987 Spyder for touring !
Discussion
DMC2 said:
I had a 987 Spyder, drove from Scotland to Wales and wanted to set fire to it. The roof flapping noise on the motorway gave me a bloody sore head. Great for local runs with the roof down, but flawed at speed when up.
That’s interesting.... I remember James May mentioned it in his Top Gear review.That’s a shame, it’s such a pretty car and practical too; I was hoping it would make a good tourer.
Lox said:
I've done several road trips down through Europe in mine, each adding 2,500-3,000 miles and taking in the full range of roads, including lots of motorways to get to the interesting bits.
Motorways are not its forte, no doubt, but it's far from unbearable. Wind noise where the windows meet the roof and tyre noise are the issue, but the roof absolutely does not flap!
Think you'd need to try one and decide if it's something you can live with. For me, the pluses so massively outweigh the minuses that it's not even a question, hence owning it for over ten years now!
Motorways are not its forte, no doubt, but it's far from unbearable. Wind noise where the windows meet the roof and tyre noise are the issue, but the roof absolutely does not flap!
Think you'd need to try one and decide if it's something you can live with. For me, the pluses so massively outweigh the minuses that it's not even a question, hence owning it for over ten years now!
Armitage.Shanks said:
Err, you're only going to drive it 10 days a year? Did you not consider just hiring one instead?
Hello Sir, I am not a UK citizen, and do not reside in the UK. I can only find about 10 days at a time to travel abroad from my homeland, South Africa. 10 days at a time, so I could do this about twice a year. I would be sharing the car with my brother who could also travel twice a year at different times.To respond to the rental suggestion : I'm pretty sentimental and enjoy building a relationship and history with the car ! It is not a car I intend on selling, just a car for fun road trips and exploring in good weather months. I know it sounds crazy, but I have never sold a single one of my cars in the last 27 years since I got my license. I enjoy bonding with my cars and reminiscing the memories and experiences in each one.
I want to take MY Porsche through Europe back to its birthplace in Stuttgart
Renting would thus not be the same for me
douglasgdmw said:
Glad you managed to get a Spyder. Just make sure that the storage company rotates the tyres for you to eliminate any flat spots. Last thing you want is the vibration of flat spots to ruin your trip when you use the car (or having to replace the tyres unnecessarily).
George
Hi George, Thank you for keeping up with me ! I really feel I missed your gem of a car at Pilote !George
Being an absentee purchaser, the time I required to get all my queries and due diligence done on a car was hopelessly out paced by you locals
! So yours was car car which I felt was going to be mine, but I missed ! The gent who bought your Spyder is on the Facebook group, so I can tell he is really loving it !
My Spyder is in really good care, dehumidified for 26 weeks and monthly gentle exercise.
Would be really great to meet up for coffee some day. Greetings, Barry
BrotherMouzone said:
DMC2 said:
I had a 987 Spyder, drove from Scotland to Wales and wanted to set fire to it. The roof flapping noise on the motorway gave me a bloody sore head. Great for local runs with the roof down, but flawed at speed when up.
That’s interesting.... I remember James May mentioned it in his Top Gear review.That’s a shame, it’s such a pretty car and practical too; I was hoping it would make a good tourer.
Champs said:
I guess I'll be touring on the B roads then
My 987 Spyder was the most fun car I’ve ever owned, bar none. Very special to look at and it felt more alive than other Porsches I’ve had, probably because it’s that much lighter.There’s no doubt that the roof is a compromise and you’ll be cursing it after long motorway trips: I drove to the South of France in mine several times and it always took several stiff drinks to get the ringing in my ears to subside. However it’s well designed, functional, and I grew to like the sense of ceremony associated with putting it up & taking it down.
In the end I think I actually ended-up bonding with it more strongly because of, not in spite of the roof. Perhaps I’m weird but I find it hard to bond with cars which are too perfect at everything. The Spyder has character.
+1 my 718 Spyder is a brilliant car partly because of the roof and all the attendant compromises. The noise on the motorway is crap but easily fixed by dropping the hood. I have my hood down all year round unless it’s absolutely pissing down. The heater and heated seats are top notch and anything up to about 80mph in the depth of winter is fine top down. I also have the Burmester so I can just crank the volume right up and listen to music or the cricket as I whizz along, At least my ears are ringing with something I like
NoTreadLeft said:
My 987 Spyder was the most fun car I’ve ever owned, bar none. Very special to look at and it felt more alive than other Porsches I’ve had, probably because it’s that much lighter.
There’s no doubt that the roof is a compromise and you’ll be cursing it after long motorway trips: I drove to the South of France in mine several times and it always took several stiff drinks to get the ringing in my ears to subside. However it’s well designed, functional, and I grew to like the sense of ceremony associated with putting it up & taking it down.
