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6 YEARS WITH MY PORSCHE 718 SPYDER: THE REAL COST AND WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN? · Performance Car Ownership with Gary

0:00
SPEAKER_00: There's a mist there now.
0:01
SPEAKER_00: I'd walk away.
0:02
SPEAKER_00: So what's the total for six years?
0:03
SPEAKER_00: Six years, 28,610 miles, 15 track days this year alone, and the personal best at Mossport that I didn't think this car or me had it in us.
0:14
SPEAKER_00: Are you thinking about buying a U718 Spider now that Porsche has stopped making them?
0:20
SPEAKER_00: Here's my honest verdict up front.
0:22
SPEAKER_00: I'd buy mine again tomorrow.
0:24
SPEAKER_00: But it's costing me a lot more to own than I told you about last year.
0:29
SPEAKER_00: And in a few weeks, I have to make a decision about something about this car that's going to cost me thousands either way.
0:37
SPEAKER_00: So today, while you ride along with me on one of the last uh top-down drives of the season, I'm going to tell you everything.
0:44
SPEAKER_00: Every dollar I've spent in the last six years, what's broken and what hasn't, the number one question you voted for in my poll, and the mistake that I've been making on track that's quietly been eating my tires and a hole in my wallet.
1:00
SPEAKER_00: And at the end I'll tell you exactly who should buy one of these and who should absolutely walk away.
1:06
SPEAKER_00: So why listen to me?
1:08
SPEAKER_00: Well, I'm a PCA national track instructor.
1:10
SPEAKER_00: I've been driving manual transmission cars for over 50 years, and I've owned this Porsche 718 Spider since November of 2020.
1:20
SPEAKER_00: Now here's the thing about most car reviews on YouTube.
1:23
SPEAKER_00: They're done with press cars.
1:25
SPEAKER_00: A week, maybe two, drive it hard, tell everybody that you absolutely love it, send it back.
1:30
SPEAKER_00: But that's not what you'd experience during ownership now, is it?
1:33
SPEAKER_00: In this video, we're talking no press car, no sponsor, nobody paid for this video, just six years of real receipts from a car I drive on the street and on the track.
2:14
SPEAKER_00: Porsche ended gas 718 production in October 2025.
2:18
SPEAKER_00: Earlier this month, Porsche said there are no plans for a gas-powered replacement anytime soon.
2:24
SPEAKER_00: The next box turn came in, well, those will be electric.
2:28
SPEAKER_00: So if you want one of these, you're buying used.
2:30
SPEAKER_00: And that's exactly who this video is for.
2:33
SPEAKER_00: What exactly is this car anyway?
2:34
SPEAKER_00: Well, it's a 2021 Porsche 718 Spider, a 4.0 liter, naturally aspirated, flat 6, making 414 horsepower, an 8,000 RPM red line, and mine has the PDK automatic transmission.
2:49
SPEAKER_00: It's got front suspension derived from the GT3, huge steel brakes, and a manual soft top.
2:55
SPEAKER_00: Now basically it's a GT4 convertible.
2:57
SPEAKER_00: So intentionally I optioned mine very lightly.
2:59
SPEAKER_00: It's Miami blue paint with silver wheels and the 18-way comfort seats instead of the carbon buckets.
3:06
SPEAKER_00: And if you want the whole story of how hard it was for me to get an allocation, it's in my five-year review uh video, and I'll put a link to that in the description down below.
3:16
SPEAKER_00: After six years, has the magic worn off?
3:18
SPEAKER_00: Does it still feel special?
3:20
SPEAKER_00: No, the magic hasn't worn off, and yes, it absolutely still feels special.
3:31
SPEAKER_00: That right there is exactly why I bought this car.
3:35
SPEAKER_00: Naturally aspirated response.
3:37
SPEAKER_00: You press the throttle and it happens immediately.
3:39
SPEAKER_00: There's no turbo lag, no waiting, and past 4,000 RPM, wow, it just wails.
3:45
SPEAKER_00: The chassis still feels as tight as the day that I picked it up.
3:48
SPEAKER_00: The steering still talks to you, and that mid-engine balance, well, after six years I trust it more, not less, because I know exactly what it's gonna do.
3:58
SPEAKER_00: And here's something that I didn't expect.
4:00
SPEAKER_00: After six years, I still catch myself smiling for no reason on a drive just like this one.
