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Are Spyders Becoming Extinct At OPCs!

Will the new Spyder be on show at either the Silverstone Classic, or the PEC for the weekend of the Althorp National Event (15th August)? I'm curious to see one in the metal.

 
[;)]PEC apparently have their car arriving sometime this month and I have a 4 hour session booked for first Monday in August

It's Italy mid-summer and it's 40 degrees in the shade but nothing can detract from the excitement of driving Porsche's new 'lightweight' Boxster Spyder on the mountain roads surrounding Florence.

VALUE

This is a drive made in heaven in arguably one of the best resolved roadsters there. Little wonder because it's spawned from the tin top Porsche Cayman GT4 .

You'll need to stump up $168,600 for this gorgeous two seater drop top but the rewards are there to be taken - with relish every time you fire it up.

Is the Spyder worth the extra over [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/porsche/boxster]a base Boxster[/link] at $104,700 or [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2015-porsche-boxster-gts-and-cayman-gts-revealed-28327]the GTS at $145,500[/link]?

Unequivocally yes.

Think of what you get: a 3.8-litre naturally aspirated flat six lifted from [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/porsche-911-carrera-s-review-11934]the larger Porsche 911 Carrera S[/link], rated at 276kW/420Nm output.

You get choice components from a range of other Porsche models too - the brakes, Bilstein suspension, quicker steering from [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/2014-porsche-911-turbo-review-29235]a 911 Turbo[/link], [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/2015-porsche-cayman-gt4-review-first-drive-31340]Cayman GT4[/link] interior components and other performance bits from the Porsche inventory.

Combined they endow this striking car with a 0-100kmh sprint time of 4.5 seconds, high end dynamics, and an exhaust note to savour.

Porsche says the Spyder is for the enthusiast driver, the purist. It may well be true, but you could drive it every day comfortably, then back up at the race track on weekends and hose your Porsche mates.

Spyder is the top Boxster, with less kit.

ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

They threw away the PDK manumatic transmission fitting a six speed manual only. The fabric roof is manually operated and has fewer struts and lighter hinge mechanisms to save weight and no interior liner. They lightened the seats and cut some of the sound insulation for a near 30kg saving over the 3.4-litre Boxster GTS.

Some lighter alloys are used in the chassis and even the interior door handles are in webbing strap - a nice touch.

But the essence of the Boxster remains - mid-mounted engine driving the rear wheels, huge brakes (in this case with six piston callipers), with climate control and audio (optional in Europe, standard in Australia).

The engine is a clockwork wonder spinning out to 7800rpm thanks in part to variable cam timing and cam lift, direct fuel injection, a high compression ratio and other optimisation technology.

FEATURES

And far from being a hard edge quasi race car, the Spyder offers up a comfortable and controlled firm ride that insulates occupants from rough roads and noise.

It weighs in at 1315kg placing the Spyder at the lighter end of the serious roadster spectrum that includes things like [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/audi/tt]Audi's TT[/link], [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/bmw/z4]BMW Z4[/link], [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/jaguar/f-type]Jaguar F-Type[/link], [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/lotus/exige]Lotus Exige S[/link] and [link=http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/mercedes-benz/slk-class]Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG[/link] (the main competitor).

Spyder rolls on 20-inch forged wheels with wide rubber and has some aero aids including the twin streamliners behind each seat that taper to the back of the car.

Sports Chrono chassis enhancement is standard making it ride 20mm lower than standard Boxster and has a more purposeful stance on the road - from all angles.

[blockquote]Point the Spyder where and when you like and it flicks that way instantly

[/blockquote]But Porsche designed this car specifically for driving fun and driver engagement which we sampled on roads where it was stunningly competent.

Wow, what a car, no wonder it's capable of putting away a lap of the Nurburgring in a rapid 7m 47s.

DRIVING

Every aspect of the Spyder sends a chill down your spine from the walk up stunning looks of it to the trumpeting exhaust with pyrotechnic-like explosions on the throttle overrun, to the kart-like steering and brakes to the superb ride quality that covers off most sealed road driving with utterly no drama.

You can point the Spyder where and when you like and it flicks that way instantly. You can dab the brakes and wash off huge speed in a blink, you can whip it back a cog and rap it out to redline with an exponentially increasing rate of acceleration.

