M3 or (and?) GTS 4.0

[lemming]

Given the blue controversy I think it means it’s gotta be lava or lime green.

[JST]

Originally Posted by lemming

Given the blue controversy I think it means it’s gotta be lava or lime green.

They're both great GT colors, but of the two I think I'd go with Lava...if I didn't already have an orange (sic) car.

[FC]

Remind me why the Spyder is a bad idea. Goofy top and stiff suspension?

[JST]

Originally Posted by FC

Remind me why the Spyder is a bad idea. Goofy top and stiff suspension?

More the former than the latter. To me one of the nicest things about the Boxster is the ability to drop (and raise) the top on a whim. Getting rid of that functionality seems silly.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by JST

More the former than the latter. To me one of the nicest things about the Boxster is the ability to drop (and raise) the top on a whim. Getting rid of that functionality seems silly.

I like the spyder because it had a unique look and they are not common.

The mechanism though is ridiculously complex.

[FC]

Yeah. I came back to my senses. I do think the Spyder looks better, but the top is a bad compromise. Stiffer suspension doesn’t help and it is still more money.

[John V]

The Sypder front bumper is undeniably better than the GTS bumper. It's a shame that it's not available as a standalone option.

[zach]

Originally Posted by John V

The Sypder front bumper is undeniably better than the GTS bumper. It's a shame that it's not available as a standalone option.

Agreed! The Spyder is meaningfully better looking than the GTS to me, but I couldn't justify the impracticality of the top. FC is right though, the price of the Spyder isn't that much higher than the GTS which makes it tempting.

[FC]

Originally Posted by zach

Agreed! The Spyder is meaningfully better looking than the GTS to me, but I couldn't justify the impracticality of the top. FC is right though, the price of the Spyder isn't that much higher than the GTS which makes it tempting.

What is most tempting is that for me, at least for the foreseeable future, this car will be strictly a toy. Since it will mostly be a fair weather car and will certainly be garaged, I could see the top hardly needing to be up. I don't know that I like the idea of the top being folded for extended periods of time, but that's another issue.

But I've only had the Miata and 987, both of which had excellent, very easy to use tops. And I LOVED that the 987 could close its roof on the move - which I could also do manually on the Miata. I think the Spyder's roof will eventually annoy the heck out of me. The rear clamshell is a PITA and apparently you cannot access the rear trunk with the roof up.

Anyhow, beyond roof mechanics, I do see this used as a weekend getaway car, so ultimately, a GTS is a better fit. It just irks me to give up the looks and that everything is a bit sharper (suspension, shorter shifter throws, slightly better exhaust, more revs, more power). And again, for not much more money.

[JST]

Originally Posted by FC

What is most tempting is that for me, at least for the foreseeable future, this car will be strictly a toy. Since it will mostly be a fair weather car and will certainly be garaged, I could see the top hardly needing to be up. I don't know that I like the idea of the top being folded for extended periods of time, but that's another issue.

But I've only had the Miata and 987, both of which had excellent, very easy to use tops. And I LOVED that the 987 could close its roof on the move - which I could also do manually on the Miata. I think the Spyder's roof will eventually annoy the heck out of me. The rear clamshell is a PITA and apparently you cannot access the rear trunk with the roof up.

Anyhow, beyond roof mechanics, I do see this used as a weekend getaway car, so ultimately, a GTS is a better fit. It just irks me to give up the looks and that everything is a bit sharper (suspension, shorter shifter throws, slightly better exhaust, more revs, more power). And again, for not much more money.

I haven't had the chance to drive either one yet, so I don't know how much better the Spyder is dynamically. I will say that the suspension is a lot easier and cheaper to change if you don't like it than the top...