4:05
SPEAKER_00: I've owned a lot of cars, and believe me, that doesn't happen with most of them.
4:09
SPEAKER_00: Can you actually live with this thing or is it just a weekend toy?
4:12
SPEAKER_00: About this summer, I drove the spider from my home in tiny Ontario all the way to Lake Placid for Porsche Parade.
4:19
SPEAKER_00: Long highway stretches, twisty mountain roads, and a full week away.
4:22
SPEAKER_00: Here's the part that surprised me.
4:24
SPEAKER_00: My wife needs a special travel wheelchair when we travel somewhere, and I found one that folds right down and actually fits in that front trunk.
4:32
SPEAKER_00: Some soft pieces of luggage to add to that front trunk and to the back trunk, we were set for the whole week.
4:38
SPEAKER_00: It does road trips, it does dinner dates, it does grocery runs.
4:41
SPEAKER_00: But keep in mind the trunks are small and well that top, yeah, it takes 30 seconds to put up or to take down, all done manually.
4:49
SPEAKER_00: Keep in mind this is a second car, not an only car.
4:52
SPEAKER_00: And has anything changed in how it feels to live with?
4:55
SPEAKER_00: Well, honestly, not much.
4:56
SPEAKER_00: The seats are still comfortable after a full day of driving, still makes some odd suspension noises after it's been sitting, and the infotainment, which felt old in 2021, yeah, it feels absolutely ancient in 2026.
5:10
SPEAKER_00: None of that matters when the top's down on a beautiful sunny day like today.
5:19
SPEAKER_00: So, what does six years of ownership actually look like season to season?
5:23
SPEAKER_00: Well, here in Ontario, there this car is on the road for about eight months of the year.
5:27
SPEAKER_00: From late fall to early spring, it sits in heated storage, and uh because all it ever does here from that time is snow and snow and more snow.
5:36
SPEAKER_00: So there's no way this is going on the road in the wintertime.
5:40
SPEAKER_00: Every spring, there's that first drive out, and believe me, that never gets old.
5:44
SPEAKER_00: The soft top is held up beautifully.
5:46
SPEAKER_00: I clean and condition it once a year.
5:48
SPEAKER_00: I never scrub it and I never rub it dry.
5:51
SPEAKER_00: I just rinse it and blow the water off.
5:53
SPEAKER_00: And that little plastic rear window, well, you know, I baby it.
5:57
SPEAKER_00: I just foam it, rinse it, and blow it dry with my blower.
6:01
SPEAKER_00: I don't want don't want to spread any uh make any put any scratches on that uh on that small back window, that's for sure.
6:08
SPEAKER_00: And keep in mind, this car is low.
6:10
SPEAKER_00: Six years in, I'm still creeping over speed bumps and backing up uh to curbs very, very slowly and very carefully.
6:18
SPEAKER_00: That's just part of the deal.
6:19
SPEAKER_00: Now before I film this, I asked you what you wanted answered in this video first.
6:25
SPEAKER_00: And the results, you know, they weren't even the close.
6:27
SPEAKER_00: Most of you picked reliability, things like about the engine mounts, oil use, and service.
6:33
SPEAKER_00: So that's where we're starting.
6:35
SPEAKER_00: So, what's actually been broken in six years?
6:37
SPEAKER_00: Here's the honest answer: nothing.
6:40
SPEAKER_00: And I mean nothing.
6:41
SPEAKER_00: No breakdowns, no warning lights, no unscheduled trips to the dealer, no warranty claims in six years and over 28,000 miles, including a lot of track days at a very fast track.
6:52
SPEAKER_00: But I want to be fair here because that's what you came here for, right?
6:56
SPEAKER_00: So let's go through the four things uh owners are actually talking about.
7:00
SPEAKER_00: So back in 2021, Porsche recalled about 190 uh model year 2021 cars with this 4.0 liter engine, including spiders, because some connecting rods weren't made to spec.
7:12
SPEAKER_00: The fix was a brand new engine or a massive engine repair.
7:16
SPEAKER_00: I ran my VIN and my car wasn't part of that.
7:19
SPEAKER_00: Now, but if you are shopping for a 2021, um run the VIN.
7:23
SPEAKER_00: It only takes uh a couple minutes, but likely all of the affected cars were fixed many years ago.
7:29
SPEAKER_00: Number two, PADMs.
7:32
SPEAKER_00: That stands for Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounts.
