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



http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...1_A562x421.jpg

Be sure to pick up the October issue of Car and Driver (already on newsstands) if you're a fan of the Boxster Spyder. ;)

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

Sorry, that white thing is horrible - I wouldn't be seen dead in it...
Silver maybe, but white with red / red - no way. :eek:

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.

http://a.imageshack.us/img651/7926/r...he20boxste.jpg
I like it in black but needs black leather...... :matchup:
Plus needs steering wheel on the right side not the wrong side LOL!! :p

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!

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.

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

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

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

Assumption.

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

Good point

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.

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.

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

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!

Lil Bastard,

Not sure what your problem is, my comment was a general comment not directed to anyone specific. I also don't take 100% what is written in car mags but a good starting point for those that might not be Racer X like you or have the opportunity to test drive the car on a road course.

A member of a different forum that has both a Spyder and a GT3RS said:

"I have about 5k miles on each of my Boxster Spyder and my 997.1 GT3 RS (including some track time in each), and it isn't even close -- the Spyder wins in the handling department. The RS is all about the engine -- the Mezger powerplant is a masterpiece -- the instant-on power, the high revs, the sound . . . . And the PCCBs in that car are unbelievable too. But, when it comes to handling, the Spyder is just incredible and that makes the car so much fun to drive. I can't even imagine what a Spyder could do with Michelin Sport Cups (as opposed to stock Pirellis)."

Pretty close to what the "rags" stated.

pcw

@ PCW,

You like the car and you bought it... all good there. I get that.

Interesting that in each of your prior posts on the subject, save one, you cited other sources or peoples' opinions/review of the car, but little of your own.

Who are you trying to convince, and why?

This is not a really substantial 'debate' here, just everyone expressing opinion.

Cheers!

Lil Bastard,

The reason is simple, I don't have 6 other expensive sports car to test it against. I also don't have 130K GT3RS to compare it to. I not trying to convince anyone of anything. But you want my opinion on this car, here it is:

It is the most neutral feeling car I have ever driven and provides more feedback to me as the driver than any car I have ever driven. It stay online in turns and some cars you have to really stay on top of and work hard to get it around. I would like more HP, but then who doesn't. I like how the rear end swings out and I feel in total control at all times with the Spyder.

My 08 STI which I do track, even though is AWD and has a higher center of gravity and as good as that car is on the track, the Spyder is an entire cut above, not even is the same league. It's the feeling of confidence that the Spyder gives me. This is my first Porsche and to be honest, it has taken some time to be able to afford it. When I have my STI on the track on a hard tight switch backs, the feedback is not there and it's sometimes hard to feel if the car is at it's limit. With the Spyder you know exactly where you are as far as limits and it my driving ability that is holding me back, not the cars. With my STI, I always feel the cars is the weak link, with the Spyder I truly see it is me. I will admit I have only had the Spyder out on 1 road course, cones at an old military airbase runway but that was enough to see the difference. I do not plan to track the Spyder as much as my STI, as the cost of tracking your cars add up quickly and porsche's aren't cheap to replace tires, pads and rotors, not to mention all the warranty issues in regards to tracking.

I am not a rich man, but am a car enthusiast. I am happy whenever any Porsche wins races, has good reviews unlike you that seems to have a bone to pick with them. Maybe it's because I'm new to the Porsche cars and am not aware of all the past "marketing ploys". All I know is I love the car, love the performance, paid a lot of money for it (a lot of money to me) and that's all I care about. I don't get caught up in the VW to Porsche relationship, don't care about being deceived, insulted etc...To me that's just a bunch of smoke, mirrors and excuses.

pcw

All cars are subjective to some degree, as long as we like our own rides it ends right there. I do need to say Lil B you are being hard on a car that will undoubtedly beat your most recent purchase in every measurable category.

Well, I respect your viewpoint.

But, I am not comparing the Spyder to anything. I simply drove it and didn't like it, period.

Will it spank my 964, most probably, given like conditions and the same driver, definitely! 20 yrs. in engine and suspension advances, not to mention the mid-engine weight distribution all contribute.

That being the case, I still didn't enjoy driving it one bit. The interminable lag at launch and the DME telling me when to shift, or rather, actually shifting for me really put me off. The handling didn't seem like some revelation, in fact, it was indistinguishable from other Boxsters I've tracked. It may well have produced higher test numbers or data points, but these were not at all obvious from the driver's seat, though I admit that being on street rubber may explain some of it.

HP, IMHO, is a fools game, you can always heap more on. It's just a matter of cash and compromise. Handling and braking, not HP, is what always distinguished a Sports Car from an ordinary street machine. This seems to have been forgotten, though the Sports Car category isn't the only one at blame here when you can get 290 HP from a stock Nissan Maxima (like you really need that in a street car).

And, since Carol Shelby was brought into the arguement, he always said that the original AC Cobra, with the 260 HiPo motor was a dream to drive, well balanced all-around. He also says that when the 289 was introduced (MkII), the car suffered, but when the 427 side-oiler and/or 428 was introduced (MkIII), it ruined the car entirely. He refers to the Mark III as "the Pig".

