2020 718 Boxster Spyder- A Roofless GT4?
Could this new 718 be a better driver’s car than the critically acclaimed GT4?
The Porsche Cayman GT4 is one of the most celebrated driver’s car of our generation. It has been praised for being surprisingly analog in an increasingly detached driving market. Enthusiast or driver’s cars aren’t for everybody. Most people just want to be able to go to work and back. However, these cars aren’t for those people. These cars are those who live to drive. That want rich and dynamic experience every single time they fire up the engine.
Now, Porsche has gone the extra mile to make that experience even more rewarding. This is the 718 Spyder. This car is a GT4 with the roof cut off. It is built directly by the GT program, even though it is not “technically” a GT model. That to us sounds absolutely stunning. Considering the 4.0L flat-six can scream a sweet 8,000 RPM, the experience must be intoxicating with the roof down. Here is the real question however: is the Spyder more enjoyable to drive than the GT4? Thanks to TheSmokingTire on YouTube, we get to find out.
We join Host Matt Farah up in the Los Angeles canyons for an amazing joy ride. It is smart to note that this is a euro-spec 718 Spyder, thus, it is a little bit different than the model we would get here in the U.S. The main difference being the mandated filter in the exhaust, which kills the sound for emissions purposes. We know what our first mod would be if we bought this car in Europe.
While this might not be the 4.0L flat-six found in the GT3, we are just glad you call still buy a Boxster/Cayman with a flat-six to begin with. This car also weighs the same amount as the GT4, just above 3,000 pounds, even with the roof assembly. Farah is convinced this car has the longest 3rd gear of all-time, stating he could “do the whole canyon in 3rd”. He recommends potential owners to consider re-gearing the car entirely via the aftermarket.
This cars remains just like the GT4 in the sense that it has a “Cayman Complex”. Which according to Farah means that Porsche intentionally handicaps the Cayman/Boxster so its never as good as the 911. Farah also managed to drive this car 1,000 miles over a weekend and said the carbon-fiber bucket seats were surprisingly supportive and comfortable for the long journey.
In conclusion, Farah calls the 718 Spyder a “absolutely stellar motoring experience”. If that sounds like something that interests you, this might be a good option to consider. How can you really go wrong with this package if you really think about it?