7:35
SPEAKER_00: They're the engine and transmission mounts filled with fluid that that uh the car stiffens or softens uh electronically.
7:42
SPEAKER_00: Stiff on track, soft uh on the road for cruising.
7:46
SPEAKER_00: So so what's gone wrong with that?
7:48
SPEAKER_00: Well, owners on the forums report a PADM disabled uh warning that comes up on the dash.
7:54
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes on cars with only a few thousand miles.
7:57
SPEAKER_00: One fellow GT4 owner uh in my comments said that he paid 4,000 US dollars to have both of them lows replaced.
8:06
SPEAKER_00: Now, mine not a single warning in six years, but it's on my watch list and it should definitely be on yours.
8:13
SPEAKER_00: Number three is oil consumption.
8:14
SPEAKER_00: So I use about one liter of oil between oil changes.
8:18
SPEAKER_00: Now for a high Revving flat six that I take to red line on a track like Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, believe me, that's fine.
8:27
SPEAKER_00: That's better than fine actually.
8:49
SPEAKER_00: There are a number of forum threads about coolant leaks and low-coolant warnings on these 4.0 liter engines, including the expansion tank.
8:58
SPEAKER_00: Now I haven't had one, but if you're buying used, um have someone look for it to check it out for you.
9:04
SPEAKER_00: Well, I mentioned it as a risk in my hidden costs video, but having dug deeper, I could find a real pattern of bore scoring on this 4.0 liter engine.
9:13
SPEAKER_00: That reputation comes mostly from older Porsche engines, but if you're buying, I definitely suggest you get a boar scope done as chief insurance.
9:22
SPEAKER_00: That way you just don't have to panic about it.
9:24
SPEAKER_00: I still use the dealer once a year, mainly to keep that relationship for future allocations.
9:30
SPEAKER_00: And an excellent independent shop is what does most of the work on my car.
9:34
SPEAKER_00: The independent shop charges about 40% less for their labor cost than the dealer does.
9:39
SPEAKER_00: When it comes to the dealer, I'm definitely checking those invoices to make sure that they don't replace my windshield wipers and charge me for them needlessly.
9:47
SPEAKER_00: Alright, now let's talk about the elephant in the room.
9:50
SPEAKER_00: What has this car actually cost me?
9:52
SPEAKER_00: Well, every number is real.
9:54
SPEAKER_00: It's in US dollars and they all include tax.
9:57
SPEAKER_00: No estimates pulled off the internet.
9:59
SPEAKER_00: This is what I've actually paid.
10:00
SPEAKER_00: I paid$103,000 for the car tax in.
10:04
SPEAKER_00: Over the six years of ownership, insurance has cost me$3,156.
10:10
SPEAKER_00: That's for about eighths of the year bundled in with my other vehicles.
10:13
SPEAKER_00: Fuel has been$8,900.
10:16
SPEAKER_00: We're talking premium here, remember.
10:18
SPEAKER_00: Service has been$11,998.
10:21
SPEAKER_00: And that doesn't include tires or brakes.
10:24
SPEAKER_00: It does include a$658 transmission fluid change this year, which I did early because of all the track use.
10:32
SPEAKER_00: Tires,$15,893.
10:37
SPEAKER_00: Brakes,$2,858.
10:40
SPEAKER_00: Suspension mods, again, those were done this year,$2,742.
10:46
SPEAKER_00: I had paint protection film applied to the car just weeks after I first first purchased it at$1,418.
10:54
SPEAKER_00: And because I do my own detailing, that worked out to$346 over the six years.
11:01
SPEAKER_00: But remember that labor is free.
11:04
SPEAKER_00: So what's the total for six years?
11:06
SPEAKER_00: $47,311.
11:09
SPEAKER_00: That's about$7,900 a year, about$657 a month, or$1.65 a mile, and that's without depreciation.
11:19
SPEAKER_00: Now let's have a look at that tire line.
11:21
SPEAKER_00: $15,893.
11:23
SPEAKER_00: One third of everything that was spent.
11:25
SPEAKER_00: That's the real cost of tracking this car.
11:28
SPEAKER_00: Not the engine, not the service, those tires.
11:31
SPEAKER_00: But wait a second, last year I told you it was only$1.10 per mile.
11:34
SPEAKER_00: So what happened?
11:36
SPEAKER_00: Well, fair question.
11:37
SPEAKER_00: A few things.
11:38
SPEAKER_00: 15 track days this year, two big tire bills, the suspension and brake work, and an early transmission service.
11:45
SPEAKER_00: Pretty much had the same bills this year as I had for the first four years of ownership of this car.
11:53
SPEAKER_00: And just to make sure this time I went all the way back to the beginning and made sure I counted everything.
11:58
SPEAKER_00: Every tire, every brake pad, every bottle of detailing supplies, I'd rather give you the honest number than just a flattering one.
12:05
SPEAKER_00: So what about depreciation?
12:07
SPEAKER_00: Well, here's you know where things get interesting.
12:10
SPEAKER_00: Original 2021 spiders have sold in the US this year for in, you know, in between$114 to$160,000.
12:21
SPEAKER_00: But keep in mind, most of those had six to about$14,000 miles.
12:26
SPEAKER_00: Mine has$28,600 miles, and you know, plenty of track days.
12:31
SPEAKER_00: So I'm going to be conservative here.
12:32
SPEAKER_00: Let's say mine's worth about$95,000 US dollars today.
12:36
SPEAKER_00: That's$8,000 of depreciation in six years.
12:40
SPEAKER_00: Not bad at all.
12:41
SPEAKER_00: Now when we add that in, my true cost of ownership is$55,311, or about$1.93 a mile, about$768 a month, that's all in.
12:51
SPEAKER_00: Is that a lot?
12:53
SPEAKER_00: For sure it's a lot.
12:54
SPEAKER_00: But for a poor Shijit car that I can drive hard on track every summer, that's honestly remarkable.
13:00
SPEAKER_00: Now most cars lose a big chunk of their value in the first six years.
13:04
SPEAKER_00: Mine barely moved at all.
13:06
SPEAKER_00: And if these real numbers are useful to you and you want more honest ownership reviews with real receipts, hit subscribe.
13:13
SPEAKER_00: It genuinely helps the channel, and you know what?
13:15
SPEAKER_00: We don't do fluff here.
13:16
SPEAKER_00: Here's the decision I mentioned at the start.
13:19
SPEAKER_00: When I bought the car, I bought an extended warranty.
13:22
SPEAKER_00: That runs out in November, weeks from now.
13:24
SPEAKER_00: And Porsche has offered to extend it, but of course at a price.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: 12 months,$1,605.
13:30
SPEAKER_00: 24 months,$2,780.
13:33
SPEAKER_00: $36 months,$3,951.
13:38
SPEAKER_00: Easy decision, right?
13:39
SPEAKER_00: Just buy it.
13:40
SPEAKER_00: Well, not so fast.
13:41
SPEAKER_00: So there's two things that really concern me about this extended warranty.
13:45
SPEAKER_00: The first one is I asked them to send me a PDF of exactly what's covered with the extended warranty.
13:51
SPEAKER_00: They said there is no PDF.
13:52
SPEAKER_00: They just send you a link to a website and on the website it shows you what's covered.
13:58
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I don't like that idea at all.
13:59
SPEAKER_00: That website could be edited at any time.
14:03
SPEAKER_00: Things could be taken away at any time.
14:06
SPEAKER_00: I don't want to pay for something that I don't know what's going to be included a year or two years from now.
14:12
SPEAKER_00: The other concern that I have is when I read the fine print on that website, it talks about, it does not cover any warranty issues that have come about as a result of track use.
14:25
SPEAKER_00: Well, as you know, I've already mentioned I track my car.
14:28
SPEAKER_00: So I'm just really worried that if something, even if something big happens, they're gonna say, oh Gary, sorry, your car's been tracked.
14:35
SPEAKER_00: We don't cover that.
14:36
SPEAKER_00: It says so in the warranty.
14:37
SPEAKER_00: So what am I doing?
14:39
SPEAKER_00: Well, right now I'm leaning toward not extending the warranty.
14:43
SPEAKER_00: I'd rather put that$3,951 aside in a repair fund, you know, that I control.
14:49
SPEAKER_00: But I want to hear from you.
14:51
SPEAKER_00: If you uh track your Porsche, have you ever had a warranty claim denied because of track use?
14:56
SPEAKER_00: Or have it or was it approved?
14:58
SPEAKER_00: Tell me in the comments because I'm genuinely making uh this call in the next few weeks, and what you tell me may definitely influence my decision.
