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Nadine Armstrong5 Sept 2020
REVIEW

Porsche 718 Spyder 2020 Review

The 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder brings compromises you’d expect from a two-seater soft-top sports car. The very kind that staunch Stuttgart fans welcome
Model Tested
2020 Porsche 718 Spyder
Review Type
Road Test

This could be the car of your slightly compromised, naturally-aspirated dreams. Priced from $196,800 (plus ORCs), the 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder carves new ground for the German manufacturer’s mid-engined coupe and roadster 718 line-up. Indeed, in eschewing turbocharging, fancy dual-clutch gearboxes and, heaven forbid, electrification, Porsche has drawn a line in the sand with the second-generation 4.0-litre six-cylinder, cloth-top, manual-only 718 Spyder. Launched alongside its similarly-powered 718 Cayman GT4 coupe sibling, personalisation options aside, the Boxster-based 718 Spyder is a take it or leave it proposition. Count me in.

Priced for the passionate

The 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder is priced from $196,800 (plus ORCs) and yet I’m left wanting. Not for anything meaningful, just a fully automated roof mechanism. It’s nitpicking at its finest, for when you ignite the big-bore naturally-aspirated boxer engine, all is forgiven.

Like the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, the 718 Spyder (which isn't called a Boxster) hits the Australian tarmac with a mid-mounted 4.0-litre flat six delivering a wholesome 309kW of power and 420Nm of torque to the rear wheels, exclusively via a six-speed manual gearbox. Perhaps even more notably, it features a proper GT chassis, pulling components from the Porsche 911 GT3.

The 1420kg aluminium and steel composite bodied roadster rides on 20-inch 718 Spyder-specific wheels wrapped by sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber, while sexy rear buttresses, bigger front air intakes, a larger diffusers and blackened side scoops and badges punctuate the sleek silhouette.

The lengthy equipment list also features run-of-the mill inclusions like dual-zone climate control, heated multi-function steering wheel finished in Alcantara, the sport chrono package, six-speaker sound system, satellite-navigation, tyre pressure monitoring, anti-theft wheel bolts, Apple CarPlay and don’t forget to check out the Porsche Track Precision App.

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But wait there’s more, at a price. Our Porsche 718 Spyder was finished in Crayon paintwork ($4920) with a two-tone interior of Bordeaux Red and Black Alcantara ($4820). Additional options include adaptive sports seats ($5150), Bose surround sound system ($2470), LED headlights ($2320), roll-over bars in exterior colour ($1060), electrically folding exterior mirrors with courtesy lighting ($620), headlight cleaning system in exterior colour ($420) and a Porsche logo in satin black ($310).

All of that brought the price of our test vehicle to $218,890 plus ORCs, which is a lot for what is essentially a hot-rodded Boxster.

But let’s not pretend this one isn’t as much about emotion (is there a more emotive badge on a Porsche than Spyder?) as it is engineering and exhaustive equipment lists.

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Tech savvy, but simple

Technology is omnipresent inside the 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder – the obvious (so many buttons) and the not so (safety).

The Spyder’s centre console draws a fine balance between understated and dated – I can’t decide to which way it leans most. You’ll find a selection of small clearly labelled buttons to compliment a 7.0-inch touch-screen that’s home to infotainment and other in-car information.

Using Apple CarPlay with Siri voice recognition caters to most of most people’s media needs. Wireless phone charging is great (because charging cables spoil the vibe) and there’s just enough room to place your phone. There’s DAB+ digital radio and even a CD player (hello boomers)!

Rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are very handy, since rear vision is less than average with the cloth soft-top in place.

There are no drive modes to consider, but some other noteworthy buttons: ESC off and ESC+TC off, suspensions modes, exhaust notes, auto throttle blip and spoiler management are your key decision making responsibilities.

The best part about the 718 Spyder’s tech interface… it’s simple to use.

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Pricing and Features

Shift happens

In our international drive review of the 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder my colleague Feann Torr referenced IKEA, Mark Webber, Floyd Mayweather, Thor, Captain America, James Dean, Patrick Stewart and used an Angel’s tears analogy to convey the gravitas that comes with driving a vehicle like the 718 Spyder.

I concur and I’ll add a Dua Lipa reference to this eclectic yardstick because the 718 Spyder’s attraction is hard to ignore – let’s get physical.

The 309kW/420Nm outputs of the Porsche 718 Spyder's 4.0-litre atmo boxer six might not sound that impressive these days, at least not for close to $200K, but consider this two-seat drop-top weighs just over 1400kg -- and that there are no turbos to sap response and limit revs -- and you start to get the picture here.

