Should i buy a 981 Spyder?
Discussion
Hello
I need some advice on a 981 Spyder and I was hoping you can help.
To give you a bit of background, since the year 2000 I have had 3 Boxster S's and 2 Cayman S's. I always bought new, ran them for 3 years, did an average of 17k miles a year and sold them when I had done between 50 - 60k miles. They were work horses for me, used every day, brought a smile to my face and I loved them all! My last one was a 2013 981 Cayman S. However, 2 years ago I got upset with my local OPC when I felt they let me down on a promise of the GT4. I ended up going really crazy and I bought a Ferrari 458 which I absolutely adore and I cant imagine ever selling but herein lies my problem. The 458 is a weekend car pure and simple! I am only doing 2k miles a year in it because I cannot use it for work and even to this day very few work related people even know that I have it. At the time I sold my Cayman because physiologically I couldn't get my head round owning both a Ferrari and a Porsche! I know that's crazy and I regret it now but that is how I felt at the time. I ended up buying a Mini JCW as my every day car which has been fun but I am really missing having something special to drive on a daily bases i.e. a Porsche again. The mini has to go by the end of October so I am in the market again now. I did try the 718's but I was not impressed and in fact I felt they were a step back from the 981's. My heart was always on the GT4 but I really cant bring myself to spend 80+k on one when I still feel I should have had one at list 2 years ago. I do in fact have a letter of intent in with a couple of OPC's for the new one but I am not holding my breath. Last week I started looking around potentially for a 981 Cayman GTS to tide me over until I found out for sure about a new GT4 and I kind of stumbled on the Spyder at the dealer and wow! I had never looked at one closely and this really blew me away!
So basically my questions are: what is this really like to live with? Can it be used daily come rain or shine? I wouldn't be putting 17k miles a year on it as I have use of other company cars but certainly will be doing 8 - 10k at least. Also the price, from the little research I have done they seem to be in the asking range of 75K but is that really what they are selling for? Do you think a high 60's price is achievable and is this a bad time to buy bearing in mind there is a new one out very soon? If I am practical about it I know the Cayman GTS would be the more sensible option, but unfortunately when it comes to cars practicality has never been my forte and since seeing the Spyder close up I cant stop thinking avbout it!
Sorry for the long post but I would really appreciate hearing your views.
Thanks
George
I need some advice on a 981 Spyder and I was hoping you can help.
To give you a bit of background, since the year 2000 I have had 3 Boxster S's and 2 Cayman S's. I always bought new, ran them for 3 years, did an average of 17k miles a year and sold them when I had done between 50 - 60k miles. They were work horses for me, used every day, brought a smile to my face and I loved them all! My last one was a 2013 981 Cayman S. However, 2 years ago I got upset with my local OPC when I felt they let me down on a promise of the GT4. I ended up going really crazy and I bought a Ferrari 458 which I absolutely adore and I cant imagine ever selling but herein lies my problem. The 458 is a weekend car pure and simple! I am only doing 2k miles a year in it because I cannot use it for work and even to this day very few work related people even know that I have it. At the time I sold my Cayman because physiologically I couldn't get my head round owning both a Ferrari and a Porsche! I know that's crazy and I regret it now but that is how I felt at the time. I ended up buying a Mini JCW as my every day car which has been fun but I am really missing having something special to drive on a daily bases i.e. a Porsche again. The mini has to go by the end of October so I am in the market again now. I did try the 718's but I was not impressed and in fact I felt they were a step back from the 981's. My heart was always on the GT4 but I really cant bring myself to spend 80+k on one when I still feel I should have had one at list 2 years ago. I do in fact have a letter of intent in with a couple of OPC's for the new one but I am not holding my breath. Last week I started looking around potentially for a 981 Cayman GTS to tide me over until I found out for sure about a new GT4 and I kind of stumbled on the Spyder at the dealer and wow! I had never looked at one closely and this really blew me away!
So basically my questions are: what is this really like to live with? Can it be used daily come rain or shine? I wouldn't be putting 17k miles a year on it as I have use of other company cars but certainly will be doing 8 - 10k at least. Also the price, from the little research I have done they seem to be in the asking range of 75K but is that really what they are selling for? Do you think a high 60's price is achievable and is this a bad time to buy bearing in mind there is a new one out very soon? If I am practical about it I know the Cayman GTS would be the more sensible option, but unfortunately when it comes to cars practicality has never been my forte and since seeing the Spyder close up I cant stop thinking avbout it!
Sorry for the long post but I would really appreciate hearing your views.
Thanks
George
Thank you everyone for your comments so far
In answer to a few of the points raised, firstly I do understand that the monetary value of a Spyder or GT4 maybe similar to say an f430, however a Ferrari attracts so much attention that whilst I am ok with that in private at weekends it’s certainly not something I am comfortable with in a business environment. Crazy as it sounds the Porsche is far more under the radar almost irrespective of its cost and as such less likely to attract potential negative reactions.
I have never been a fan of 4x4’s, I enjoy a raw driving experience even on a daily bases so the Macan is not on my radar.
I was not taken with the 718’s, the 4 cylinder turbo just didn’t rock my boat I am pretty sure I would be happier going back to a 981 wich makes the Cayman GTS both the obvious and safer choice but I was really struck with the looks of the spyder and now I can’t get it out of my mind.
It may not sound like it but cost is certainly a consideration. I had set myself a budget of up to 60k and whilst I may stretch that up to 70ish I really can’t justify going any higher for what will essentially be my work car. This kind of rules out the GT4 but that’s almost irrelevant as I think I am now more drawn to the Spyder. Over the past couple of years I have seen a few GT4’s on the road but not any spyders and I find that fact quite appealing.
I am trying to arrange a test drive of the GTS and spyder side by side so hopefully that will help me decide.
The Spyder I am looking at seems to have all the desirable options, it’s a late 2015 with only 6.5k miles but it’s had 4 owners. Should that be a cause for concern?
Thanks again for your help
Regards
George
In answer to a few of the points raised, firstly I do understand that the monetary value of a Spyder or GT4 maybe similar to say an f430, however a Ferrari attracts so much attention that whilst I am ok with that in private at weekends it’s certainly not something I am comfortable with in a business environment. Crazy as it sounds the Porsche is far more under the radar almost irrespective of its cost and as such less likely to attract potential negative reactions.
I have never been a fan of 4x4’s, I enjoy a raw driving experience even on a daily bases so the Macan is not on my radar.
I was not taken with the 718’s, the 4 cylinder turbo just didn’t rock my boat I am pretty sure I would be happier going back to a 981 wich makes the Cayman GTS both the obvious and safer choice but I was really struck with the looks of the spyder and now I can’t get it out of my mind.
It may not sound like it but cost is certainly a consideration. I had set myself a budget of up to 60k and whilst I may stretch that up to 70ish I really can’t justify going any higher for what will essentially be my work car. This kind of rules out the GT4 but that’s almost irrelevant as I think I am now more drawn to the Spyder. Over the past couple of years I have seen a few GT4’s on the road but not any spyders and I find that fact quite appealing.
I am trying to arrange a test drive of the GTS and spyder side by side so hopefully that will help me decide.
The Spyder I am looking at seems to have all the desirable options, it’s a late 2015 with only 6.5k miles but it’s had 4 owners. Should that be a cause for concern?
Thanks again for your help
Regards
George
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