Spyder -v- CanAm

[GTWayne]

The main difference is the body design, the chassis are virtually identical. IMO the only real draw back is that the Spyder runs on 17" rear and 15" front rims although I have seen one with 17" all round which look much better.

[UFO 2 NOB]

I think the can am looks better so that's why I bought one!!!

[highflyer]

can't fit a full screen to a Spider

[GTWayne]

GTWayne said:

the chassis are virtually identical

I am not speaking from experience but if anything I should think the older Spyder to be a little better on track if anything as it is slightly lighter. I have been in a Spyder as a passenger and also in a GTR and there was not a large noticeable difference but it was a fair while ago ( I have not driven my own Ultima for over six months and already can not remember what it was like! ), as I said I was in the passenger seat and one had a roof, the other didn't, so go figure? Also engine size/type, suspension, brakes ect. will all change the parameters but essentially, to answer your question; The actual driving experience between the two will not be worlds apart.

[shithotfast]

Having had a spyder for 10 years I can say that if I had my choice now I would go for the canam purely for convenience. You can have the large girly screen with the roof option for the winter/wet and put the aero screen on for the summer. Its a lot cooler (in both senses) with the aero screen IMO.

but.........I also think the spyder looks the part - the rear wrap over wing is a lovely shape - and of course works as a real wing. The chassis is the same, most of the body panels are similar/same. The build was a real pain vs the new cars, not a problem if already built of course... You cant fit large front wheels because of the tyre rubbing the light box (even more or a problem on the spyder. I have 16 inch fronts and 17s rear - which was the standard then. (There are some very early spyders with 15 inch fronts which don't look too cool...)

And I think there are less of spyders on the road than gtr/canams so far less common!!!