Great video. I’ve got a few more… The remote only works when you’re close to the car. The performance exhaust button only makes it louder from idle to about 1500 rpm and then it goes quiet before opening up again at 4000 rpm. The cylinder deactivation makes strange sounds. I have the motorized 18 way seats and I still can’t get comfortable. Agree, the tech is a bit dated. Everyone says this but the gearing in 1st and 2nd is too tall. I would like to get this changed. Trying to pull on someone in their M3 rolling in 2nd gear at 60kph takes a while to get into the meat of the powerband and there’s no way I’m downshifting into 1st gear! The one benefit to having the start stop is if you stall the car (I did once or twice when I was getting used to it) it restarts the engine as soon as you depress the clutch. Even with the start stop disabled…pretty cool. Lastly it seems to have a break hold feature if you’re on a steep slope…but it doesn’t indicate this to you and it doesn’t seem to consistently do it??? Overall, I agree with you. It’s a fantastic car and none of this detracts too much. Great video!
Great points! I really appreciate the kind words. I thought about mentioning the exhaust, but I'm going to get an exhaust kit (leaning between Soul and Kline) and one of the Cargraphic valve controllers soon, so I just left it off. It doesn't sound bad, per se, but these 4.0's sound SO much better with an aftermarket setup!
I agreed with two of your pet peeves, so I did something about them on my ‘21 Spyder: 1) I bought a third party memory module ($200) that remembers all the button positions when the car is turned on & off, including the Start/Stop function, Sport Exhaust, etc. 2) If you release the roof from the header panel, you can raise the trunk lid about 12”-14” without releasing the “sail panels”. I do that to get access to the two folding “bag” chairs that I keep there. I even cut a wood rod to support the lid while I reach in to get the chairs.
Very clever! I'll have to do some research on the memory module. That sounds like a clever solution for all the button settings. Appreciate the thoughts!
I believe Auto Start Stop is now a US DOT requirement. You can buy the memory module from T Design that goes under the console and remembers all your button settings, including AS/S off. So you never have to turn it off. It just stays off. I like leaving auto blip on, etc. So that remembers the settings. The one thing I agree with that I really dislike is the trunk issue with the top up, but it's a function of the flying buttress design which I do love so you can't have it both ways. I don't use it as a grocery getter, and 90% of the time drive it with the top down so it's not an issue. But I do agree.
Absolutely! I wish there was a way to just detach the buttress latch points to access the trunk (without unlatching the electric lock on the roof). Oh well, I don't use mine for groceries either, but I like to take my camera bags with me when I go out in case I ever want to take some photos, so it'd be nice to have quicker access. But, luckily, the front trunk is also huge so I just use that one!
Really appreciate it! I actually just made a video talking about 718s vs. 911s. Make sure you check that out too! It may help give you another perspective: czcams.com/video/sndmUaP0Ul8/video.html
Agree with you on the key. Porsche has romance over key ignition and on the left side due to Le Mans race, so that’s why we are burdened with it. As an owner my biggest three annoyances are the visual (and easily avoidable) warts: 1. Headlight washer nipples 2. Rear parking sensors 3. SiriusXM antenna (worst of them all)
Man those stupid headlight washers! I ALMOST ordered the base headlights because they don’t have the washer system. But, I reallllly like the LED headlights, so I live with it. Great list by the way! Pretty much spot on.
#3 - trunk wart is the worst of them all !! Not sure why its required in the US when the Europe models get an unobstructed rear trunk where you can fully appreciate its silhouette. It should have at least been an option..I would have gone w/ a satellite delete.
What a beautiful car looks even better than the 991 Speedster. Yes i love the top, the way it looks, the way it operates is just fun as it is a fun car to start with. OMG handles out of this World and for me personal the best looking car on the planet. 450 hp manual tranny and mid engine. BTW i also like everything manual as you feel in control. Thanks for the review, appreciated & enjoyed.
I agree about the start/stop issue! I have both a GT4 and a Spyder and I have to disengage every time! My 2014 911 I am able to disengage the start/stop in the setup so I don’t have to deal with it every time!
