I modded my 987S into a ersatz Spyder, Bilsteins, short shifter, lightweight flywheel, Milltek exhaust, ECU tune, underdrive pulley. Then I got a 981 Spyder two years ago. I like the styling and 911S motor in my 981 Spyder.

Thanks Roger, great video as always. As a daily driver regarding the roof, you are probably right however I believe it is one of the best tops to be put on a Porsche convertible, if the car is used just for drive days. It comes with a vertical section behind the seats which can be removed separately as well as the plastic window between the seats. Once this is removed you have an open air effect with a lot less wind noise. You get to hear the induction and exhaust notes coming from behind you like no other car. Still protected from showers and sun by the horizontal roof. The later Spyder's can't remove just the vertical section. Secondly, if you hold your foot on the accelerator gently on overrun you can induce some of the pops and crackles that the 981 is famous for. Combined with the roof above it provides enormous entertainment to get the speed, gear and throttle right to get it cracking (PSE required, only tested on a manual) Lastly, the slip diff combined with everything else just encourages you to drive like an idiot for some reason even if you are normally very controlled. Just like when James May tested this car on Top Gear, it turned him into a hoon and I understand completely. He certainly wasn't pretending. I've had many Porsches over the years and this is one of the special ones. Thanks again.

@user-bn7no4sn6g

8 ай бұрын

Before I bought this car, I saw the James May review and it’s spot on. Forget the roof it’s just an amazing balanced sports car. I’m planning a European tour in it in 2024. Can’t wait.

@wrefordmiles

8 ай бұрын

You are absolutely right about the roof and it’s a shame this video misses that point - With just the top section you have protection yet retain that outside connection but I guess until you’ve lived with one testers don’t get this and default to its a bit of a faff comments. I’ve had some great drives in really crap weather with just the top section on, later Spyders and other convertibles would be roof up and sealed from the elements but with the 987 you are protected but still very much involved - The same goes for when the sun is really beating down, the top then becomes a great sun cap.

Another great car from the best era for Porsches, thanks for highlghting how brilliant this Spyder is, you've got me tempted, wonderful video Roger

My dad has both the 987 and 981 Spyder. I have extensive road, autocross and track time in both. The 987 gets my vote. It is notable smaller on the road, has better steering, and is more than fast enough. The 981 is definitely a more polished product and significantly faster.

@user-xt6dw7rc2c

5 ай бұрын

I'm betting your father would disagree with you - he will understand and rate the Spyder way over the 987. Also the 981 is not significantly faster than the 987 Spyder, it is way slower- it has same or less power with way more lard, plus it is ruined by the numb electric power steering. You need to spend more time in the Spyder to learn it.

@cben86

4 ай бұрын

@@user-xt6dw7rc2c I think you need to reread my initial post. My dad had BOTH the 981 Spyder and the 987 Spyder at the same time. I have driven both of these cars a lot on track, autocross and backroads. Go look at the videos on my KZread profile if you don’t believe me. I honestly doubt there are many people that have spent as much time with these two cars as me and my dad.

@gauchegaucho

Ай бұрын

@@user-xt6dw7rc2c what are you talking about? 981 Spyder is noticeably faster, how can it be way slower? I've owned both and they are both amazing cars. I really do miss the sound of 981 though...

@clu4u

22 күн бұрын

@@user-xt6dw7rc2cI had a 987 Boxster S modded to make a Spyder experience. My 981 Spyder is less analog which gives me pause to reflect, “A modern Porsche is a better car but a worse Porsche.”

@user-xt6dw7rc2c

22 күн бұрын

@@clu4u I fear your reflection reflects that you have much invested in the newer car, actually a car made worse than its predecessors by emission restrictions that force awful electric PAS, excess weight and other frippery. For sure Porsche make a car that works well despite the enforced gubbins but, for what I want from my cars, in no way is the newer Spyder a better car

another great production Roger these reviews are well worth waiting for, excellent car, yes you've got me interested in having one ;-)

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍

@fredericberthou

22 күн бұрын

@@RogerBaileyOnCarsmerci Mais franchement si vous aimez piloter la boîte manuelle est 3 fois mieux que la PDK qui n’est pas la bonne philosophie pour cet examplaire vraiment 🥰

5 years ago I got me a red 987 Spyder and I am still in love with this car. I agree with all of your feedback; this car feels like a taylor made suite: it fits perfect and responds immediately to all your actions... by the way: my one has a manual gearbox: that's even more fun!

