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Should You Buy A Porsche 718 Spyder In 2026? Honest 5 Year Owner Review · Performance Car Ownership with Gary

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Five years ago I bought this 2021 Porsche 718 Spider.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: Now it wasn't the best track car choice out there, and it definitely wasn't the most practical convertible I could have bought.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: But here's the thing it's become one of the most exciting cars I've ever owned.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: So today, after five years and 22,000 miles, I'm going to share everything with you.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: We're going to talk about my purchase experience, what it's like to actually live with this car, how it performs on track, the weird quirks, the ownership costs, and honestly, why this Porsche isn't for everyone.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: But here's what makes this different from most car reviews you'll watch.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: I actually live with this car every single day.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: Now, why the 718 Spider specifically?
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Well, great question.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: I had looked at uh Cayman GT4, various 911s, BMW C4, M40i, you know, you know the usual stress specs.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: But I had one non-negotiable requirement.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: It had to be a convertible.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: Therefore, the 718 Spider was on my short list.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think the Corvette convertible was out at that time, so I didn't even consider that at that time.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: Therefore, the 718 Spider was literally the only car on my short list.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: Because it's basically the only track-capable GT Porsche convertible you can buy.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: I wanted a very lightly optioned configuration to save weight, but I also wanted maximum performance for track drive.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: So I went with the PDK transmission.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: Now I know what you're thinking.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: Why not the manual?
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I'll explain why in a minute.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: For seats, I chose the 18-way power seats because the buckets, although they look great, uh they are difficult to get into and out of.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I know it definitely would be difficult for my wife to get into and out of those, but there was no lumbar support, and I definitely needed lumbar support.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: But I also needed the ability to make the seat fit as snugly as possible.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: Now my wife chose Miami Blue as the color, and you know what?
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: It looks absolutely gorgeous.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not a fan of black wheels, so I went with the much more attractive silver wheels instead.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: I know it's just me.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Now, here's where the story gets interesting.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: I'd been on a waiting list for an allocation for over three years with at the Porsche dealership where I purchased my rec my previous uh Boxster, uh Boxster S New.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: But they treated me terrible.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: They treated me like something stuck on the bottom of their shoe.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: So in the spring of 2020, I approached a new corporate Porsche dealership that had just opened, and uh they assured me that they could get an allocation.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: Now, sure, I was skeptical.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, who wouldn't be, right?
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: But uh sure enough, within a couple months I had ordered my uh spider.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Now I was told the drop-dead date for making any changes would be in October of that same year, if I wanted to make any changes in the spec, and uh and I'd get delivery in uh January.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: Well, as it turned out, in uh mid to late October, I received an email of a picture of my finished car.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: So I could obviously couldn't make any changes in the spec.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: Not that I wanted to, um, and I was told delivery would happen in November instead of January, so I was super excited.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: So I picked up my spider one day before a massive snowstorm.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: Brought the car home, and it just snowed and snowed and keeps snowing.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: So I literally, that was the only drive I had in my car in uh 2020, was the day I picked it up and brought it home.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: It sat in storage until April of next year before I could get it out again.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: And as you can imagine, I was super excited to get it on the road and uh check it out.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: Talk about torture.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: Now I knew going into the whole thing that the convertible top would be more fussy and more difficult to put up and down than it was in my uh boxster S.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: But hey, I accepted that.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: It was a I accepted it as a worthwhile compromise.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: And I also definitely knew that there wouldn't be much space available in the car for everyday use, exactly like it was with my Boxster S.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: But this car with its GT3 front suspension, those massive brakes, and 414 naturally aspirated horsepower, man, that was really something I was looking forward to get on the track.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: I knew it was going to be a track beast, at least compared to my box 2S.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: But that honeymoon phase, everyone knows that doesn't last forever.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: So, what's it actually like to live with this thing?
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: That glorious 4-liter naturally aspirated flat six with 414 horsepower definitely doesn't disappoint.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: When you rev that thing out, especially when it gets over 4,000 RPM, it just wails.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: It's so addictive.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: You press the throttle and the response is immediate.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly what you'd expect.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: No turbo lag, no waiting, just pure acceleration.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: But here's my first complaint.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: Sound from the stock exhaust is actually pretty disappointing.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: I do like that boom when it starts up though.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_00: The exciting part, that 8000 RPM red line.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: Carn driver claims a 0 to 60 time of just 3.4 seconds with the PDK transmission.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, it's just as exciting now as it was when I first brought it home five years ago.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: So I opted for the PDK transmission.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I know.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_00: You're probably thinking I should have uh gone with the manual, right?