These numbers come alive under fire via a six-speed manual gearbox – currently the only option for both the 718 Spyder and Cayman GT4 hard-top, which otherwise share their hard parts.

The short-shifting gearbox is perfection, offering the slightest bit of tension in-hand as you navigate the gates of heaven.

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Sticking to the speed-limit-regulated tarmac for our test, the Spyder is exhilarating to steer. The sense of connection with the car is undeniable – it feels pure and raw and the 718’s willingness to rev (to 8000rpm) is a joy to behold.

Sounds great too. The auto-blip throttle function rev-matches (and amplifies) downshifts and is a clear sign that this car (and Porsche) understands its driver’s innate needs. Always on.

The Porsche 718 Spyder rides 30mm lower to the ground than other Boxsters and aerodynamic changes include a flat underbody see a reduction in lift by 50 per cent – meaning it sticks to the road like never before.

Weight distribution (44/56%) favours the rear, but you wouldn’t know it. Thanks to that Porsche 911 GT3-sourced front-end, the steering is razor-sharp and the mid-engined chassis anchors the car with an innate balance and poise that makes it far more adjustable in the middle of corners than any rear-engined 911.

Together, the big atmo six, manual gearbox and compact and lightweight body combine to produce a package that doesn't just entice corner-carving, but begs you to test the claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.4sec.

Another time, perhaps. Make that definitely.

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Worth the compromises

Firm, sculptural seats and a partially-electric soft-top set the tone for a car that leans towards 1+1 enthusiasts who have some other everyday metal in the garage. It’s far from perfect, and yet it’s so very perfect.

I do wish the members of my family (of four) could enjoy the 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder in the same way I did as I bolted from the house each day. Taking them for short joy rides individually had to suffice.

If, however, you’re a party of one (or two), this 718 Spyder will tick a lot of boxes. The two-seater’s cabin is snug and the small front and rear storage bins are adequate for overnight bags (around 150 litres all up).

Without the sticky, always-moist hands of pesky kids to consider, you will take joy in the two-tone interior of soft leather and Alcantara. Even enthusiasts, however, will tire of the awkwardly positioned internal door-pulls.

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To date, however, I’ve never heard of the low-slung seats of a Porsche stopping even the stiffest of aging enthusiasts from clambering inside.

And a firm ride? It goes with the territory.

The 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder is a joy to drive, made better by its drop-top wind-in-the-hair (if you still have some) feeling. What’s not so great is the roof mechanism. Unlike other Boxsters, a press of a button in the Spyder releases the roof, and the rest is an exercise in manual labour, patience and flexibility.

It’s tricky to do it on your own. The good news (call me a glass half-full person) is that when the roof is retracted it does not eat into your already limited boot space.

Oh, and this car looks every bit as good with roof up or down, and can apparently top 300km/h in either mode too. You can't say that for a lot of other convertibles.

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Heady levels of joy

Let’s assume for the case of this road test that the 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder is not going to be your only set of wheels in the garage. A Cayenne or Macan could perhaps also be found beyond your vast garage door.

In such case, this is the perfect second car. The Spyder feels special and stands out in a way that, quite frankly, many performance cars do not.

It’s a Porsche that strays a little from the regular silhouette, making it even nicer on the eye and more credible to aficionados, and its higher sticker price and limited availability make it one of the most exclusive Boxsters available.

The stonking big-six's broad band of performance is accessible to the everyday driver and yet is unlikely to be fully exploited by even the most enthusiastic of Porschephiles – at least on public roads.

If you drive the Porsche 718 Spyder and want more, frankly, you’re just plain greedy.

How much does the 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder cost?
Price: $196,800 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 4.0-litre flat six-cylinder petrol
Output: 309kW/420Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 11.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 258/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: N/A

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Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Expert rating
86/100
Price & Equipment
14/20
Safety & Technology
18/20
Powertrain & Performance
18/20
Driving & Comfort
17/20
Editor's Opinion
19/20
Pros
  • Head-turning looks that work roof up or down
  • Brilliant naturally-aspirated six-cylinder engine and near-perfect six-speed manual gearbox
  • Superb handling and steering balance and grip for days
Cons
  • The part-electric part-painful roof mechanism is fiddly at best
  • Try-hard racecar-style door pull-handles are awkward to use
  • Even a two-seater sports car needs some useful in-cabin oddment storage
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