Porsche Boxster Spyder (2010) CAR review

Is the new Porsche Boxster Spyder the best Boxster you can buy, or the worst? Rather than being a stickers and stripes special edition, or an expensive limited-run like the 911 Sport Classic, the Spyder joins the Boxster range as a third model. And it features some clever weight saving tech that cleaves 80 kilos from the kerbweight – at 1275kg it’s the lightest car Porsche currently makes – while there’s also more power and Carrera GT-inspired looks.

But Porsche calls this Boxster a Spyder because it’s lost the regular cars folding fabric roof, a roof than made it a great everyday car. Has the sacrifice to make the Spyder a sharper driver’s tool been worth it? Read our first drive of the new Porsche Boxster Spyder to find out.

How has the weight been cut from the new Porsche Boxster Spyder?

The aluminium doors save 15kg, the one-piece rear deck made from the same stuff cuts another 3kg, and carbon-backed bucket seats trim 12kg. The new ten-spoke wheels are the lightest set of 19-inch wheels that Porsche make, weighing less than ten kilos each, and the lower side windows also helps shed a few pounds.

The lack of an electrically folding fabric roof also helps cut weight. The new ‘cap’ – as Porsche calls it – weighs less than 6kg, and the carbonfibre frame that supports it is 5kg. The roof clips onto the windscreen header rail, and two hooks fasten onto the rear deck, and when you close the new Carrera GT-style boot, it acts as a lever to pull the roof taught. Top speed is limited to 124mph with the roof in place, but lifted to 166mph without it.

There’s also lower – and thus lighter – side windows, new front bumper with LED lights, black mesh inserts for the side intakes, a plastic wind deflector between the seats, a high-level third brake light, and a larger fixed rear spoiler.

Inside the Spyder you won’t find a radio, air-con, cup holders or door pockets, though you can spec the sound system and the beverage holders back in at no extra cost. And you can choose the less extreme (i.e. heavier) sports seats if you want. Fabric door pulls, red seat belts, the lack of a cowl for the instrument clusters, plus the transmission tunnel in the same colour as the exterior, completes the makeover.

>> Click 'Next' below to read more of our Porsche Boxster Spyder first drive