Originally Posted by f4 plt

The spyder is an amazingly well balanced vehicle as it comes from the factory. That said has anyone upgraded to a coil over set up on either the Spyder or Cayman R and if so what have you noticed?

Originally Posted by orthojoe

I'm not running a coilover setup on my spyder, but let me just put in my thoughts. Most of time, these threads end up with purely subjective responses (like "yeah, it's more planted and it feels much faster"), anyway. My response is subjective as well, but based on pseudo science:

TC Kline, a well respected tuner (primarily BMWs, but have moved to Porsche as well) had a boxster spyder with a custom tuned Sachs coilover kit. Let's assume that TC Kline knows what they are doing and this is a good setup:
https://rennlist.com/forums/987-981-...guna-seca.html

TC Kline ran this Boxster spyder at MRLS and ran 1:42.7
My boxster spyder at MRLS runs 1:41.7
A one second difference.

The primary differences between these 2 cars are:
1) driver
2) Tires. TC Kline was running Yokohama Ad08, whereas I'm running NT01
3) Suspension. Other than adjustable LCA, I am stock. TC Kline was running a custom tuned Sachs coilover setup

Let's assume that the AD08 are 1-2 seconds slower than NT01. According to this guy's nice comparison review, he was consistently 1 second slower with AD08s over NT01:
http://www.planet-9.com/987-cayman-b...1-htrziii.html

If we take the assumption that the AD08s are 1 second slower than NT01, then both the TC Kline spyder and mine were running identical times. Based on this, there are 3 conclusions you could come to:

1) Assuming I am an equal driver with TC Kline, there is NO difference in performance with the custom coilover.
2) Assuming TC Kline is a better driver than me, the coilover set actually made him slower. I think that if I hit all of my marks, that I could get a 1:40, and a better driver could get at least a 1:39 or better.
3) Assuming I am a better driver than TC Kline, the coilover set only made a marginal improvement in lap time.

In any proposed conclusion, there isn't much of a difference. My opinion, therefore, is that the only reason to get a custom coilover is to lower the car more than stock without affecting performance negatively like lowering springs usually do.

Throw in the fact that Randy Pobst does 1:41 at Laguna with a bone factory stock Cayman R, and that further supports my opinion.

Originally Posted by f4 plt

That is the type of answer I was looking for, thank you, very informative

Originally Posted by Z356

Good post, Joe! Congratulations on your low timing at Laguna! Saludos, Eduardo Carmel .

Originally Posted by terbiumactivated

I realize small differences added together equal an edge. However since none of us are racing to eat, at what cost are the tweaks? Here's an example, I treated myself to some titanium lugs because I like the look. I weighed them and indeed they are lighter than stock but at six ounces each the needs / benefit analysis breaks apart. Buying them for the look was one thing, to say they are part of a weight reduction strategy wouldn't be a lie but face it you could "86" the front carpet and likely be close! Yeah I know rotational weight reduction is better and so on but you get the point, Spyder is a very sharp road knife right out of the Ginzu box. I thought about a lightweight battery for a while, then again concluded how much will that alter the experience? My two cents regardless of model is to buy the tires than might hurt a little to procure if you really want your car to come alive.

Originally Posted by the_vetman

Depends on the track, but I would think NT-01s are more than 1-2 seconds faster than AD08s... but I don't have any data to back that up.

Originally Posted by orthojoe

Weren't you the one that said your experience was that NT01 was only 1-2 second better than mpss? I would argue that nt01 is more like 2-3 seconds faster than mpss. I'm gonna say that that ad08 is stickier than mpss. Therefore..... I await your ounter response !

Originally Posted by the_vetman

I thought there was going to be this huge difference when I went to NT01s but found the grip and performance to be not as different as I thought they were going to be.