987 Spyder for touring !

987 Spyder for touring !

Author
Discussion

Champs

Original Poster:

163 posts

104 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
quotequote all
Hi everyone, I'm interested in buying a 987 Spyder to use for touring to Ireland, NC 500, Europe etc.
It would be a car to enjoy for two weeks of the year on annual trips. I am form the southern tip of Africa !
Most of the manuals I see have no AC ! How important is AC for driver comfort In the U.K ?
I appreciate everyone's valued advice, and thank you in advance !

TommyRS_

31 posts

68 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
quotequote all
I guess with all these things it's very personal. My car has aircon and I personally wouldn't want one without. Even in this country we get some hot weather during summer and it's nice to have, particularly if you are planning on trips to Europe.
But on the flip side, having no aircon is one less thing to go wrong/need replacing as the car gets older and of course the car is lighter without.

P.S Only using the car a couple of weeks a year as mentioned is criminal wink

Champs

Original Poster:

163 posts

104 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
quotequote all
Thank you TommyRS !
I hear you on the two week story loud and clear spin!
It's one of those things when you can only take one 2 week break abroad, and do the NC 500 !
Here in sunny South Africa one would never think of a car without AC !


MDL111

6,933 posts

177 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
quotequote all
I am based on southern germany/austria (warmer than the UK) and purely for driving no aircon is fine, but i would not want to then head to lunch in a dress shirt on a sunny day. My cars are coupes, i suspect in an open air car it would be more comfortable as more air circulation.
If i were to buy a Spyder, i would likely slightly prefer "no aircon" for the lightest possible spec, but i wouldnt disregard cars that have one - manual, bucket seats, color in that order would be the more important factors for me

LM240

4,672 posts

218 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
quotequote all
Of course there are better cars for touring in terms of refinement and storage. However the Spyder is certainly comfortable enough for a sports car, especially if it is just for two weeks enjoyment with fun on the agenda.

The front and rear boots allow for some decent storage with sensible packing. Depending on how far back you sit you can also slide stuff behind the seats.

Personally i prefer having the A\C if needed. For me it’s for those days where it is actually quite warm and muggy but with rain present so the roof and windows need to be up. As for the extra weight, I think it’s largely irrelevant for the intended use of the vehicle. Even if it was used on track days, it isn’t a world championship, so what if it means the car is a tenth or two slower.

khushy

3,964 posts

219 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
quotequote all
Nothing will be more fun - just do it - with enough thought luggage for two is easy

I have done 124,500 miles in mine, its just epic

Get it done

Andyoz

2,887 posts

54 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
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One thing to consider is if you go Bucket seats you will get a sweaty back faster than normal Sport Seats.

Champs

Original Poster:

163 posts

104 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
quotequote all
I so very much appreciate all your comments !
I absolutely love the 987 Spyder as it will be tremendous fun, exactly what I am looking for !
For me buckets and manual are a must !
My ONLY concern is if trips to Scotland,Wales, Ireland, Northern Europe, France, Germany etc would be uncomfortable at times specifically because of the absence of AC ?
I have buckets in a couple of other P cars and I have no negative comfort issues with them.
If I'm going to be doing 500 miles some days, certain stretches of road are going to call for roof up motoring !
Is the weather that hot that I would be cursing for an AC ?

Please excuse my ignorance, but in South Africa, you would rather drive a Ford Transit with AC in the summer than any Porsche without AC !

Champs

Original Poster:

163 posts

104 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
quotequote all
khushy said:
Nothing will be more fun - just do it - with enough thought luggage for two is easy

I have done 124,500 miles in mine, its just epic

Get it done
Wow, 124 K miles ! That's just as many smiles !
I definitely want to do it, just want to make the right choice between a Spyder and a Cayman R.
I think if I could find an R with manual, buckets and AC it would be a no brainer.

mr pg

1,954 posts

205 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
quotequote all
We were coming back through France back in 2019 with some friends during a sweltering few days. We had a 981CS, our friends a 986 Boxster. It was 43degC. Too hot for roof down, and their AC not working. Guess who had the nicer journey.
Wouldn't have a car without AC personally even in the UK. A fully loaded car when touring isn't going to notice a few more kg's.

Champs

Original Poster:

163 posts

104 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all
I'm beginning to think AC is a must to be able to enjoy the car in any chosen summer month, in any European country.
I could plan my trips around moderate months like April, May, maybe June, then Sept and Oct and Nov ?
I really want a Spyder but can't find a manual, buckets with AC !
981's are still too highly priced to leave in storage and just use on fun trips maybe even once a year !

Orangecurry

7,426 posts

206 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all
Champs said:
My ONLY concern is if trips to Scotland,Wales, Ireland, would be uncomfortable at times specifically because of the absence of AC ?
No.

Champs said:
My ONLY concern is if trips to Northern Europe, France, Germany etc would be uncomfortable at times specifically because of the absence of AC ?
Maybe, but if you happened to catch the 43C in your two weeks, you should consider yourself astonishingly unlucky.

