Boxster Spyder
Discussion
Virtually everyone on here who’s had a 981 Spyder raves about them as a road car . If you are looking for a super sexy, modern road car that’s a hoot to drive then I’d highly recommend one. 911 R had one and also the older version - he loves the older version, which is fine; I’m sure that they are also great cars - but please don’t let him put you off a 981. It was one of my fave cars; the keys were grabbed most of the time when I had one & it was competing against “much better” cars that I could have driven at the time - good luck. 
Edited by RSVP911 on Sunday 17th February 08:55
RSVP911 said:
Virtually everyone on here who’s had a 981 Spyder raves about them as a road car . If you are looking for a super sexy, modern road car that’s a hoot to drive then I’d highly recommend one. 911 R had one and also the older version - he loves the older version, which is fine; I’m sure that they are also great cars - but please don’t let him put you off a 981. It was one of my fave cars; the keys were grabbed most of the time when I had one & it was competing against “much better” cars that I could have driven at the time - good luck.
Late Friday night, in very unseasonal balmy conditions i went for a late night drive in my 981 Spyder, with the top down..Its a wonderful car in that scenario..Its a fantastically enjoyable road car, not an optimally setup track one which is what makes it so enjoyable to drive at sensible speeds.Edited by RSVP911 on Sunday 17th February 08:55
It holds its head high in my garage even when parked between my 991.2GT3 and 458 Italia.Way underpriced when new, however i can't see Porsche repeating that mistake in the upcoming 718 Spyder.I think the 718 Spyder will be £80K which will reinforce used 981 Spyder prices.
All IMHO of course. I have no axe to grind as i currently own a 981 Spyder and getting one of the first 718 Spyders all well and good..
RSVP911 said:
Virtually everyone on here who’s had a 981 Spyder raves about them as a road car . If you are looking for a super sexy, modern road car that’s a hoot to drive then I’d highly recommend one. 911 R had one and also the older version - he loves the older version, which is fine; I’m sure that they are also great cars - but please don’t let him put you off a 981. It was one of my fave cars; the keys were grabbed most of the time when I had one & it was competing against “much better” cars that I could have driven at the time - good luck.
They are sexy for sure, but any road car which does 85mph in 2nd cannot be raved about imo.Edited by RSVP911 on Sunday 17th February 08:55
And no matter how many people rave about the sound , I hated the fake exchaust over my GT4 or 987.2 race catted cars.
It,s a nice car and I did daily mine come sleet and snow and had a great summer in it, and was sold with over 10k miles on it, , but it’s not a drivers car, it's as you say a sexy lifestyle car, so one needs to choose if you want the drive or the lifestyle aspect of them.
It was my Other half's fave car out the lot though.
It’s still a great car, no right and wrong on either.
I’m probably one of the few that didn’t particularly like the 981 Spyder, I sold mine after a couple of months. Absolutely loved my 987 Spyder though. Very difficult for me to like driving modern cars after driving a well sorted 964 C2 for a couple of years.
I must be getting old!
Cheers
I must be getting old!
Cheers
I think the strong points about the 981 Spyder are that it is a good honest straightforward usable and value road car which has few competitors at the price.
And is great fun.
Yes there are quicker roadcars at a price £ and the exhaust fakery is a touch monotonous in sport plus and like the GT4 the gearing is tall but these really are minor gripes in the grand scheme of the car as a very attractive package which essentially does what it says on the tin unlike the GT4 which whilst being a good car is nevertheless essentially flawed as a package as a GT Porsche imo.
And is great fun.
Yes there are quicker roadcars at a price £ and the exhaust fakery is a touch monotonous in sport plus and like the GT4 the gearing is tall but these really are minor gripes in the grand scheme of the car as a very attractive package which essentially does what it says on the tin unlike the GT4 which whilst being a good car is nevertheless essentially flawed as a package as a GT Porsche imo.