Well done Roger, one of my favourites.

Great video getting straight to the main points

Great video Roger - your enthusiasm really shows through without compromising credibility. First reference to Wabi Sabi that I’ve encountered in a car review. Perhaps the only small imperfections in *this* video are the shots with fleeting glimpses of a white van and the blue cars at 6:19, but I’ll embrace this as essential to the character of automotive video production. 😊

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Stephen - wabi sabi is often overlooked! 😊

Brilliant review Roger !! It's by far my favourite !! Thank you for your great content, take care and greetings !!

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Hey Barry, I thought of you when I decided to review this car, best wishes - Roger

Brilliant video Roger - Fantastic Content. ❤

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Martin - appreciated 👍🏼

excellent review, I had heard these 987 spyders were special, now I know it, thanks Roger

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

thanks spook

Great review as always Roger 👏👏 Stunning car

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

thanks Dave

Thanks Roger, a great result from a great days filming. Appreciate it.

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Nice review , nice car

I love mine. And the roof is actually not nearly as much of a faff as it might look at first blush. Having driven the PDK and the manual though, I much preferred the manual.

@user-bn7no4sn6g

8 ай бұрын

The roof may have seemed a faff in 2010 but as a second or third high days and holidays car it’s less important. Much more leakproof than my 964 Targa ever was…

@user-xt6dw7rc2c

5 ай бұрын

you need to learn the pdk, it does everything the manual does pus more. Of course you may like to boast that you are a great driver so need the manual for its involvement, but once you learn the pdk you won't ever think it a lesser option than manual

I sold my 981 Spyder and bought red 987 Spyder. It compliments very nicely my 981 GT4 in yellow. Agree with all your comments in video.

@user-xt6dw7rc2c

5 ай бұрын

ouch! Name dropping... IMO the 987 is a much better drive than your 981 but your need to let us all know that you have two superb cars tells us much about you and rather discredits your post

@billymartin4715

4 ай бұрын

Ownership and comparative experience with various Porsche models is normally very interesting to us owner/drivers - as opposed to those who opine and dream online. @@user-xt6dw7rc2c

"Hearing the engine in this Porsche is the most satisfying pleasure you can have." Perhaps it might be better to say "*one* of the most satisfying pleasures". There are other equal pleasures in this life. For example, the sound of a revving air-cooled engine in a 993 cabriolet is a very satisfying pleasure too.

The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan, the 5th Mogul Emperor of India as a mausoleum for his wife, Mumtaz, who he thought was the most perfect _"object/person"_ ever. So this _"...one brick out of place..."_ story stands well. He wouldn't have wanted it to be perfect to detract from his wife. And that leads me to this 987 Spyder. I remember when they first came out and the chat about _"that roof."_ The car looks good with it up, but sublime with it removed. Great review Mr. B. if, admittedly, I'm a tad late in watching it. Hope all's well. Fingers are still crossed for Jilly who's in my thoughts. Your No1 Stalker 8-))...

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

You are well read mr Z, thanks for sharing your memoirs, Jilly appreciates your comment, best wishes RB & JB

Great review - worth mentioning that the front lid is also aluminium, that the Spyder has the ultra light forged rims and most importantly from a list of missed items to include in your review - that the standard to the Spyder LSD is a massive traction aid. The car you tested is laden with lard - heavy rims, shame as the suspension is uniquely tuned for the lightweight wheels...

@RogerBaileyOnCars

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the information 👍🏼

This one and Cayman R are my dream collection.... Hopefully you can review R when it comes along thank you Sir!

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Will do!

Rare to see it in any colour other than white, then again, I've never seen one in Canada, at least not in my hometown.

@user-bn7no4sn6g

8 ай бұрын

In the uk there are less than 10 in guards red out of @250 sold.

@stephenfoster6940

8 ай бұрын

I don’t think that white shows the styling of Spyder to its best advantage. That Guards Red is beautiful and really suits the character of the car.

@user-bn7no4sn6g

8 ай бұрын

Anecdotally a significant number of these cars in the uk at least, were purchased for stock by dealers not customer orders. Back in that time frame white cars were all the rage, likewise lots were specced with comfort seats as well. So it seemed logical to buy in what they thought would sell at the time.

I own the 987.2 Spyder PDK and love it, my only complain is brakes, they could be much better, taking on and off the roof is romantic!always drive it with roof down, exhaust switch on and "manual". Everytime I park the car anywhere and look at it from different angles fall in love with it over and over! i'll keep it for ever!