Champs said:
Is the weather that hot that I would be cursing for an AC ?
No.

ETA let me qualify that - if you choose to be in any of the tourist destinations in Southern Europe during the school holidays, you would first curse the traffic jams, and the fact you are sat in a car with no AC would be 2nd.

I would do your trips outside of school holidays, as it sounds like you can, and buy the 49k GBP no-a/c low mileage Spyder currently for sale.


Edited by Orangecurry on Wednesday 21st April 10:55

TB303

1,040 posts

194 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all
Agree about the traffic. I always try and go around June to avoid the traffic. More enjoyable with the roof down as well when it’s not super hot.

Champs

Original Poster:

163 posts

104 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all

Thank you all for clarifying that AC is not a must have.

I think, most importantly, is that I am able to plan trips around the hottest months and explore the U.K etc in May / June.
This will not be a car for busy tourist attractions, but rather for fun road trips !
My intention is to enjoy and explore the U.K. and Irish back roads and scenery in my very own Porsche.
Dave from Driving Venture and many other Youtubers have really got this bug to bite me nuts
I last visited the U.K. in 2018 and found myself in a Avis Fiat 500 !
Not a bad car, but I realized that, in a Spyder or R, my 2 week break would only be eclipsed by a trip to Heaven !

So now I find myself trying to buy a car I have not seen myself, not the most comfortable place to be yikes: !
Heaven alone knows when Covid will allow travel again, and I am definitely not accepting a so called vaccine !

If any of you could offer any input, are the black 19 inch Carerra S 11 wheels less desirable than the lightweights ?
Pilote Classics have a Spyder with these wheels, and I was just wondering about ever selling one day if this wheel would count against
me ?
Personally I prefer the lightweight Spyder wheels !
Thank you all once again dear friends !

TommyRS_

31 posts

68 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all
Champs said:
Thank you all for clarifying that AC is not a must have.

I think, most importantly, is that I am able to plan trips around the hottest months and explore the U.K etc in May / June.
This will not be a car for busy tourist attractions, but rather for fun road trips !
My intention is to enjoy and explore the U.K. and Irish back roads and scenery in my very own Porsche.
Dave from Driving Venture and many other Youtubers have really got this bug to bite me nuts
I last visited the U.K. in 2018 and found myself in a Avis Fiat 500 !
Not a bad car, but I realized that, in a Spyder or R, my 2 week break would only be eclipsed by a trip to Heaven !

So now I find myself trying to buy a car I have not seen myself, not the most comfortable place to be yikes: !
Heaven alone knows when Covid will allow travel again, and I am definitely not accepting a so called vaccine !

If any of you could offer any input, are the black 19 inch Carerra S 11 wheels less desirable than the lightweights ?
Pilote Classics have a Spyder with these wheels, and I was just wondering about ever selling one day if this wheel would count against
me ?
Personally I prefer the lightweight Spyder wheels !
Thank you all once again dear friends !
Having non Spyder wheels is definitely less desirable, They are also heavier too!

frayz

2,629 posts

159 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all
My Cayman R is non AC and all the better for it IMO. Only once in 4.5 years have i missed AC and i was queuing in Stuttgart traffic in 35c. The rest of the time i couldn't care less. Even less so in a Spyder where the whole damn roof comes off lol.

Get it done and dont look back smile

jimmy p

960 posts

166 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all
I've owned 2 987 spyders, one with air con, one without.

Never made a jot of difference as never used the air con on the one that had it.

I would say plan not to get stuck in traffic!!

woodysnr

1,024 posts

228 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all
I have a 987 Spyder buckets .manual ss.air con .do little miles in it as have another Porsche so its for special days out for me .
The roof is only good for 115 so high speed autobahn driving is out ,it can get a bit noisy in cabin above uk motorway speed ,but is completely dry living in Scotland we get a fair share of wet weather, a lot run without the rear screen off gives a nice breeze in the cabin .bonus can access rear boot when hood in place with out undoing the rear fins ,cant do it in the 981 or 718 .It is the one to have imo more the classic car .


Champs

Original Poster:

163 posts

104 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all
[quote=jimmy p]

Never made a jot of difference as never used the air con on the one that had it.

Thank you Sir !
I am getting more comfortable now with the absence of AC !
Every little bit of Spyder owner experience is just so appreciative to me!, thank you to everyone


Champs

Original Poster:

163 posts

104 months

Wednesday 21st April 2021
quotequote all
[quote=woodysnr

a lot run without the rear screen off gives a nice breeze in the cabin .bonus can access rear boot when hood in place with out undoing the rear fins ,cant do it in the 981 or 718 .It is the one to have imo more the classic car .

Wow, I was not aware that one could undo the rear screen and maintain the hood up ?
I'm even more crazy about the Spyder now bounce
This is one major plus feature, similar to the rear window on a 600 LT Spyder, just the Boxter has the better exhaust note though blabla
This thread has really been mega useful to me, thank you all so much !