Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/441929
January / February 2015 27 reason why, with her blessing I contacted the seller. About two days later and a few emails back and forth, we struck a deal and I wired a deposit to hold the car. We arranged for delivery at the dealership about two and half weeks later when I was scheduled to be out East on a business trip. It was a long two and a half weeks. When the big day arrived, the dealership and sales person made me feel like a rock star considering I was buying a slightly used car at a dealership that routinely sells much higher dollar cars. It was a complete red carpet treatment, from the moment I walked in the door, to the time that they "introduced me to my new car" (their term for it) and gave me a complete rundown of how to operate the car and most importantly, how to remove and stow the top. The paperwork was remarkably unremarkable, considering that I don't make personal purchases of that amount on a frequent basis, but then I was out the door and had the rest of the day to spend getting familiar with the car before my wife flew into town and we hit the road back to KC. The next morning I dropped by a local shipping depot to mail home unnecessary baggage, although in reality, I could have fit everything in the car with a little forethought and careful placement. With storage in front and in back, you might be surprised at how much room you have to haul luggage. The interior cabin space, on the other hand, is severely limited and provides a steady reminder of the "purpose built" nature of the car when traveling long distances. While that might be a problem for some folks, it only served to put a smile on my face as we racked up the miles on the way home. My wife was not quite as pleased when she realized that there are no cup holders in the Spyder. Likewise, the carbon fiber sport bucket seats immediately put you on notice that you are not in an ordinary car. Getting in the car the first time takes its toll on one's dignity, but watching the contortions and gyrations my wife went through were good for more than a few miles of amusement, at least for me. It should also be noted that it's a "size limiting" seat that has very minimal adjustability and folks who are pushing a larger beltline may find it to be a bit too constraining. Fortunately, I fit in it without issue and while my initial preference might have preferred to recline a few degrees more, I was able to drive for hours on end without discomfort and at this point, I'd say they are perfect. My wife also made a number of comments about how comfortable the seats were. This was no small achievement, given the fact that we drove approximately 1,500 miles in two days. If you want a proper review of what it is like to drive a Spyder, I'll point you to Panorama or Google and let you find any number of professional journalists who write for a living to give you all the reasons why a Spyder is a cool car to drive and talk about specifications, g-forces, 0-60 times and whatnot. As for me, I'll just leave you with a one word review of what it is like to own a car that you have lusted over since you first saw one in person and that drives so good, which is "WOW!" Beyond that, I am speechless. The conclusion to this rather long and winding story, much like the roads we drove on the way home, is that I have another great story to tell about my initial drive across the country in a wonderful car that I expect I'll own until I die. After being a 944 guy for years, moving to the Spyder is just a continuation of the same story and owning it fits me like a glove, with the possible exception that I am running out of garage space. At the moment, I haven't managed to say goodbye to my 968 and my wife is starting to think that I am not trying very hard. She may be right. - SCOTT SPYDER