I am probably one of the weird ones... sometimes I actually like to play with the cylinder deactivation on the freeway because it makes such weird sounds (related to quirk #5). Quirk #4 I also totally agree with... I've never used the trunk space that I can think of... always the frunk. Love the spec BTW... we almost have twins (mine is Manual / Chalk / Red Top / Aurum Wheels / PCCBs with Black Calipers). I'm "on the list" for a Spyder RS but I just can't shake the feeling that I won't be able to option it quite like the one I already have and love.
Awesome! The only dealbreaker for the Spyder RS for me is the PDK only transmission. Just like the GT4 RS, they wont offer it with a proper manual. And I know the actual GT3 4.0L revving to 9,000 rpm is even more awesome than the 4.0L revving to 8,000 rpm in the "normal" Spyder/GT4, but it's hard to justify the price difference when I'd be giving up the manual. Which is the best part of the car in my opinion! I don't track my Spyder, so the RS would only be for "show", and no one should ever buy a car just for show!
@@charliemanger we'll see... there are consistent rumors that the Spyder RS won't actually come out of the "RS Group" which would require the use of the PDK, but could actually come out of the "Individual Group" which could open up the possibility of a manual (ala 991.2 Speedster?). I have a number of friends that assure me the PDK is still magical but I do have my own doubts... in a perfect world I would get the Spyder RS allocation, keep the original Spyder and drive both for a bit, and then replace one of them with a 992.2 GT3RS. Gotta admit there is a lot of "hope" and "dreams" in that plan.
@@geoff.grahamDeMan Motorsports strokes the engine to get 4.5L and 550hp, that should do the trick. $40k includes shorter gear ratios in 2,3,4,5 gears.
Manually sliding seats are WAY faster than electric…and I think I’ll be dealing with the same situation with ingress/egress.🤪 Porsche should definitely offer the Entry & Drive feature with the Spyder…the “manual” theme doesn’t work when you still offer 18-way buckets.🤪 The other options I would definitely get if offered is an electronic front lift system and infotainment delete (with rear camera integrated with rear view mirror…I’ve never listened to music in any of my past convertibles).
1- no need for electric seats since you only adjust it once and like you said, you’re the only driver. So why add electric and more weight? Those buckets seats are a must have option in those GT cars and definitely not the comfy old man electric seats. 2- you can’t access the back trunk but that’s why you have front trunk! 3- the key fob is what’s so unique about Porsche and it’s by far the prettiest key fob out there which also give you the possibility to customize to your liking. Just appreciate it! 4- I agree about the buttons on startup. It’s really annoying
Great points! Honestly, that's why I called them "quirks" instead of "wrong". It's these kind of things that give the car character and make them interesting!
I have a 718 and personally I never have to adjust my seat to get in or out of the car and I’m 6ft1 however this is with the base seats, not sure if that makes a difference.
The side bolsters are almost higher than your legs with these seats, which leaves hardly any gap between the steering wheel and seat when I’m in my driving position, so I’ve got to slide mine back getting in and out. A minor inconvenience though! Still love the car and wouldn’t change it!
Hopefully there’s a product out there that permanently disables the start stop . I installed one in my wife’s Honda Ridgeline recently from a company that produces them for most all Honda/Acura vehicles. Took about 10 minutes and works perfectly. Gotta be a market for this I’d think.
I think there is one. I’m pretty sure I saw it on Obsessed Garage’s channel, but I think you have to pull the center console apart to install it. Not a huge deal, but I really didn’t want to start pulling apart my brand new Porsche as soon as I got it! Oh well, I’ll get around to it someday!
@@charliemanger Yep that’s what was involved in the Ridgeline. Just popping some of the plastic off the center where the transmission buttons are. Super easy overall
will it fit a full sized checked luggage into the trunk? i am thinking of doing a roadtrip across europe in one of these and this would be a dealbreaker.
Ehhhh. I'm not 100% sure (never tried it), but I'd say it'd be close. It's a decent sized trunk (and there are 2 of them), but if it's one of those huge suitcases like you see in movies, then no I don't think you could fit it in either trunk.
