Boxster Spyder or GT4 versus a 991 ?? - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

I am the proud owner of a Spyder - all 5 days in I was sitting alongside a 991 4S Cabriolet thinking that that car is + £50k on the Spyder And I thought that I would not spend another £50k to have a 991 ( unless a special car like a GT3 etc) And if you have a Cayman GT4 the same applies to a 991 coupe So, is the 991 expensive or the Spyder/GT4 cheap ? I appreciate the target market is different as the average 991 buyer would bypass totally the Boxster and Cayman range due to the prestige attached to the 991 Anyway that thought passed 10 minutes on the M25!

I think 911 owners loyal to the brand will always pick a 911, but more are realising the value in a Boxster or Cayman now that Porsche have finally given it a little more poke and presence.

Bieldside said: I am the proud owner of a Spyder - all 5 days in I was sitting alongside a 991 4S Cabriolet thinking that that car is + £50k on the Spyder And I thought that I would not spend another £50k to have a 991 ( unless a special car like a GT3 etc) And if you have a Cayman GT4 the same applies to a 991 coupe So, is the 991 expensive or the Spyder/GT4 cheap ? I appreciate the target market is different as the average 991 buyer would bypass totally the Boxster and Cayman range due to the prestige attached to the 991 Anyway that thought passed 10 minutes on the M25! That's your personal judgement. We all make different judgements, and probably we all like to think we're right. Porsche make a lot of outstanding products to suit a variety of tastes. I like the 991 , but I also think the new GT4 has their traditional DNA profile written all over it.

I don't even need a GT4; I've gone Cayman GTS - 991 C4S - Cayman GTS. The 911 was an upgrade in my head but I just never fell in love with it and regretted getting rid of the Cayman GTS. Fortunately I managed to get one of the last GTS build slots, so new one arrives next month. I can understand why people love the 911, but it just wasn't for me. FWIW, my OH's dad also went 911 - Cayman GTS and didn't regret it.

Bieldside said: I am the proud owner of a Spyder - all 5 days in I was sitting alongside a 991 4S Cabriolet thinking that that car is + £50k on the Spyder And I thought that I would not spend another £50k to have a 991 ( unless a special car like a GT3 etc) And if you have a Cayman GT4 the same applies to a 991 coupe So, is the 991 expensive or the Spyder/GT4 cheap ? I appreciate the target market is different as the average 991 buyer would bypass totally the Boxster and Cayman range due to the prestige attached to the 991 Anyway that thought passed 10 minutes on the M25! I had a PDK 991.2 Cab S for the day when my PDK 981 Cayman S was in for a minor warranty fix. Liked the engine a lot - no noticeable lag to speak of with PDK (might be with manual though) - felt much quicker than my S and revved very freely to 6000rpm. PDK definitely improved - particularly 1st to 2nd and the lever going the right way was nice. Tremendous traction (difficult to know how much PTV helped) Bit downhill from there... more understeer despite PTV (mine hasn't got it) and the ride was much worse than my S (both PASM) I'd say the ride in Sport on mine is better than Normal on the 911. My wife (who is no fan of Porsches) likes the ride on my S and thought the ride on the 911 was dreadful. In short I certainly wouldn't buy a 911 Cab over a Boxster S or Cayman S even if they were the same price. Neither a GT4 nor Spyder suit my priorities either so perhaps my view is a bit off beam. Personally glad that Caysters DON'T have the kudos of 911s so they don't have such silly prices either.

I had a Cayman GTS, probably the most fun car I've ever owned. But I've got two kids... so it hardly got used. Changed to a 991 GTS for an extra £40k... nowhere near as much fun as the Cayman, but felt more prestigious, looked gorgeous and had the important 4 seats...

A friend of mine bought a new 991 GTS - lovely car; but was it £60K's worth more driving pleasure than my 997 Gen 2? I've really enjoyed my 911s (993, 996 turbo & 997.2) & did have some doubts over placing a deposit on a 981 Spyder. I like the heritage, look & of course driving pleasure of my current 997. But just felt my next car had to be more driver focused. I couldn't run to a GT3, so decided the 981 Spyder seemed to tick a lot of boxes. I thoroughly enjoyed the PEC day in the Spyder (particularly lapping a lava orange 991 GT3). I also felt as a keeper the 997 Gen C2S wasn't special enough. So it was a question of what next (for not outrageous money). I really didn't fancy a 991.1 - for me, I really prefer the 997.2. The 991.2 is a better proposition but too new for me to buy & is it really worth the extra over the Spyder. Interestingly, my pro driver on the PEC day said he felt that Porsche had taken the development of the 911 to a level where only small improvements are likely in future years & are now focusing on developing the Boxster & Caymen models much further (hence GT4 & Spyder).

Personally, I think 911s now look expensive. Harry Metcalfe recently published a video on his YouTube channel (Harry's Garage) which was a review of a 991 911 Carrera S. The car he was reviewing had a base price of £86k however a few added options had increased this to £99k. £99k for a non-limited edition 911!? Even the current base spec 991 911 starts at nearly £77k which seems disproportionately high given the 997 911 started at around £60k. For me, £60k-£65k would be a more appropriate price point for entry into 911 ownership however good luck and well done to Porsche if they have created a brand that people will pay considerably more for!

