Because of the high cost ($8150) or other concerns, most dealers & early adopters who initially ordered Spyders did not specified Ceramic brakes on their cars. Now that you (Spyder owners) have driven your cars for many miles and months, any of you regret not having the PCCB's? If you had to do it over again, would you have wanted (or ordered) PCCBs rather than the standard steel brakes on your Spyder? z356

 

I have an RS 60 with PCCBs and wouldn't have anything else. I grew up driving in the mountains and still spend most of my driving time here. It is the only car I have ever driven where I can use the brakes hard going down hill, 10% grades, and actually have the brakes get better with no smell.

Counter intuitive but just love it once I adapted. They also ride better due to loss of unsprung weight. I have heard boxster breaks are not that much heavier but I love mine. They also look great as they fill up the 19" wheels.

 

Don't miss them, don't need them for this car.

 

Stock Spyder brakes are more than enough, save the $8 grand.

 

I appreciate all of your comments to date. I am just trying to be informed on this subject before I purchase a Spyder. When Car & Driver recently selected the Spyder as the best handling car for under $100K sold in America, it had this to say about the Spyder brakes:

"We had a small beef with the brakes. The Porsche had the longest-stroke pedal, which allowed for unmatched exactness on the street, but it doesn’t have quite enough bite. And on the track, things got a bit too soft."

I have also heard some complaints about the standard brakes from at least two current Spyder owners. Here is what one Spyder owner wrote to me recently:

"If I had to do it over again I probably would splurge for the PCCBs. The feel (and bite) of the PCCBs is unbelievable. Plus, the brake dust that accumulates on the wheels (with the steels) is pretty bad -- with PCCBs, not a problem."

I know that the PCCB's on the Spyder will not be the same as those on the gt3's. Besides being smaller (350mm), they have a different brake booster and a different feel. Not as much 'bite' as the PCCB's of the gt3 cars. But one forum member that I know here at 6Speed that has both a PCCB equipped Spyder and a PCCB equipped .2 RS, while telling me the difference between the two braking systems, still recommends PCCB's on the Spyder...even though he has destroy his set from constant hard use on the track (something I will not do since I will not be doing many track events as he does).

So, I am still debating whether to have ceramics or not on my Spyder. So far, the majority of you have said Steels are perfectly fine. If anyone else has experience with brake issues on a Spyder, I would love to hear from you. z356

 

IMO, the only reason to get the PCCB's is showing off. There're lots of way to get better braking without that kind of money. Not to mention price of replacement rotors.

 

have you ever driven on PCCB (or similar carbon/ceramic brakes) before? Never driven PCCB, but other similar set ups tend to be very different from standard steel brakes. They definitely take some getting used to.

If I lived somewhere like Sloopy and had to worry about driving up and down mountains, then I would definitely consider them, but for normal every day street driving, I'll stick with steel. The immediate bite and hold of the steel brakes are, IMO, far better for every day use. My experiences with carbon/ceramic have been that, while great, they take a moment between pressing on the pedal and actually grabbing.

If brake dust is your biggest issue with standard brakes, you can always swap for low-dust pads.

 

Well, I have had them on three cars, including the spyder i have. I like the stopping power. I have never had a pair stick or grab, or have I ever experienced a lag in breaking.

If the buy is to show off, who really cares??? part of owning a Porsche is to show off!

I bought mine to use and I use them a lot. they don't screech..they just stop.

If you're gonna drive on flats at 60 mph, stick with the steel.

 

Anyone who has tracked a Boxster will tell you, upgraded pads and fluid are necessary for prolonged track type use. They beat the hell out of the cars for the C&D tests, so it is no wonder the brakes went spongy.

But for street use, the brakes are the BOMB - really fantastic

PCCB's seem very cool, but I would have to think twice before spending $8k. Also - what is the replacement cost of a rotor? Lets say you hit a curb in a parking lot or something and crack a rotor (saw a Carrera GT in the shop one day for that problem) - what's THAT going to cost?

 

yes I see your point...I once drove my Gt3 slightly into a wall at the track. It cost. I fixed it. So, I personally would never let a potential mishap stop me from getting what Iwanted in a car.

The 8K can cerrtainly be spent elsewhere...or on the Brakes. That's why we all have our own opinions.

What I do know about these brakes, and I have told the op this in a message, is that if you want them, buy them, just don't expect to recoup the expense on sale, cause it won't happen. second buyers love the options, but you cannot get much for them. the make or b"brake" for me would also have to include how long I planned to keep the car.
Cheers!
Mike

 

PCCB is the best $8k you'll spend, you get $30k of parts. Replace the pads before they get to 50% and you will likely never replace the discs, ...ever.

For racing, aftermarket steel. For everything else, carbon.

 

It is harder for me to heel toe with PCCB especially when they are cold and for street driving. The pedal is just too high, even if you brake hard. I guess with PDK, they would be great for the street.

 

I have a 2010 GT3 with Carbon Ceramic brakes and they are fantastic! I have a 2011 Boxster Spyder on order with the standard brakes and i think they will be perfectly fine. I have had two previous Boxster S's and the standard brakes were great for a mid-engined car. The rear engine bias of any 911 makes the Carbon cermamic brakes more important.

 

I'm sorry, I have to log off after that misspelling!

 

I have PCCBs on my spyder.

A spyder looks great. having PCCBs make them look even better. The stock brakes look puny on 19s.. line up 2 cars and compare.....


even if they performed the same, I would spend the money to have OE Porsche brakes rather than aftermarket any day for warranty and originality purposes.

Oh, showing off is a perogative. But, of course, you don't have to....