I'm ~5'10". I don't necessarily HAVE to slide the seat back, but the gap between the seat bolster and steering wheel is pretty narrow, so it's pretty awkward to get out if I don't move it. The standard seat design is much easier to get in and out of if you plan on daily driving the car.
I'm 5' 10" and it doesn't feel claustrophobic at all. The roof line arches over quite a bit, so it leaves plenty of vertical space. Keep in mind the carbon seats sit much lower than the standard electric seats, so things might be a little different if you didn't go with carbon seats.
Unfortunately, Entry & Drive isn't available on the Spyder/GT4 cars. It looks like Porsche took away things like the Entry & Drive, Lane Keep Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control for the Spyder/GT4's. You can add those to the GTS trims and lower. Oh well, bummer!
Nice! I think I found it. I believe it’s called “entry and drive”. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t appear to be an option for GT4/Spyder models. So I think I’m out of luck!
I love the white with that red top. It really makes it pop. I don't think Porsche does this but I like white with a bright navy blue top. Some BMW 3 series convertibles from the 80s had that. Also, I miss real keys. And I do prefer manual seats, convertibles and even windows if that exists anymore. That auto start stop is ridiculously ridiculous. Definitely annoying and not good for the car.
For sure! Yeah, the Spyders are only available with black or red tops, but I believe the Boxster, the S, and the GTS have blue top options (need to check though). There are a ton of cool options and combinations Porsche let you configure.
Hmm, yea I think so too. Unfortunately, since the car is still under warranty, I don't really want to mess with any of the programming or tuning just yet.
You can’t “code” it to stay off, but you can buy a memory module to connect inline with the buttons. I didn’t want to wait until the warranty expired - that would mean four years of annoying behavior. The module is well worth the $200. Available from T-Design.
I’m sure they HAVE to include it on the car due to emission regulations, but just let me hit the button ONCE to permanently disable it! Come on Porsche! lol
Definitely a solid point. If they offered a manual in the C8's I would've been all in! But for a road car I just look for driver involvement and fun. I do plan on getting a C6 GS or C7 Z51 as a car just for track days.
I wouldn't even say it's a drawback. It's all just personal preference and what you enjoy more. The dual-clutch in the C8's is seriously good! It was a joy to drive on track at the Ron Fellows school out in Vegas.
Charlie, I agree completely with your reasoning regarding the Corvette vs. the 718 Spyder. Of course, I’m prejudiced since I made a similar decision when buying mine. You can’t always base decisions on money - psychic rewards are very important, too.
I have a 2023 Spyder. What I don't get about the rear trunk is there's a button to open both the front trunk and rear but the rear one does not work. So why have it in the first place? Yes, you have to open the top as the only way to open the rear trunk.
Great video. I’ve got a few more…
The remote only works when you’re close to the car.
The performance exhaust button only makes it louder from idle to about 1500 rpm and then it goes quiet before opening up again at 4000 rpm.
The cylinder deactivation makes strange sounds.
I have the motorized 18 way seats and I still can’t get comfortable.
Agree, the tech is a bit dated.
Everyone says this but the gearing in 1st and 2nd is too tall. I would like to get this changed. Trying to pull on someone in their M3 rolling in 2nd gear at 60kph takes a while to get into the meat of the powerband and there’s no way I’m downshifting into 1st gear!
The one benefit to having the start stop is if you stall the car (I did once or twice when I was getting used to it) it restarts the engine as soon as you depress the clutch. Even with the start stop disabled…pretty cool. Lastly it seems to have a break hold feature if you’re on a steep slope…but it doesn’t indicate this to you and it doesn’t seem to consistently do it???
Overall, I agree with you. It’s a fantastic car and none of this detracts too much. Great video!
Great points! I really appreciate the kind words. I thought about mentioning the exhaust, but I'm going to get an exhaust kit (leaning between Soul and Kline) and one of the Cargraphic valve controllers soon, so I just left it off. It doesn't sound bad, per se, but these 4.0's sound SO much better with an aftermarket setup!
I hate the auto brake hold on incline. Only time I’ve ever stalled the car
Ever heard of weight savings? Every motorized component has weight. By leaving things manual you can shave off weight and use light aluminum parts.
