997.2 Cab to 987.2 Boxster Spyder?
 

I am thinking about trading in my 09 Cab (base) manual for 09 Boxster Spyder PDK. Here is my dilemma.

• Still enjoy driving the Cab during the nice weekend (it's a weekend car as I have an SUV daily driver).
• Will have to pay an extra $$ for the Spyder even though they have similar miles (~45K).
• I like the rarity of the 987.2 Boxster Spyder.
• Given the fact that my Cab had a higher original MSRP than the Boxster Spyder, yet the current market value is lower... my guess is that the Spyder will hold the value better in the long-term. That's also important to me.

Has anyone experienced both cars? Would love to hear your opinions.

The Spyder is a great looking car - maybe the best looking 987 car IMO. Seems like a cat that needs a MT in it though with the unique top, etc where it's kind of an old-school look sports car that should have what a sports car needs and not the other stuff. You need to drive one as a mid-engine car is a very different drive than a rear engine one and the 911 is the only rear engine car with it's driving experience. I wouldn't trade my 911 for anything, but have added other Porsches I like to it.

Thank you for your perspectives! I guess this is a "good" problem to have.

Also, I did not realize that there is a Spyder forum section. I may post it there and see.

I've never driven a 987.2 Spyder, but did test drive a base 997.2 manual cab, and owned a base 997.2 6MT coupe and a base 987.2 6MT Cayman, so I have some experience with the platforms in question.

Tough choice here. The manual 997.2 cab I drove was great. My 997.2 coupe was great. My 987.2 Cayman was also great. No bad choices here.

If the Spyder were a manual, I think it would be a better "occasion" car than a manual 997.2 cab. Lighter, more agile, more rare as you say, better looking imo, and more fun. Those rear humps on the Spyder do a lot of favors to make the Boxster shape more exotic looking. But to me, the manual is a BIG part of the fun factor of any car. So, to lose that on the Spyder, is a ding to me. Also, that is the first gen PDK. It is not the same experience as the modern PDKs. It's also one more thing to break.

The Spyder will be, and already is, more collectible as you point out and will hold its value better/is more likely to appreciate.

I think you need to drive the Spyder. It is a different feeling to the 911, for sure.

I've owned both 997.2 and 987.2 chassis cars at the same time, though the cars I've owned had a roof. Though I think the chassis to chassis comparison is still applicable. As 850tgul mentioned above, owning a 987.2 Cayman and 997.2 Carrera, they are both great cars. If I were interested in owning a Porsche convertible, I'd quite possibly have the 987.2 over a 997.2. The slightly smaller size and lightness of the 987.2 accentuates the convertible experience.

I do agree, you really need to drive the Spyder, and hopefully back to back with the 911 cab.

Here's a few thoughts from someone that owns a 997.2 Carrera S PDK and a 987.2 Spyder PDK. For reference, I'm totally over the whole manual thing, I find driving a PDK in any platform just as fun and engaging as a manual.

I think the Spyder is more fun to drive than the 997, handling is awesome, it's quick and it feels and looks special. However, beyond nice weather fun drives it's not that great. The suspension is quite firm and it's pretty loud and then there's the manual top of course. Therefore, my advice would be to buy the Spyder if you truly want a car only for weekend fun drives. Otherwise, stick to the 997.

How tall are you? I'm 6'3 and have both a 997 and 981, which is larger inside than a 987. The 981 gets cramped inside after about an hour. Can't put the seats back to help. Great car and it's fun to drive but I'm selling it after 2 years because of that. Something to keep in mind.

In addition to the comments in the thread, the boxster doesn’t feel as well put together as a 911, even though they share many components. And the lightweight GT3 doors only exacerbate that feeling.

Thank you so much for your input and wisdom.

I am not big so being comfortable is not a problem. I have not driven the Spyder, but driven several Boxster S (987.2) before. I am such a sucker for resale value... so it may be an important factor.

I have a 986 S in addition to my 997 coupe. I added 996 GT3 bucket seats to the Boxster and they massively improved the headroom for me. (I'm 6'2".) Also installed the GT3 console delete and improved the legroom. Now it's ideal for me. The 997 still feels like "more car" but the Boxster is probably more fun.

I went from. 997.1 to a 987 Spyder. Probably the best handling car I have ever drive It was very tossable around winding roads and it was very unique looking. I did grow tired of the manual roof and missed not having the back seats like I had in my 911. I feel like if I could have afforded both I would have used the Spyder as a weekend car . My Spyder was a 2011 Manual car in black. I noticed that most of the used 987 Spyders have relatively low miles but exchange hands frequently. I eventually went back to the current 997.2 that I own now