Daily Drive a 718 Spyder??
03-16-2022, 05:02 AM
#16
have a Spyder and a Boxster, the only issues I have is access to trunk when roof is closed and closing roof when driving slowly in traffic jams when it’s raining. Having a baseball cap behind your seat, helps.
03-16-2022, 05:55 AM
#17
I daily mine (MT) 2 days preceeding the weekend when it becomes the weekend toy. If its you 24/7 car, as some mentioned above the access to the trunk would be your main consideration. The hood issue depends entirely on your journey during the week. I only hood down during the weekend as my weekday is 99% crawling in traffic and I would be more concerned of lung cancer than getting wet.
03-16-2022, 06:25 AM
#18
Instructor
Yes, it is possible to commute in a 718 Spyder. I do so in a temperate climate. Your main concern won't be rain and the roof. It will be snow / ice and the tyres. If it freezes in your region and you really want a four-season Spyder, get a dedicated set of winter wheels / tyres. Plenty of Canadians on this forum could share their first-hand experiences.
03-16-2022, 08:21 AM
#19
Congrats on your allocation. That damn Spyder is such a draw because it looks so good. I struggled with this same decision and went with the GTS. I’m still not sure if it was the right one, lol, but ultimately, it really wasn’t the top for me. I actually think lowering and raising the top is cool bonding time with the car. I enjoyed doing that on my Spitfire 4 and MGB. And the trunk… love the quirkiness of it. Both are unique features that make that car so special.
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GT3FZS (03-21-2022)
03-16-2022, 08:58 AM
#20
Instructor
I’m not much of a convertible guy, but if I were I wouldn’t give a flyin’ f about the top cause that car just looks sooo bad ***.
03-16-2022, 10:05 AM
#21
Intermediate
Have an allocation option now for a Spyder. Since this is my daily driver, I am a bit concerned about giving up my BGTS 4.0 for a Spyder for mainly the roof. Not as concerned about suspension, clearance etc. But the manual roof on a daily basis worries me in that I might grow tired of constantly dealing with it vs.the handy power option. I live in the northern Midwest, so not like owning a Spyder in Florida and it won’t be just a wknd car, it would be my daily everyday to work etc.
For those with 718 Spyders that daily drive them have you found the roof to be an issue at all on a daily basis and any regrets?
For those with 718 Spyders that daily drive them have you found the roof to be an issue at all on a daily basis and any regrets?
03-16-2022, 11:04 AM
#22
Have an allocation option now for a Spyder. Since this is my daily driver, I am a bit concerned about giving up my BGTS 4.0 for a Spyder for mainly the roof. Not as concerned about suspension, clearance etc. But the manual roof on a daily basis worries me in that I might grow tired of constantly dealing with it vs.the handy power option. I live in the northern Midwest, so not like owning a Spyder in Florida and it won’t be just a wknd car, it would be my daily everyday to work etc.
For those with 718 Spyders that daily drive them have you found the roof to be an issue at all on a daily basis and any regrets?
For those with 718 Spyders that daily drive them have you found the roof to be an issue at all on a daily basis and any regrets?
03-16-2022, 11:09 AM
#23
I guess I have a different view as I don't see a problem here. This is a forum. Users find it very useful to gather information to form their own opinions and make decisions. If 10 people reply to my question and 9 of them are frustrated to no end each day with the manual roof then that data is helpful to me, so really that is all that matters in the end right? I realize I ultimately am the only one that can answer the question, but I like others do find it helpful to gather multiple thoughts on on a subject while deciding. Forums are very helpful for this. Usually.
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UncleDude (03-16-2022)
03-16-2022, 11:14 AM
#25
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I think you're being pedantic here; pretty clear from my response how much I drive and cycle the top. Where I daily go shouldn't be relative, the process is the same.
03-16-2022, 11:17 AM
#26
Valid question and not sure why some of the replies are being made.
I had a 718 GTS and went to a Spyder. While I do not daily it, I do use it for more than just a weekend toy. Yes, the top top on the Spyder isn't time consuming but what I find I miss is being able to raise and lower the top while on the move, last min etc. I was out yesterday as the weather was decent but looked like it might rain. So I left the top up. However a bit into my journey the clouds broke and glorious sun. Sadly I was on busy streets and there wasn't anywhere to pull over to lower the roof. Had this been the GTS, well you know very well, it can be done while in the car.
For me the plus of the normal power top is being able to do that quickly and not have to pull over.
I've only had the car a few months but do find I think twice about taking it out if I'm on an errand run with multiple stops as going through the top up/down sequence so many times puts me off. The Spyder has now become a weekend toy. I also found I used the rear cargo on the GTS more than the front but again, with the Spyder top,I've yet to use the rear trunk.
The Spider is a fantastic car but for me personally, as a daily and only car, I would think twice. Will you be driving it in the winter? Having a glass rear screen is much better than the call plastic bit.
Good luck with whatever you decide. A very nice position to be in.
You could always just order one, get another deposit in for a GTS 4.0 and switch up if it didn't work for you. You won't lose much if anything with the Spyder.
