Are Spyders Becoming Extinct At OPCs!

[rob.kellock]

It's a funny thing - I'm sure you're right but you get a sort of boom from the Cayman I find. A 987.2 loaner I had once was awful on the motorway, a bit like a saloon car with a rear window only open. I think that can be fixed by adjusting the tailgate. New page etc.

 

[fbr]

I've been fortunate to drive the new 981 Cayman and 991 C2S as loaners as well as both of them back to back at the PEC. Fantastic cars, but you have to push them significantly to get the same levels of smiles vs Spyder.

Having done the same (testing & PEC) with the 981S Boxster & the 991S I think that applies to the 991 but not the 981. The 991 appears to be unbreakable on the PEC mini-track (note it was on winter tyres) and has definitely transformed itself into the Grandest of Tourers. The 981S is a Jekyll & Hyde car. Some of that is due, I think, to the seating position. You sit lower and more central in the 981 and you are closer to its 'pivot' point (ie less effect of pitch & jaw). The result is when 'cruising' you are distracted by the comfort. Another is the default 'economy setting' ie the misnamed "Stop/Start" button. If you switch it off (every start!) you will discover it does more than disable the stop/start and, on a PDK, the freewheel. I've found no problems with feedback from either the chassis or the steering and almost by default my daily drives are what you would consider challenging days out over challenging surfaces. PDK is excellent, once you adjust your mindset, and that's from somebody who learnt to drive on a semi-crashbox VW type 1 (and yes, a long time ago, I did 360 it on a sharp dropping turn on a wet mountain road whilst enthusiastically engaging 2nd). Comparisons with the hydraulic assist, I suspect are spurious. The main differences in the steering 'feel', I suspect, arise from the wider track, longer wheelbase and bigger wheels/tyres. On challenging roads simply oscillate between 2/3 (PDK) and you will get smiles a plenty. Open sweepy roads are happily traversed in 4/5. I rarely engage the Sport mode, it's a bit of a novelty and is far too harsh for use on the roads. To be fair I've only ever tested Spyders and the Cayman Black edition in the 987 series and not really driven them for extended periods on real roads (as opposed to tracks). Since the Spyder bit likes pictures - here's a challenging surface on my way home! Top was down, speed 55mph, air temp 4.5 degrees and raining.

 

[rob.kellock]

Given your terrain and usage, I think you have made the right choice with a 981. It looks great in red too.

 

[Andy Fagan]

Fitted Heigo half cage Took about 3 hours inbetween dodging the rain and coffee breaks.

 

[rob.kellock]

You forgot to put your seats back in []

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: fbr If you like a challenge try tiptoeing along the very bleak B871 on 20" summer tyres, wet roads at ~4 degrees.

Coldest place in Britain (Kinbrace) when we we there on Thursday. FBR

Top man 4' and the roof is down[8D] you are certainly hardy enough to have been a Spyderman too[] There is something very appealing about the 981's hard and soft top versions which was bought home to me yesterday whilst sitting at lights and crawling across the junction goes a White 991 C2 Coupe and on it's bumper a White 981 C which looked far more sportier of two IMO

 

[Andy Fagan]

ORIGINAL: rob.kellock You forgot to put your seats back in []

I prefer the lower position, it gives better CoG and helps handling [] Edit for Rob K

 

[MrDemon]

Looks the business

 

[rob.kellock]

That's better! Looks serious for sure. Don't forget to tell your insurers...

 

[VvrooomM]

ORIGINAL: Andy Fagan

ORIGINAL: rob.kellock You forgot to put your seats back in []

I prefer the lower position, it gives better CoG and helps handling [] Edit for Rob K

Let's more water in than my Spyder!!

 

[flat6]

Andy. You certainly mean business if a cage is a necessary precaution. Reaffirms my view that the coupe is the one for track. Imagine rolling a Spyder. The hoops can't do much by themselves if the car rolls in a gravel trap or over an uneven surface.

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: flat6 Imagine rolling a Spyder. The hoops can't do much by themselves if the car rolls in a gravel trap or over an uneven surface.

I think you would be OK with one of these fitted []

 

[rob.kellock]

Bit extreme... Painting it red.

 

[flat6]

Give me a full roof any day if there's a risk of rolling[]

 

[MrDemon]

More risk rolling a car on a public high way imo. Ie curbs to hit and cars coming the other way. You see many more rolled cars in breakers yards than going to watch a track day.

 

[Andy Fagan]

ORIGINAL: MrDemon More risk rolling a car on a public high way imo. Ie curbs to hit and cars coming the other way. You see many more rolled cars in breakers yards than going to watch a track day.

I'm hoping to do the speed championship next year and the problem is there is not much protection in the Cayman roof, it is not that substantial. It is mandatory to wear harnesses in the Speed Championship, and that is what creates the main dilemma. If you roll with a harness on and the roof compresses your body has nowhere to go and the impact is taken on your head. (Standard seatbelt allows your body to move sideways and "submarine").

 

[daro911]

Cilla's bantamweight Spyder is still looking for a new home [link=http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/boxster-987-05-12/porsche-boxster-987-gen-ii-spyder------------------2010/1789323]http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/boxster-987-05-12/porsche-boxster-987-gen-ii-spyder------------------2010/1789323[/link] Description Porsche Boxster Spyder. 3.4 320 bhp. Manual short shift. Carrara white. Sports exhaust. Ceramic brakes (PCCB). Leather interior in black with alcantara. Carbon seats with carbon soft top. 8,500 miles. Registered 2010. 19 inch Spyder wheels. Porsche crest embossed on headrests. Vehicle tracking system preparation. Floor mats. Courtesy vehicle function. Ultimate spyder specification.

 

[MrDemon]

ORIGINAL: Andy Fagan

ORIGINAL: MrDemon More risk rolling a car on a public high way imo. Ie curbs to hit and cars coming the other way. You see many more rolled cars in breakers yards than going to watch a track day.

I'm hoping to do the speed championship next year and the problem is there is not much protection in the Cayman roof, it is not that substantial. It is mandatory to wear harnesses in the Speed Championship, and that is what creates the main dilemma. If you roll with a harness on and the roof compresses your body has nowhere to go and the impact is taken on your head. (Standard seatbelt allows your body to move sideways and "submarine").

It was more in response to Cecil not your car which needs a harness for racing. Stating not much fun in a Spyder rolling, which I think there is more risk on the road rolling than on a track day. Curbs to hit , ditches to fall into, cars coming the other way, if you take a look at breakers yards loads of cars are rolled.

 

[flat6]

I hear you MrD. I just mean that if an activity necessitates the use of a roll cage, i'd rather have a roof as well to resist smaller intrusions. Rolling off a road down a banking, a roof could resist a fair amount of intrusion that would get past a roll cage on an open car, like small to medium branches, and for a short time, water. But single seater racing is quite safe with regards to rolling, with nothing but a roll hoop over the driver, so I won't labour the gloomy point too much[]

 

[daro911]

This is what I call a "Real Garage Queen Setup" [link=http://www.chonday.com/Videos/parking-lamborghini-sky-garage-singapore]http://www.chonday.com/Videos/parking-lamborghini-sky-garage-singapore[/link]