worf928

Hey Cap, here’s your coffee:

Dr.Bill

It is a dilemma.
I was torn between a Cayman GTS 4.0 and a GT4. With what I wanted, the GT4 was about $10k more.
I figured if I was spending over $100k on a Cayman it better be a GT4!!

On the other hand, I would pick the Boxster GTS 4.0 over a Spyder every time.
I guess that's why they make sixty or so variants?

Nacelle

Dr. Bill, what is your reasoning? I am in the queue for both and will eventually need to make a decision, I need your clarity...

ToasterThief

When are the first cars scheduled to show up in any case? It'd be great to get a look (and maybe even a drive) at one at the dealer this fall before ordering.

Haros

looks like December for USA and January for Canada.
At least that’s what the dealers have told those of us who have ordered.

Pretty crappy time for a test drive where I’m from.

DR1VEN

between Spyder n GTS4.0, the more expensive Spyder obviously has a superior spec but based on your “I must be able to put the roof up and down quickly”, the GTS4.0 is the one that fits your application,.. the extra Spyder bits are awesome but who cares if your interior suffers water damage coz u can’t lift the roof quickly enough.

otherwise, just keep the 987S for days with ambiguous weather and have the Spyder for fair weather conditions

hf1

Yes, it’s the well known problem of “not having built that car barn yet”. Already storing away two cars — a third one would be an abomination.

DR1VEN

hang on... just noticed you have a 996 GT3... surely coupling that with the Spyder should cover your bases?

I actually find the Spyder to be a perfect car in a multi-car garage. Yes, it is a little less practical than a coupe or auto roof vert but if one is willing to compromise or has an alternate car to use for those circumstances, a top down manual Spyder on a crisp morning through some tight twisters is very hard to beat. Coupled with a track focussed coupe like a GT3 and almost all bases are covered.

Nacelle

That would do it...

hf1

The GTS 4.0 would better complement the raw 996 GT3. Daily good wine + weekly stiff single malt. Neither would be tracked as I have a race car for that. My 987 Boxster S’s (this is my second one) have been the most driven strictly fun/backroads cars I’ve owned. While a car like that typically gets 1-2k miles/yr, the Boxster clocks close to 5k miles/yr of pure backroads fun. Without the auto-top, that would likely be cut to less than half and bring it down to 6gt3 level.

Again, if only the Spyder wasn’t so darn gorgeous, now also offered in Python Green...

Lvanpelt729

I'll never understand the auto top thing... I guess everyone uses their cars differently, but the thought of being concerned about occasionally having to open or close the roof is asinine to me. It's one thing if it's a DD, but for a fun car, it's just never bothered me in the slightest...

hf1

I open/close the auto-top on my “just for fun” Boxster on average at least 2x per run (closer to 3x) even on a perfect sunny day. Gravel road, coffee stop, lunch, tennis parking, gym parking, swimming pool parking, grocery stop, errand, highway stretch, road construction, dirty truck, summer sprinkle, you name it. I make a mental note about how great it is to have it (instead of having to stop, park, and dance around the car) every time I use it. But I also put 5k miles/yr on backroads with my fun cars and that’s with Winters (5 months) off. Since I’d probably have the LWBS, the bolsters would get worn that much faster if I have to get out of the car just to open/close the top. Different perspectives...

Even though Porsche FINALLY put the top 4.0 engine in an auto-top Boxster it still bugs me that they have to neuter its HP and suspension just to keep the manual top Spyder on top. Why not just make the same car with both auto and manual top?

Manoverpdk

Spyder body with an auto top would've been perfect for me. I would be willing to go on a diet and loose the 20 lbs to keep it weight neutral.

Westcoast

IMHO there is always a top model in the line and it gets the goodies, nothing at all wrong with the GTS 4.0 but Porsche wanted to make a distinction between them or why bother with building either the GT4 or Spyder?

hf1

Sure, but why must the top model only come with a manual top? Just as it comes with manual or PDK, sofas or lwbs, irons or pccb, it could also come with a manual or auto top. They can even keep the humps and wings exclusive to the manual top if it’s too difficult to automate them — just keep the rest of the car and options the same.