15:06
SPEAKER_00: Let's let's look ahead because uh you know the costs are only going one way, and of course that's up.
15:11
SPEAKER_00: So here's what's coming up.
15:12
SPEAKER_00: So new brake discs, they're probably coming next season.
15:16
SPEAKER_00: My front uh brake pads are at 50%, so a pad and disc job is uh definitely close.
15:23
SPEAKER_00: Uh brake fluid, it's due every two years, and uh but I track my car so it gets changed every year.
15:30
SPEAKER_00: Uh tires every single year at the rate I track are definitely gonna need uh replacement again this year.
15:36
SPEAKER_00: And at year eight, the four-year items come around again, so again we're probably looking at spark plugs, coolant change, and filters.
15:44
SPEAKER_00: So, what's my plan?
15:45
SPEAKER_00: And I'm budgeting for uh year seven to be my most expensive uh year yet.
15:50
SPEAKER_00: Now keep that in mind, that's not a complaint, that's just honestly what I'm expecting.
15:55
SPEAKER_00: A car like this costs money to run uh properly, that's for sure.
16:00
SPEAKER_00: The real question is, is it worth it for me?
16:03
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
16:04
SPEAKER_00: Next question.
16:05
SPEAKER_00: A large percentage of you asked, uh six years, any regrets about the PDK?
16:09
SPEAKER_00: No, none.
16:10
SPEAKER_00: None whatsoever.
16:12
SPEAKER_00: I'm more sure now than I was five years ago.
16:14
SPEAKER_00: So why am I so sure?
16:16
SPEAKER_00: Well, on the street the manual gearing is tall.
16:19
SPEAKER_00: You spend most of your time in second and third.
16:21
SPEAKER_00: With the PDK, either it's shifting itself, like I'm driving around right now, or I'm shifting more often with the paddles because the gearing is lower.
16:30
SPEAKER_00: So it's just more fun.
16:32
SPEAKER_00: And on track, well, it's faster with PDK, no contest.
16:36
SPEAKER_00: You know, especially this here, chasing tents uh uh with the assistance of our Garmin Catalyst.
16:42
SPEAKER_00: I really like it.
16:43
SPEAKER_00: To be fair though.
16:44
SPEAKER_00: One owner in the comments told me he doesn't find the manual gearing long at all, especially with an exhaust valve controller so you can hear the full range.
16:55
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I, you know, I respect that.
16:57
SPEAKER_00: If you want the involvement of a third pedal and you don't track uh your 718 spider, the manual, you know, it is a great choice.
17:05
SPEAKER_00: But keep in mind, I've been heel and towing for over 50 years.
17:08
SPEAKER_00: I didn't pick the PDK because I can't drive a manual.
17:12
SPEAKER_00: I picked it because it's the better tool uh for how I how I use this car.
17:16
SPEAKER_00: Because a manual's available doesn't automatically mean that that's the best choice.
17:30
SPEAKER_00: Percentage of you asked, should I finally be upgrading the exhaust on my car?
17:34
SPEAKER_00: And you know that that's a that's a common question.
17:37
SPEAKER_00: Last year I said the stock exhaust uh sound was disappointing, and you know, a lot of you agreed.
17:43
SPEAKER_00: Three owners in the comments switched to uh Akropovich exhausts, two more recommended an exhaust valve controller because they say even in sport mode the valves stay closed below 5,000 RPM.
17:57
SPEAKER_00: So, what's my answer?
17:58
SPEAKER_00: Well, not yet.
17:59
SPEAKER_00: To be honest, I'm not all that excited about mods to begin with, and anything that would make this car louder on the highway is a hard no.
18:06
SPEAKER_00: So, what would you do?
18:07
SPEAKER_00: Valve controller or Akropovich exhaust?
18:10
SPEAKER_00: Let me know in the comments below.
18:11
SPEAKER_00: Now let's talk about going to the track because this was my best season ever in this car.
18:16
SPEAKER_00: One minute 35.63 seconds.
18:27
SPEAKER_00: That's my new personal best at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
18:31
SPEAKER_00: So what changed?
18:32
SPEAKER_00: Well, two things so the suspension and the data.
18:35
SPEAKER_00: First, I added uh RSS adjustable rear toe links and RSS front caster bushings.
18:42
SPEAKER_00: Total cost$2,742, which included an alignment and corner balancing.
18:48
SPEAKER_00: And so what did that do?
