyder is one of the best cars to look at on the planet
Think you need to put those specs back on. It's a lovely looking car (as you say, roof off). But you genuinely believe it's one of the best looking cars on the planet?!!
Also disagree that the roof is more fiddly than an Elise, at least earlier ones. At least you don't need a bloody allen key to sort out the Porsche's roof!
Edited by pthelazyjourno on Tuesday 29th January 13:13
This is actually my old Spyder in the pictures!! 
Ive been lucky enough to have 3 previous Porsche's, an S1 & S2 Elise and the Spyder, well I am still in love with, the roof with some practice can be taken down and stored in about a minute-ish and put back up in about 2-3 (quicker when the sky goes grey!) compared to the S1 Elise it is much easier and quicker, it has never leaked and even cleaning it as long as you don't jet wash next to the window/roof line (which you wouldn't of any cab) then it stays 100% dry...
Chris doesn't mention the fact it's not just the weight saving but also the Geo and suspension set up on these (plus lighter wheels) which sets them a part from the 'S', to drive the Spyder is to me taking the very best bits of the Elise and Boxster and mashing them together in a more grown up, civilised yet heart poundingly fun package. Borrow one of Porsche's on the Silverstone track and the guys there love them and back to back with a Boxster S it really does shine!
I still ache to have my Spyder back and while it was a weekend summer sun special (garage queen to some!) every time I looked at it I smiled, its one of the few cars I have owned that people are photographing and crowding round when you come back to it, to me its just a very special car which as soon as possible will be back in my ownership!
Ive been lucky enough to have 3 previous Porsche's, an S1 & S2 Elise and the Spyder, well I am still in love with, the roof with some practice can be taken down and stored in about a minute-ish and put back up in about 2-3 (quicker when the sky goes grey!) compared to the S1 Elise it is much easier and quicker, it has never leaked and even cleaning it as long as you don't jet wash next to the window/roof line (which you wouldn't of any cab) then it stays 100% dry...
Chris doesn't mention the fact it's not just the weight saving but also the Geo and suspension set up on these (plus lighter wheels) which sets them a part from the 'S', to drive the Spyder is to me taking the very best bits of the Elise and Boxster and mashing them together in a more grown up, civilised yet heart poundingly fun package. Borrow one of Porsche's on the Silverstone track and the guys there love them and back to back with a Boxster S it really does shine!
I still ache to have my Spyder back and while it was a weekend summer sun special (garage queen to some!) every time I looked at it I smiled, its one of the few cars I have owned that people are photographing and crowding round when you come back to it, to me its just a very special car which as soon as possible will be back in my ownership!
I think Chris's pricing is optimistic.
There are 2 only Spyders left on the official Porsche used car locator website, up at £37500 and £38000. There have been no more than 5 at any one time for months now. A blue one at 911Virgin sold in a matter of hours this weekend before they even put any photos up of it. And we're still in January...
I have one of the first ones in the UK, supplied in May 2010 and it's now done nearly 14000 miles. I have used it at weekends, driven to LeMans, done a couple of track days and a few laps of the Evo triangle in it. As a second car it has been absolutely sublime. Any doubter needs to drive one back to back with a 987 Boxster S, the difference in the way theey drive is striking. Chris hits the nail on the head - the car adds up to so much more than the sum of its parts.
The roof doesn't leak. It doesn't leak when its parked and it doesn't leak when you drive it in heavy rain. It takes a minute to put up or take down when you know what you are doing and, sad as it may sound, it adds to the charm of the car and your relationship with it, it makes it feel special. Unless it's actually raining, I drive mine with the roof down at every opportunity.
My bugbear - the windnoise at motorway outside lane speeds with the roof up. I didn't buy it for motorways though and if you stick to sensible speeds it's tolerable. If you do like hoofing it down motorways in the rain it won't be the car for you.
The nicest surprise is the anti-road rage. Nobody has given me any abuse and I have had nothing but kind comments whenever I have been out in the car. Boy racers have given me the thumbs up and one told me "your car is well peng mate!".
People genuinely ask to take photos of it. The closest I got to an "incident" was when I left it in a car park briefly and a bunch of skater boys tucked a Top Gear "UNCOOL" card under the wiper.
Highly recommended!
There are 2 only Spyders left on the official Porsche used car locator website, up at £37500 and £38000. There have been no more than 5 at any one time for months now. A blue one at 911Virgin sold in a matter of hours this weekend before they even put any photos up of it. And we're still in January...
I have one of the first ones in the UK, supplied in May 2010 and it's now done nearly 14000 miles. I have used it at weekends, driven to LeMans, done a couple of track days and a few laps of the Evo triangle in it. As a second car it has been absolutely sublime. Any doubter needs to drive one back to back with a 987 Boxster S, the difference in the way theey drive is striking. Chris hits the nail on the head - the car adds up to so much more than the sum of its parts.
The roof doesn't leak. It doesn't leak when its parked and it doesn't leak when you drive it in heavy rain. It takes a minute to put up or take down when you know what you are doing and, sad as it may sound, it adds to the charm of the car and your relationship with it, it makes it feel special. Unless it's actually raining, I drive mine with the roof down at every opportunity.
My bugbear - the windnoise at motorway outside lane speeds with the roof up. I didn't buy it for motorways though and if you stick to sensible speeds it's tolerable. If you do like hoofing it down motorways in the rain it won't be the car for you.
The nicest surprise is the anti-road rage. Nobody has given me any abuse and I have had nothing but kind comments whenever I have been out in the car. Boy racers have given me the thumbs up and one told me "your car is well peng mate!".
People genuinely ask to take photos of it. The closest I got to an "incident" was when I left it in a car park briefly and a bunch of skater boys tucked a Top Gear "UNCOOL" card under the wiper.
Highly recommended!
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