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Impressions: Waved my 991.2 GT3RS adios y hola 718 Spyder
Well the deed was done... 991.2 GT3RS swapped out for a 718 Spyder and to cap it..... and had never driven one before.
So, was I mad to do it?
After driving the Spyder 160 miles home on windy roads, varying weather (sun, shade, rain) roof up and down, here are my initial impressions of notables.
Color: after my RS which was black, what a joy to have a color that doesn't own me. GT Silver is a classic and brings out the lines of the spyder incredibly well. Very happy with it Presence and stance: the entire package looks so well balanced, poise and presence for me were close to perfect, nothing overpowering Wheels in Platinum: so glad, they go incredibly well with GT Silver, love them Steel Brakes: from a performance perspective the steel brakes are superb and do the job well. If you are like me and have to have the car clean, these steels give our some serious gunk. Coming from ceramics on my last 3 GT cars, I can see brake dust is something I'm going to have to get used to. I am planning on ceramic coating the wheels this weekend. That'll help with easier washing.
Would I spec PCCB's next time: YES but I'll also be prepared to loose that on a trade-in. 18 way comfort seats: so much has been made of "buckets vs sofas". I too was perplexedly the choice, my 2 cents... I LOVE the 18 ways! I cannot tell you the anguish I faced when deciding on this car. I'm not a big guy... 150lbs 5ft 9in. and I was fine with buckets. I've done many miles in them without issues. Over the years I had forgotten how adjustable and comfy the 18 ways are. They provide ample support for me in tight turns etc. So my take is to get the seats that you like and it'll be fine. I'm very happy with the 18's... would I spec them again? 60/40 in favor of 18 way sofas on this car Manual Roof: took about five minutes to figure its operation out, after farting around with it a few times it takes less than a minute for a relative newb to put up or down. I don't see why there's controversy about it being a manual roof... its quite idiot proof Cabin space: ample headroom for me and the wife, I will miss the rear space of the RS where I could place some soft bags etc. The layout and space feels very 991ish Clutch feel and 6 speed gearbox: IMO the clutch is weighted perfectly. Not too hard or soft... just right and the length is good with enough feel of bite ratio. For those considering a 991.2 GT3 because they want a manual transmission (I had one), don't bother with the GT3, get the GT4 or 918 Spyder, this gearbox is sublime and I'm thrilled with it. Mid-engine dynamics and handling: I had forgotten how much of an effect engine placement has to the dynamics in a car. This car reminds me of my Toyota MR2... except this one is on steroids. You really have to do something insane to get it to become unpredictable or unstable in corners etc. I even deliberately did the big no no of 911 driving... at high speed to not brake hard and release quickly in mid-corner. The Spyder was entirely manageable and there was nothing that made me feel that the car did something unpredictable. Engine and Exhaust sound: the engine does not have that tiny or rattle like sound of the GT3 or RS. I liked that a lot in those cars. The Spyder engine is quite in the tin department but louder in the growl department. With the engine and exhaust combo for me the sound is a cross between the GT2RS and GT3... so a deeper very pleasant sound experience. The one thing I noticed and liked was the sport exhaust button which makes a very noticeable difference at rpm's that won't land you in trouble Rear Spoiler: hmmm... when extended, it's ugly and IMO wrecks the lines of the car. I'm sure from a functional perspective it does its job very well. On my car, the thing went up... and has stayed up! Porsche tech will call me tomorrow with an answer and hopefully a fix. So until then I'm a guy who looks like a ***** pretending to be an RS! I really don't like the spoiler extended.
Summary: I love the way this thing drives, looks, and costs! It's a frigging bargain for what it is. I'm utterly blown away by how good the car is and here's my advice to anyone who has a GT3 or an RS and is not bashing the hell of it on track or is out driving it very hard (as I have done) on public roads with risk, go test drive a 718 Spyder! You will love it! Yes at some point I will get a 992 GT3 or RS but for now I can't see myself parting with a Spyder.
Although I looked a pillock with the spoiler that would not go down, I've had more fun in this car in the first 160 miles than I probably had in my now gone RS. Just fast, fun, and stress free driving... closed top or open.
I would not be surprised if a bunch of my GT3 and RS chums jump on this car!
A few quick pics with more to follow once the idiot spoiler retracts.
Great thorough write up. That spoiler angle is extreme! More like a wind brake. I have thought myself that it would just be best as a slightly larger fixed duck tail.
Always interested in the perspective from those coming from higher pecking order GT cars.
Looking forward to receiving my car and verifying all your points.
Really nice review. I have a very similar spec Spyder arriving in three weeks - same color and wheels. Interested to see if the ceramic coating helps with the brake dust. This is my first P car. I feel like a kid at Christmas time.
I too am moving from a 19 RS to a Spyder, my spec looks very similar. Looking forward to my build, how long did it take for you to receive your car once the build started, Porsche is telling me September build and December delivery, MY2021.
Really nice review. I have a very similar spec Spyder arriving in three weeks - same color and wheels. Interested to see if the ceramic coating helps with the brake dust. This is my first P car. I feel like a kid at Christmas time.
You will not be disappointed. I too hope ceramic coating helps... the brake dust is really a pain to deal with.
Originally Posted by andrewdr
I too am moving from a 19 RS to a Spyder, my spec looks very similar. Looking forward to my build, how long did it take for you to receive your car once the build started, Porsche is telling me September build and December delivery, MY2021.
looks great!
Mine was a friends build who cancelled. Our dealer called me last week and confirmed that the car could be available... my RS wasn't being driven and I had considered parting with it anyway. I took the plunge not really knowing what to expect in the Spyder. Now I'm glad I did. BTW, I think your build schedule is normal.
congrats man, beautiful spec. I'm so thrilled with this car, you're able to "use" more of it on the street without getting into trouble (compared to gt3/RS) Not only is it faster than the 981 but also FEELS faster in the lower rev range. Haven't gone past 6k rpm so can't tell you about the redline driving experience or acoustics just yet. the suspension is very responsive and nimble. My 718 spyder joined my GT3 pdk but I think for the near future, I'll be grabbing the spyder keys when going out and about. took it on a couple of back roads the other day....top down, 3 pedals, NA bliss
You will not be disappointed. I too hope ceramic coating helps... the brake dust is really a pain to deal with.
Unfortunately, ceramic coating doesn’t help that much with brake dust. Slight reduction in build up and a little easier to remove, but brake dust overpowers coatings. I’ve coated wheels on three cars with iron rotors and it doesn’t do much. In my experience Armor All Outlast works better, but even that is no match for brakes like these.
First time that I see the rear wing so much raised.. I thought that the max level was the height when you push the button.. now i'm curious to see that angle in action when driving.
Agree that this angle looks weird, but the slightly raised position I think looks sexy
07-23-2020, 09:41 PM
Impressions: Waved my 991.2 GT3RS adios y hola 718 Spyder