18:50
SPEAKER_00: Well, the biggest change was a high speed braking.
18:52
SPEAKER_00: Before, under hard braking from 140 miles an hour, at the end of the back straight, the rear would kind of squirm and kind of dance around.
19:00
SPEAKER_00: The stock uh rubber bushings, well, they'd flex and the rear toe uh moves.
19:05
SPEAKER_00: Now it tracks laser straight.
19:07
SPEAKER_00: And that gives you the confidence to brake a little bit later.
19:10
SPEAKER_00: Turn in and sharpen it because there's no rubber compressing before the car responds.
19:15
SPEAKER_00: There's less mid-corner under stare, and on exit, the rear stays planted when you roll onto that throttle.
19:21
SPEAKER_00: Second, that Garmin Catalyst.
19:23
SPEAKER_00: You know, it showed me where I was leaving uh time on the table.
19:27
SPEAKER_00: And honestly, I've only scratched the surface.
19:29
SPEAKER_00: I learned definitely need to learn how to use it better next year.
19:33
SPEAKER_00: Now here's the expensive lesson.
19:34
SPEAKER_00: After that suspension work, I was I was disappointed.
19:37
SPEAKER_00: My pilot sport 4S uh were still wearing really badly on the outside edge.
19:45
SPEAKER_00: I struggled with it for most of the season.
19:47
SPEAKER_00: And then late in the year, with the help of my mechanic, I figured out I wasn't just wearing the outside edge, I was wearing the inside edge too.
19:55
SPEAKER_00: I was running 31 psi hot on the fronts.
19:58
SPEAKER_00: I've moved to 35 psi hot on the fronts now, and it's the wear has been definitely evened out and it's much, much better.
20:08
SPEAKER_00: That mistake was costing me money every single track day.
20:11
SPEAKER_00: Remember that tire expense line?
20:14
SPEAKER_00: $15,893.
20:16
SPEAKER_00: And the brakes, well, front pads are at 50%, rears are at 70%.
20:22
SPEAKER_00: I'm still on OEM Porsche pads because they keep the brakes quiet on the street.
20:27
SPEAKER_00: But keep in mind, I'll likely need new discs soon.
20:31
SPEAKER_00: That's a big bill coming next season.
20:33
SPEAKER_00: Now, as a PCA national track instructor, I ride with a lot of first-time drivers.
20:39
SPEAKER_00: So, what would I tell you if you showed up at your first track day in a Porsche 718 spider?
20:44
SPEAKER_00: Number one, bring a tire pressure gauge and be sure you use it.
20:48
SPEAKER_00: The pressure display on the dash, you know, it's just a pain on the track.
20:52
SPEAKER_00: It throws false warnings as the tires heat up, and on the spider, you know, it can't be shut off like it can be on a GT4 or a GT3.
21:00
SPEAKER_00: So know your hot pressures, check them after every session and adjust them.
21:05
SPEAKER_00: Number two, have spare pads ordered before you need them.
21:08
SPEAKER_00: I've waited weeks for Porsche pads more than once.
21:12
SPEAKER_00: If you wait until your pads are done, you might miss the rest of the season.
21:15
SPEAKER_00: And make sure your brake fluid is fresh before every track season.
21:20
SPEAKER_00: Number three, make sure you set up the car seat for you.
21:23
SPEAKER_00: Now on track, I lower the seat, slide it forward, and recline the back rest a little to make room for my Simpson hybrid neck protector.
21:32
SPEAKER_00: If you have 18-way seats like me, be sure to adjust the thigh and back bolsters to hold you in place.
21:37
SPEAKER_00: It takes a few minutes, and unfortunately, with no memory seats, you'll be doing it every track day.
21:43
SPEAKER_00: But a good driving position is safer, and here's a bonus don't chase lap times on your first day, your first month, or even your first year.
21:52
SPEAKER_00: Learn the line, learn the car, and listen to your instructor.
21:56
SPEAKER_00: The speed comes later, trust me.
21:58
SPEAKER_00: It took me six years.
22:00
SPEAKER_00: This car to find to finally get to my personal best.
22:03
SPEAKER_00: Now there's one part about owning this car that never shows up on a spreadsheet, and quite honestly, it might be the best part.
22:10
SPEAKER_00: This summer I went back to Porsche Parade for the first time in 12 years in Lake Placid, New York.
22:16
SPEAKER_00: The 70th annual parade.
