718 Spyder - The best car Porsche make ?! 

I bought this car for many reasons but the main one is its design. It’s different, unique, unlike any other regular cars (except other exotics). Yes the roof is manual but that’s what even makes the roof design and shape special and unique! The double bubble in the back, the major air intake at the front etc... it just makes this car the best and cheapest exotic car you can get!

I just bought another one (2020) after owning two 2016 models and one 2020 model. I regretted selling the 2020 so I just bought another one. This one is GT Silver with Ceramic brakes. Car is just amazing. One of the best designs and driving cars Porsche has produced. Love it.

Manual roof. Manual gear box. Naturally aspirated 6 cyl ICE. Real Driver’s Car. Perfect.

That fold down soft top is old school Love it.

I’ve never been a fan of Porsche styling in the past but I like what they’re doing now. Stunning machine that.

The roof would not deter me ' less to go wrong .. Great car and investment ...

The roof, like the manual gearbox is a wonder of analogue. You could have a boring looking roof like the 718 Boxster or this beauty. I love my 718 Spyder and it’s really not an issue and nor was it on my 981 Spyder. The rest of the revue is SPOT ON so accurate and honest and thanks so much.

Press the unlock button (if from locked position) and press and hold the unlock button again on the key and the roof will unlatch and the boot will release and the windows will partially drop. No need to put the keys in the ignition. It’s roof mechanism is part of the charm of this car. Good review as always otherwise!

My friend, the roof operation is much easier with the key. I do every day in less than 40 second each movement. Keep the “open” button of you key pressed before you enter in the car and keep the “close” button whe you finish your journey!

Manual box..... Of course, I love manual gear boxes! Beautiful car, great review.

That six cylinder note 😍👌. This car, I very much like! Great content as always Pete 👍

Lovely car in a very nice spec. As a former Triumph Spitfire owner, the roof wouldn't put me off one bit. You're getting your hands on some really cracking cars since normal service resumed on the channel.

Just picked up my Spyder on 6/12/24 with 18 way seats….love it! So much fun!

I waited over 1 year to get an allocation for this car, every bit worth the wait, is my 15th Porsche of my life and is the best one by far, with a perfect amount of power, the Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires, is glue to the road.

Along came a Spyder, What a great review as always, would defo be on my lotto wish list .👍🧽🧽🏁

For how absolutely stunning this car looks I can go without an electric roof, good damn it's aesthetic

Beautiful car. The manual rooftop adds to the theater and visceral experience of it. In a world of touch screens, it’s quite refreshing to see Porsche paddling against the current with this car.

So glad you liked the Spyder. It's hard not to isn't it? Please remember that the Spyder was designed to be driven with the roof open at all times. More like a summer car so to speak (depending on where you lived). The roof was put there as an emergency in case it rains, it was deliberately engineered like that to save weight and allow it to more agile. It's also a lot easier than some manual roof systems. If you really want an electric roof, get a Boxster GTS ... or you get the Cayman GT4. There are choices for different people/needs. Anyway, loved the video it was great, as always! 👍

It’s 80mph in 2nd. One of the reasons I love my base. I get to change gear more.

The roof is not a disadvantage in my view it’s a point of difference and therefore an advantage.

I can see your enthusiasm and passion for what you do in this one video is purely genuine and you make the viewers become drawn in to watching until the end. I’ve been saying this for years that manuals are better than double clutch autos and even at work (Mercedes-Benz dealership) I try and say this and they all think I’m mad, that manuals aren’t as good as an AMG autos. I guess it’s this younger generation that think they know it all 🙄

I’m one of the few lucky ones this year, should be getting my Spyder in November (not the best time for a convertible to arrive). Thanks for a great video that confirms I’m doing the right thing👍

I love your honest reviews and I agree, more manual gearboxes, more buttons and less touch screens. Car manufacturers need to get get back to basics!

Great review the 718 Spyder looks stunning, did i say stunning OMG what a beauty. If i own it one day, i don’t have to drive it, just park it in the garage have a coffee and talk to it LOL. BTW i also like the look of the roof and the process is fun, you can do the roof faster and way more convenient by using the remote, roof weight is down 20 pounds over the normal Boxster.

right on; "give me buttons and a manual gearbox"' Had a PDK Cayman which was great but too perfect and not engaging enough. Went back to 987 Boxster with manual (and buttons) and love it every day. Even in heavy traffic.