In the end I think I actually ended-up bonding with it more strongly because of, not in spite of the roof. Perhaps I’m weird but I find it hard to bond with cars which are too perfect at everything. The Spyder has character.
I like the way you think Sir !There’s no doubt that the roof is a compromise and you’ll be cursing it after long motorway trips: I drove to the South of France in mine several times and it always took several stiff drinks to get the ringing in my ears to subside. However it’s well designed, functional, and I grew to like the sense of ceremony associated with putting it up & taking it down.
In the end I think I actually ended-up bonding with it more strongly because of, not in spite of the roof. Perhaps I’m weird but I find it hard to bond with cars which are too perfect at everything. The Spyder has character.
Without trying to talk my choice up, I hear you loudly in the same language
To me, the 987 Spyder is one hell of a special car in the Porsche lineage for under £50K. Sorry to bring value into the equation, but as you mentioned, its mega special with its quirky top. To me it is not flawed. It was designed as a Speedster and not a cabriolet. As Henry Catchpole says, you use the Speedster only occasionally with the roof up, and you use a cabriolet occasionally with the roof down !
Now I want to use the Spyder for touring the Beautiful UK and Europe etc. I will not be in any hurry, but enjoying the scenic routes, beautiful weather ( hopefully
) and every now and again some twisties ! I am privileged to also have an 89 Speedster and a 2019 Speedster, so the 2011 Spyder should just be fine
Edited by Champs on Thursday 17th June 16:52
bigmowley said:
+1 my 718 Spyder is a brilliant car partly because of the roof and all the attendant compromises. The noise on the motorway is crap but easily fixed by dropping the hood. I have my hood down all year round unless it’s absolutely pissing down. The heater and heated seats are top notch and anything up to about 80mph in the depth of winter is fine top down. I also have the Burmester so I can just crank the volume right up and listen to music or the cricket as I whizz along, At least my ears are ringing with something I like
Nice to hear you're enjoying your Spyder to the full intention of design ! We are so privileged 
!Don't wish to upset anybody here but if you gave me the choice of a two week driving holiday to either include or exclude the UK I would exclude it. If it was a 52 week holiday then I would include it, but there is far more enjoyment to be had driving in mainland Europe.
I live in the UK and any time I wish to enjoy driving I go to mainland Europe, which I have done several times a year for as long as I can remember. There is no type of scenery or roads in the UK than cannot be bettered in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria or Germany.
Between the constant road works, badly maintained roads and cameras everywhere driving in the UK has become too much work for too little reward, all IMO.
I live in the UK and any time I wish to enjoy driving I go to mainland Europe, which I have done several times a year for as long as I can remember. There is no type of scenery or roads in the UK than cannot be bettered in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria or Germany.
Between the constant road works, badly maintained roads and cameras everywhere driving in the UK has become too much work for too little reward, all IMO.
Thank you 981Boxess ! I am 100 % grateful for your much appreciated first hand advice and logic !
It is my plan to do all those travels, however, I am only able to take between 8 - 10 days incl flight ( 2 days ) time in any given period. So initially my plan is to first enjoy around Wales, Scotland, Yorkshire etc. and a ferry trip from Holyhead to get to Ireland.
Once this is done, I plan on doing a ferry from Poole to Santander, and spending 6 days in Northern Spain to explore the roads in the Pyrenees.
The above could end up being a few trips over 3 to 5 years !
Then I plan on doing Europe God Willing. Europe may need a car with an AC, or would an AC delete Spyder do ?
Thank you for your great insight and experience ! I'm not upset but very happy with your helpful comment
It is my plan to do all those travels, however, I am only able to take between 8 - 10 days incl flight ( 2 days ) time in any given period. So initially my plan is to first enjoy around Wales, Scotland, Yorkshire etc. and a ferry trip from Holyhead to get to Ireland.
Once this is done, I plan on doing a ferry from Poole to Santander, and spending 6 days in Northern Spain to explore the roads in the Pyrenees.
The above could end up being a few trips over 3 to 5 years !
Then I plan on doing Europe God Willing. Europe may need a car with an AC, or would an AC delete Spyder do ?
Thank you for your great insight and experience ! I'm not upset but very happy with your helpful comment
Champs said:
Once this is done, I plan on doing a ferry from Poole to Santander, and spending 6 days in Northern Spain to explore the roads in the Pyrenees.
Ok, if you are doing this in stages then this plan is getting better by the day.I am not sure there is a crossing from Poole to Santander, but even if there is I would give that idea a miss and use Portsmouth instead. There are so many cameras surrounding Poole that it takes ages to travel in and out of it compared Portsmouth. In addition to that for whatever reason there were always delays at Poole, I stopped using it years ago, too much hassle.
As for the aircon debate, I guess it all depends on when in the year you intend do this but whilst it wouldn’t make much difference either way in the UK or northern Europe it certainly would in Spain – unless the car I wanted does not have that option I would want it, no question.
Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff