My day with a Spyker C8 Spyder

[Amarao]

Originally Posted by rijk365gtb4

We strapped in BM so tight in the four point seat belts that he could not see the handbrake on the other side of the console.

I thought that might have been the case.

[MTribe]

I think it's been said before, but it's too bad the cohesiveness of the design doesn't live up to the craftsmanship. It's almost like an engineer thought of all the cool touches possible on a car, and put them in, without talking to an industrial designer/artist. To my eye, the car looks like an uncohesive smattering of things that by themselves are tres cool, but as a whole, could use some tying together. But beauty's in the eye... It's definitely unique!

Not saying anything about the driving experience, and I don't suppose I'll ever get the chance with only a couple hundred of them!

[Chris D.]

Yes. That is a very subjective thing, but there is a lot to be said for exclusivity regardless. To my eye, the design of the car flows nicely from the front to the rear. There is something about the mirrors and the air intakes behind the doors that works for me. I sure would not kick one out of bed -- unless Bavarian Motorist was parked in it as shown in the photo.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by MickOpalak

What's it like with the top up?

No idea. Rijk removed the top completely. He says the rear visibility stinks with the top up.

Originally Posted by rijk365gtb4

We strapped in BM so tight in the four point seat belts that he could not see the handbrake on the other side of the console.

I swear I could not see it. And yes, it was tight in there...

Originally Posted by MTribe

I think it's been said before, but it's too bad the cohesiveness of the design doesn't live up to the craftsmanship. It's almost like an engineer thought of all the cool touches possible on a car, and put them in, without talking to an industrial designer/artist. To my eye, the car looks like an uncohesive smattering of things that by themselves are tres cool, but as a whole, could use some tying together. But beauty's in the eye... It's definitely unique!

Not saying anything about the driving experience, and I don't suppose I'll ever get the chance with only a couple hundred of them!

I find it beautiful. Like Chris says, it's subjective. But anyways, they still produce them, so there will be more in the future.

Originally Posted by Chris D.

I sure would not kick one out of bed -- unless Bavarian Motorist was parked in it as shown in the photo.

If you read the Spyker website (Welcome to the website of Spyker Cars | Spykercars), they claim that form follows function and that no part of the car compromises function for form.


When you look at it like that, it helps you appreciate it more

[MTribe]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

If you read the Spyker website (Welcome to the website of Spyker Cars | Spykercars), they claim that form follows function and that no part of the car compromises function for form.


When you look at it like that, it helps you appreciate it more

Thanks, that's a good point--I hear ya. Kind of like how happy I am that all the scoops and ducts on the elise are functional (minus maybe the little "vents" next to the tail lights). I do like it better with that in mind. And yeah, you can probably count the number of times you'll ever wave to another spyker on the road on one hand...

[FLuXeXigeS]

Lyrics from Swizz Beats song "Top Down"
[Verse 3:]
This chick said swiss i wanna ride in ya viper
I said hell naw don't you know that's a spiker?
Number 2 there are only 20 in the world
You sit in my seat it will change the world
I'm fresh to death like a million bucks
Threw on my luis hat put on my chucks
Step out the viper
She said oh no I said be easy chick
You know I gotta go

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by FLuXeXigeS

Lyrics from Swizz Beats song "Top Down"
[Verse 3:]
This chick said swiss i wanna ride in ya viper
I said hell naw don't you know that's a spiker?
Number 2 there are only 20 in the world
You sit in my seat it will change the world
I'm fresh to death like a million bucks
Threw on my luis hat put on my chucks
Step out the viper
She said oh no I said be easy chick
You know I gotta go

I didn't realize Spyker has become such a pop-culture item





MTribe: If you ever have the opportunity to ride in one or better yet, drive one, I recommend it. It sure is an experience!

[FLuXeXigeS]

love the line "she wanna ride in my viper, i said hell naw dont u know thats a Spyker? hahahaahha

[Noen]

If you read the Spyker website (Welcome to the website of Spyker Cars | Spykercars), they claim that form follows function and that no part of the car compromises function for form.

They also never claim the the forms they chose best enhanced the function. Reading their justifications for the various bits and elements of the car is hilarious. It's like they bought a shell design from someone, and then started poking holes in it and chopping bits off to make it functional.