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: But that tall gearing in the manual transmissions means you rarely get out of third gear on the street.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: But this car with the PDK is much faster on the track.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: So PDK is the best choice for me.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: There is this uh weird little gap or looseness uh before the car leaves from rest when moving slowly.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: Now I've never driven a Porsche 911 on track, so I can't compare this 718 to one of those.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: But the mid-engine balance of the 718 Spider, it's fantastic.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: The steering feel and feedback is almost, but not quite, as good as the hydraulic steering from my Boxster S.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now the 718 configuration is known for its rigid chassis, and this one does not disappoint.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: The cornering ability is truly fantastic.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_00: Sure, there's some body roll compared to a GT3, for example, but it's negligible compared to most sports cars.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_00: The 718 Spider is super confidence inspiring.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_00: The level of grip is just plain amazing.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_00: Now here's something strange though.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_00: Because it's a Porsche GT car, it only has two driving modes.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: Normal, which is actually sport, and sport, which is actually Sport Plus.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: The only time I use Sport Plus mode is on track when I also turn on the Sport exhaust shocks and off that stupid start-stop switch.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: The brakes on this car are absolutely huge, so stopping power isn't a concern whatsoever.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: Sure, carbon ceramics were an option, but I constantly meet people at their track who have converted theirs back to steel because of the running costs, and they tell me ceramics offered minimal gain anyway on track.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: The brakes are easy to threshold brake with, zero fade.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: I've only replaced my pads once so far, and I'm still on the original discs.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_00: Since I went with those 18-way comfort seats, I found them very comfortable even after an eight-hour drive in one day.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_00: For street driving, I've got plenty of room and adjustments for width and length of seat bottom, as well as that all-important lumbar support.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_00: Now, three-quarter visibility with the top up?
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it's definitely compromised.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_00: But I found a workaround.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: I adjusted my mirrors to show virtually none of the rear fenders, and I added a curved passenger outside mirror.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: That helps a lot.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_00: Also, and this is weird since the top is so thin, you can actually hear cars in your blind spot on the freeway, even if you don't see them.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: There was no blind spot detection option available.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: Strangely enough, straight rearward visibility through that tiny rear window is just fine.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: Interior space for a driver and passenger, it's just fine.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: At 6'1, I have more than enough leg and headroom.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: And here's something definitely I wish I would have done differently.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: I should have gone for the automatic climate control option.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_00: It's quite archaic dealing with constantly adjusting the fan and the temperature when using the car on the street.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: On the track, it's all shut off.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: I did choose the smooth leather steering wheel instead of the Al Cantera because I just found that Al Cantera gets matted and gets dirty so easily.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_00: And there's no way I'm going to be wearing gloves in the middle of the summertime driving this car just to keep that Al Cantera clean.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, it's definitely noisy at highway speeds, even with the top up and the windows closed.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_00: But you can still hear the radio and converse with your passenger, no problem.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_00: Sure, you can use this car as a daily driver, but keep in mind there's very little practical space for anything longer than an umbrella in either of the trunks.
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_00: And that fussy convertible top will likely get lowered far less often than if you had a more practical convertible like that box turn.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: Let's not forget, too, that this car is very low.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: The front splitter is very vulnerable, although miraculously, I've never actually scraped it.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: And that back diffuser is very vulnerable too.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: If you're backing up against the curb, there's no way you'll clear that curb.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: So you really have to be careful.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_00: And on rough roads, you can bottom out pretty easily with this car.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_00: Although it's only happened to me once.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: But when you get it out on some twisty roads with the top down and rev it beyond 4,000 RPM, that exhaust shriek, that amazing handling, and the overall driving experience.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it's just simply breathtaking.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: No other word for it, just breathtaking.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_00: No, the convertible top is not power operated, and there's much more involved in lowering it, especially if you compare it to something like a Miatia.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: But I think it looks absolutely gorgeous with the top up or with the top down.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: Now it does take about 30 seconds to either drop or to raise the convertible top altogether, but the good news is you don't lose any space by dropping the top.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: So there's whatever luggage space you have, such as it is, is what you'll have with the top up or with the top down.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: And to be honest, uh the luggage space altogether is pretty decent, especially if again you compare it to something like a Miata, which just has the one trunk.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: Just make sure that whatever luggage you have is soft.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_00: The weather sealing of the top is absolutely great.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_00: There's no leaks or wind whistles, and obviously there's no water that leaks in either with the top up.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: I absolutely hate that little plastic rear window.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: I just think it's so vulnerable to scratches.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm super careful with it when I'm washing the car.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_00: I don't uh scrub it and I don't wipe it over it with a microfiber towel.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: I just wash it, use some washing foam on it, and then rinse it, and then blow the water off with my air blower.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_00: Now convertible tops can look ratty if not properly maintained.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: So I make sure to clean and condition the top annually.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: Also, when washing the car, I never scrub it with soap or rub the top dry.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_00: Instead, I just rinse it and then either let it air dry or blow off the majority of the water.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: So, what about the long-term durability of that top?