22:18
SPEAKER_00: There was over 1,300 cars and I believe about 2,000 participants.
22:24
SPEAKER_00: And let me tell you, pulling into that town in this car, surrounded by every Porsche that's ever mattered, you know, was truly something special.
22:34
SPEAKER_00: Now people came to talk about this beautiful Miami blue color, the speedster humps, the PDK versus the manual debate, you know, all of it.
22:43
SPEAKER_00: Even after six years, this car still starts conversations.
22:47
SPEAKER_00: And if you want to see what Porsche Parade is really like, I've got a whole series on it.
22:51
SPEAKER_00: I'll put a link in the description down below to the playlist.
22:54
SPEAKER_00: Now last year I've made some claims.
22:55
SPEAKER_00: Let's see how they've held up.
22:57
SPEAKER_00: So claim one, I plan to keep this car for the foreseeable future.
23:00
SPEAKER_00: Check still here, still loving it.
23:03
SPEAKER_00: Claim two, no changes to the exhaust, ECU, or brakes.
23:06
SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, the stock stuff definitely works fine for me.
23:10
SPEAKER_00: Well, I guess that shouldn't really be half a check because yeah, sure the uh the exhaust, the ECU, and the brakes are still stock, but I did change the suspension, and you know what?
23:20
SPEAKER_00: I'm really glad I did it.
23:21
SPEAKER_00: And claim three, my cost was about a dollar ten a mile, which is a steal.
23:26
SPEAKER_00: Well, there's a miss there now, right?
23:29
SPEAKER_00: So it's$1.65 a mile before depreciation now.
23:33
SPEAKER_00: Now it's still good value, um, but I was a little too optimistic.
23:38
SPEAKER_00: Claim four, other than the Z06 Corvette, there's nothing else I'd really consider.
23:44
SPEAKER_00: Check, and I'll explain why in a minute.
23:46
SPEAKER_00: And I'd like to clear up a bit of confusion too, uh, because um you caught some of them.
23:51
SPEAKER_00: Several of you flagged my 0-60 time.
23:53
SPEAKER_00: Now the PDK spider was um tested by Car and Driver uh with a 0-60 time of uh 3.4 seconds.
24:02
SPEAKER_00: Now various other um magazines and um uh Porsche's own literature, uh they're all over the map.
24:13
SPEAKER_00: Um because they actually tested it in uh real-world results, I go by what Car and Driver says.
24:21
SPEAKER_00: Also like to thank the viewer who pointed out that one long press uh on the key fob starts to open the roof, not what I said, which was three quick clicks.
24:32
SPEAKER_00: Three quick clicks work, but one long press is a whole lot easier.
24:36
SPEAKER_00: Definitely keep those comments coming.
24:38
SPEAKER_00: I read every single one.
24:39
SPEAKER_00: Now the question I get all the time, and that is what else would I buy?
24:43
SPEAKER_00: Well, first let's talk about the Spider RS.
24:45
SPEAKER_00: I made a couple of videos on whether I was going to upgrade, whether I should upgrade, and my answer is no, not for now.
24:52
SPEAKER_00: Haggerty values a good 2025 at around$216,000.
24:57
SPEAKER_00: Now that's more than double what I paid for this car.
25:00
SPEAKER_00: Will it give me double than what I have with this car?
25:03
SPEAKER_00: I don't think so.
25:04
SPEAKER_00: What about a GT4?
25:06
SPEAKER_00: Same engine, same chassis, but with a roof.
25:08
SPEAKER_00: Used ones are average around$120,000.
25:12
SPEAKER_00: Sure, that's a great car.
25:13
SPEAKER_00: But I bought the spider because I wanted a convertible.
25:16
SPEAKER_00: That hasn't changed.
25:17
SPEAKER_00: What about that boxster GTS 4.0?
25:20
SPEAKER_00: Well, power top, softer ride, a bit taller off the ground.
25:24
SPEAKER_00: So one comment commenter thinks uh it's the best boxer you can buy for road driving, and he makes a good case.
25:30
SPEAKER_00: But it isn't a GT car, it's not as track focused as my spider, and quite honestly, it's just not as special.
25:38
SPEAKER_00: What about the Corvette?
25:39
SPEAKER_00: Well, here's what's really interesting: a brand new Z06 uh convertible starts at about$127,000.
25:46
SPEAKER_00: That's roughly what a clean, low mileage spiders are selling for.
