Fang911

All- what are your opinions of the 718 GT4 / Spyder? For those who have seat time in these- do they feel responsive, tactile as a GT product should? I have a deposit on a June build Spyder but am unsure as there is unlikely to be opportunity to drive one before delivery...thanks!

WenigerAberBeser

Responses may be sparse. These just hit dealers and all tracks are closed.

-eztrader-

Havent tried the new one yet - but I had a previous spyder. It lacked a GT engine - sold the car

ipse dixit

Save for the brand new OEM, I would rather have a 991 GT3.

bli8

Once you go GT (motor), it's hard to go back.

groundhog

The 718 GT4 is a bit underdone and hasn't moved the game on as a track car. In contrast the Spyder isn't pretending to be anything other than it is. The drive is excellent, the engine is responsive and the six speed manual has lovely feel paired with nice short throws. On public roads its excellent and is a better corner carver than the GT3 and feels far better from a balance point of view. It feels very nimble and agile, feels tight and small, suspension set up and grip is excellent - its an excellent car. I was just about to put an order in for a Spyder in GT silver but am still havering over some of the fit out options. For me this will be a pure fun road car. Oh don't let the roof put you off - its very simple.

The Spyder is a true sports car, its great looking and very unique - in terms of looks I prefer it to the speedster and GT3.

CRex

Do consider the GT4RS and the PDK spyder coming by year-end as you compare the options, which are increasingly wider and buyer-friendly in the current environment.

Jimmy-D

So true

Jimmy-D

Certainly looks better than the Speedster. Although it does not have the GT3 engine it would be a great car to have, in addition, to a GT3/RS

Fang911

Yes, the 718 Spyder would be in addition to the ‘19 GT3; hoping it is cut from the same cloth as the GT3 and will provide a similarly engaging driving experience- just with a manual and open top!

Thanks groundhog- thats what i was hoping to hear 👍

Sausage416

the gt4 and spyder are the exact same car. One with a wing ,and the other without a roof. Can you explain to me how one is better than the other ?

Jrtaylor9

981 there was a noticeable difference between spyder and gt4. Suspension in spyder was one of best modern fun road-oriented cars I've ever owned. Gt4, meh, fun on track. I owned both 981s; have not sampled either in 718 and I realize this time the spyder truly is a gt4 with soft top and no wing.

Jrtaylor9

I miss it. That thing drove like a magic carpet ride on English b-roads.

groundhog

Quite easily - the GT4 has track pretensions and yet the 718 GT4 is a very trivial upgrade from the 2015 981 GT4 - peak torque is the same, so the peak HP number is actually a smallish upgrade to what is in effect a "headline" number. I suspect it will only be marginally quicker round a track than the outgoing model and after 5 years that is a disappointment to many. I'm not knocking it - just pointing out the obvious. It didn't move the game on and the track rats will probably be better off getting a 981 adding the rear suspension fix and upgrading the engine for both torque and HP - this is all doable now

In contrast the Spyder has no track pretensions and has been given the front end from the GT dept. (which it lacked before - so it is a full GT car minus the engine) plus a 45 PS increase in HP (the 981 Spyder had fewer ponies than the 981 GT4) - so its game has moved on quite a bit from where it was in 981 guise. Plus it is a lovely design, in many respects unique and you can take the lid off. Thus you have a completely fit for purpose NA, short throw six speed manual, light-weight road going corner carver that is a standout looker too. A true sports car in every respect.

Go and drive one..........you'll get it. Those that are saying it doesn't have a GT engine and therefore its non-starter are missing the point of this car - the 4l engine is nice and responsive, revs out to 7800, its right sized for this car and 420Nm/425 HP is plenty of mumbo for a road car whose focus is handling - the real world agility and balance is excellent and its paired with an engine you have to work to get the rewards. However, and in the case of the GT4, 420Nm and 425 HP is not enough for a track car (given the weight of current Porsche sports cars) - you'll simply be making up the numbers.


This review is good for context.

josephvman

A lot of us who have GT3’s had GT4’s, and I haven’t met anyone with a GT4 that didn’t think it was one of the best cars they’ve ever owned/driven. Before I traded for the GT3 I priced out a 718 GT4 the way I’d order it, and that’s when a GT3 started to make a lot more sense. The 718 GT4 is significantly pricier than the 2016, and within $30-35k of the pre-owned 991.2 GT3 market at that time.

I have to admit the 718 GT4 Spyder is a compelling package now that it has the same suspension spec as the coupe. I could see owning that car at some point.