Oooo that’s nice!! Bit of a palaver for the roof - but I could live with it. It would only come out on the driest of sunny days anyway. 😀

I LOVE that the roof is manual! They would ruin it if they changed that. This car is not for you if you don’t like that.

Not having an automatic roof is a bit of a pain but it doesn't appear from your review to be a deal breaker when considering the ultimate driving pleasure you get from it. That engine tone!

Your review tipped me over the edge, I just ordered one!

Hi Peter the sound on this vlog is excellent, keep using that lapel Mic it makes ALL the difference, and the six cylinder engine makes the car very special.

17:12 couldn’t agree more. A true drivers cars for road use has to have a manual, no doubt about it!

Gorgeous car, a true masterpiece, with the "magic flat six"! This is a collection piece! Certainly very few onwers will use this car on daily bases! Gorgeous video,thank you, Petrol Ped! Stay safe!

Best car by Porsche 2019/20. Top car - Top Reviewer👍🐕🐕

This is on another level Pete, camera angles etc.... thanks to Rick the Spud of course, more videos like this and I'm sure you'll reach 100k subs in no time, of course the car helped, but all those camera angles makes for a much more interesting watch. Keep up the hard work.

Wow! What a car! Loved almost everything about it. Just a gorgeous one, that one. I dont think I can live with the red (Maroon/Bordeaux) interior though...I'm good with the good ol' black interior. Thoroughly enjoyed the review and yea, Clarkson was being a duffus with that comment. Anyway, cheers from 🇨🇦 & happy motoring!

I could happily live with that manual roof its beautiful ,,,Pete. another great vid by the way ..cheers .

Absolutely love your review! Better than a nice cup of coffee in the morning! Refreshing and honest and to the point. I want one bad and I have not even got the chance to test drive it. Delicious as you would say! Good on you for doing this incredible review.

I have a 718 Boxster S and love the powered roof... I was in the mountains last week on some fun roads. It would rain on occasion... slow to 35, hit the button, continue on... maybe 10 times...

Love the Schnauzers, Spyder's not bad either... Your enthusiasm on this car really comes through, a great watch, thanks!

Very impressed with this car, the hood looks to be way easier than the last version! I had a manual Boxster 3.2 in 2003 (wow, that was a while ago!) which I loved. The Boxster GTS is definitely calling me - it just seems more useable than the Spyder. But either would do 😄

Love Porsche these days and a video like this and your reaction is the problem with EV extremists, now I get there's a place for EV but ICE should never not be an option because losing that "visceral" feeling will be such a shame, thankfully I am at an age where it shouldn't affect me. Great video lovely car.

Congratulations to a nice review. For sure it’s a brilliant drive and I appreciate your comments regarding the regular 718 models. The 4 cyl displacement is a brilliant car, spectacular to drive and, according to us, beautiful sound, different yes but still beautiful. Take care...

Sir Pete you may have shown me my new dream car! This car is just beautiful all the way around! It sounds fantastic! This was a good review sir Pete!

That roof is so much easier to use than the MG Midget I used to have. And in winter, the roof stiffened up so much it was sometimes almost impossible to put back up again :-))... It's a gorgeous looking and sounding car. Nice one PP. Shame you didn't do a 0-60!! :-\\...

The only video to list the options - very useful

The 981 GTS Boxster was one of my favorite all time Porsche, and your right the rev match is both flattering and addictive at the same time. The 718 with the 2.5 was epic fun, and fast but without a PSE it just didn't do it for me. But, this thing looks 👌. So glad it didn't have the 7 speed though.

Great review! So many positives! Mine will be here in 10 days!

Good video. Yes the roof is fiddly but after 2 Lotus Elises it isn’t an issue for me. You can get the 4.0L engine in a GTS Boxster if you really want an electric roof but you lose that beautiful rear deck. I have a 250 mile trip planned in a Spyder later this week 😀

All that money, and the receptacles for the flying buttress latches leave gaping holes when the top is down? Thank you for calling out Clarkson's nonsense about the 718. Personally, I'd go for the Cayman as I am not a rag top fan, but the 718 family is my favorite amongst the Porsches.

I fell in love the moment he first put his foot down. What a sound.