I wish it had crank down windows and they removed the radio and air conditioning! To save even more weight!
I agreed with two of your pet peeves, so I did something about them on my ‘21 Spyder:
1) I bought a third party memory module ($200) that remembers all the button positions when the car is turned on & off, including the Start/Stop function, Sport Exhaust, etc.
2) If you release the roof from the header panel, you can raise the trunk lid about 12”-14” without releasing the “sail panels”. I do that to get access to the two folding “bag” chairs that I keep there. I even cut a wood rod to support the lid while I reach in to get the chairs.
Very clever! I'll have to do some research on the memory module. That sounds like a clever solution for all the button settings. Appreciate the thoughts!
I believe Auto Start Stop is now a US DOT requirement. You can buy the memory module from T Design that goes under the console and remembers all your button settings, including AS/S off. So you never have to turn it off. It just stays off. I like leaving auto blip on, etc. So that remembers the settings. The one thing I agree with that I really dislike is the trunk issue with the top up, but it's a function of the flying buttress design which I do love so you can't have it both ways. I don't use it as a grocery getter, and 90% of the time drive it with the top down so it's not an issue. But I do agree.
Absolutely! I wish there was a way to just detach the buttress latch points to access the trunk (without unlatching the electric lock on the roof). Oh well, I don't use mine for groceries either, but I like to take my camera bags with me when I go out in case I ever want to take some photos, so it'd be nice to have quicker access. But, luckily, the front trunk is also huge so I just use that one!
Like your content bro! Trying to decide this or the 911 base model. Will be my second car with the base Tesla M3.
Really appreciate it! I actually just made a video talking about 718s vs. 911s. Make sure you check that out too! It may help give you another perspective:
czcams.com/video/sndmUaP0Ul8/video.html
Agree with you on the key. Porsche has romance over key ignition and on the left side due to Le Mans race, so that’s why we are burdened with it.
As an owner my biggest three annoyances are the visual (and easily avoidable) warts:
1. Headlight washer nipples
2. Rear parking sensors
3. SiriusXM antenna (worst of them all)
Man those stupid headlight washers! I ALMOST ordered the base headlights because they don’t have the washer system. But, I reallllly like the LED headlights, so I live with it. Great list by the way! Pretty much spot on.
#3 - trunk wart is the worst of them all !! Not sure why its required in the US when the Europe models get an unobstructed rear trunk where you can fully appreciate its silhouette. It should have at least been an option..I would have gone w/ a satellite delete.
@@randomhawks3232 they don’t have SiriusXM in Europe, that’s why they don’t have the antenna
What a beautiful car looks even better than the 991 Speedster. Yes i love the top, the way it looks, the way it operates is just fun as it is a fun car to start with. OMG handles out of this World and for me personal the best looking car on the planet. 450 hp manual tranny and mid engine. BTW i also like everything manual as you feel in control. Thanks for the review, appreciated & enjoyed.
Thanks for the kind words!
Naaah, the keys are fine :-) I love'em!
Right on!
Im thinking of getting a 718 Spyder used with lowmiles and saw your yt🤗
Highly recommend it! It’s a FANTASTIC car (just needs an exhaust system!).
I agree about the start/stop issue! I have both a GT4 and a Spyder and I have to disengage every time! My 2014 911 I am able to disengage the start/stop in the setup so I don’t have to deal with it every time!
Such a silly feature for a car like these!
My Spyder is the BEST car I’ve ever owned.
I am probably one of the weird ones... sometimes I actually like to play with the cylinder deactivation on the freeway because it makes such weird sounds (related to quirk #5). Quirk #4 I also totally agree with... I've never used the trunk space that I can think of... always the frunk. Love the spec BTW... we almost have twins (mine is Manual / Chalk / Red Top / Aurum Wheels / PCCBs with Black Calipers). I'm "on the list" for a Spyder RS but I just can't shake the feeling that I won't be able to option it quite like the one I already have and love.
