Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-29-2010, 01:47 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Buffalo NY
Posts: 828
Boxster Spyder

It's been a long while since Porsche has introduced a model that has captured my desire more than the Boxster Spyder. It is disappointing to hear that Lil B didn't like it because even with the overdone graphics, I'd like to someday have one in the garage. From the back it looks a bit CGT ish...


this one is sweeeet






Last edited by eightsandaces; 08-29-2010 at 02:31 AM.
eightsandaces is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 05:34 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 179
Be sure to pick up the October issue of Car and Driver (already on newsstands) if you're a fan of the Boxster Spyder.
__________________
2002 Boxster S, 6 speed, Speed Yellow
Flat Six Innovations 3.8L Stage II Track Performer, RoW M030 Suspension, B&M Short Shift Kit, Fabspeed Bypass Pipes, FVD Brombacher "Sound Version" Muffler, UD Pulley, Low Temp T-Stat.
Banana S is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 09:26 PM   #3
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Texarkana, Texas
Posts: 959
The original photos got me pretty excited about this car, but after seeing a few in person my reaction has cooled quite a bit. It's a nice looking car, but not different enough from my '00 Boxster S for me to want to trade. With my Gemballa bits I have I actually prefer the looks of my car, but that's not really stock vs stock. One dealer actually had their Spyder displayed with the roof on. This car looks MUCH better without the roof.

Kirk
__________________
2000 Boxster S - Gemballa body kit, GT3 front bumper, JRZ coilovers, lower stress bars
2003 911 Carrera 4S - TechArt body kit, TechArt coilovers, HRE wheels
1986 911 Carrera Targa - 3.2L, Euro pistons, 964 cams, steel slant nose widebody
1975 911S Targa - undergoing a full restoration and engine rebuild
Also In The Garage - '66 912, '69 912, '72 914 Chalon wide body, '73 914
Kirk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 12:49 AM   #4
Registered User
 
Steve Tinker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 1,522
Sorry, that white thing is horrible - I wouldn't be seen dead in it...
Silver maybe, but white with red / red - no way.
__________________
2001 Boxster S (triple black). Sleeping easier with LN Engineering/Flat 6 IMS upgrade, low temp thermostat & underspeed pulley.
2001 MV Agusta F4.
Steve Tinker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 02:09 AM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Buffalo NY
Posts: 828
The car no doubt has a "disco" presentation to it I'm not fond of but I like white Boxsters, I own one! I would like to see one close up and would only consider a used one in a few years, after all right now you could get a used GT3 for that same coin.
eightsandaces is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 03:48 AM   #6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 46

I like it in black but needs black leather......
Plus needs steering wheel on the right side not the wrong side LOL!!

Last edited by Bellster; 08-31-2010 at 03:51 AM.
Bellster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 04:03 AM   #7
Registered User
 
Lil bastard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Du Monde
Posts: 2,199
The Boxster Spyder is all about Marketing. It's supposed to herald back to the famed 550 Spyder with a nod to the RS, RSR and RSA's of yesteryear. A purpose-built, no-frills, lightened Track car, designed supposedly, to compete with the likes of the Exige, etc.

In reality, it's much less than that. A lot less engineering than marketing know-how went into it.

I won't even go into the PDK and silicon chip vs. neuron arguement. But, the car has eliminated the door handles and map pockets (ala' the RSA), and replaced them with red straps (which btw have to be double-pumped to open because supposedly one of the higher-up's wife grabbed it out of fear at the apex of a turn during a test drive and the door flung open - only her seatbelt kept her in the car) supposedly to save weight, but then Porsche, seemingly contradictorally, retained the power window which certainly weighs more than some abs and a little carpeting - God forbid you give up any creature comfort on the Track! But, eliminating the power window is not visible, no marketing ammo there. That's just one of it's many contradictions. I'm a bit surprised it didn't come with cupholders! It's not really a serious track car at all, at least out-of-the-box.

To me, it's somewhat insulting; that Porsche thinks people can be so easily fooled with fancy paint, a few gimmicks, and a couple different lines of code to the DME to free up some ponies which should have been offered to the driver long ago.

In fact, it seems the whole Boxster community is continuing to be insulted by Porsche. If my math is correct, the Boxster has now surpassed the 911 as the most sold Porsche ever, and then some. When is Porsche really gonna get behind this model and allow it to be the car we all know it can be?

Still, I predict it will sell like Hotcakes... which is probably going to say a lot more about the Buyers than it does about the car itself.

