Unhappy with 987 Spyder?
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From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
I have had my Spyder for over 3 years now (10K miles). Like I have said many times before, this car is a keeper. I have had so many Porsches, I cant count. I usually would get bored with them after a year and sell them (Race car & Project car excluded). Not so with this masterpiece.
When I start to stray and think about a new PTS 991, I drive the Spyder and slap myself silly. My Wife (who has never even driven the Spyder yet, I guess she knows it's my toy), says we can never sell it. She did say once it is paid off (not far now!
) We can look at getting something else while still keeping it.
Word from the wise, DO NOT SETTLE on a Spyder. Get the Sport Buckets and 6 speed MT. These are what make the car what it is supposed to be (and help value for the rare case you ever sell it)
These are Collector cars plain and simple.
When I start to stray and think about a new PTS 991, I drive the Spyder and slap myself silly. My Wife (who has never even driven the Spyder yet, I guess she knows it's my toy), says we can never sell it. She did say once it is paid off (not far now!
) We can look at getting something else while still keeping it.Word from the wise, DO NOT SETTLE on a Spyder. Get the Sport Buckets and 6 speed MT. These are what make the car what it is supposed to be (and help value for the rare case you ever sell it)
These are Collector cars plain and simple.
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I would be curious to hear comparisons between the Lotus Elise/Exige and the Spyder (or the Boxster S).
Also, for the folks who compared the Boxster S with the Spyder, how much of the driver involvement and the sound of a Boxster S could approach the Spyder's by making a suspension upgrade and adding a PSE?
I recently sold my 06 Boxster S (which I loved since new) but am back contemplating a 987.2 Boxster S, Spyder, 981 Boxster S, and the Lotus Elise/Exige to add to (or, ugh, as a replacement for) my 996 GT3 which I also love.
EDIT: This would be for a weekend country-road carver and 4-5 track days a year. To be purely driven for joy -- not a daily driver.
Also, for the folks who compared the Boxster S with the Spyder, how much of the driver involvement and the sound of a Boxster S could approach the Spyder's by making a suspension upgrade and adding a PSE?
I recently sold my 06 Boxster S (which I loved since new) but am back contemplating a 987.2 Boxster S, Spyder, 981 Boxster S, and the Lotus Elise/Exige to add to (or, ugh, as a replacement for) my 996 GT3 which I also love.
EDIT: This would be for a weekend country-road carver and 4-5 track days a year. To be purely driven for joy -- not a daily driver.
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I'm probably blowing a gasket sometime soon.
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Then there is a question of originality. This will be big years later from now. It will be just like old 356's and 911's now. Those cars command a premium.
Do not settle. Or adjust the price accordingly.
Last edited by Plavan; Dec 7, 2013 at 12:28 PM.
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Thanks mooty. Wouldn't the Spyder still be a compromise in terms of involvement/feel relative to the Lotus? Since I started racing few years ago, I just can't get Lotus' 1000lb lightness premium out of my head. Both the Spyder and the Elise/Exige are so rare that I have yet to test drive either.
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Thanks mooty. Wouldn't the Spyder still be a compromise in terms of involvement/feel relative to the Lotus? Since I started racing few years ago, I just can't get Lotus' 1000lb lightness premium out of my head. Both the Spyder and the Elise/Exige are so rare that I have yet to test drive either.
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
No problem. Yes, the Sport Buckets CAN be added, but at significant cost. You better check because it's around ~$8k to 12k (with proper Alacatara inserts) for seats. These were also standard seats for the Spyder, no discount if you got the Sport Seats. So people were throwing money away (~10% the cost of the car back then). Now.... Yikes.
Then there is a question of originality. This will be big years later from now. It will be just like old 356's and 911's now. Those cars command a premium.
Do not settle. Or adjust the price accordingly.
Then there is a question of originality. This will be big years later from now. It will be just like old 356's and 911's now. Those cars command a premium.
Do not settle. Or adjust the price accordingly.
Drifting
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From: Belmont Shore in Long Beach CA
This year was my second with the Spyder, Marine Blue's comments are both eloquent and IMO accurate. The sport buckets make you feel like you are putting on a dress shoe to drive with your entire body if that makes any sense. I find the car to have an amazing power band, many want the Spyder to have a larger engine, however to me, if anything, one must be always vigilant not to unleash the the entire beast on public roads. Any more HP and you would never get to hear the engine sing and that would be a huge loss as the sound is addicting, especially the pops and burbles the sport exhaust makes, I never use the radio! The handling is so good it's truly tough to imagine another sports car making you go "wow" in a curve, it's truly that good. The top can be a handful, one must watch the weather and respond early, a small price to pay for what is a very special to look at and drive automobile.
Truthfully if I find one an the engine is too far gone there are alternatives to the straight six. I'm thinking along the lines of a Peugeot V-6, Box up the Frame - Wax Job, ya know just a mild modification.
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From: 30 minutes from Summit Point
Kind of feels satisfying when you know you own one of the most special production Porsches ever. Arguably the best looking car they have ever built.
There I said it.
Good luck with that. My dad owned many sports cars over the years and since his passing there are a few I'd like to own in his memory. The AC Bristol is one of them and I haven't seen one for under 6 figures in a long time.
There I said it.
Alas, depends on how one feels. Too bad for most of us American where we take the Texas approach of "Bigger-Is-Better". You can find Cobra's and Kit Cars of Cobras. I'm still searching around for a decent priced drivable AC BRISTOL that may need a little work.
Truthfully if I find one an the engine is too far gone there are alternatives to the straight six. I'm thinking along the lines of a Peugeot V-6, Box up the Frame - Wax Job, ya know just a mild modification.
Truthfully if I find one an the engine is too far gone there are alternatives to the straight six. I'm thinking along the lines of a Peugeot V-6, Box up the Frame - Wax Job, ya know just a mild modification.
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From: Atlanta Ga
Cars that passed though our dealership or that we owned and drove during those years I'd love back:
MG-TD (my father's around 1950's vintage)
Porsche speedster (my dad's partner's car don't know the year, ruined by hail storm)
Cosworth Vega (under five thousand original miles)
Fiat 850 Spider Abarth
Fiat 500 (original)
Fiat 850 coupe
Fiat 124 coupe
1936 Fiat Simca ballila (suicide doors and stalk turn signals)
Opel GT
Pontiac Lemans (3 on the floor)
Mustang GT (1970)
Ford Bronco
And that's off the top of my head there were many more, I wish we had all of them..
MG-TD (my father's around 1950's vintage)
Porsche speedster (my dad's partner's car don't know the year, ruined by hail storm)
Cosworth Vega (under five thousand original miles)
Fiat 850 Spider Abarth
Fiat 500 (original)
Fiat 850 coupe
Fiat 124 coupe
1936 Fiat Simca ballila (suicide doors and stalk turn signals)
Opel GT
Pontiac Lemans (3 on the floor)
Mustang GT (1970)
Ford Bronco
And that's off the top of my head there were many more, I wish we had all of them..
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Northern NJ
a lot of great feedback on the Spyder here. I live in north jersey, and want a Cayman R as my only car. I was curious if anyone here has driven both, and how they can compare the Spyder to the Cayman R. Also, do we think it's as special a vehicle as the Spyder, and will hold its value just as well?
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Thanks mooty. Wouldn't the Spyder still be a compromise in terms of involvement/feel relative to the Lotus? Since I started racing few years ago, I just can't get Lotus' 1000lb lightness premium out of my head. Both the Spyder and the Elise/Exige are so rare that I have yet to test drive either.