Superb upchange into a higher gear - Your Reviewing that is Pete, super review I think your best review to date and thank you for mentioning my name, I know you love me really, should you wish to spend a bit more time in a 718 Spyder let me know - Roger

Great content again Ped. I agree, it's one of, if not THE best car Porsche does for driver engagement.

100% agree with the comments around manual transmissions. Unfortunately, Porsche has said most model sales are only 10% manual, a staggering 90% of customers go for PDK. The numbers don't lie, the manual is not going to last much longer, especially as the current new drivers get older (most don't know how to drive manual).

Best looking/sounding new car I've seen for a long time

Peter, Pete, Pete!!!! The roof is a doddle, 10-15 seconds when you get used to it. for starters you can do the whole initial process from the key by keeping the 'open' button depressed. So all can be done from outside. I expect Roger Bailey to be along soon to give you what for! Achingly pretty car, prefer 718 to 981 Spyder at the front but much prefer the 981 at the rear, cleaner and prefer the twin exhausts central mounted. Not into the red seats. The folding buckets are the best option and look better than the 918 seats. The comfort seats are a no-no. In fact Andreas Preuninger said buckets and radio are the only 2 options you need and he would not spec one with comfort seats as they are not in the spirit of the car and you cant feel the car trough them. The rev-match is a masterpiece, yes can do it myself but as you say Porsche does it so much better. I don't think the 718 has flat up shift like the GT3? So you don't need to take your foot off the accelerator when you change up. I like the long gears gives you a chance to savour the engine. Suspension on all GT Porsches is just far too hard for UK roads, its bordering on unusable even in 'normal' mode. These cars need a comfort mode or 'bumpy road' like Ferrari. great cars, you need to try a 981 sounds better, is 200 kilos lighter and at the moment £30k cheaper with no performance deficit. Great review :-)

One of the few car reviews from the UK when it’s not raining. Great video mate!

Buttons and a manual transmission! Awesome!

I’ve always been a massive fan of Porsche and this is one of my favorites!! Great review again Pete

You can put the top up and down without even having to open the car door. The key fob will release the top by holding the unlock button. The key fob will also latch the top once you put it up by holding the lock button. No need to even open the car door. FYI

Great to see you at Sandown this week! Love the videos, well done

Enjoyed that - thanks. Personally, I stay away from the auto-blip, don't think the exhaust note is quite there, and having jumped out of the GT3 and back into this, it really put the steering and gearbox into perspective. But I love it, and I'll keep it forever. Interesting that Porsche GB specced the black ceramics as I did.

I tend to agree, not everyone does, but having driven one it simply has one of the best chassis ever. I wouldn’t personally have the drop top though. Lovely car, great review bud

Great review man - great to see the finished film and where you slotted in the bits I filmed. Good stuff! 👊😎

I ordered the same colour combination. Mine is currently en route and should arrive in Halifax by months end. I'll be driving him soon.

Good just got better at the end when you spoke of Clarkson! Amongst others, I had two 550 spiders and, although the performance was only slightly better than Boxter S, I still made a new friend at track day, he with a Viper and me with my 550, us with roughly the same lap times. Leather a bit darker (almost maroon) and GT Silver. It's not always about a pissing contest. ;-)

Love the video and the car of course. I also totally agree with your criticism of Jeremy Clarkson verdict on Boxster ownership. They are truly great cars and deserve praise as a stand alone model. For many this is peak Porsche in a large and ever more complex model range.

The biggest thing I’d hate is having to hand it back to the dealer after the test drive .. beautiful ride Pete. Cheers Matt from Australia 🇦🇺

I think if you want to re-discover the magic of open-top sports cars from the classic era (as I do), updated with modern performance and technology then the 718 Spyder is the car to get - thanks Porsche!!

Think I’d save myself the hassle with the roof (and £10k) and go with the new Boxster GTS 4.0 instead. Still if you just want the ultimate weekend car then this is probably it!

When you approach the car, to take the roof down, press “unlock” and hold. The roof latch and trunk latch open and the windows roll down. Makes lowering the top a snap.

I've owned the 981 GT4 and got offered a build slot this week; I've turned it down as I'd like to get the 718 Spyder though numbers are so low I doubt I'll be that lucky. Stunning car. Coming in PDK next year btw.

