Boxster Spyder

[testdrive]

Yes that would be fun, with a little video on the side. Will add to my to do list as I really like them.

[Porsche911R]

daro911 said:

In the real world the gear ratios are no "real" issue to the fun one has when cruising or giving it some beans - You're handle says it all go and experience the package first hand with a testdrive

Having ran both side by side the longer gearing really really does impact the performance and fun nature of the car sadly. Imo it’s a massive issue having a car which does 85mph in 2nd gear when the B road limit is 60mph, the gearing saps the life out the car, and at legal speeds is dire as you don’t get to rev the engine out.

[isaldiri]

testdrive said:

Sounds awesome but those max speess per gear are horrible and really put me off. How far are these past the optimum shift point ?

Optimum shift point is going to be near the redline but seriously, those speeds while high are not so far off what other cars with shorter gearing that never get the same amount of complaints are going to be doing at max rpm. Take the 991.2 gt3, at max revs (higher rpm obviously) it's hardly going to be much if any more at all than 5mph lower than those numbers in 2nd and 3rd gear. In both cases you are miles over the NSL anyway....

[Sandy59]

Porsche911R said:

Having ran both side by side the longer gearing really really does impact the performance and fun nature of the car sadly. Imo it’s a massive issue having a car which does 85mph in 2nd gear when the B road limit is 60mph, the gearing saps the life out the car, and at legal speeds is dire as you don’t get to rev the engine out.

I don't really find this a massive issue myself but maybe that's just me.
What speed does the GT3.2 reach in 2nd out of interest ??

[isaldiri]

Sandy59 said:

What speed does the GT3.2 reach in 2nd out of interest ??

81mph iirc...

[Sandy59]

isaldiri said:

Sandy59 said:

What speed does the GT3.2 reach in 2nd out of interest ??

81mph iirc...

So maybe down rate that to just a huge issue as opposed to a massive one ........

[testdrive]

isaldiri said:

Optimum shift point is going to be near the redline but seriously, those speeds while high are not so far off what other cars with shorter gearing that never get the same amount of complaints are going to be doing at max rpm. Take the 991.2 gt3, at max revs (higher rpm obviously) it's hardly going to be much if any more at all than 5mph lower than those numbers in 2nd and 3rd gear. In both cases you are miles over the NSL anyway....

I know in the 3.4 the power sort of flattens out anyway so you don't always feel the need to take it right up to the red line. I'm used to changing into 3rd in the 60s (PDK). I was hoping that the Spyder may be similar so I'm not always going 80+ going into 3rd, that just doesn't suit the environment I tend to drive in.

[Boxster7]

lambo666 said:

981 SPYDER - What a car!!!!! - New years day I took the car out for a blast with it being dry and took the roof down which I hadn't done for a while due to weather, Roads were fairly quite and more importantly dry and non greasy,spent the next 2.5 hours roof down really enjoying the thing. Average mpg 11.5 after 3/4 of a tank of non stop country lane and A road mischief. Roof off makes all the difference with these cars I think with that cracking engine above 4000 rpms sounding amazing, Literally laughing in the car at how good it sounds....shame the gear ratios are as follows:
1st - 42 ish
2nd 85
3rd 117
4th 145 ...... I mean who the hell designed a road car with these ratios?
Cant fault the gearbox or the brakes (non pccb) or even the steering, just a fantastic sports car and genuinely very impressed with the car.
Just wish the roads were as empty as that every day.
Just a rant at how impressed I am with the thing!!

Did the same thing myself over the hols.
Took both cars out on a family blast.....




Ref the gear ratios, I agree they obviously could be better, but it really doesn’t put me off loving this car.
If I take the 987S to the redline in 2nd I’m still breaking the law, so it’s not an issue for me.

[TB303]

The gearing is too long by 10% or so. Surely for emissions reasons / pegging it below the 911. It is the weakest part of the car for me.

However, the gearing of the 987 is also too long. My 964 has more fun gearing I would say, but then it’s a lot older and slower!

A couple of points though:

Firstly, it’s rare to change exactly at the peak red line point, so you can shave a few MPH off those scary numbers.

Secondly when driving mountain roads in Europe (where this car shines, in my opinion), first gear is actually a useful gear. With auto rev match it works great. Changing mindset with this does make the car more fun. And god it is fun on decent roads.

This video gives an idea of how good it is in Europe:

https://youtu.be/6MSMM1nTLvw

[Boxster7]

TB303 said:

This video gives an idea of how good it is in Europe:

https://youtu.be/6MSMM1nTLvw

As we both know, that video is what it’s all about !!