Some very useful thoughts on the Spyder. For me the car would rarely be tracked and mostly for grand tours with my son starting with a revisit of the NC500. I will try and get an honest perspective from a very non-committal OPC on the chances of getting the new model. If it sounds remote will go for the 981 Spyder. The one at Porsche Hatfield at moment looks a great all round car and only missing navigation which for me is no loss. I have never understood why navigation is seen as a ‘must have’ on Porsche cars these days with brilliant smartphone alternatives. I will be trading in a base 2.7 981 Boxster which I have absolutely loved. Yes it is underpowered but has been brilliant for revving around the B roads where I live.
av185 said:
I think the strong points about the 981 Spyder are that it is a good honest straightforward usable and value road car which has few competitors at the price.
And is great fun.
Yes there are quicker roadcars at a price £ and the exhaust fakery is a touch monotonous in sport plus and like the GT4 the gearing is tall but these really are minor gripes in the grand scheme of the car as a very attractive package which essentially does what it says on the tin unlike the GT4 which whilst being a good car is nevertheless essentially flawed as a package as a GT Porsche imo.
Exactly. I just drove back from the cotswolds and it was a pure joy on flowing empty B roads around there.And is great fun.
Yes there are quicker roadcars at a price £ and the exhaust fakery is a touch monotonous in sport plus and like the GT4 the gearing is tall but these really are minor gripes in the grand scheme of the car as a very attractive package which essentially does what it says on the tin unlike the GT4 which whilst being a good car is nevertheless essentially flawed as a package as a GT Porsche imo.
If I change my guards red 981 spyder it will mainly be to try something different.
I do agree with him that the gear ratios are too long, but there are a couple of things about that that I’ve said before.
Firstly so are the 987’s (which of course does not make the 981’s shorter! Plus the 981 has more torque...), and secondly for the average driver autoblip makes first gear a useable gear on mountain passes etc than it would be for the average driver of a 987.
kevs 172 said:
I’m probably one of the few that didn’t particularly like the 981 Spyder, I sold mine after a couple of months. Absolutely loved my 987 Spyder though. Very difficult for me to like driving modern cars after driving a well sorted 964 C2 for a couple of years.
I must be getting old!
Cheers
I think that’s the issue, the 981 is better than most other new cars brands, it’s not until you go to the last gen you realise what you are missing.I must be getting old!
Cheers
If you come from any Merc the 981 is going to feel as sharp as hell.
And I did enjoy owning mine last summer and winter, but I don’t miss it at all.
All it did was not let me use my older car due to me wanting to do every mile in a car I knew I was offloading. I also wanted to complete the set of owning both Spyders the R and GT4 so I can give best advice to people who don,t get to own and live with these cars as daily’s, I run all mine all year round and none are garage queens. Although I must say the 981 did not make for a very nice winter car, you even get ice on the inside !
Most people who rave about 981 would not be seen dead in an old R or Spyder as it,s too cheap, so their views are very bias to the lastest and most expensive and they will be in a 718 Spyder and GT4 before you can say boo to a cat.
Porsche911R said:
Be £60k next year, you have to think of the cost to own, not buy.
Plus it,s a better drivers car by a country mile.
981 are dropping and don’t drive as well, free choice though of course.
I was offered £55k for mine last month, but it’s worth way more than that to me and if you look at EU prices 80k euro , this car has not caught on as yet for the Uk.
Last of an era and all that, while I have no doubt the 718 Spyder will be better to drive than the 981 car in every way.
60k next year! Hahaha, your in dreamworld son!
You seem bitter about letting your 981 go?
The 987 is a fine car, but pig ugly next to the 981!
Plus it,s a better drivers car by a country mile.
981 are dropping and don’t drive as well, free choice though of course.
I was offered £55k for mine last month, but it’s worth way more than that to me and if you look at EU prices 80k euro , this car has not caught on as yet for the Uk.
Last of an era and all that, while I have no doubt the 718 Spyder will be better to drive than the 981 car in every way.
60k next year! Hahaha, your in dreamworld son!
You seem bitter about letting your 981 go?
The 987 is a fine car, but pig ugly next to the 981!
Edited by Porsche911R on Sunday 17th February 08:39
Porsche911R said:
I also wanted to complete the set of owning both Spyders the R and GT4 so I can give best advice to people who don,t get to own and live with these cars as daily’s,
How charitable of you.Porsche911R said:
Most people who rave about 981 would not be seen dead in an old R or Spyder as it,s too cheap, so their views are very bias to the lastest and most expensive and they will be in a 718 Spyder and GT4 before you can say boo to a cat.