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it's been fantastic.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_00: But keep in mind that my car is garaged and it's not daily driven.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: To minimize uh wind buffeting with the top down at speed, I always leave the wind blocker in place with the windows up.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, as I mentioned, front and rear trunk space is fine if you don't have anything larger than an umbrella.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: Forget about bringing a collapsible outdoor tent to your track days, anything bigger than one of these little pup tents.
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_00: Now, supposedly you can fit one set of golf clubs in the back trunk if you take the clubs out of the bag and you have a small bag and that kind of thing.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know for sure, I don't golf.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: What I do know though is that you can fit two carry-on bags in the front trunk with lots of space for jackets and personal items in the back.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: Just make sure your luggage is has a is very soft-sided.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: But accessing that back trunk is a pain because you need to go through most of the roof lowering procedure just to get access to that rear trunk.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_00: I like the door pockets for sunglasses and gloves.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_00: The glove compartment is a decent size too.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_00: Center console works well for storing your phone, but it often gets so hot your phone will stop charging.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: There is enough space for luggage for two people for a weekend or even a week away.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: Just don't expect to bring home any big purchases.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: I've made numerous grocery and Costco runs with this car, no problem at all.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: And uh a cute little tip that back trunk that'll definitely keep your pizza warm.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_00: And any cold perishables and that kind of thing, you'll want to store those in the front trunk.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: I have the base PCM audio system in this car, and honestly, it's terrible.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it's so outdated, it even has a CD slot, which I've never used.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: When's the last time you've actually seen a CD?
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: But keep in mind that this car is loud.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: So even if you went with the Megabuck Burmeister stereo, you'll likely never hear the difference at highway speeds, top up or top down.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_00: Now the car does come with wired Apple CarPlay, but no Android Auto.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_00: I'll add a link to my YouTube video on adding this device so easily that can convert the spider to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: Sure, this audio system felt outdated uh back in 2021, but it's much more outdated now in 2025.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: For me though, the audio system was not an important consideration when purchasing this car at all.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_00: My wife Cheryl and I drove our spider from our home 500 miles to Hershey, Pennsylvania in early 2024.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_00: And you know what?
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_00: It was great on the freeways and even better on the twisty mountain roads.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_00: A fantastic road trip car to be sure.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_00: So as I mentioned, the PDK versus manual transmission was a huge decision for me.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: I love to heel and toe when driving manual transmission cars.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_00: But this 718 Spider is faster accelerated with PDK and it's easier and therefore faster to drive on the track, at least for me.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: And let me tell you, this car just loves track days.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: But because these cars with a manual transmission have such high second gear, I found that just driving it around like I am here right now, I'd be doing very little gear changing anyway.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: It wouldn't be much fun to drive with a manual transmission because you're mostly in either first, second, or maybe third gear and that kind of thing.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_00: So you're hardly changing gears at all.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: So what's the advantage?
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_00: So it just makes sense to go with the PDKs because the gearing is lower, so it shifts more often automatically, or you can obviously use the paddle shifters to shift it yourself manually.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now, since my 718 Spider is a true Porsche GT car, it's made with the track use in mind.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: Basically, it's a Porsche GT4 convertible.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: It has the same track-oriented and adjustable front suspension as the Porsche GT3 and features those big brakes right from the factory.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now I track at most board or CTMP, which is a very fast track.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_00: I'm hitting over 140 miles per hour on the back straight in that environment.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_00: Now on track my driving position changes.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_00: I lower my seat, move it forward, slightly recline the back press to allow space for my uh Simpson hybrid uh neck protector for my helmet.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_00: And there's lots of headroom with my helmet on, no problem.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_00: I'm running a track-oriented alignment with two and a half degrees negative camber, which works well for me, but I still get considerable wear on the outside edge of my front tires.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: My tire pressures get dropped throughout the day as they heat up in the dry.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_00: But the TPMS display on the dash is a huge pain.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_00: Now this spider came equipped with Michelin Cup 2 tires, which are fantastic for the dry, hot track conditions, but they become compromised below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, especially in the wet.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: So you know I replaced those tires with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, which aren't as great in the dry as those Cup 2s, but they're way better in the wet and in the cold.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a track day instructor with the Porsche Club of America PCA, and I've noticed that when I'm instructing in 9-11s and they're driven on track over 100 miles per hour, with the windows open, there's considerable buffeting uh going on.