Awesome! The only dealbreaker for the Spyder RS for me is the PDK only transmission. Just like the GT4 RS, they wont offer it with a proper manual. And I know the actual GT3 4.0L revving to 9,000 rpm is even more awesome than the 4.0L revving to 8,000 rpm in the "normal" Spyder/GT4, but it's hard to justify the price difference when I'd be giving up the manual. Which is the best part of the car in my opinion! I don't track my Spyder, so the RS would only be for "show", and no one should ever buy a car just for show!
@@charliemanger we'll see... there are consistent rumors that the Spyder RS won't actually come out of the "RS Group" which would require the use of the PDK, but could actually come out of the "Individual Group" which could open up the possibility of a manual (ala 991.2 Speedster?). I have a number of friends that assure me the PDK is still magical but I do have my own doubts... in a perfect world I would get the Spyder RS allocation, keep the original Spyder and drive both for a bit, and then replace one of them with a 992.2 GT3RS. Gotta admit there is a lot of "hope" and "dreams" in that plan.
@@geoff.grahamDeMan Motorsports strokes the engine to get 4.5L and 550hp, that should do the trick. $40k includes shorter gear ratios in 2,3,4,5 gears.
Manually sliding seats are WAY faster than electric…and I think I’ll be dealing with the same situation with ingress/egress.🤪 Porsche should definitely offer the Entry & Drive feature with the Spyder…the “manual” theme doesn’t work when you still offer 18-way buckets.🤪 The other options I would definitely get if offered is an electronic front lift system and infotainment delete (with rear camera integrated with rear view mirror…I’ve never listened to music in any of my past convertibles).
I wish they offered front lift on the 718s!
1- no need for electric seats since you only adjust it once and like you said, you’re the only driver. So why add electric and more weight? Those buckets seats are a must have option in those GT cars and definitely not the comfy old man electric seats.
2- you can’t access the back trunk but that’s why you have front trunk!
3- the key fob is what’s so unique about Porsche and it’s by far the prettiest key fob out there which also give you the possibility to customize to your liking. Just appreciate it!
4- I agree about the buttons on startup. It’s really annoying
Great points! Honestly, that's why I called them "quirks" instead of "wrong". It's these kind of things that give the car character and make them interesting!
quirk 4 would be an issue to me😊
It's definitely not the most convenient thing in the world!
Love it! Hopefully we get some better weather soon T_T
It’s the south, it might be 76 degrees tomorrow, it might be 26! Well get a few more chances 😬
:) good thing i have watched the Vid...now i know before buying the Seat and Back-Trunk Quirks :))
Glad I could help! But, I will say the seats are totally worth it!
I have a 718 and personally I never have to adjust my seat to get in or out of the car and I’m 6ft1 however this is with the base seats, not sure if that makes a difference.
The side bolsters are almost higher than your legs with these seats, which leaves hardly any gap between the steering wheel and seat when I’m in my driving position, so I’ve got to slide mine back getting in and out. A minor inconvenience though! Still love the car and wouldn’t change it!
base seats are manual sliding also
Well, I guess I learn something new everyday! I thought they were electric, but sure enough, only the reclining is electric!
Hopefully there’s a product out there that permanently disables the start stop . I installed one in my wife’s Honda Ridgeline recently from a company that produces them for most all Honda/Acura vehicles. Took about 10 minutes and works perfectly. Gotta be a market for this I’d think.
I think there is one. I’m pretty sure I saw it on Obsessed Garage’s channel, but I think you have to pull the center console apart to install it. Not a huge deal, but I really didn’t want to start pulling apart my brand new Porsche as soon as I got it! Oh well, I’ll get around to it someday!
@@charliemanger Yep that’s what was involved in the Ridgeline. Just popping some of the plastic off the center where the transmission buttons are. Super easy overall
will it fit a full sized checked luggage into the trunk? i am thinking of doing a roadtrip across europe in one of these and this would be a dealbreaker.
Ehhhh. I'm not 100% sure (never tried it), but I'd say it'd be close. It's a decent sized trunk (and there are 2 of them), but if it's one of those huge suitcases like you see in movies, then no I don't think you could fit it in either trunk.
