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Would love to hear people's perspectives on owning a 991.1 S Cab vs the 981 Spyder.
Am thinking of letting go of the 991 S Cab and getting a used 991 GTS coupe (at some stage), with the addition of a Spyder for the open top feel that I've come to enjoy from the cab.
Thoughts?
Edit: Well I guess part 2 to the question - would the answer be the same if the 991 S cab and Spyder would cost me roughly the same each month? But would only have the 991 S Cab for another 12 months.
Getting both rather than one is a no-brainier provided you have the storage space and don't mind doubling down on initial purchase cost, depreciation, time-based maintenance, taxes and insurance.
The more interesting question is: 991 Cab OR Boxster Spyder.
For me that would be BS all day long, even if they were priced the same.
Well I guess part 2 to the question - would the answer be the same if the 991 S cab and Spyder would cost me roughly the same each month? But would only have the 991 S Cab for another 12 months.
Well, first, I haven't ever driven a BS or any 981 for that matter, so this is all subject to the assumption they work as well as previous 98X cars have worked. I jumped to the Boxster camp in 2004 when the 550SE came out, and loved that car. This was back when that edition made 264hp and a 911 made 325.
Regarding the current 981S/GTS/and Spyder (in ascending order) I think they are marvelous looking cars. Objectively better looking than a 991, and especially than a 991 Cab. If we weren't all conditioned to like the 911 look from its heritage, and from its greater motor performance, I daresay most any one of us would consider the 981s the better looking cars. In other words, if Porsche had always been a Sedan and SUV company, and for 2016 they were debuting two new sports/GT cars, the 991 and the 981, both available in coupe and cab and both with the 3.8 motor, I imagine that most people would perceive the Boxster as the top of the line, most desirable of the four variants.
I love the 911's driving dynamics, particularly with respect to corner exit. But the Boxster platform is just so very very good (again, in 986 and 987 flavors) that it would be perceived as the better, less compromised choice if all else were made equal. The 911 would be perceived as the fall-back position for people who couldn't manage to make a 2-seater work in their life, compromised because of that backseat forcing the engine to be in the place it ought not be.
Sort of like this for those of you who were around in the seventies:
Or the 90s:
Okay, so why have I had all 911s and only one Boxster? And specifically last year why did I get a 911 GTS instead of a 50k cheaper 981 GTS?
Well, first, I haven't ever driven a BS or any 981 for that matter, so this is all subject to the assumption they work as well as previous 98X cars have worked. I jumped to the Boxster camp in 2004 when the 550SE came out, and loved that car. This was back when that edition made 264hp and a 911 made 325.
Regarding the current 981S/GTS/and Spyder (in ascending order) I think they are marvelous looking cars. Objectively better looking than a 991, and especially than a 991 Cab. If we weren't all conditioned to like the 911 look from its heritage, and from its greater motor performance, I daresay most any one of us would consider the 981s the better looking cars. In other words, if Porsche had always been a Sedan and SUV company, and for 2016 they were debuting two new sports/GT cars, the 991 and the 981, both available in coupe and cab and both with the 3.8 motor, I imagine that most people would perceive the Boxster as the top of the line, most desirable of the four variants.
I love the 911's driving dynamics, particularly with respect to corner exit. But the Boxster platform is just so very very good (again, in 986 and 987 flavors) that it would be perceived as the better, less compromised choice if all else were made equal. The 911 would be perceived as the fall-back position for people who couldn't manage to make a 2-seater work in their life, compromised because of that backseat forcing the engine to be in the place it ought not be.
Sort of like this for those of you who were around in the seventies:
Or the 90s:
Okay, so why have I had all 911s and only one Boxster? And specifically last year why did I get a 911 GTS instead off a 50k cheaper 981 GTS?
Damned if I know...
Ha, well said! I'm inclined to agree with you.
Except you'll need to provide more justification about your 991 purchase or we won't take you seriously anymore!
Personally I think the 981 is a far better convertible than the 911 variants (no offense, I've owned a 997 cab!) - I'd go with the coupe and Spyder for sure. Heck even a 981 GTS is a sweet ride...