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_00: But you know what?
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_00: I never get this buffeting in my spider.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: Actually, I never experience that in any 718 series Porsche now that I think about it.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_00: When it comes to holding uh me in place on the seats on track, I found that the combination of the Alcantara inserts and the 18-way seats adjusted perfectly to fit my body, do a pretty good job of holding me in place.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_00: The car definitely has some quirks.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_00: Some that I haven't mentioned so far includes that, well, two-thirds of the round bezels for the gauges are analog and lit with the headlights turned on.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_00: And the remaining one is digital.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_00: So it's on all the time.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_00: So there's uh so it's especially noticeable that near dusk and dawn, where two-thirds of them aren't on at all, and the other one is on bright.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_00: So uh yeah, that's kind of weird.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: Uh not critical, just weird.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_00: Now it's been 30 or more years since I've seen a car with no warning bell whatsoever when you leave the key in the ignition.
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_00: Isn't that weird?
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_00: Now you can start to lower the top from the outside of the car without having to get into it after unlocking it three times with the key fob, but that doesn't work all the time.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_00: You never know if it's gonna work or not.
• 17:31
  SPEAKER_00: Power seats have no memory function, which is a real pain uh for when my wife drives the car, but it's even a bigger pain for uh when I do track days, because as I mentioned, I adjust the seats quite a bit differently for track days than I do driving to uh to the track and coming back home from the track.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_00: So that's always a pain.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_00: And this spider does make some very weird suspension noises, especially after it's been sitting for a few days and that kind of thing.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_00: But some of the other guys tell me if a Porsche GT car isn't making weird noises, there's something wrong.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: And by the way, if you're finding this video helpful, please hit that like button and subscribe to my channel.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_00: It really helps a lot.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_00: And uh and then you can see, check out all the other uh new honest owner review videos that I've come coming up, and I've got a whole honest owner review video playlist that you definitely want to check out a bunch of Porsches, a Lotus, a Viper, and a bunch of other cool stuff on there.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I haven't had one issue with this Porsche 718 Spider since my purchase.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_00: No unscheduled uh service visits to the dealership, no warranty claims, and I see the Kelly Blue Book also rates these as a five out of five stars.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm not alone with those results.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_00: Now, since my car is still under warranty, I annually have it maintained at my Porsche dealership.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_00: Mostly the service has been great there.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm starting to notice that they're sneaking little things uh and charging me onto my service without my permission, which really pisses me off.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, like the windshield wiper blades that don't need to be replaced.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, uh three, four thousand miles a week here and the car being always garaged, there's no way those windshield wiper blades need to be replaced.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_00: No way.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_00: And then you know, when I complain and ask for the service manager to give me a call back, he doesn't.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I don't like that at all.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_00: So I I do have an independent shop where I have uh other work done uh on this car.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_00: And you know what, they're absolutely excellent.
• 19:23
  SPEAKER_00: Also, you know what, there's numerous excellent um independent shops available throughout the same area.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_00: So there's no shortage of places to get this car service.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_00: Now, a huge plus of owning a Porsche is the Porsche community, especially PCA, Porsche Club of America.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_00: You know, whether you're into cars and coffee, driving tours, social get-togethers, or track days, there are events just about every week that you can participate in.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_00: PCA's driver education program is fantastic with excellent instruction included.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Porsche has by far the largest and most diverse uh car community, especially for older car enthusiasts like myself.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_00: Now the Porsche brand definitely carries a huge amount of prestige and a mostly positive perception by enthusiasts and you know the general public alike.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_00: People uh react very positively to this car uh when I'm at a Porsche event or just uh the general public when I'm getting gas.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_00: That Miami blue color, uh the speedster humps and that low stance always gets a reaction, even after the car is five years old.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, at any cars and coffee, that Miami blue color really commands a presence.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I was extremely excited and thankful to get this car.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I still pinch myself when I realize how privileged I am to own and track such a significant car.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_00: My wife and I are always excited to take it on a dinner date or just for a scenic drive, anytime, anywhere.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_00: And definitely by far, this is the most exciting and reliable car I've ever owned.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the only mods I've made other than the track alignment and tires on the convex mirror on the passenger side, and replacing the screen wind blocker with a clear one to improve rearward uh visibility.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_00: Nope, no changes to the exhaust, ECU, or brakes.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_00: The stock stuff, you know, it just works fine.
