QuickOne

Hi Guys,

Quick thought question for you - I have a 2011 Spyder that I love. Black, 6-speed, sport buckets, alcantara accents. The thing is awesome. It's also extremely low miles (~700).

The question is I've been getting the itch to mod it. I've been thinking about the full TPC JRZ RS1 suspension setup. However I start to worry about it impacting the drivability or residual value since it's somewhat rare. Any thoughts on whether I should mod it or stick to modding the race car?

I already own a full race car track car, but it's only really usable at the track, so it's a different animal. I'm hoping it will keep me from going too crazy with the Spyder, however.

pjmachineco

Quickone,
Keep it pure and drive it more.

cds4402

+1

f4 plt

I agree drive it more. That said, I have installed two "mods" in my Spyder. First, a fire bottle mount in front of the drivers sport bucket seat. Second, I moved the sport chrono clock and replaced it with an oil pressure gauge in the pod. I carefully wrapped the clock an tie wrapped it inside the dash. Nice to know what the oil pressure is.

Dr.Bill

What don't you like about the car that you want to change? Probably hard to tell in only 700 miles. It's not even broken in yet!

Personally, I'd leave it stock for a while. Then, if you notice a deficiency, make plans to improve it. Modding something just for the sake of modding it doesn't make sense to me.

I owned a Spyder for a while - perhaps the perfect sports car. All I did was address the mushy brake pedal - GT3 master cylinder, stainless lines, and high-temp brake fluid.

Then I decided I would prefer a roof over my head and now have a Cayman R. Again, I've improved the brakes. I've also added a fire extinguisher and Rennline track mat on the drivers side. And I've switched to 18" wheels for better tire selection and less expensive rubber. If I do anything else, it would be a roll cage and harnesses.

Since you have a dedicated track car, that should fulfill your need to tinker. I'd leave the Spyder alone.

orthojoe

No LCA's, Bill?

terbiumactivated

I thought about buying a Boxster S and adding, headers, exhaust, underpulley, wheels, seats, then I decided to buy all that performance from the factory and found my Spyder. I think it's fine if someone wants to mod their car, I just think to do so and add that cost in as an increase in the value of the vehicle is "beyond wildly optimistic and venturing into the land of cuckoo". I put thousands into a house and the stingy buyers don't even want to concede to common sense upgrades like new HVAC, if you're going to mod for you go for it, if you do it to make money the next guy has to have the exact same car vision as you.

QuickOne

Well, it wasn't a mod just for modding, I just prefer a sharper and stiffer suspension. I have also been thinking of taking it to the track (something a little simpler than my race car), but I'm a little worried about beating it up. My race car takes quite a beating at the track.

Mostly the mods are to tighten it up on the street, since it doesn't get driven all that much (a byproduct of my constant-travel lifestyle)

Dr.Bill

No. Still the stock set up. No abnormal tire wear, except with NT01's. However, they were so stinking loud on the street and lasted about 1/2 as long as RE-11's. So, no more R-comps for a while. Now, if I get an Alfa 4c and make the Cayman more track focused. . .

orthojoe

You don't like the howling sound the NT01s make? LOL. I wonder if they'll be making the new BFG Gforce rival tires in sizes for us?

4C is nice, but I'd still rather have your CR over the 4C.

the_vetman

I also vote for driving it more, but we all have different lifestyles and preferences.

If you want to stiffen up the Spyder suspension for the street, I vote for H&R lowering springs or Bilstein PSS9. PSS9 because of lower cost than JRZ. Why pay for TPC JRZ when it won't be tracked and doesn't see many miles? My 2 cents.

the_vetman

Not a fan of the gopher face on recent Alfas. However, I'm just glad Bill has kept the CR for this long! And will continue to keep.... right?

p.s. Oh, and you should get RSS LCAs for the front, Bill. Not only do they preserve tires but help with turn in!

terbiumactivated

Well if it's like mine, wearing bedroom slippers masquerading as Potenza tires, the first thing to do to tighten mine up will be to put better rubber on it.

QuickOne

The PSS9's are nice, but I have a passion for the race-bred hardware. And I don't know if it will never see the track - just won't see it as much as my race car does.

Dr.Bill

Well, I'm considering 2 options now. If I get a 991 GT3, the CR will have to go. Maybe. Alternatively, I may go for the 4c. In that case, the CR gets more track focused.

While the GT3 will likely be a phenomenal car, there are a few things I don't care for. Costing twice as much as the CR or Alfa is but one.