Boxster Spyder test drive.
Discussion
Had a go in one of these today. Pdk equipped. I have to say I was mega excited to be having a go following on from all the glowing press reviews and positive comments on here from fellow owners.
In short I was left totally disappointed. The Pdk meant you felt so detached from the driving experience and the brake pedal can only be described as wooden.
I drove my friends carrera 2 gts from the same year a couple of weeks back and the brakes were super sharp and the Pdk felt like it enhanced the drive rather than took away from the enjoyment of it. I know that's a 911 and this is a boxster but apart from the power increase should the boxster feel that much worse.
It's a bit of a shame as they are a thing of beauty but even going fast into corners it just left me with no emotions. The paddles did feel a bit loose compared to my friends which has a nice mechanical click when you change but I dont know if Ive driven one that's been used heavily.
I want to look at another again but don't want to waste my time trying to perceive it to be something it's never going to be for me. Any advice much appreciated.
In short I was left totally disappointed. The Pdk meant you felt so detached from the driving experience and the brake pedal can only be described as wooden.
I drove my friends carrera 2 gts from the same year a couple of weeks back and the brakes were super sharp and the Pdk felt like it enhanced the drive rather than took away from the enjoyment of it. I know that's a 911 and this is a boxster but apart from the power increase should the boxster feel that much worse.
It's a bit of a shame as they are a thing of beauty but even going fast into corners it just left me with no emotions. The paddles did feel a bit loose compared to my friends which has a nice mechanical click when you change but I dont know if Ive driven one that's been used heavily.
I want to look at another again but don't want to waste my time trying to perceive it to be something it's never going to be for me. Any advice much appreciated.
The Spyder and R are not PDK cars,
I test drove a PDK GTS and felt the same as you did over the Spyder PDK, dull, was expecting so much more from the GTS.
I can assure you if you drove my manual with a real 1250kg weight and PCCB you would love it.,
The Spyder is about the weight (lack off) and the manual feel of it all with a real LSD, real dampers, hydraulic steering
Dont't see the point off a full fat one with PDK, may as well buy that boxster and save £15k.
Come and vist me in leicester and you will want a Spyder and a R :-)
I don't get the 911 thing at all, so you will get loads of answers.
I test drove a PDK GTS and felt the same as you did over the Spyder PDK, dull, was expecting so much more from the GTS.
I can assure you if you drove my manual with a real 1250kg weight and PCCB you would love it.,
The Spyder is about the weight (lack off) and the manual feel of it all with a real LSD, real dampers, hydraulic steering
Dont't see the point off a full fat one with PDK, may as well buy that boxster and save £15k.
Come and vist me in leicester and you will want a Spyder and a R :-)
I don't get the 911 thing at all, so you will get loads of answers.
Agree with MrD in parts.
Spyder (R less so) is not IMHO a PDK car & the brakes (both steel and carbon) should be fantastic.
911GTS is another Porsche "greatest hit", but the spyder is (& should be) every bit as good. One thing you could possibly say is the platform is so well balanced that it's incredibly hard to get teg at to feel "alive" on the roads-on track they are sublime.
Perhaps an excuse to try another example?
Spyder (R less so) is not IMHO a PDK car & the brakes (both steel and carbon) should be fantastic.
911GTS is another Porsche "greatest hit", but the spyder is (& should be) every bit as good. One thing you could possibly say is the platform is so well balanced that it's incredibly hard to get teg at to feel "alive" on the roads-on track they are sublime.
Perhaps an excuse to try another example?
jayxx83 said:
The Pdk meant you felt so detached from the driving experience...
the Pdk felt like it enhanced the drive rather than took away from the enjoyment of it.
Not sure how the two gearboxes could feel so different, but I've not driven a GTS.the Pdk felt like it enhanced the drive rather than took away from the enjoyment of it.
Love PDK in my Spyder, but it took a while to fall for its charms.
Most negative views of PDK are from non-owners, make of that what you will.
After having test-driven three Spyders, two manuals (with and w/o shortshift) and one PDK, I can safely say that the PDK transmission ruins the fun for me personally.
I would maybe prefer the PDK over the manual if the Spyder had a 450+ hp turbo engine like the M4 but that is not the case.
Then again if you feel no emotions going fast into a corner in a Spyder, a different transmission probably won't help all that much.
I would maybe prefer the PDK over the manual if the Spyder had a 450+ hp turbo engine like the M4 but that is not the case.
Then again if you feel no emotions going fast into a corner in a Spyder, a different transmission probably won't help all that much.