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, when it comes to pros, that naturally aspirated engine accelerates without any lag, and there's no potentially troublesome and expensive to replace uh turbos.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_00: That uh mid-engine handling precision that I just love.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_00: You know, that open-air driving experience that only a full convertible offers, the Porsche build quality, the timeless design, strong resale value, the daily drivability, I mean, relatively speaking, of course, uh exclusive without being unapproachable, the connection between driver and machine.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_00: And when it comes to cons, well, yeah, of course, that manual convertible top, the inconvenience factor of it, especially when it starts to rain, the limited storage space, the expensive maintenance.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's a Porsche, it's expensive.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: The maintenance is expensive.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and in the future, It does use premium fuel, which of course is more expensive.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_00: It's not the fastest car in its class, that's for sure.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: The infotainment definitely feels dated.
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_00: It can be uncomfortable on rough roads, that's for sure.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_00: It's not a luxury car.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_00: It's definitely a high entry price.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_00: Some interior materials feel cheap for the price.
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_00: Maintenance parts like brake pads, they're often, you know, not available, sometimes for weeks.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, let's talk about what else is out there.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_00: Because, you know, this isn't the only option, but there really is just one track-friendly convertible available, and that's the C8 Corvette convertible.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_00: Now I rented a Corvette C8 convertible recently for a few days and did a comparison video, which I'll include a link to in the description down below.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_00: But due to its significantly heavier weight and larger size, you know, it really didn't appeal to me at all.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: Also, even though it had much more horsepower, its track times were similar to my spider.
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_00: But that Z06C8 convertible promises far more performance at, you know, a much higher price than this car, of course.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, let's talk about the elephant in the room.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_00: What does it really cost to own this Porsche Spider?
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_00: Well, although I live in Canada and most of you are in the US, all costs have been converted to US dollars to make it easier to understand.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_00: Now I paid$103,000 for the car initially.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_00: There's been virtually no depreciation.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_00: Probably because these cars are no longer available, new, but they're still very much in demand, that's for sure.
• 23:31
  SPEAKER_00: Now these costs are what the Porsche dealership charges, but you could save about 40% of the labor by having the work done by an independent Porsche specialist.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_00: Now insurance has been about$525 a year.
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now I can the my car is on the road for about eight months of the year because the other four months it just snows nonstop.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_00: But uh that's what it works out to for those eight months.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_00: A minor service is required every year, assuming you drive 9,000 miles or less at$488.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_00: A medium service is required every two years or 18,000 miles at$1,188.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now they want to replace the spark plugs every$27,000 miles or four years, or twice that often if you track your car, which will add another massive$1,200 to your service.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah, and let's not forget that this car only uses premium gas.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_00: And I average about 18 miles per gallon.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_00: So my total cost of ownership for the five years is just under$24,183 or about$1.10 per mile, which in my mind is definitely a steal.
• 24:41
  SPEAKER_00: But keep in mind that if the depreciation were what you'd expect, that cost per mile could easily be three or four dollars per mile.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, so after five years, here's my opinion if you should be buying a 718 Spider.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_00: You should buy one if you value driving experience over straight line speed.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_00: You appreciate naturally aspirated engines.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_00: You want a convertible that you can also drive on the track.
• 25:05
  SPEAKER_00: You can afford the maintenance.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_00: It'll be a second car, or you don't need practicality in your only car.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_00: You prefer manual transmission availability if that's your choice.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_00: Now you shouldn't buy one of these if you need a primary or only car.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_00: You want the fastest thing in this price range, you hate manual convertible tops, you're on a tight budget, you prioritize technology and modern features, you need rear seats or significant cargo space, you live somewhere with terrible roads, and you need a car to drive in snowy or winter conditions.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_00: So what am I doing with this car?
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_00: Am I keeping it?
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_00: Am I selling it?
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I could plan to keep this car definitely for the foreseeable future, you know, for a couple reasons.
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, first, it just works incredibly well for what I need it for.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_00: Second, it's up in the air whether Porsche will ever make these spiders again, as currently they're not available for sale new.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_00: And third, other than that C8 Z06 convertible, there is nothing else I'd really consider.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_00: But would I definitely buy it again though, knowing what I know now?
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely, in a heartbeat.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_00: Click here for more honest owner review videos, and I'll see you there.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_00: Any questions or comments, add them down below.
• 26:17
  SPEAKER_00: I read every one of them.