Now, I'm not claiming to be Senna incarnate or any such thing. But I have driven on many tracks in many cars and while there were some which I enjoyed more than others, none of them before the Spyder actually annoyed me. So much so, that I pitted early and left 6 more laps on the table, something which is very much against my religion... and a first!

This is an opinion thread. Not everyone will share my view, perhaps even the majority. NO PROBLEM at all!

My opinion is based on my personal experience with the car and if anything, because of the raves about it, I was looking forward to driving it and was prepared for an entirely different experience than I had.

IMPO, the car does not in actuality live up to all the hype or the sticker price.

If expressing my opinion is contrued by some as insulting, that's much more their problem than my intent.

And, as I freely admitted, I'm betting Porsche sells them by the score. There just won't ever be one in my driveway.

Cheers!

I wonder how much better the spyder is to a similarly equipped Boxster S ? Just say you spent a few bucks on some light weight seats , wheels and some suspension . would there really be that much of a difference ?

I think your points are well made.

Cheers!

Wouldn't that hold true for the Boxster vs the Boxster S, Cayman vs the Cayman S. Isn't that the point when it comes to "S" models, you get a bump in HP, different rims and tighter suspension. The Spyder is just a notch above the S model. The Cayman CS/R or what ever they call, if they decided to build it, will be the same thing. Seems like every company is doing that and have for years.

pcw

Keep in mind that there is a distinct difference between the base car and the S . There is no major mechanical difference between the S model and the Spyder model .

I just had a similar argument with someone who thinks the current M3 is brilliant.

I told him it's pig and the earlier E30/36/46 M3s were true to its concept. He disagreed.

That, and one of the mechanics at the BMW dealer said, M nowadays stands for marketing.

The top put me off from the simple standpoint of where I live.
I take the box out on nice days -only - and here in wonderful north Florida, it's not so much clouds and rain blow in as clouds and rain FORM in a matter of minutes.
I get caught in quick, out of nowhere showers all the time and the hassle of putting up and taking down the SPyder top leaves me cold. Southern Cal or Arizona.........hell yes!!
Now for the track car part. Are you kidding me?? If tracking is that important, BUY A TRACK CAR!!! Do you have ANY idea what kind of real live proven winner race car you can buy for 70 grand??
Since we're all talking pure opinion here, with nothing aimed at anyone, I personally wish Porsche had spent the time effort and money on a lightweight retractable hard top. Give me less noise when it's up, less worry about some butt-head trying out his straight razor on it and less hassle with my neighbor and his four out-side cats.

There are two Spyders at the dealer by my house, One black and one is white thay look great. I just don't think thay are any better then a Boxster S. One is listed for; $76K and the other is; $75K.

As for the Spyder being a track car? Buy a 2006 Lotus Elise, I did for less then half price of a Spyder and way faster on the track and a lot cheaper and easier to work on.
My 99 Box is my DD and the Lotus my track car, I think I have the best of both worlds and a total of $ 30,600.00 in to both cars :)

Excellent point! Retrofittable to all earlier model years at a reasonable price, of course. :D

I'm in Northern CA and from May to Oct no rain and in the winter when the sun is out it's 60 degrees. Not sure I would have gotten the Spyder if I lived somewhere else. It's not my daily driver so the rain doesn't really effect me and out here you know in plenty of time when the rain is coming.

I will say the car really draws attention. Every time I stop and get gas I'm there at least 30 mins talking about the car to the many on lookers wondering what kind of Porsche it is. I entered it in a local Concours over the summer and placed for the road and track award. That award is for the car the judges would most like to drive. I have great fun with the car.

pcw

For seventy K+, There better be judges yearning to drive it, that's only eight K less than I paid for my home back in the day.

I like the car and it's looks but at the end of the day, would it be worth my car plus 60K for the pleasure of driving one? Not with a perfect well sorted, paid for Boxster in the house with only 32K on the clock...

Well as far as the Judges, let me tell you there were way more expensive cars at that concours than a 65K Spyder, the Spyder was one of the less expensive cars there and drew more attention than some of the classics that were there. Money is subjective, what I would spend my money on will be different than someone else. You prefer to buy used, others prefer new.

Yes, when I bought my first house 25 years ago it cost 76000.00 Brand new, also a new 911 Porsche cost $31,950.00, so what, what does that have to do with anything, co'mom, that's a ridiculous comparison. Can you get a new 911 for 32K, HA, I wish, what are they now 78k for a basic 911, with no options. What is the price different between a new Boxster s and a Spyder, 58K vs 61.2K that's 3200.00, not a big difference.

pcw

Can't we just get along?

http://www.tendertonaveitalia.com/bl...roup%20hug.JPG

It's not really that dumb a comparison when you live where I do and a fixer upper, cape can be had for 75K. I'm getting 850.00 a month for a similar house, I love sports cars but the reason I chose "used" was to spend money on investments that pay me back so I can be retired from the corporate musical chairs game. I respect your choice to buy the new spyder, it's a beautiful car, we all spend a long time in the dirt, so why not?

Who said you need to be rich to buy a new car or a new house? You just need to be financially irresponsible... uh I mean live for the moment! :D :dance:

That would be an awesome plan if I was a wall street banker... I'd get a used CGT and tell the gove I couldn't pay them back for it..