Thanks for the responses guys. I have been driving for long enough to know that a 10 minute drive doesn't reveal all. However the 10 mins I had in my friends GTS was like the car was alive in your hands. The brakes, you could pick your spot knowing that you would scrub off enough speed to take the bend at your chosen speed feeling like you were totally in control. Bang down a couple of gears with the paddles and it was a true experience.
With the spyder today, the brakes although stopped you, didn't communicate with you. With the GTS it was like you could feel the road through the pedal and what the tyre blocks were doing. i don't know, I'm still on the fence. had an appointment to drive a manual but missed it due to traffic.
In all honesty an mx5 i had for a couple weeks as a courtesy car felt better than this example. Of course the speed was better, but not much else. Hopefully in the new year a few more come to market with news of the new replacement being announced. I think ideal spec would be CD player, Xenons, Manual, PSE. Not really bothered about much else.
With the spyder today, the brakes although stopped you, didn't communicate with you. With the GTS it was like you could feel the road through the pedal and what the tyre blocks were doing. i don't know, I'm still on the fence. had an appointment to drive a manual but missed it due to traffic.
In all honesty an mx5 i had for a couple weeks as a courtesy car felt better than this example. Of course the speed was better, but not much else. Hopefully in the new year a few more come to market with news of the new replacement being announced. I think ideal spec would be CD player, Xenons, Manual, PSE. Not really bothered about much else.
mrdemon said:
The Spyder and R are not PDK cars,
I test drove a PDK GTS and felt the same as you did over the Spyder PDK, dull, was expecting so much more from the GTS.
I can assure you if you drove my manual with a real 1250kg weight and PCCB you would love it.,
The Spyder is about the weight (lack off) and the manual feel of it all with a real LSD, real dampers, hydraulic steering
Dont't see the point off a full fat one with PDK, may as well buy that boxster and save £15k.
Come and vist me in leicester and you will want a Spyder and a R :-)
I don't get the 911 thing at all, so you will get loads of answers.
I may well take you up on that in the New Year. I guess the extra 3 g/km of C02 pushing it into the £485 tax bracket is worth every penny!I test drove a PDK GTS and felt the same as you did over the Spyder PDK, dull, was expecting so much more from the GTS.
I can assure you if you drove my manual with a real 1250kg weight and PCCB you would love it.,
The Spyder is about the weight (lack off) and the manual feel of it all with a real LSD, real dampers, hydraulic steering
Dont't see the point off a full fat one with PDK, may as well buy that boxster and save £15k.
Come and vist me in leicester and you will want a Spyder and a R :-)
I don't get the 911 thing at all, so you will get loads of answers.
jayxx83 said:
Thanks for the responses guys. I have been driving for long enough to know that a 10 minute drive doesn't reveal all.
In all honesty an mx5 i had for a couple weeks as a courtesy car felt better than this example. Of course the speed was better, but not much else. Hopefully in the new year a few more come to market with news of the new replacement being announced. I think ideal spec would be CD player, Xenons, Manual, PSE. Not really bothered about much else.
MX5s are great fun. I'd have another MK1 in a heartbeat.In all honesty an mx5 i had for a couple weeks as a courtesy car felt better than this example. Of course the speed was better, but not much else. Hopefully in the new year a few more come to market with news of the new replacement being announced. I think ideal spec would be CD player, Xenons, Manual, PSE. Not really bothered about much else.
I have to agree about PDK in a Spyder. Manual is just so much more fun. Also with PDK in the Cayman R/Boxster Spyder I found myself doing silly speeds too easily.
Interesting what you have said about the feeling round corners. I found both the Cayman R and Box Spyder great in terms of steering feel and cornering, and they felt lovely and light on their feet. I've never driven a 911 GTS though. Maybe I should!
Don't waste your time driving other cars, just come up here for a brew and a drive
You will be converted.
Tyres , pads and a geo makes these cars go from good cars into one of today's best drivers cars this side of £100k (for UK road use)
Just talk to all the Cayman R converts, only took 4 years for people to start loving them. :-)
You will be converted.
Tyres , pads and a geo makes these cars go from good cars into one of today's best drivers cars this side of £100k (for UK road use)
Just talk to all the Cayman R converts, only took 4 years for people to start loving them. :-)
jayxx83 said:
Thanks for the responses guys. I have been driving for long enough to know that a 10 minute drive doesn't reveal all. However the 10 mins I had in my friends GTS was like the car was alive in your hands. The brakes, you could pick your spot knowing that you would scrub off enough speed to take the bend at your chosen speed feeling like you were totally in control. Bang down a couple of gears with the paddles and it was a true experience.
