RE: New 718 Boxster Spyder pics

[jakesmith]

Audemars said:

I think you will find you are in the minority and I mean probably approx less than 1% of the population.

Seriously why is there this version?

Oh dear. I think you're in a minority if you think that convertibles, or Porsche Boxsters, can be described as 'a turd'

And in answer to your question, I guess this version is for people who like driving & who aren't stuck right up their own arse. People for whom the sense of connection you have with the road and driving experience, that a convertible gives (that a coupe can not), is an acceptable trade-off against the slight / barely perceptible decrease in chassis rigidity that some car bores go on about.

[gofasterrosssco]

Lets be honest, wishful thinking aside, its not really going to have a NA flat-6..

With so much investment in the turbo four cylinder, Porsche aren't going to may it potentially slower than an existing Boxster S (which real world, it probably would be..)

[anniesdad]

MikeGoodwin said:

Heard a 718 the other day it sounded absolutely horrid. Huge shame.

It's funny, its the driver that matters in all this. One could say the quieter on the outside the better. I had the pleasure of driving the 718's around PEC a while back, seriously I was that engaged in the drive, acceleration, steering and braking that the sound inside the cabin, made not a bit of difference to me.

[Audemars]

anniesdad said:

Audemars said:

I think you will find you are in the minority and I mean probably approx less than 1% of the population.

Seriously why is there this version?

AFAIK, the Spyder's are lightened through the lack of electric motors for the roof, it has a lower CoG than the Boxster, lightened panels, more power, stripped interior (no radio/air con but can be put back in), more grip. There's many more other detail changes. A standard Boxster on track wouldn't be as much fun as this. I also think it gives those that can't get in to a GT car for whatever reason a chance at getting something that's a bit sharper than the standard cars.

Ok fair enough. I did wonder how the car ended up with a roof tail that looks like it has been engineered on a stricter budget than that of the series 1 Lotus Elise.

[HighwayStar]

gofasterrosssco said:

Lets be honest, wishful thinking aside, its not really going to have a NA flat-6..

With so much investment in the turbo four cylinder, Porsche aren't going to may it potentially slower than an existing Boxster S (which real world, it probably would be..)

So it's all about the speed?

If it was I would've bought a 718 rather than 981 S. The Turbo S is faster than the GT3 in the real world... so by your reckon why build the GT3.
Porsche know what they are doing and what their market is.

[anniesdad]

Audemars said:

Ok fair enough. I did wonder how the car ended up with a roof tail that looks like it has been engineered on a stricter budget than that of the series 1 Lotus Elise.

I like that panel. Curvy like a woman's lady lumps.

[WJNB]

Does it really matter what the engine is?
There is now an entire generation who will never know what's it's like to drive a real sports car & think Porsche make SUV's & odd looking four door saloons. For them the ability to play with an on-board computer & prattle to their friends hands-free is the priority, after all they will spend most of their time in a traffic jam & performance or noise of no consequence or relevance.
Only a few oldies live in the past remembering Porsche as the sports car maker it once was & will never be again.

[Audemars]

jakesmith said:

Audemars said:

I think you will find you are in the minority and I mean probably approx less than 1% of the population.

Seriously why is there this version?

Oh dear. I think you're in a minority if you think that convertibles, or Porsche Boxsters, can be described as 'a turd'

And in answer to your question, I guess this version is for people who like driving & who aren't stuck right up their own arse. People for whom the sense of connection you have with the road and driving experience, that a convertible gives (that a coupe can not), is an acceptable trade-off against the slight / barely perceptible decrease in chassis rigidity that some car bores go on about.

I think you need to get away from your keyboard and go outside sometimes. You will find only pistonheads like Porsches. Most people do not look twice at a 911 let alone a boxster.

[anniesdad]

Audemars said:

Most people do not look twice at a 911 let alone a boxster.

Long may that continue.

[Audemars]

Nanook said:

Audemars said:

I think you need to get away from your keyboard and go outside sometimes. You will find only pistonheads like Porsches. Most people do not look twice at a 911 let alone a boxster.

Wonder why Porsche sell quite so many cars if no-one likes them?

They are cheap relative to the other cars.

Fiestas sell lots for the same reason.

[anniesdad]

Audemars said:

Nanook said:

Audemars said:

I think you need to get away from your keyboard and go outside sometimes. You will find only pistonheads like Porsches. Most people do not look twice at a 911 let alone a boxster.

