Essentially, it's gonna be an open top GT4! In other words, a GT, which the 981 should have been! :jumper:

Can't totally agree with that, Henry. Not sure the 981 would be the car it is, with the playful handling it has, if GT had breathed on it. And I'm still not thrilled with the idea of the GT Dept. cranking out topless cars (like a Speedster, GT3 and/or Spyder). End of an era IMO and a watering down of what GT has always stood for, but time marches on and there are narrow market niches to exploit a la BMW so, hey, let's slice the motorsport pie into finer segments and see if we can't create a need where none currently exists, i.e., roofless track cars (that will never see a track). :(

Design-wise, the rear diffuser on the 982 has always given me pause and been the most controversial aspect of the new car's styling. Was hoping it would be better integrated in the final version and not appear to be so "tacked on."

Definitely a more aggressive appearance on the 982, at least to my eye. Will have to wait to see the two cars side-by-side in person, but the 981 strikes me as svelte, graceful, elegant, and downright sexy, whereas the 982 appears to me more brutish, more butch, more in-your-face like it's on steroids. The 981 has the body of a decathlete - lean and sinewy. The 982 has the body of 100m sprinter - bulging muscles and throbbing neck veins. I'm probably over exaggerating the visual differences, but they are there. Personally, I love both looks. Might have to give the nod to the 981 on the rear end, unless the 982's diffuser turns out differently.

Mechanically, the 982 will provide a noticeably different driving experience IMO. Certainly more power, more brakes, more rubber, more track-oriented suspension I'm guessing. Just a more "serious" car in general with grip galore and if that's what you're looking for I'm sure this car will deliver in spades.

It's been fun watching the development of the new car. It will be a beast, with a price tag to match me thinks, and it is only going to add to the mystique of the entire Spyder range. Those in line for the 982 are in store for something different from the 981, but undoubtedly very special in its own right.

I'm certainly bias, but the Spyder range in the Porsche line-up is just so damned special. Having said that, the entire Boxster lineup is in a class of its own in this market segment. So much love for Boxsters! :rockon:

Totally agree with your sentiments, Nick, regardless of my preferences. There are many others who might agree with you. Here is my rational, if that's possible when it comes Porsche sports cars: I'm a massive fan of Porsche GTs. GT3 is the only 911 I care for (with no offence intended to non-GT 911 drivers). There is only one reason I don't have a GT3: just don't have a use for a tin-top car! I'm a hardcore open-top guy. So, an open-top GT is a ride I've been waiting for! I'am not in the tax bracket for a C GT (yet!); and, 991 Speedster may be unobtainable. Besides, as we all know, Spyder is the perfect balance of all key ingredients, for the street. Well, almost. So, Spyder going GT is my dream ride!

One thing you may have overlooked in your analysis: Though Spyder is expected to be an open-top GT4, I fully expect it to maintain an identity of its own. The tuning will be different from GT4, which is track-focused. They may share the underpinnings; but, their primary objectives will be different. As we know, Porsche is legendary in tuning a model for a specific purpose. Remember these statements when the car is launched and first drive reports come out. Feel free to call me out, either way! :cheers:

Yeah, we can't make any conclusion on styling based on protos. Sure, there might be indicators. But, Porsche can pull a blinder at launch! It's gonna be kick-ass! The only thing I'm worried about now is the damn sound! Everything else seems to be coming along just fine.

Ditto :thumbup: Perhaps a preference shared by many bikers.

If it is a GT then, indeed, your ship has most definitely come in :cheers:

Yes, I agree on the Spyder brakes. I have the PCCB's on my 981Spyder and feel they are outstanding. I'm noting pics of the new version with PCCB come from the GT4 and are the larger, heavier PCCB units vs whats on the current Spyder. Hoping this along with the power increase and hopefully additional GT suspension mods move the game forward for the Spyder. However, this is a very big ask given the overall street balance/feel that gives the current car the special appeal that owners love about the car. We will see if this is the case within the next yr.

You know it! As bikers, we enjoy being part of the elements. So, a tin-top is never gonna cut it, even if it's called GT3 or Scuderia! And, I can't wait to drive an open-top GT!

That's a good, valid question. Here is how I answer: You know the phrase, 'we don't know what we are missing'? We don't know what it is we want until we get it. We may not be able to name or quantify it; yet, when we experience it, we will know. As with any special Porsche, there is no single component or group of options that enhance the driving experience. It is the overall package. It is not the brakes or suspension or chassis tuning, etc. It is how everything coming together in a cohesive, collective way that enhances the overall experience. It's that cliche: The Whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. Except, in Porsche World, it's not a cliche!

Bring on all the GT goodies. I want a superior AX car. As far as looks I still find my 987 Spyder as best.

I'd love a little more grip in my 981 Spyder, but not at the expense of wider wheels/tires or any reduction in ride quality. Wouldn't mind a little more low end torque, but don't feel the need for anything more on top. The car's plenty quick for what it is. If they do actually put a lot of GT parts in the new one, it's really a different car with a somewhat different purpose.

I used to complain about this because of the sizing. But I've never had anyone in another Porsche come close to me on a backroad. The best part is the look on their faces when they are glancing over the car and thinking "Wait a minute, only a 265 in the rear?"

Priceless.

The balance of the Spyder is unmatched. Short of a 458 you won't get anything like this out of the box, and that's about as high praise as it will get.

The spy pics here are actually pretty good...except for the gigantic watermark in the middle of them! :rolleyes:

https://www.autogespot.com/porsche-7...der/2018/08/18

Looks like it gained a little weight. Hoping the p/w ratio has improved but most of all that has not lost that special Spyder handling/feel. It also seems that color choice might play a bigger factor.