Cheers!
__________________
1990 Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Cabriolet
1976 BMW 2002
1990 BMW 325is
1999 Porsche Boxster
(gone, but not forgotten)
http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/a...smiley-003.gif

Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!

Last edited by Lil bastard; 08-31-2010 at 04:08 AM.
Lil bastard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 06:25 AM   #8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Depends on the day of the week....
Posts: 1,400
While certainly not feasible (monetarily), I love the idea of getting one, continuing and finishing the diet Porsche half-assedly started, and stuffing more power into it.

The car does have some neat feature, like the aluminum panels and the light "top" (if you can call it that). It's just a pity that Porsche won't sell us the car we all want, all to keep the 911 their preeminent model.
__________________
Boxster S
Cloudsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 07:23 AM   #9
pcw
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 26
Well, All I can say is I got one and I love it, to each their own. I would have never gotten a boxster/S, I do not like the flat rear end and the bubble top. For me the Spyder took care of those two design issues. To be honest I could care less about why the Spyder was built, track car, homage to the 550, marketing, blah blah blah. I love the looks and performance and that's all that matters.

Lil Bastard - It's always about marketing, why would Porsche be any different from any other car company? Like the Ford GT 500 Shelby, that car was built by SVT group, little to no Shelby involvement, slap Shelby's name on it and it good for a few 1000's more sales. Dodge bring back the HEMI nameplate, would they have sold as many cars/trucks without that nameplate plastered on the side, no way. Your purist, no marketing thinking would be nice, but this is the real world and it's here to stay. I would lend more merit to your "Marketing Sellout" way of thinking if there were negative reviews out there about the Spyder. There may be some but the overall opinion is that the Spyder is one great car and mentioned many time as arguably the best handling Porsche being made today. That doesn't come from just "fancy paint" and "few gimmicks" as you mentioned.

Kirk - Like you mentioned, you like all the aftermarket stuff you added an although it may appeal to you, it would not be something I would do, but that's marketing. It's nice to have those choices for the folks that want it. It's all about personal taste, you can't please all the people, all the time.

pcw
pcw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 07:47 AM   #10
Registered User
 
Lil bastard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Du Monde
Posts: 2,199
Well, it's not unexpected that an owner would respond and disagree.

I mean, I cannot imagine someone who bought one chiming in and not affirming their purchase decision.

Glad you like it... not for me at all. Good luck with it.

Cheers!
__________________
1990 Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Cabriolet
1976 BMW 2002
1990 BMW 325is
1999 Porsche Boxster
(gone, but not forgotten)
http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/a...smiley-003.gif

Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!
Lil bastard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 08:08 AM   #11
pcw
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 26
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil bastard
Well, it's not unexpected that an owner would respond and disagree.

I mean, I cannot imagine someone who bought one chiming in and not affirming their purchase decision.

Glad you like it... not for me at all. Good luck with it.

Cheers!

Well that's where you are wrong, not just owners.......I guess it was the paint and gimmicks, you know marketing stuff.....

C&D Best Handling Cars in America under 100K

#7 Volkswagen GTI
#6 Corvette Z06
#5 Nissan GT-R
#4 BMW M3
#3 Mazda RX-8 R3
#2 Lotus Elise SC
#1 Porsche Boxster Spyder


pcw
pcw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 08:16 AM   #12
Porscheectomy
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 3,011
Quote:
Originally Posted by pcw
Well that's where you are wrong, not just owners.......I guess it was the paint and gimmicks, you know marketing stuff.....

C&D Best Handling Cars in America under 100K

#7 Volkswagen GTI
#6 Corvette Z06
#5 Nissan GT-R
#4 BMW M3
#3 Mazda RX-8 R3
#2 Lotus Elise SC
#1 Porsche Boxster Spyder


pcw
I think that the point is that the Boxster S would have finished in the same place as there isn't much difference between the two. The Boxster's history of winning competitions based on it's chassis balance and handling is pretty lengthy.
blue2000s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 09:05 AM   #13
pcw
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 26
Quote:
Originally Posted by blue2000s
I think that the point is that the Boxster S would have finished in the same place as there isn't much difference between the two. The Boxster's history of winning competitions based on it's chassis balance and handling is pretty lengthy.
My point is to think that the Spyder was just a marketing ploy is a statement that wasn't based on knowledge, but rather, lack there of. There is no question that the Boxster S is the platform, I never argued that fact and I have no idea why the Boxster, Cayman or 911 was not included in the test, ask Car and Driver. Nevertheless, there are differences between the Boxster S and the Spyder, weight and suspension just to mention a couple, was enough to make a great handling platform even better.

