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Short update on the Spyder with early impressions!
For context this is my 6th Porsche, since arriving at this marque I have never desired anything other than a mid-engine car and only those with a drop top… 986, 987, 981 and 982
I had expected that the bump in power would satisfy the desire for more and that the GT suspension and its more recent tuning for these cars bring a road experience that differed from the previous ones. I can easily say that this car surprised me, I figured it would feel close to what I had before with a little more grunt, WOW was I wrong, the Spyder feels like a completely different car, a new experience!
The power is smooth and linear and always there no matter the gear, other than that pesky up-arrow in the cluster you would forget that you needed to shift. Recently I did one of my local ‘go-to’ roads, a twisty undulating country affair with some decent elevation changes and even off camber turns, I quickly settled into second gear and found with the abundance of torque I could simple concentrate on the road and enjoy each turn or straight as it appeared, so far the supposed long gearing is not a problem. Oh and the clutch feel is amazing, precise and very easy to modulate, I don’t know what they changed but I have never been happier with a MT clutch combination, it is incredible!
I opted for the PCCB brakes and have installed lighter weight forged wheels, the way this GT3 suspension reacts to the road is sublime, it smooths them out but holds those tires in place for incredible feel and accuracy, I thought that my GTS handled well but this Spyder is up another couple of levels, I can’t wait for break-in to be completed so I can try it out at our local track in a few spirited runs. I am not planning to track this car, only explore and learn with it at the track so that I can better understand what to expect and how to take advantage of it on the back roads that I bought this for.
The other few items which seem to come up repeatedly about these cars and provides for mixed reviews, first the sound, as I am still breaking it in I have not explored the upper rev range so for now the exhaust sound is not very impressive, but there are reports that as you break it in the sound improves and even more so above 4K RPM. The second item is LWBS, I love the look, and they hold you in without having to constantly brace yourself against the door or console (which I always did in the GTS), for me and my wife they are very comfortable and supportive. There is one downside, they are a pain to get in and out of, the side bolster is high and you have to drop in and climb out, practice makes perfect so more is required and as the driver I must slide my seat all the way back for this process or you kick the heck out of the lower door! The third item is the top, it is a work of art when it is up and completely out of sight when down, its operation is however a bit of a chore, not stowing it but putting it up. This is going to take a bit more patience and practice, also the fabric is a bit tight so it is not easy to bring the latch close enough to the windshield to catch, it is hoped that the fabric will relax a little and this should become easier.
Overall I couldn’t be happier, the car is everything I had hoped and more, refined and even more capable that I expected, easy to drive and so engaging that I have yet to turn on the radio or even set in the FM stations, all I have been doing is driving and learning this new Spyder, when the entire engine range becomes available I think I will be in nirvana!
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For context this is my 6th Porsche, since arriving at this marque I have never desired anything other than a mid-engine car and only those with a drop top… 986, 987, 981 and 982
I had expected that the bump in power would satisfy the desire for more and that the GT suspension and its more recent tuning for these cars bring a road experience that differed from the previous ones. I can easily say that this car surprised me, I figured it would feel close to what I had before with a little more grunt, WOW was I wrong, the Spyder feels like a completely different car, a new experience!
The power is smooth and linear and always there no matter the gear, other than that pesky up-arrow in the cluster you would forget that you needed to shift. Recently I did one of my local ‘go-to’ roads, a twisty undulating country affair with some decent elevation changes and even off camber turns, I quickly settled into second gear and found with the abundance of torque I could simple concentrate on the road and enjoy each turn or straight as it appeared, so far the supposed long gearing is not a problem. Oh and the clutch feel is amazing, precise and very easy to modulate, I don’t know what they changed but I have never been happier with a MT clutch combination, it is incredible!
I opted for the PCCB brakes and have installed lighter weight forged wheels, the way this GT3 suspension reacts to the road is sublime, it smooths them out but holds those tires in place for incredible feel and accuracy, I thought that my GTS handled well but this Spyder is up another couple of levels, I can’t wait for break-in to be completed so I can try it out at our local track in a few spirited runs. I am not planning to track this car, only explore and learn with it at the track so that I can better understand what to expect and how to take advantage of it on the back roads that I bought this for.
The other few items which seem to come up repeatedly about these cars and provides for mixed reviews, first the sound, as I am still breaking it in I have not explored the upper rev range so for now the exhaust sound is not very impressive, but there are reports that as you break it in the sound improves and even more so above 4K RPM. The second item is LWBS, I love the look, and they hold you in without having to constantly brace yourself against the door or console (which I always did in the GTS), for me and my wife they are very comfortable and supportive. There is one downside, they are a pain to get in and out of, the side bolster is high and you have to drop in and climb out, practice makes perfect so more is required and as the driver I must slide my seat all the way back for this process or you kick the heck out of the lower door! The third item is the top, it is a work of art when it is up and completely out of sight when down, its operation is however a bit of a chore, not stowing it but putting it up. This is going to take a bit more patience and practice, also the fabric is a bit tight so it is not easy to bring the latch close enough to the windshield to catch, it is hoped that the fabric will relax a little and this should become easier.
Overall I couldn’t be happier, the car is everything I had hoped and more, refined and even more capable that I expected, easy to drive and so engaging that I have yet to turn on the radio or even set in the FM stations, all I have been doing is driving and learning this new Spyder, when the entire engine range becomes available I think I will be in nirvana!