Thanks all for the feedback. It is a difficult decision.
I do have two kids so there is sporadic use of the rear seats in the cab - they also like the cab way better than the coupe I had before (even though the seat backs are worse!). I can put one of them in the front seat though, but am somewhat losing the family aspect.
I've been experimenting and leasing the last few years, and taking advantage of the PFS 12 month pull aheads. So have had a 991 coupe (base) and 991S Cab. It's worked out well for me as I never would have got a Cab - but found I really enjoyed it. I really do like the 991 coupe though and love the look of the 991 GTS and the fact it is the last NA engine, and think a used one would be good value (thx STG).
That's how I arrived at the Spyder, and feel okay paying for a new car even though I'm sure I'll take that depreciation hit. It also seems to be the last 6 NA for line up, and gives me the open top motoring with a manual transmission.
I am concerned about the top - is it really that hard? The 991 top is a thing of mechanical beauty and when closed is like you are in hardtop almost (and with that comes the weight).
Here's the thing that is also bugging me.I had managed to negotiate a great deal on my current cab - so if I was to switch the 991 for the 981 the amount I pay each month will actually be the same. I would only have the 991 for another 12 months though.
Am I nuts for doing this and turning in a $135K car for a $95K one???
Thanks all for the feedback. It is a difficult decision.
I do have two kids so there is sporadic use of the rear seats in the cab - they also like the cab way better than the coupe I had before (even though the seat backs are worse!). I can put one of them in the front seat though, but am somewhat losing the family aspect.
I've been experimenting and leasing the last few years, and taking advantage of the PFS 12 month pull aheads. So have had a 991 coupe (base) and 991S Cab. It's worked out well for me as I never would have got a Cab - but found I really enjoyed it. I really do like the 991 coupe though and love the look of the 991 GTS and the fact it is the last NA engine, and think a used one would be good value (thx STG).
That's how I arrived at the Spyder, and feel okay paying for a new car even though I'm sure I'll take that depreciation hit. It also seems to be the last 6 NA for line up, and gives me the open top motoring with a manual transmission.
I am concerned about the top - is it really that hard? The 991 top is a thing of mechanical beauty and when closed is like you are in hardtop almost (and with that comes the weight).
Here's the thing that is also bugging me.I had managed to negotiate a great deal on my current cab - so if I was to switch the 991 for the 981 the amount I pay each month will actually be the same. I would only have the 991 for another 12 months though.
Am I nuts for doing this and turning in a $135K car for a $95K one???
The new Spyder is a stunning car - and the top is much easier than the earlier generation ... so do it!
I've feeling that 981 Spyder would retain value better than 991 S Cab especially if the Spyder equipped with LWB seat. My impression is that the Spyder feels more raw, more of a true roadster feel than 991 Cab.
Both are great open top cars but I just think the Boxster Spyder is more fun to drive, she's the younger, wilder and perhaps the hotter sister of the two.
One thing worth mentioning is that Porsche will release a 718 model this year to replace the 981. I’m expecting the evolution of 981 to 718 to be more significant than the evolution of 991.1 to 991.2.
The 718 will have a flat-four turbocharged engine. That may or may not be your cup of tea. (I’m not sure what I think of that prospect but I will observe that the Porsche 919 Hybrid, which just won Le Mans and the FIA WEC championship, and that I think all will agree is an impressive car, is powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged engine.)
I would expect Porsche to debut the 718 at either the Geneva or Frankfurt motor shows (March and September, respectively).
Here is a great 718 video. Good luck not wanting a spyder of any kind after this:
Personally I think the 981 is a far better convertible than the 911 variants (no offense, I've owned a 997 cab!) - I'd go with the coupe and Spyder for sure. Heck even a 981 GTS is a sweet ride...
I agree! My 991 Coupe is far far better as a DD than my 986 was, but the boxster is more fun for a top down weekend drive. I think the cab top ruins the 911 roofline, if it were financially realistic for me I would definitely have both.
12-30-2015, 01:26 AM
991 S Cab vs 981 Spyder?