I am lucky enough to own all three cars.....all are outstanding value for money and each a different sense of occasion but after driving either of the 981s and then driving the GT3 it is clear where the additional cost is not least on the engine and transmission but the overall 911 pedigree. Best for sheer extreme ability and outright pace(restricted)...GT3. Best for alround drivability for road use....GT4. Best for fun and special occasion use....Spyder.

av185 said: Best for sheer extreme ability and outright pace(restricted)...Turbo S. Best for alround drivability for road use....GTS. Best for fun and special occasion use....Spyder 987.2 or an Exige. fixed that for you :-p only owning EPS modern cars is a bit dull, using a GT4 as a daily with it's high road noise and low splitter a pain, then for fun you need some thing much more hardcore with feel, and add in the Turbo for the pace.

Porsche911R said: av185 said: Best for sheer extredme ability and outright pace(restricted)...Turbo S. Best for alround drivability for road use....GTS. Best for fun and special occasion use....Spyder 987.2 or an Exige. fixed that for you :-p only owning EPS modern cars is a bit dull, using a GT4 as a daily with it's high road noise and low splitter a pain, then for fun you need some thing much more hardcore with feel, and add in the Turbo for the pace. Nah. Turbo is waaay too uninvolving. Sounds crap too. Too much like my Dyson. GT4 no more road noise than the GTS and more front clearance than the GT3 WITH lift on. 987 looks old hat and frankly is old hat. Exige....its a Lotus .....so no no no!

DMC2 said: I had a Cayman GTS, probably the most fun car I've ever owned. But I've got two kids... so it hardly got used. Changed to a 991 GTS for an extra £40k... nowhere near as much fun as the Cayman, but felt more prestigious, looked gorgeous and had the important 4 seats... I'm not sure what this 911 model is, but parking next to it I thought (well I would wouldn't I) that my Cayman looked more gorgeous... What is it? The 911 will be recognised as more prestigious by many, but that's if they know what a 981 costs. Lots of Joe Public I bump into have absolutely no idea what model I have. I kind of like that. (Prepares to be shouted down by 911 mob...)

Well I'm lucky to have 9934s 991GT3 981 Spyder If I had to choose one to keep it would be the 993 But I'd not pay £120k + for a nicely specd 991 4s say But all personal choice of course

I've had a 997 GEN II, Cayman S and Boxster S, now have the Spyder. I have driven a number of the 991 models on many occasions and at the PEC. My view is as follows. All the cars I have owned I have loved. The 997 definitely had more status than the Cayman and Boxster S models. It was batter for long journeys and I could get the dogs in the back! As day to day drivers for general knocking about I preferred both the Cayman and Boxster S. I drove the 991 when I first came out and couldn't justify the £50K extra for the new model over the 997, in fact I preferred the 997. The Spyder is a different proposition for me. It is the best I've enjoyed so far.

wdpor said: I've had a 997 GEN II, Cayman S and Boxster S, now have the Spyder. I have driven a number of the 991 models on many occasions and at the PEC. My view is as follows. All the cars I have owned I have loved. The 997 definitely had more status than the Cayman and Boxster S models. It was batter for long journeys and I could get the dogs in the back! As day to day drivers for general knocking about I preferred both the Cayman and Boxster S. I drove the 991 when I first came out and couldn't justify the £50K extra for the new model over the 997, in fact I preferred the 997. The Spyder is a different proposition for me. It is the best I've enjoyed so far. That's kinda encouraging for me. I have really enjoyed all my 911S (993, 996 turbo & 997 Gen 2). Have only had the 997 Gen 2 for a year & love it. But when I had the opportunity to get a new 981 Spyder I was really not sure I was doing the right thing as I like the 997 so much. I was thinking longer term what car might be a keeper & even though I really like my 997 C2S I didn't think it was special enough. Just hope I get the same buzz out of the Spyder. The PEC day was very enjoyable & I have only heard very positive comments about the Spyder. Spyder ordered & arriving mid May.

Andrew911 said: wdpor said: I've had a 997 GEN II, Cayman S and Boxster S, now have the Spyder. I have driven a number of the 991 models on many occasions and at the PEC. My view is as follows. All the cars I have owned I have loved. The 997 definitely had more status than the Cayman and Boxster S models. It was batter for long journeys and I could get the dogs in the back! As day to day drivers for general knocking about I preferred both the Cayman and Boxster S. I drove the 991 when I first came out and couldn't justify the £50K extra for the new model over the 997, in fact I preferred the 997. The Spyder is a different proposition for me. It is the best I've enjoyed so far. That's kinda encouraging for me. I have really enjoyed all my 911S (993, 996 turbo & 997 Gen 2). Have only had the 997 Gen 2 for a year & love it. But when I had the opportunity to get a new 981 Spyder I was really not sure I was doing the right thing as I like the 997 so much. I was thinking longer term what car might be a keeper & even though I really like my 997 C2S I didn't think it was special enough. Just hope I get the same buzz out of the Spyder. The PEC day was very enjoyable & I have only heard very positive comments about the Spyder. Spyder ordered & arriving mid May. The things I love about the Spyder are as follows. I love the fiddly roof, the fact that it is a bit basic. the fact that it is a talking point. I love the engine, I love the humps, I love the suspension setup. Most of all I love the noise. Its just a bit daft and fun, also most people don't really know anything about it