Have had the pleasure of driving that pass on my last two euro tours.
Just finalised June’s trip, which again includes the Susten, Furka, Grimsel Passes, plus a two days in the Dolomites and the Stelvio.....

Can not wait :-)

[ATM]

m33ufo said:

I sold with about 6k miles. Was a lovely car then but that was 5 years and almost 30K miles ago. These things were crazy value back in the day. Sold for £33.5K.

What goes this mean - retro fit sports chrono software?

[Timbo_Mint]

TB303 said:

The gearing is too long by 10% or so. Surely for emissions reasons / pegging it below the 911. It is the weakest part of the car for me.

However, the gearing of the 987 is also too long. My 964 has more fun gearing I would say, but then it’s a lot older and slower!

A couple of points though:

Firstly, it’s rare to change exactly at the peak red line point, so you can shave a few MPH off those scary numbers.

Secondly when driving mountain roads in Europe (where this car shines, in my opinion), first gear is actually a useful gear. With auto rev match it works great. Changing mindset with this does make the car more fun. And god it is fun on decent roads.

This video gives an idea of how good it is in Europe:

https://youtu.be/6MSMM1nTLvw

I've recently moved to Spain to work and it seems I'll be here for sometime. I brought my spyder with me from the UK but soon it will be decision time. Do I re-register (I've been quoted 7000 euro!), sell or put it in storage in the UK? I was leaning toward selling because I thought 'why have a car if you can't use it' but then I watched this video and all bets are off. Now I'm thinking 'store it so I can use it for holidays in the summer'. Even among Syders mine is rare:

[Porsche911R]

ATM said:

What goes this mean - retro fit sports chrono software?

You can retro fit for a better throttle response and better PSM settings, well worth it.
Throttles a bit dead on a non chrono car and it’s nice to have PSM with bigger slip angles.

I hate spots mode in other makes of Cars as the throttle can be like a switch, but on the 987.2 cars the sports mode feels spot on.

[JayK12]

Was out in Wales I'm my GTS which has the same gearing I believe, it was wet and damp and in those area's I was just shifting earlier and using the mid range too keep things smooth as she was dancing about abit. Great fun. Shorter gearing would be nicer but not the end of the world.

Anyone have any thoughts on this one? Been around for abit as most but seems well priced after a few reductions.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Edited by JayK12 on Monday 7th January 07:04

[ATM]

Porsche911R said:

ATM said:

What goes this mean - retro fit sports chrono software?

You can retro fit for a better throttle response and better PSM settings, well worth it.
Throttles a bit dead on a non chrono car and it’s nice to have PSM with bigger slip angles.

I hate spots mode in other makes of Cars as the throttle can be like a switch, but on the 987.2 cars the sports mode feels spot on.

I see. So no chrono means no sport button?

Do you just retro fit the button then - so no clock thing?

[av185]

JayK12 said:

Was out in Wales I'm my GTS which has the same gearing I believe, it was wet and damp and in those area's I was just shifting earlier and using the mid range too keep things smooth as she was dancing about abit. Great fun. Shorter gearing would be nicer but not the end of the world.

Anyone have any thoughts on this one? Been around for abit as most but seems well priced after a few reductions.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Edited by JayK12 on Monday 7th January 07:04

Nice spec if highish mileage for a 981 Spyder EXCEPT no Sat nav both reasons why the car appears cheap and hasn't sold.

Nice buckets but not heated only possible with the folding buckets/ sports seats. I would never buy a cab without heated seats.

The 'manuel' air con is a minus but not that significant have it on my Spyder and GT4 and it is fine.

[TB303]

Crazy that PCM is a deal breaker for some when waze is way better!

[av185]

Maybe but that's the market.

Never ceases to amaze me how many don't spec the essential no brainer options.

That car with pcm would be worth way more than the option cost new.

[TB303]

Where do you draw the line there though - the same could be said of speccing a car yellow. But some people want a yellow car.

Personally lack of PCM wouldn’t put me off (hence why I didn’t spec it myself), and I’d prefer more other options. But that’s just me....

I would want heated seats over PCM, for example!

[Sandy59]

TB303 said:

Where do you draw the line there though - the same could be said of speccing a car yellow. But some people want a yellow car.

Personally lack of PCM wouldn’t put me off (hence why I didn’t spec it myself), and I’d prefer more other options. But that’s just me....

I would want heated seats over PCM, for example!

But I don't see the need for heated alcantara seats so that's not important to me at all, many of us just have different priorities at the end of the day.