With the spyder today, the brakes although stopped you, didn't communicate with you. With the GTS it was like you could feel the road through the pedal and what the tyre blocks were doing. i don't know, I'm still on the fence. had an appointment to drive a manual but missed it due to traffic.
In all honesty an mx5 i had for a couple weeks as a courtesy car felt better than this example. Of course the speed was better, but not much else. Hopefully in the new year a few more come to market with news of the new replacement being announced. I think ideal spec would be CD player, Xenons, Manual, PSE. Not really bothered about much else.
The Boxster has 4 pot brakes on the front so although it will stop you it is not as good as the 6 pots in a 911. Given how fast the Boxster can go the 4 pots have never given me complete confidence if I need to stop quickly, whereas I have no such worry in a GT3 RS or AMG.With the spyder today, the brakes although stopped you, didn't communicate with you. With the GTS it was like you could feel the road through the pedal and what the tyre blocks were doing. i don't know, I'm still on the fence. had an appointment to drive a manual but missed it due to traffic.
In all honesty an mx5 i had for a couple weeks as a courtesy car felt better than this example. Of course the speed was better, but not much else. Hopefully in the new year a few more come to market with news of the new replacement being announced. I think ideal spec would be CD player, Xenons, Manual, PSE. Not really bothered about much else.
Also my Boxster has PASM which I am not a fan of as I prefer a passive setup so the communication is clear on the limit. The Spyder has a passive setup. I haven't driven the PDK Spyder but PDK wasn't as good as it is now, and the Manual in my 987 is sublime. Though my next Porsche will be PDK because there is no manual option!
Perhaps drive another example? As Mr D says, Tyres, brakes and GEO are essential for a great driver's car
Edited by LITRBL on Saturday 8th November 22:21
Bit like when I test drove a 997.2 c4s Pdk a 981 caymanS Pdk both left me cold compared to my manual spyder it is so positive and alive but I do agree on the brakes they were better in my 987.1 caymanS but that is more likely down to the pads than anything else!
As said before get yourself in a manual !some owners of the 911 Gts have switched to caymanRs tells you something!
As said before get yourself in a manual !some owners of the 911 Gts have switched to caymanRs tells you something!
Interesting, I've owned both PDK and manual Spyders.
The PDK is the faster car, but if you want a car that feels alive the manual is the one and that's what I currently drive. They really do feel like two different cars.
The servo on the boxster is very different to the 911, it doesn't take long to recalibrate, but the steels do feel a bit long though. My PDK had steels.
One thing I can tell you my Spyder with PCCBs stops better than my 997.2 GT3 did.
Handling is simply superb, given a nice stretch of road today I'll pick the Spyder ( and it sits next to a 458 Speciale in my garage), for me it's about the whole package and the fun it delivers under every day driving. This is where the Spyder wins.
Obviously it's nowhere near as fast as a Speciale, but that's not everything, a manual Spyder in 3rd gear is pure joy on a nice B road, and you don't need to be breaking the speed limit to enjoy it!
The only dilemma for me is roof off or on!
The PDK is the faster car, but if you want a car that feels alive the manual is the one and that's what I currently drive. They really do feel like two different cars.
The servo on the boxster is very different to the 911, it doesn't take long to recalibrate, but the steels do feel a bit long though. My PDK had steels.
One thing I can tell you my Spyder with PCCBs stops better than my 997.2 GT3 did.
Handling is simply superb, given a nice stretch of road today I'll pick the Spyder ( and it sits next to a 458 Speciale in my garage), for me it's about the whole package and the fun it delivers under every day driving. This is where the Spyder wins.
Obviously it's nowhere near as fast as a Speciale, but that's not everything, a manual Spyder in 3rd gear is pure joy on a nice B road, and you don't need to be breaking the speed limit to enjoy it!
The only dilemma for me is roof off or on!
Ferrari 458 Speciale
Porsche Boxster Spyder Manual
dream garage :-)
"Spyder with PCCBs stops better than just about any other car on the road"
Fixed that for you
350mm disks all round with 6 pots and 1250kg weight the cars well over braked, and I have never said that about a car, amazing.
the Spyder with PCCB out stops any thing I have ever seen or been in.
Porsche Boxster Spyder Manual
dream garage :-)
"Spyder with PCCBs stops better than just about any other car on the road"
Fixed that for you
350mm disks all round with 6 pots and 1250kg weight the cars well over braked, and I have never said that about a car, amazing.
the Spyder with PCCB out stops any thing I have ever seen or been in.
Edited by mrdemon on Sunday 9th November 13:22
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