Was it worth the extra money over the Boxster S, I can only answer that for me and I would say yes as I wouldn't have considered buying a BS, I would have gone with the cayman S. But the Spyder is not my daily driver, it fits what I want for the car. If the Spyder isn't your cup of tea, then great, but don't merely dismiss it as just a marketing ploy. I find it funny that people love to throw their comments in on something without even sitting behind the wheel and driving the car. Don't knock it until you try it.

pcw
pcw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 09:10 AM   #14
Porscheectomy
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 3,011
Quote:
Originally Posted by pcw
I find it funny that people love to throw their comments in on something without even sitting behind the wheel and driving the car. Don't knock it until you try it.

pcw
Assumption.

But that aside, trying to defend or attack a subjective opinion is a ridiculous waste of time.

Last edited by blue2000s; 08-31-2010 at 09:17 AM.
blue2000s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 09:54 AM   #15
pcw
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 26
Quote:
Originally Posted by blue2000s
Assumption.

But that aside, trying to defend or attack a subjective opinion is a ridiculous waste of time.

Good point
pcw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 12:11 PM   #16
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Buffalo NY
Posts: 828
In the meantime, spyderesk diet ideas: if you put a can of fix a flat and an air pump in place of the spare, get forged wheels (should be able to reduce un-sprung weight five pounds per wheel) got lighter seats and bought this you would knock off some weight.

this is 5.5 pounds
https://p10.secure.hostingprod.com/@www.voltphreaks.com/ssl/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_5&products_id=81

PS The factory tuned the suspension on the spyder, added HP, lowered it...it wasn't just a wing & decal pontiac job.
eightsandaces is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 12:31 PM   #17
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Marin, CA
Posts: 36
Getting behind the wheel

PCW,

I drove a spyder at the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, CA 3 weeks ago, and I thought it was amazing. They really let us open them up past 100 mph and they performed perfectly. I think the exhaust note is pure beauty.

As far as marketing goes, I think Porshce was just adding another model to the group. You can buy they base, the "S", or the Spyder. I don't think Porsche is being insulting with this current offering, just simply making different options available at a different price point.

When I'm cruising down the road in triple digit speeds, I don't want to sit there and hand-roll my window up to keep the wind from howling into the cabin.
achillian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 04:42 PM   #18
Registered User
 
jacabean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: mass
Posts: 731
Boxster spyder is bad ass ! i saw a white one at my local stealership and I was drooling like a savage dog . that top kind of scares me though.
jacabean is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2010, 05:52 AM   #19
pcw
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 26
Quote:
Originally Posted by jacabean
Boxster spyder is bad ass ! i saw a white one at my local stealership and I was drooling like a savage dog . that top kind of scares me though.
Also worth mentioning regarding the Spyder, It's a review of the best handling cars for less than $100k. Nevertheless, they say that although the price cap ruled out the "lust worthy" GT3, GT3RS, & GT2 RS, those cars "wouldn't necessarily have fared as well.". The summary calls it "quite possibly Porsche's best car currently for sale!"

pcw
pcw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2010, 07:24 AM   #20
Registered User
 
Lil bastard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Du Monde
Posts: 2,199
Quote:
...I find it funny that people love to throw their comments in on something without even sitting behind the wheel and driving the car. Don't knock it until you try it...Assumption. But that aside, trying to defend or attack a subjective opinion is a ridiculous waste of time.
Sage words from B2ks!

I did in fact drive the Spyder, both through an auto-X and hot laps on a road course - have you?

My description was that the car was annoying! That is my subjective (but certainly not random) opinion.

And, I've never considered writeups in CD, RT and such rags to be objective at all, nor would I ever base a purchase decision on them. These mags rely on their relationship with Mfgrs. and advertisers, their truthfulness has limits... right up to endangering this symbiosis.

Most things in our lives are subjective. From your point of view, the Spyder was the car for you. Great! I meant it when I said good luck!

From my point of view, it's not a car I want to own.

No need to mount a defense of positions. If you're wrong, you can always sell it. If I'm wrong, I can always buy it.

Cheers!

__________________
1990 Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Cabriolet
1976 BMW 2002
1990 BMW 325is
1999 Porsche Boxster
(gone, but not forgotten)
http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/a...smiley-003.gif

Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!
Lil bastard is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page