Porsche 718 Spyder RS Is the Ultimate Send-off for a Modern Legend
It may be the last of its kind, but the Porsche 718 Spyder RS is also one of the very best sports cars on sale today.Â
Seldom in the automotive world will you find a vehicle that people universally love, as pretty much every model that exists has its fair share of fans and detractors. Thus, when a model comes along that draws praise from essentially everyone, you know that you have something truly special on your hands. The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are such vehicles, universally praised for offering owners one of the very best driving experiences that exists, and they’ve been doing it for a number of years now. Sadly, the gas versions of those models are going away, but the Porsche 718 Spyder RS is, at least, a fitting send-off.
Recently, Doug DeMuro was able to spend some time with a Porsche 718 Spyder RS and discover its magic first-hand, as well as uncover all of its quirks and features. As its name implies, this is the new ultimate version of the Boxster, one that features every trick in Porsche’s book in an effort to create an even better driving experience. That means trick aero and suspension upgrades, of course, but something that’s even better, arguably – 911 GT3’s powerplant.
That magical mill is the naturally-aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six generating 493 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque in this guise, which can rev to the moon (or 9,000 rpm) and is mated to the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox. That gives it an incredible sound and the ability to rocket to 60mph in a mere 3.2 seconds, all in a desirable package that’s sure to hold its value – or perhaps even appreciate in the long-term, especially if this really is the last gas-powered Boxster to exist.
Thus, it’s no surprise that DeMuro is utterly blown away by the Porsche 718 Spyder RS, which he calls “one of the great drives that’s out there right now, really, really, a fantastic vehicle in basically every way.” Other than its silly roof design, DeMuro loves essentially everything else about it, calling it “almost perfect.”
“One of the greatest sports cars on sale today at any price,” he adds, DeMuro even claims that it’s better than a 911 – which is sure to conjure up some debate. Ultimately, he ranks it above the Cayman GT4 RS by one point, placing it behind the Ferrari 296 GTB, 911 S/T, Ferrari 458 Speciale A, and McLaren 750S Spider – but nothing else. Thus, if one can manage to actually find and buy one, it seems like the Porsche 718 Spyder RS is worth every penny of its $165k asking price.
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