Same can be said with all cars though. Some people buy Ferraris to show off, some to drive them. Personally if I see someone in an MX5, I think “nice car choice” even though it’s not an expensive car, but each to their own.Re: Cayman R - had a week test drive in one when they couldn’t give them away during the financial crisis and loved it. Lovely car. Bit boomy at speed though.
Spyder Jam said:
Porsche911R said:
Be £60k next year, you have to think of the cost to own, not buy.
Plus it,s a better drivers car by a country mile.
981 are dropping and don’t drive as well, free choice though of course.
I was offered £55k for mine last month, but it’s worth way more than that to me and if you look at EU prices 80k euro , this car has not caught on as yet for the Uk.
Last of an era and all that, while I have no doubt the 718 Spyder will be better to drive than the 981 car in every way.
60k next year! Hahaha, your in dreamworld son!
You seem bitter about letting your 981 go?
The 987 is a fine car, but pig ugly next to the 981!
Plus it,s a better drivers car by a country mile.
981 are dropping and don’t drive as well, free choice though of course.
I was offered £55k for mine last month, but it’s worth way more than that to me and if you look at EU prices 80k euro , this car has not caught on as yet for the Uk.
Last of an era and all that, while I have no doubt the 718 Spyder will be better to drive than the 981 car in every way.
60k next year! Hahaha, your in dreamworld son!
You seem bitter about letting your 981 go?
The 987 is a fine car, but pig ugly next to the 981!
Edited by Porsche911R on Sunday 17th February 08:39
T2TC said:
Some very useful thoughts on the Spyder. For me the car would rarely be tracked and mostly for grand tours with my son starting with a revisit of the NC500. I will try and get an honest perspective from a very non-committal OPC on the chances of getting the new model. If it sounds remote will go for the 981 Spyder. The one at Porsche Hatfield at moment looks a great all round car and only missing navigation which for me is no loss. I have never understood why navigation is seen as a ‘must have’ on Porsche cars these days with brilliant smartphone alternatives. I will be trading in a base 2.7 981 Boxster which I have absolutely loved. Yes it is underpowered but has been brilliant for revving around the B roads where I live.
I have owned both for some time but i would be picking the 981 Spyder every time. However it's going to be down to personal opinion, everyone is different.I would test drive one ASAP before the prices go up slightly coming into spring.
Spyder Jam said:
We’ll just watch, if it’s true and they will be 60k next year how has that one at JZM been for sale so long? And why wouldn’t you buy it if your so sure, that a lovely return for you in 12 months? Didn’t think so
It’s over priced, like the rest of JZM’s cars,
Lack of PCM Nav and non OPC Porsche service history seriously devalue this car.It’s over priced, like the rest of JZM’s cars,
This is why it remains unsold.
Porsche911R said:
RSVP911 said:
So why do you rave about your 991.2 manual GT3 ?
If you don,t know how it drives I would sell yours :-) All I’m saying is, if you think second gear in a Spyder is too fast - then the GT3 would be the same plus and you rave about that car - so I’m afraid you aren’t making sense.
T2TC said:
Some very useful thoughts on the Spyder. For me the car would rarely be tracked and mostly for grand tours with my son starting with a revisit of the NC500. I will try and get an honest perspective from a very non-committal OPC on the chances of getting the new model. If it sounds remote will go for the 981 Spyder. The one at Porsche Hatfield at moment looks a great all round car and only missing navigation which for me is no loss. I have never understood why navigation is seen as a ‘must have’ on Porsche cars these days with brilliant smartphone alternatives. I will be trading in a base 2.7 981 Boxster which I have absolutely loved. Yes it is underpowered but has been brilliant for revving around the B roads where I live.
Some surprisingly mixed comments on this topic, but we all have our views. I have enjoyed 18 modern Porsche’s over the last 20 years. Some more memorable than others. Currently I am fortunate to have a 991.2 GT3 sitting alongside my 981 Spyder. If I had no other choice but to sell one, I would narrowly keep the 981. It may have long gears, but as a fast B road car it puts a smile on my face like nothing else for the money, and it also looks even better than the 987 or 718 versions (imo anyway.) Buy what makes you smile the most, but the 981 is unlikely to disappoint or depreciate...Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff