2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder Review - Worth it over a normal Boxster or Cayman?

The first Porsche 987.2 model I've driven also happens to be one of the rarest. There are fewer than 900 2011-2012 Boxster Spyders in North America, and a clean example will run you well over $50,000 USD. Is this limited production convertible worth the premium over a standard Boxster or Cayman?
See how the 2011 Boxster Spyder stacks up in my Zygrene Performance Index: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
/ zygrene

[@DasCayman]

Cool video, absolutely love mine

[@apolloandratti7922]

Was looking forward to this review. Once could pick these up in $40k range years ago. Buckets and 6MT is the only way with these Spyders. The 981 Spyder improved the top usability, and may sound better, but it's not as pure as the 987. Now let's get you a Cayman R to finish the series :)

[@aisu8481]

I got my 987 spyder last December, 29k miles, $35k. Same color as the one featured in the vid… loaded up, even got girodiscs! I’ll probably never be lucky again for the rest of my life 😀

[@clu4u]

What the 981 Spyder lacks in purity it makes it up in the 3.8 motor and drop dead gorgeous looks. Folks stop in their tracks and compliment the car every time I’m out.

[@dudeisnotcoolio]

Boxster Spyder, 987.2 Cayman S with LSD and Cayman R will be valuable collectibles for sure. Modern powertrains but retains the analog experience

[@somniumus]

Awesome review! One question: does it only have numeric cables? or the whole kit?(shifter + cables)

[@MitchDore]

What a beautiful car

[@QuickQuips]

Good memories using it in NFS 2010

[@haoranchen102]

7:39 Looking forward to that Porsche list :) Hopefully, it will be a list that is subjective based on your personal taste both style and performance, because everyone can make an objective list based on the number

[@Zygrene]

It will be completely subjective. Stay tuned!

[@sherifelsakkaf1458]

I ordered one of these and was lead to believe by the KZbin reviews & articles published at the time that the standard brakes was more than enough etc.. that the carbon brake were overkill etc... well they were wrong... I really regret not getting them... I asked Porsche what it would cost for a retrofit them & they gave me a ridiculous figure. I might still do it someday if make a big deal sometime.

[@xensity]

nice review as always but I'm hoping you drove that Evora GT in the background too!

[@Zygrene]

That video drops next Saturday 🙂

[@xensity]

@@Zygrene awesome, can't wait. really interested in your opinion since I'm considering switching from a 997 like you have.

[@andrewrossnagel9433]

What did you like more? Which had better steering?

[@garygallo3708]

great car, perfect balance, power-to-weight, a blast to drive, unfortunate though that this one had the Turbo wheels, the Spyder wheels are special and were the lightest wheels Porsche made at the time for a road car, they look great too. why did the owner put Turbo wheels on? Part of the weight saving on the Spyder are their wheels. thank you.

[@hafidortega5502]

Cool car! Needs love. It is filthy

[@rg0]

I went to look at a ~70k-mi 6-speed Spyder with buckets that was $33k or $34k about a year ago. Needed a little cosmetic freshening but still kinda regret not buying it

[@Zygrene]

Oof. Absolute steal.

[@mikemorris7776]

Was it in the Sherman oaks area?

[@rg0]

@@mikemorris7776 nope, Greenwich

[@rohitgarewal]

Is that mt diablo?

[@mikemorris7776]

I love mine

[@johnconnor7501]

Hey, what happed to your Porsche that broke at the track? Did you managed to fix it?

[@Zygrene]

I'm making a video on that soon!

[@johnconnor7501]

@@Zygrene oh, ok.

[@DC5Brandon]

After you drive the 'R', you're welcome to drive my 987.2 Black Edition...but you need to fly to Alabama 😁

[@evanharris3802]

Special little cars. They are $70k + now for a nice one.

[@deep6thisdeep6this92]

that looks a lot like Mines Rd. near Livermore Ca.

[@Zygrene]

Good eye

[@lordmaster5522]

Nice quiet road, but I find it very bumpy.

[@johnmitchell2269]

Be interesting to see you review the 981 Cayman/Boxster GTS. They also have the 3.4 but with more power and a better roof. I also think they look better than the 987's.

[@jsracs]

The 987.2 S & R and the Boxster spyder are using the same engine as the 981 3.4 The 981 gts have 15 more horsepower though But I don’t think there is a big difference

[@Zygrene]

I'm super curious about the 981 GTS too. I've never driven a Porsche GTS of any kind.