@N911GT2

5 ай бұрын

Replace the brake cilinder with a GT3 one. It helps greatly!

@user-xt6dw7rc2c

5 ай бұрын

@@N911GT2 I'd be interested to hear how the GT3 cylinder changes the feel of the brakes - is it the master or slave cylinders that you changed?

Roger what a great video as always! Fantastic location, filming and great review of what is a legendary Spyder. I was fortunate to own 918 (982) last year, for one year, and loved it. Although now I'm in a 911 Targa GTS. Keep the videos coming, your content and reviews are great! (Dan R10).

Hi Rog, another top production. Did I detect a hint of Mike Brewer???😊

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Hi John - Mike brewer quite possibly ! 😂

Evo magazine retested the 987 Spyder in Sept 2020, it was given 5 Stars and the testers summary was 'I can’t with confidence say, I’ve enjoyed another Porsche more' Search 987 Spyder Nurburgring on KZread and you’ll see a chap doing some fine and fast times, these are in a PDK which I understand is left in auto! - Mine however is a manual 😊 As mentioned in other comments the two piece roof is an asset not a faff but I guess until you’ve owned one and realised the brilliance of just using the top section testers don’t get this - It’s good to see the latest RS is back to a two piece roof.

@user-bn7no4sn6g

8 ай бұрын

I can put my hand up on that one about the two part hood as it’s my car that Roger tested. I should have pointed him towards that mid way arrangement during the day. I must admit I’ve never really driven it with the back window out. I’ll try it soon.

@wrefordmiles

8 ай бұрын

@@user-bn7no4sn6g you’ll be hooked to using your Spyder like that, it’s also worth trying with just the top cap and the screen between the seats removed. I carry a half cover in the car (folds up really small) and use this when the car is in the garage to keep the bugs out, when out and about I’ll just slip that on to keep prying eyes away and it worked well in Spain to keep the heat of the sun from the interior - I really only put the back screen in if it’s being left outside overnight in a public place.

Be nice to have an update/ review of your personal car garage, Roger 😀

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Update coming in November when new arrival er .. arrives !

Great review, thanks, still can't decide if it while be good on a European tour 🤔 perfect apart from the roof

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

I’m guessing there can be only one way to find out !

@bispal

8 ай бұрын

@RogerBaileyOnCars very true 🤣 987 Spyder or Cayman R or 981 GTS ??? 🤔

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

@@bispal Spyder 987 would be my choice

@bispal

8 ай бұрын

@@RogerBaileyOnCars good to know, thanks

La boîte manuelle est beaucoup mieux sur ce modèle 👌

Only thing this car needs is an upgraded steering wheel with paddles.

Info on IMS, scoring and RMS is all nonsense. It applies to the M97 engine in the 987.1 This is a 987.2 with a completely different engine. None of that applies. It doesn't have an IMS at all, the RMS alignment issues are gone because the crank case doesn't have a separate crankshaft carrier and the scoring faliure mode is gone because the crank case material, pistons, cooling and oiling are all different. The new MA1 can suffer bore damage due to seizing during the arm up stage, but that's different issue and much rare. Some refer to it as 'scoring' but that's arguably a misnomer.

@mamigagi

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for confirming this - I had a feeling it wasn't accurate because the 987 Spyder has the same engine as a 987.2 S (I think?)

you should remove the flicker/flashing at 32 secs - that is not good for epilepsy. Please can you avoid that in the future please.

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Thanks, This is a good point, noted 👍🏼

Hmm, tried commenting twice now and it's been deleted twice it seems. Maybe just correct the factual inaccuracy about the IMS, I'm not precious about seeing my comments online

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

Comment is received, strange it was deleted, May I ask your ims point?

@loxeye

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Roger. Comments were saying what a great review it was (I've had one for 12 years and love it!), but just one issue - the MA1 engine fitted to all 987.2 Boxsters and Caymans doesn't have an IMS. You mention the upgraded bearing, but that's only relevant to the 987.1 Boxsters (and Caymans)

@loxeye

8 ай бұрын

Just for completeness, I wouldn't say RMS leaks or bore scoring are particular issues for the MA1 either (in fact, I'm not aware of any real issues with it), but I suppose both could conceivably happen. An IMS issue is just an impossibility though!

@RogerBaileyOnCars

8 ай бұрын

@@loxeye thanks 👍🏼

Could you please stop using background music ?