Awesome review, you answered many questions I had about this car.

Fantastic review. I bought one! Roof is a 30 second job if you use the key fob. The exhaust is a little muted but plenty of after-market solutions 😉

I know the feeling....I have one exactly like this. Very sharp and intelligent review!!!

I have a 2023 Spyder, and been driving it for 9 months. IT IS UNREAL! This is PEAK PORSCHE! Top is fine, gears are fine, handling is off the charts, looks are crazy great, and for the money, THIS IS THE BEST PORSCHE YOU CAN BUY! PERIOD!

Thank you 😊 Absolutely agree about analogue style

Porsche reading allways have nice cars out when visiting ikea. 38 min drive from me.

You don’t have to enter the car to operate roof mechanism. Can be operated by the key outside of vehicle

Love the video. My old Spitfire back in the 70s had a more practical soft top hood LOL. What a car though...

I want the MX 5 roof and MSRP, and the rest to be the 718 Spyder! Janko Lind suggested the best way to enjoy the manual is hold first gear longer than usual.

Gorgeous car...

Great review and a beautiful car. As for the roof, for me a manual roof beats electric. It's lighter, never goes wrong and once it's down I find it rarely goes back up during a drive.

Pete if you want to give your viewers a tip on how to make their cars more economical, faster, stop quicker and handle better ! Remove the sound deadening from under the carpet ! The stuff weighs a ton!

What a car! The spyder is my favourite porsche. Great review, well done rickthespud for the filming. Would love to know how it compares with the previous generation boxster spyder.

Loved that video Petrol Ped. Do yourself a favor... Find yourself a low mileage 2008 Boxster RS60 Spyder. Shorter gearing, automatic roof and an even better sounding engine... 90% of the fun (at least!!) for 30% of the cost. Love to see your video review!

Those machical roofs add so much weight.thats why a manual roof for this car is a must

To be fair I'm not a fan of Porsche but it does have a certain appeal. Nice vid again mate. By the way because of watching your videos about your Mini we've been out this morning and we will be getting our Mini countryman in September. 👍👍

The Spyder and GT4 are fantastic cars and empirically better than any recent iteration, but I still believe the first gen 987.1 Cayman and Boxster remain the soul of what these cars were and still are about. The manuals in those cars are just as good, the gearing much more usable, and the soundtrack from the 6-cylinder is spine-tingling especially with an aftermarket exhaust. And those first-gen bodies were more subtle and did without a lot of the scoops and vents and air ducts and diffusers. Just a simple timeless design of form following function. I think in some ways the newer cars have gotten away from the ethos of that first-gen DNA even though they are no doubt faster, more agile, more confident, safer, and more techie.

What an absolutely beautiful car with a glorious engine to match (although the roof is a bit of a faff). Great review Mr Ped! 👍🏽

As an owner I can say it’s simply wonderful.

Ordered mine yellow spyder 2021 pdk. Expecting it end of this year!

If i could afford to have a Porche, the 718 would be something I'd choose. I like the manual gear shifter & putting the top down manually wouldn't bother me. I thought it was a excellent review 👍❤🙂.

So good to have a 6 speed gear Box . A car to enjoy a. drive.

Hi Pete, nice vid, you should have said you were picking the Porsche up from Reading and you could have dropped into Newbury and had a social distancing cup of tea and left the key on the table 😂

Around 2 years ago I test drove a 2014 Boxter, the last of the flat 6 non S models with only 260hp. It was amazing. I will never forget it. So this Spyder, for me is the perfect drivers car. Right amount of power and looks so good. Motoring nirvana. Auto blip makes a manual so much better too. I think the Spyder/Cayman GT4 are the best looking cars on sale today, the Spyder roof doesn’t seem too much of a faf THB. Not like you’ve got to store the roof in the boot like the previous Spyder.

That 718 Spider is absolutely beautiful! I love its look. As you said thumbs down on the manual roof.👀

I agree dropping the roof is the worst thing 😒! I would also say Porsche needs to improve the rear diffuser and add a head up display option. In the interior I wish they continued with the hoodless cluster gages like my RS60 Spyder. Other than that love the car! ($mile)

What a gorgeous car. Sounds fabulous. Great review again! Thanks ;-)

It's just amazing, and with the spec I would choose!

That looks so cool! Love the wheels!