We would never tire of driving a car like this, even though Porsche itself says it's not a mainstream everyday car - ho hum.

[blockquote]Arguably one of the most engaging drive cars you will find

[/blockquote]It has comfortable seats and a super stylish interior with plenty of luxury and technology including the satnav system that displays on a large central screen and also in the instrument pod on the right hand dial.

The gearbox is a close ratio unit with a rifle bolt action to make ratio changes snick through fast.

Any criticisms at all?

Nope, not a one, it even goes fairly lightly on fuel rated at 9.9L/100km

 
One from down under [8D]

[link=http://media.brisbanetimes.com.au/cars/car-reviews/audi-r8-lmx-video-review-6674930.html]http://media.brisbanetime...eo-review-6674930.html[/link]

 
Still looks good in white

[link=http://www.autogespot.com/porsche-981-boxster-spyder/2015/07/13]http://www.autogespot.com/porsche-981-boxster-spyder/2015/07/13[/link]

Just had an email to confirm my PEC visit on 23rd so they must be confident it's landing very soon.

 
DarrellWilson said:
Still looks good in white

[link=http://www.autogespot.com/porsche-981-boxster-spyder/2015/07/13]http://www.autogespot.com/porsche-981-boxster-spyder/2015/07/13[/link]

Just had an email to confirm my PEC visit on 23rd so they must be confident it's landing very soon.
I spoke to them this morning and was told they were expecting the car soon but no definite date as yet, sounds like they maybe have this now.

 
MrDemon said:
PTS is now 6 months, any one staying with it ?
Can you clarify - 6 Months from when? My build slot was December so are you saying I will be lucky to see it by next June[&:]

 
daro911 said:
MrDemon said:
PTS is now 6 months, any one staying with it ?
Can you clarify - 6 Months from when? My build slot was December so are you saying I will be lucky to see it by next June[&:]

yes 6 months after build date for boxster, 12 weeks after build for GT4's 5 months for RS

I am chaning mine for a stock colour tomorrow

 
So looks like my December build June delivery will be a very late production Spyder if that comes to pass [&:] Thanks for clarification and you will enjoy this mans take on the Spyder

[link=http://www.autoblog.com/2015/07/13/2016-porsche-boxster-spyder-first-drive-review-video/]http://www.autoblog.com/2...st-drive-review-video/[/link]

 
[link=https://youtu.be/c9BIhnyVEHg]https://youtu.be/c9BIhnyVEHg[/link] you will enjoy this mans take on the Spyder :)

 
[link=http://youtu.be/c9BIhnyVEHg]http://youtu.be/c9BIhnyVEHg[/link]

The best and most agile version ever of the 981 including the GT4 [;)]

 
Just not as agile as the old car :ROFLMAO:

He does get above himself in reviews though, he Wee himself over the GTs which imo was a bit meh !

 
Just been told the PEC car is not available for my drive on the 29th July, disappointing as no other suitable dates until late Sept/October now.

 
Also just had the call [&o]

I should have been up next Monday, but now late August !

Was hoping to use the day to finalise my spec, but guess it's via pics and vid's now.

 
Me too. Scheduled for 23rd July but now moved to 27th August. At least I get an extra PEC experience out of it for free - driving the Boxster GTS next week so at least when I drive the Spyder I can spot how much better the Spyder is. [:D]

 
Looks like I'm going for the Turbo S experience as a substitute on the 29th, a bit faster than the Spyder I guess but never mind.

Mr D I'll give you a wave as I pass you in the GT4 down the back straight !!

 
Sandy59 said:
Just been told the PEC car is not available for my drive on the 29th July, disappointing as no other suitable dates until late Sept/October now.

My 3rd August date just got bumped back to Thursday 27th August[8|]

 
DarrellWilson said:
Me too. Scheduled for 23rd July but now moved to 27th August. At least I get an extra PEC experience out of it for free - driving the Boxster GTS next week so at least when I drive the Spyder I can spot how much better the Spyder is. [:D]
Mr Demon can answer that one before you even have your back to back PEC days :ROFLMAO:And it's not the Spyder [:eek:]

 

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