[@qikqbn77]

Beautiful looking cars in person. I have been lusting after them since the day they were released, but.... I recently went to buy one for $65k+. Had the check in my pocket, but in the end walked away. My biggest problem was that from the drivers seat it did not feel any more special or faster than my 2008 Cayman S with sport suspension and tune. That example Spyder i test drove did not have sport chrono, pse, or sport button, so it felt a little lazy and slow on the throttle. The outside styling looks amazing though. I lost some sleep over it because I really wanted it and went back and forth in my mind trying to justify the price difference, but I could not logically spend the $20-30k premium over my Cayman S for it. I would still love to have one some day, but not worth the current $65-75k+ prices in my humble opinion. I was really bummed out that it did not excite me as I had hoped. That's why they say, sometimes it is better to not meet your heroes, because they may be a disappointment or not live up to the hype. It just was not a night and day difference between a 2011 Boxster Spyder and my 2008 Cayman S from the drivers seat. Had it been more of a wow factor difference I would have purchased it on the spot. I will admit though, the look of the spyder with that rear hatch and front bumper is something unique and special.

[@DasCayman]

I would say that my spyder is not worth an added $40k over my 987 Cayman S, but, it is wayyyy more fun to drive and now my Cayman just collects dust. Another great thing is that you won't take a bath on your spyder after you use it and sell it.

[@Poorschedriver]

I own an 987.1 Boxster S and had a chance to put 700 miles on a Spyder. The car had buckets, 6 speed, and No AC or radio. You are correct in that it's not worth the excessive premium now especially if you're looking to put miles on it. I absolutely adored everything about the car except the top. The look of the car is stunning but top is a real inconvenience if you need to use it routinely. The best kept secret is just take a Boxster or Cayman and mod it.

[@qikqbn77]

@@Poorschedriver Absolutely agree. I have had my 2008 Cayman S for 10 years and have dialed in the interior controls, suspension, and added a tune to the car to make 320 hp. It looks absolutely mint/new. The owner of the Spyder was gracious and let me drive the car for about an hour through the canyons. When on boil it is a blast, but so is the Cayman. Without sport chrono/mode on that spyder, the power felt lazy and the car felt slow below 5000 rpm, when compared to my 2008 Cayman S with sport chrono and tune. That is what surprised me and kind of bummed me out. I owned a boxster 986 with 3.4 liter engine making 320 hp for 20 years and sold it. I love the Boxster and the drop top roadster experience. I really miss it. That's why I was looking at the Spyder. If I do get a spyder in the future it will have to have sport mode and maybe, just maybe, prices will be a bit more reasonable in the future....

[@DC5Brandon]

150 lbs weight savings sounds too high. I know the 'R' saves 121 lbs with lightweight doors, wheels, door pull straps, and seats and no radio or AC. That makes it closer to 2850 and this has the radio and AC. That being said, still good weight savings.

[@Rockit181]

power top is a significant difference to the Cayman

[@DC5Brandon]

@@Rockit181 You mean lack thereof. That makes sense since it has a cloth roof in place of a fixed one.

[@rocketcityauction]

Porsche says it is 178 lbs. On a track that's like having someone in the passenger seat. Big difference.

[@Graziop]

Great cars but not the most practical - the Porsche Boxster 987s black edition is the best of both worlds with same spec but with electric roof

[@Poorschedriver]

I wouldn't say the weight savings is "that" significant, especially if you add ac and radio back in. The biggest impression I had of the spyder is that the buckets instill far more driver confidence and the LSD really helps the car to rotate. Like all 987 cars the steering feel and precision is possibly the best you can get, and the HP level really is just right. As far as the gearing, i'd argue it's actually decent, especially compared to newer Porsches. The secret sauce is really just buy a 987 and throw 6 grand in mods at it, and you'll be at 95% of a spyder for 20% of the cost.

[@michaeledwardlenzi]

Nice and dirty. Shows it is used well!

[@mullner88]

Turbo style wheels are awful looking on this car. Standard spyder wheels are brilliant

[@IS300Spartan]

A Porsche that with a roof that leaks from the factory... wow.

[@mikemorris7776]

The spyder is meant to be a full time convertible. The top is only there in case you run into weather.

[@IS300Spartan]

Mike Morris and yet.... it won’t protect you from said weather?

[@mikemorris7776]

@@IS300Spartan it keeps the rain out. I drive mine in the rain and haven’t got wet yet

[@egon197]

The roof is one of the coolest features if the car. Takes about a minute to remove or rise and it is not leaking when it rains.

[@DasCayman]

you only use it to wash the car

[@zcmdzpp127]

The soft top is a joke..

[@aisu8481]

It’s not that bad. When you’re used to it, takes a minute tops. (I daily my spyder, no it doesn’t leak) Best part is I can drive without the weather shield on the back, and get a nice smooth flow of fresh air without any turbulent wind. I honestly wouldn’t trade that for anything, and physically setting it up gives a strange satisfaction when you’re used to it.

[@jameshoffmann5643]

Aw man those wheels look awful on the spyder

[@Udancearoundme]

S2000 > all

[@Zygrene]

😭