25:50
SPEAKER_00: More power, a better sound, but it's bigger, it's heavier.
25:54
SPEAKER_00: So would I swap?
25:56
SPEAKER_00: No.
25:56
SPEAKER_00: Honestly, I can't think of a single car available new today that I'd replace this with.
26:02
SPEAKER_00: If you're shopping for one of these, here's what I'd check.
26:05
SPEAKER_00: Number one, run the VIN for open recalls, including that 2021 engine recall.
26:11
SPEAKER_00: Number two, if it's a manual, ask for the overrev report from the engine computer.
26:16
SPEAKER_00: It shows whether the engine has been overreved and when.
26:19
SPEAKER_00: A missed downshift on a manual car would definitely show up there.
26:23
SPEAKER_00: Number three, check the engine mounts and ask about any PADM disabled warnings.
26:28
SPEAKER_00: Number four, look for coolant leaks around the expansion tank and the hoses.
26:32
SPEAKER_00: Number five, get a bore scope done.
26:35
SPEAKER_00: You know, it's cheap insurance.
26:36
SPEAKER_00: Number six, inspect the roof, the fins and tensioners, and that plastic rear window for scratches.
26:42
SPEAKER_00: Number seven, check underneath.
26:44
SPEAKER_00: The front splitter and rear diffuser can take a beating on a car this low.
26:49
SPEAKER_00: Number eight, buy one that's still under warranty if you can.
26:52
SPEAKER_00: In Canada, you can only extend the Porsche warranty if the car is still covered.
26:56
SPEAKER_00: Let it lapse, that option's gone.
26:58
SPEAKER_00: Nine, full service records.
27:00
SPEAKER_00: Brake fluid every two years, spark plugs on schedule.
27:03
SPEAKER_00: No records, I'd walk away.
27:05
SPEAKER_00: Now, after six years, 28,610 miles, Porsche Parade, and the best track season I've ever had.
27:12
SPEAKER_00: What do I love?
27:13
SPEAKER_00: Well, first that engine.
27:14
SPEAKER_00: That naturally aspirated 8,000 RPM, you know, they're never making another one like it.
27:24
SPEAKER_00: Second, it's the perfect compromise.
27:26
SPEAKER_00: A real convertible, I can drive to Lake Placid, and a real GT car I can take to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
27:33
SPEAKER_00: And honestly, I don't even miss the carbon buckets.
27:36
SPEAKER_00: My 18-way seats hold me in just fine.
27:39
SPEAKER_00: Third, it's reliable.
27:40
SPEAKER_00: Six years and it hasn't let me down once.
27:43
SPEAKER_00: So what frustrates me?
27:45
SPEAKER_00: Well, the running costs.
27:46
SPEAKER_00: They're definitely going up.
27:48
SPEAKER_00: Tires, brakes, and a warranty decision, you know, without any good answer right now.
27:54
SPEAKER_00: Second, the dated tech.
27:56
SPEAKER_00: The infotainment, no memory seats, no blind spot monitoring.
28:01
SPEAKER_00: Third, that stock exhaust.
28:03
SPEAKER_00: A car this special deserves to sound a lot better.
28:06
SPEAKER_00: So would I buy again, knowing everything I now know?
28:09
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely in a heartbeat.
28:11
SPEAKER_00: Because every time I drop the top and Revit past 4000 RPM on a road like this one, I remember why I love cars.
28:23
SPEAKER_00: So who should buy a 718 Spider?
28:25
SPEAKER_00: Well, you should if you value driving experience over straight line speed.
28:29
SPEAKER_00: If you want one car that's a true convertible and a true track car, if you love naturally aspirated engines and you know there won't be any more, it's your second car and you can afford the$650 a month or more to run it, who should walk away?
28:44
SPEAKER_00: Well, if you need only one car, if you hate a manual top, if you live somewhere with terrible roads because this car is definitely low, if you're on a tight budget because the maintenance only gets more and more expensive from here.
28:57
SPEAKER_00: And if you're thinking of buying one at the top of the market just to flip it, yeah, that's not this is not the car for you.
29:04
SPEAKER_00: And if you've missed my five year review on my 718 Spider, that video's right over here.
29:09
SPEAKER_00: Any questions or comments about my spider, my track setup, or the warranty, add them to the comments below.
29:15
SPEAKER_00: I read and answer everyone.