Archer911

Just got back from SF. Was driving an Audi S5 but all the time I was thinking I couldn't drive the Spyder here.

LarryB

I daily drive a 2014 Base Boxster in SF. I have no problems but I won't say I haven't scraped. And the Spider is considerably lower (20mm?) than the base suspension. I think the bigger problem is the stick in the City, which is why I have the PDK.

jeanrabelais

New York City was a bit of a nightmare. I used the car only for excursions once every couple months.

Archimedes

I don't think he's worried about the lip. He's worried about ripping off the entire bumper.

My opinion is that, yes, it can be done, but only if you have the ability/flexibility to alter your route/parking location whenever necessary. For example, there are some lots/garages you simply won't be able to park in without destroying the lip. Need to be able to avoid those. The streets themselves are probably navigable enough without losing a bumper. I drove my X73 CS in SF a number of times with no issues, and my Spyder was about the same drop up front, but I'm really careful about angling everything. That said, I don't think I'd DD a Spyder in SF myself.

8 LEGS

I live in SF and the Spyder is a handful around town because it is so low (many chin scrapes) and I have already ruined one tire on a pothole. It is not my daily driver, which makes it manageable I would reconsider another car if this is a DD.

zellamsee

I have been commuting to downtown San Francisco for years now (from Marin), and did so with my 987 Boxster Spyder for six plus years, and now do so with my GT4. I don't think I have scraped my front spoiler (in either car) in the city, ever. One issue right now relates to potholes in the city -- given the heavy recent rains, the roads are a mess. But, I know where the potholes are (on my route) and avoid them! Bottom line -- a Boxster Spyder and GT4 definitely can work as a daily driver (in San Francisco).

8 LEGS

Fair enough: If you have a set commute route into / out of SF like zellamsee does, and it is a good route, then go for it. But if you have to drive around the inside of the City a lot (into / out of different neighborhoods and the like) I would get something else. Like I said: I LIVE in SF and I only use my Spyder to commute out of the City to my office. In and around town I prefer my '71 02 tii: great visibility, easy to park, good in the twisties (READ: avoiding ****ty out-of-town drivers, especially on the weekends) and takes pot holes with aplomb.

mrandell

The only people who drive in San Francisco are UBER Drivers and tourists. I've driven a Boxster S around there and it's hell on those steep hills at red lights. The clutch isn't grippy enough to execute a simple hill start. Roads are terrible and you may scrape on those big hills in Chinatown.


Irony is that area has the best driving roads in the U.S. I'm in SD and we don't have anything like Skyline or Hwy 9. Also, the traffic around halfmoon bay and that whole area on weekends is terrible. There's a reason you see so many motorcycles in the area.


Between the maintenance you'll be paying on a DD for so many "not fun" miles and all the anxiety driving around that area, I would pass.

CAlexio

I don't daily mine, it's a weekend car for leaving the city, although my fiancée sneakily takes it sometimes.

I would say the issue is the potholes, for low profile tires which affect many cars. The front doesn't scrape except when coming into a garage sometimes... but on spyder it's smooth plastic apron underneath, unlike on gt4. I have driven even in pacific heights, and aside from the steepest hill transitions where I do a little crabbing, the suspension is so well damped that it's not an issue. I would say the problem is really no different than any low profile tire taught suspension sports car.. the pot holes will get you, not the steepness. Buy the spyder if you find one you like, it's a dream machine.

We have so many amazing empty twisty roads in the area, it would a crime not to enjoy it. Be it down by half moon bay, or heading up by hills around napa, we do so many fun drives. It's not like SoCal with crazy traffic.. outside of highways, there is endless fun to be had. Don't let any concern stop you from buying your dream car.. this is mecca for it.

8 LEGS

I am cottoning to CliffJumper RS's plan: get a CPO VW GTI (or better yet, a Golf R) and "drive it like you stole it" in SF. Go BABY Go.

Ddesimone17

He does live in SF but is in Italy right now planning his wedding I believe
Never heard him comment about issues driving locally

CAlexio

I did comment above :-).

Done with the wedding planning, fiancé went back to Cali, my buddies joined me in Istanbul, now we party a little.. #lessrennlistmoreparty

MagicRat

Deleted - posted in wrong thread!

FlamsteadHill

Yeah, the commute from Zell am See would be a bit much. Is that where you're from?

texcwa

I know I am not in my forum but read others occasionally. I drive my 996 to and from SF frequently and offer my two cents.

1. Other drivers in SF have forgotten about manual transmissions. They pull up to within a couple of inches at stops that are usually on steep grades. Plan on burning up your clutch in half the time as anywhere else.
2. The streets are not in as bad of shape (IMO) as others have stated. I have never hit a pot hole (just keep your eyes open) and have never scraped the bottom.
3. Finally, most parking garages in the city have valet parking. Not sure about the Spyder's or 997's but the 996 has a sensitive clutch (either in gear or not, any time under 7-10 mph your into the clutch). Do you really want a valet who makes minimum wage (and no experience driving our types of cars) parking your car in a garage that has zero clearance on all four sides of your car? again, just my opinion.