I had a 718 GTS and went to a Spyder. While I do not daily it, I do use it for more than just a weekend toy. Yes, the top top on the Spyder isn't time consuming but what I find I miss is being able to raise and lower the top while on the move, last min etc. I was out yesterday as the weather was decent but looked like it might rain. So I left the top up. However a bit into my journey the clouds broke and glorious sun. Sadly I was on busy streets and there wasn't anywhere to pull over to lower the roof. Had this been the GTS, well you know very well, it can be done while in the car.
For me the plus of the normal power top is being able to do that quickly and not have to pull over.
I've only had the car a few months but do find I think twice about taking it out if I'm on an errand run with multiple stops as going through the top up/down sequence so many times puts me off. The Spyder has now become a weekend toy. I also found I used the rear cargo on the GTS more than the front but again, with the Spyder top,I've yet to use the rear trunk.
The Spider is a fantastic car but for me personally, as a daily and only car, I would think twice. Will you be driving it in the winter? Having a glass rear screen is much better than the call plastic bit.
Good luck with whatever you decide. A very nice position to be in.
You could always just order one, get another deposit in for a GTS 4.0 and switch up if it didn't work for you. You won't lose much if anything with the Spyder.
I daily mine (MT) 2 days preceeding the weekend when it becomes the weekend toy. If its you 24/7 car, as some mentioned above the access to the trunk would be your main consideration. The hood issue depends entirely on your journey during the week. I only hood down during the weekend as my weekday is 99% crawling in traffic and I would be more concerned of lung cancer than getting wet.
Yes, it is possible to commute in a 718 Spyder. I do so in a temperate climate. Your main concern won't be rain and the roof. It will be snow / ice and the tyres. If it freezes in your region and you really want a four-season Spyder, get a dedicated set of winter wheels / tyres. Plenty of Canadians on this forum could share their first-hand experiences.
Congrats on your allocation. That damn Spyder is such a draw because it looks so good. I struggled with this same decision and went with the GTS. I’m still not sure if it was the right one, lol, but ultimately, it really wasn’t the top for me. I actually think lowering and raising the top is cool bonding time with the car. I enjoyed doing that on my Spitfire 4 and MGB. And the trunk… love the quirkiness of it. Both are unique features that make that car so special.
03-16-2022, 11:27 AM
#27
Have an allocation option now for a Spyder. Since this is my daily driver, I am a bit concerned about giving up my BGTS 4.0 for a Spyder for mainly the roof. Not as concerned about suspension, clearance etc. But the manual roof on a daily basis worries me in that I might grow tired of constantly dealing with it vs.the handy power option. I live in the northern Midwest, so not like owning a Spyder in Florida and it won’t be just a wknd car, it would be my daily everyday to work etc.
For those with 718 Spyders that daily drive them have you found the roof to be an issue at all on a daily basis and any regrets?
For those with 718 Spyders that daily drive them have you found the roof to be an issue at all on a daily basis and any regrets?
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03-16-2022, 11:27 AM
#28
Rennlist Member
If your concern is the top operation, I say that’s by far the last concern I’d have about DD the Spyder. I actually guess I don’t understand the question. If you want it down before your drive, you put it down. If you want it up, you leave it up. It’s like asking if you should trade all your lace up shoes for loafer because tying laces is such an ordeal (After having a Boxster, I think that’s a fair analogy). There is a whole list of things about the Spyder that make it a huge contradiction to being a DD driver IMO, but the top operation wouldn’t even make my list.
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UncleDude (03-16-2022)
03-16-2022, 11:40 AM
#29
Rennlist Member
Mine is a DD but that doesn't mean I drive it every day. Rather, it is one of the vehicle that fills the commuting role. Right now I'm not commuting but should start again next month. I also commute on a motorcycle if I feel like it and I have a Subaru for inclement weather.
My biggest issue with the top is putting it up. I prefer to leave it down at all times. I assume that I will leave it down when I get to work and just part in a covered parking space. I think I will get a foam pad to keep in the roof that way I can also keep it down in my garage. There are some circles showing due to the roof almost constantly being down and resting on the bumpers. I think a piece of foam or even a pool noodle in the roof when it is parked in the garage would work, that way the roof stays down 90% of the time. IMO the rood should only go up is caught in inclement weather.
My biggest issue with the top is putting it up. I prefer to leave it down at all times. I assume that I will leave it down when I get to work and just part in a covered parking space. I think I will get a foam pad to keep in the roof that way I can also keep it down in my garage. There are some circles showing due to the roof almost constantly being down and resting on the bumpers. I think a piece of foam or even a pool noodle in the roof when it is parked in the garage would work, that way the roof stays down 90% of the time. IMO the rood should only go up is caught in inclement weather.
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Larry Cable (03-16-2022)
03-16-2022, 12:15 PM
#30
Three Wheelin'
My Spyder top doesn't come down as often as it did in my 981 simply because you have to stop and do it manually.
That said, I think driving to work 5 days a week is far more a hassle than dropping the Spyder top and that's where I would draw the line.
That said, I think driving to work 5 days a week is far more a hassle than dropping the Spyder top and that's where I would draw the line.