And a lot of the functional aesthetic description seems to come from choice they made to make more simple shapes for manufacturing, than for aesthetics or performance

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by Noen

They also never claim the the forms they chose best enhanced the function. Reading their justifications for the various bits and elements of the car is hilarious. It's like they bought a shell design from someone, and then started poking holes in it and chopping bits off to make it functional.

And a lot of the functional aesthetic description seems to come from choice they made to make more simple shapes for manufacturing, than for aesthetics or performance

They didn't say the parts they chose had zero aesthetic value...

Air tubes
Only design features that have a proper function have a right to be on a Spyker. This means that the beautifully hand-crafted aluminium air tubes in the flanks of the car - and in the roof, in case of the C8 Laviolette and the C8 Double12 S - are there for a purpose; they feed cool air into the engine and to the brakes. But they also form visual highlights to the shape of the body of the Spyker, subtly sticking through the skin of the car, and are reminiscent of modern air jet fighters.

[Noen]

I guess I just don't buy they "but"s at all. The air tubes don't highlight the shape of the body, they are in stark contrast to the shape of the body, they aren't subtle, and maybe it's just me, but I don't see the correlation to fighter jets at all. Just looks like someone gouged the body out with a spoon and stuck a vent there.

Here's a 20min photoshop alternative to those vents that isn't great, but IMHO is a massive improvement to highlighting the lines of the car and keeping in a consistent visual language to the front half of it.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Interesting idea... Is that the only facet of the car you dislike? What else would you improve?

[raggedy1]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

Interesting idea... Is that the only facet of the car you dislike? What else would you improve?

Dayton wire wheels?

[Bavarian Motorist]

It does say the scoops are reminiscent of modern jet-fighters, which is one of the reasons. The gauges and switches are laid out like an aircraft. Even the kill-switch



And the wheels as well

[rijk365gtb4]

Actually, the cockpit is very well laid out. Strapped into the seat with a four point seat belt, you can just reach every control (with the exception of the handbrake and the ignition key, so think before you strap yourself in). I could not do that in my Elise.

[Noen]

I *really* like the overall form of all the C8 cars. Very very nice proportions, the front end and rear end look refined, elegant and distinct. But those tubes, BLECH. Like paper towel holders all over the place.

Room for improvement: Fix the various air ducts. Lower the window line an inch or two to make the mid to rear of the car look a little less fat. Scrap the entire interior, it looks gaudy as hell, or at least the gauge cluster. bring the precision and detailed lines of the body inside as well, without the ridiculous materials "just because".

The gauges and switches definitely aren't aircraft inspired. Maybe a Cessna, certainly not a fighter jet.

Putting gauges and switches in banks != aircraft. Most industrial equipment made does this for efficiency and manufacturing costs. Boats, planes, generators, backhoe's, tractors, etc etc.

Sure they throw in tons of chrome and exotic materials, but it's just a bank of dials and bank of switches.



I'll do some more photoshoppin when I get home

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by rijk365gtb4

Actually, the cockpit is very well laid out. Strapped into the seat with a four point seat belt, you can just reach every control (with the exception of the handbrake and the ignition key, so think before you strap yourself in). I could not do that in my Elise.

When it started to rain yesterday, I had NO problem finding the wiper switch It even has 2 modes!!! Neat!!!

[rijk365gtb4]

Originally Posted by Noen

I *really* like the overall form of all the C8 cars. Very very nice proportions, the front end and rear end look refined, elegant and distinct. But those tubes, BLECH. Like paper towel holders all over the place.

Maybe you like the new upcoming Spyker Aileron

#237 - Aileron - Gun Metal Grey/Tropicana Orange - Spyker Owner Forum

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by rijk365gtb4

Baybe you like the new upcoming Spyker Aileron

#237 - Aileron - Gun Metal Grey/Tropicana Orange - Spyker Owner Forum

That page doesn't work for me..



But here is one off the Spyker website.




Models | Spykercars



I like the revised head lights

[AgentTripleX]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

Seems like you only got a taste of the magic. If you can, try to take an extended drive. You MUST open it up!

They're opening a dealership in Marin soon, so I'll see about setting up an extended drive with the owner. It will be next to a freeway so I'll just need to make sure not to get carried away. CHP loves me too much lately, lol.

Originally Posted by Amarao

In the pics AgentTripleX posted, that car seems to have a handbrake. Is that a difference in model years?

I had to be told it was there. Otherwise who would think the handbrake is on the passenger side? Not very intuitive.