Mind if I ask how tall you are that required seat readjusting each time
I'm ~5'10". I don't necessarily HAVE to slide the seat back, but the gap between the seat bolster and steering wheel is pretty narrow, so it's pretty awkward to get out if I don't move it. The standard seat design is much easier to get in and out of if you plan on daily driving the car.
Great video. Out of curiousity, how tall are you? Does cabinet feel claustrophobic with roof line?
I'm 5' 10" and it doesn't feel claustrophobic at all. The roof line arches over quite a bit, so it leaves plenty of vertical space. Keep in mind the carbon seats sit much lower than the standard electric seats, so things might be a little different if you didn't go with carbon seats.
Regarding the key, wasn’t Porsche Entry and Drive available when you ordered your car?
Unfortunately, Entry & Drive isn't available on the Spyder/GT4 cars. It looks like Porsche took away things like the Entry & Drive, Lane Keep Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control for the Spyder/GT4's. You can add those to the GTS trims and lower. Oh well, bummer!
@@charliemanger That's disappointing.
Your first two quirks show how quirky you are…not the car
Exactly! Who wants to be boring and normal?
LOL
Very good video 👍
Thanks, I appreciate it!
You can get a dummy keyfob that is always attached to the ignition. Thats such a non-issue.
That sounds clever! Can you send me the link? I've never seen anything like that.
@@charliemanger Search for key fob on suncoastparts. I have the cayman GTS 4.0 and Auto start-stop is automatically turned off in sports mode
Nice! I think I found it. I believe it’s called “entry and drive”. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t appear to be an option for GT4/Spyder models. So I think I’m out of luck!
I love the white with that red top. It really makes it pop. I don't think Porsche does this but I like white with a bright navy blue top. Some BMW 3 series convertibles from the 80s had that. Also, I miss real keys. And I do prefer manual seats, convertibles and even windows if that exists anymore. That auto start stop is ridiculously ridiculous. Definitely annoying and not good for the car.
For sure! Yeah, the Spyders are only available with black or red tops, but I believe the Boxster, the S, and the GTS have blue top options (need to check though). There are a ton of cool options and combinations Porsche let you configure.
I'm pretty sure u can code it to stay off (auto start stop).
Hmm, yea I think so too. Unfortunately, since the car is still under warranty, I don't really want to mess with any of the programming or tuning just yet.
You can’t “code” it to stay off, but you can buy a memory module to connect inline with the buttons. I didn’t want to wait until the warranty expired - that would mean four years of annoying behavior. The module is well worth the $200. Available from T-Design.
People need not buy tell they fix the dame things!
Well, since the 718 Spyder has been discontinued, no one can buy one anymore anyways.
That is inconvenient that you have to disable the start stop system.
I’m sure they HAVE to include it on the car due to emission regulations, but just let me hit the button ONCE to permanently disable it! Come on Porsche! lol
My previous 2015 Cayman (981) allowed me to permanently disable the S/S system. The 718 models eliminated that capability.
schönes auto, den hätte ich gerne, bald
So this car costs as much as a C8 HTC Corvette with 500 HP. No thanks you should have kept the C7 Corvette.
Definitely a solid point. If they offered a manual in the C8's I would've been all in! But for a road car I just look for driver involvement and fun. I do plan on getting a C6 GS or C7 Z51 as a car just for track days.
@@charliemanger good point that is one drawback to the C8.
I wouldn't even say it's a drawback. It's all just personal preference and what you enjoy more. The dual-clutch in the C8's is seriously good! It was a joy to drive on track at the Ron Fellows school out in Vegas.
Charlie, I agree completely with your reasoning regarding the Corvette vs. the 718 Spyder. Of course, I’m prejudiced since I made a similar decision when buying mine. You can’t always base decisions on money - psychic rewards are very important, too.
I have a 2023 Spyder. What I don't get about the rear trunk is there's a button to open both the front trunk and rear but the rear one does not work. So why have it in the first place? Yes, you have to open the top as the only way to open the rear trunk.
Exactly! So weird, but I still love it! Hope you're enjoying your car!
@@charliemanger of course, it's an extraordinary car.