Wonder why Porsche sell quite so many cars if no-one likes them?

They are cheap.

They're really not. Obvious troll is obvious? Nice username by the way.

[HighwayStar]

Nanook said:

Audemars said:

They are cheap relative to the other cars.

Fiestas sell lots for the same reason.

So people that buy Porsche cars aren't doing so because they like them?

They're only doing it because they're cheap?

There's is debate and criticism, then there Audermars and anniesdad. Best not feed 'em eh.

[billzeebub]

Sure it will be a good drive and I like the looks. If only they would at least stick 6 cylinders in their Spyder/GT4 models. I wouldn't want to be paying such prices for 4 cylinders even if they are limited edition. Obvs doesnt worry Porsche though as they could probably sell the numbers many times over

[MrJerv]

anniesdad said:

Audemars said:

Most people do not look twice at a 911 let alone a boxster.

Long may that continue.

Damn right. I did not buy any of my cars so that people would stare at me...

Like the fact my 911 doesnt stop traffic and have the entire world staring. Just enough people including me obviously appreciate it, thats enough for me.

This new spyder looks great. Just hope it has the right engine with enough power hike to keep a distance to the 4cyl

[MikeGalos]

Futse said:

Trophy-GTA said:

Another week, another porsche on pistonheads.

Well, it is a car website, and there's news from Porsche, so....

Then the two obvious questions are:

1. Why does a company that only makes five models of cars (718, 911, Panamera, Macan, Cayenne by Porsche's reckoning) manage to release "news" every week?
2. Why do car websites think that all of those "news" items are worth reporting especially seeing that three of those five are four door family cars and on-road SUVs?

[Cheib]

HighwayStar said:

gofasterrosssco said:

Lets be honest, wishful thinking aside, its not really going to have a NA flat-6..

With so much investment in the turbo four cylinder, Porsche aren't going to may it potentially slower than an existing Boxster S (which real world, it probably would be..)

So it's all about the speed?

If it was I would've bought a 718 rather than 981 S. The Turbo S is faster than the GT3 in the real world... so by your reckon why build the GT3.
Porsche know what they are doing and what their market is.

It's also about economics....think of the cost implications of

a) Tweaking the current four pot turbo to increase power by 30 to 40 bhp

b) Re-engineer the car to fit a flat six NASP engine.

[AndrewD]

Nanook said:

Audemars said:

They are cheap relative to the other cars.

Fiestas sell lots for the same reason.

So people that buy Porsche cars aren't doing so because they like them?

They're only doing it because they're cheap?

Yes absolutely!
If I could afford a Speciale and a 675 LT I would buy those instead

[gofasterrosssco]

Cheib said:

HighwayStar said:

gofasterrosssco said:

Lets be honest, wishful thinking aside, its not really going to have a NA flat-6..

With so much investment in the turbo four cylinder, Porsche aren't going to may it potentially slower than an existing Boxster S (which real world, it probably would be..)

So it's all about the speed?

If it was I would've bought a 718 rather than 981 S. The Turbo S is faster than the GT3 in the real world... so by your reckon why build the GT3.
Porsche know what they are doing and what their market is.

It's also about economics....think of the cost implications of

a) Tweaking the current four pot turbo to increase power by 30 to 40 bhp

b) Re-engineer the car to fit a flat six NASP engine.

Exactly that. Plus yep, when it comes to the majority of potential customers, it is about speed, or at least the spec sheet with 0 - pointless times, combined fuel economy, and tax bands etc.

Releasing a more expensive version, with less accessible performance, to satisfy a relatively small number of 'purists' is unlikely to gain much traction with the bean counters. It took Porsche 2-3 years and a 911R to be convinced to re-engineer and install a manual gearbox in the GT3 FFS... So unless this is a truly special model with restricted supply and high selling price (like the GT4), it wouldn't make a huge amount of commercial sense of revert back to the older engine type..

Or maybe they'll just drop the GT4 lump into it..

[DanielSan]

MikeGoodwin said:

Heard a 718 the other day it sounded absolutely horrid. Huge shame.

I think I’m in the minority, I really don’t think they sound that bad with the sports exhaust. They do need some unequal length manifolds though.

[ZxrL]

That rear diffuser reminds me of the MINI GP2.. Or my JCW which has one on (R56)