Porsche 718 PDK 4.0 FULL REVIEW - the quickest 718 models with the 6-cylinder Spyder vs GT4

This is our in-depth review of the Porsche 718 PDK 4.0. We're taking a look at Exterior, Interior and the driving experience.
Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
►Follow us on Instagram @autogefuehl and @thomas.letsgo
►Subscribe here: www.youtube.co...
►Subscribe to our 2nd channel with shorter reviews: www.youtube.co...
►Subscribe to our OnlyElectric EV reviews channel: / @only_ev
►Subscribe to our OnlyPerformance performance cars channel: / @onlyperformance
►Subscribe to our OnlyBimmers BMW reviews channel: / @onlybimmers-
►Subscribe to our OnlyStars Mercedes reviews channel: / @onlystars
►Subscribe to our OnlyRings Audi reviews channel: / @onlyrings
►Subscribe to our OnlyCurves Porsche review channel: / @onlycurves
►Subscribe to our OnlyVeeDubs VW reviews channel: / @onlyveedubs
►Subscribe to our OnlyVLV Volvo review channel: / @onlyvlv
►Compare the 718 Cayman and Boxster GTS with manual gearbox: • Porsche 718 Boxster GT...
►Compare the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 & 718 Spyder with manual gearbox: • Porsche 718 Cayman GT4...
►Compare 718 vs 911: • Porsche 718 or 911 ? T...
#Porsche #Porsche718
►FULL REVIEWS 2020 Q4
• FULL REVIEWS 2020 Q4
►FULL REVIEWS 2020 Q3
• FULL REVIEWS 2020 Q3
►FULL REVIEWS 2020 Q2
• FULL REVIEWS 2020 Q2
►FULL REVIEWS 2020 Q1
• FULL REVIEWS 2020 Q1
How to support Autogefühl?
►Subscribe, activate notifications (bell symbol) and bookmark our direct channel: www.autogefuehl...
►Support us on Patreon: / autogefuehl
►Exclusive supporter: Ajlan Saeed
►Want to contribute translations and subtitles for your language?
www.youtube.com...
What is Thomas wearing?
► Noah shoes www.noah-shop....
Autogefühl viewers get a 17 % shoe discount with the following code: Autogefuehl-17
Social Media & Blog
►Facebook: facebook.de/aut...
►Twitter: / autogefuehl
►Instagram: / autogefuehl
►Instagram: / thomas.letsgo
►German Blog: autogefuehl.de
Autogefühl is your no. 1 resource for in-depth car reviews and your no. 1 community to discuss cars.” Each year we present you 150 cars from every segment and from a wide range of brands. If you have any suggestion, just write a comment or contact us on our other socials. Even if you have further remarks, just let us know.

[@autogefuehl]

►Follow us on Instagram @autogefuehl and @thomas.letsgo ►Subscribe here: kzbin.info ►Subscribe to our 2nd channel with shorter reviews: kzbin.info ►Subscribe to our OnlyElectric EV reviews channel: kzbin.info/door/_KxbHUPuqC8JaUmDV9bGSQ ►Subscribe to our OnlyPerformance performance cars channel: kzbin.info/door/nCwkL-iC216vFpshnETUpQ ►Subscribe to our OnlyBimmers BMW reviews channel: kzbin.info/door/IUeo4Kjlq7F2XrTwyXUYcA ►Subscribe to our OnlyStars Mercedes reviews channel: kzbin.info/door/h5GGSZKr1ZjfSf-aR7pYSA ►Subscribe to our OnlyRings Audi reviews channel: kzbin.info/door/ofhjcRTDeuuJiwlXXSmQWQ ►Subscribe to our OnlyCurves Porsche review channel: kzbin.info/door/4F2jOoOuwYoZ4Mr4gpt1Eg ►Subscribe to our OnlyVeeDubs VW reviews channel: kzbin.info/door/-_EH5yFSn-abwU5Fs2LOnA ►Subscribe to our OnlyVLV Volvo review channel: kzbin.info/door/o1zEjT40C0ys4DAcNJ8nsg ►Compare the 718 Cayman and Boxster GTS with manual gearbox: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6utoJKde9mlpqc ►Compare the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 & 718 Spyder with manual gearbox: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3XXlapjfJuqhsk ►Compare 718 vs 911: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWnSmn2Be6mogpI

[@982spyder5]

... "it is quite bumpy" ... Fess up, is this the first sports car you've driven around town? My experience tells me that the suspension is incredibly good around town.

[@geralddamien4887]

you probably dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me during the covid times then you can stream pretty much all of the latest movies and series on InstaFlixxer. Been binge watching with my brother for the last couple of weeks xD

[@johnnyaydin4421]

@Gerald Damien definitely, I have been watching on Instaflixxer for months myself :D

[@jmcarbone2754]

Put the roof down once and leave it down. If you want a roof get the GT4 or buy the Boxster 4.0. Great review.

[@davidkellogg9176]

@@johngalt5411 Hi Ken, I've learned from my Boxster that it's important to put up the top for storage. Are you speaking here about the number of times you've raised the roof while driving, or do you just leave it down all the time? Cheers, David

[@rschenKHS]

Never in my life have I wanted a car so much. I will have one 718 spyder sooner or later!

[@autogefuehl]

Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.

[@sherman971221]

Been waiting for this for too long!!!

[@UniversalControl]

Poor You!

[@andras.89]

I said it ones already, but I am going to say it twice: AJ puts down one of the finest reviews out there.

[@autogefuehl]

highly appreciated m8

[@Ken_Jones]

I agree!

[@crashyyy4116]

agreed.

[@Braydenplaysallday]

22:45 that driver was pissed 😂

[@paddle_shift]

The PDK vs Manual debate is getting tiresome. The manual option in the Spyder and GTS configurations are widely disliked mainly due to the long gearing that is used. No reason to upshift past 3 or 4th gear is the biggest complaint out there. Kind of interesting this reviewer says the PDK gearing is too short - the opposite complaint of the manual. Gee Porsche you can’t seem to win! Porsche makes the best cars period, case closed.

[@fwebe2871]

In fact, the gearing isn't long, but the engine got enough rpm-range, to reach higher speeds in the same gear. A diesel engine would need twice as much gears for the same range of speed, just for comparison. About 2000 rpm more than other typical gas engines means, that ,ou can reach about 30 % higher speeds in the same gear. So if you want to shift often, all you have to do is shift at e.g. 4000 rpm instead of redline. There are also definitly Reasons to upshift up to sixth gear, mainly consumption and engine noise, especially as the gesring is set up like in any other car and therefore quite useable for daily driving.

[@larrycable984]

and I understood that the PDK ratios were approx 10% shorter than their manual peers ... so seems a little unlikely that a 10% variance makes the difference between too long and too short... arguably with PDK the issue is moot the car will shift when it needs/wants to ... the real issue is does the gearing keep the car accelerating with the max torque band ...

[@autogefuehl]

►Compare the 718 Cayman and Boxster GTS with manual gearbox: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6utoJKde9mlpqc ►Compare the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 & 718 Spyder with manual gearbox: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3XXlapjfJuqhsk ►Compare 718 vs 911: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWnSmn2Be6mogpI

[@carlfrederick8433]

Almost every reviewer has complained about the gear ratios being too tall in the manual versions of the 981 GT4 and 718 GT4 and Spyder which have the same ratios. But does anyone know how the overall gear ratios (each 6 or 7 gears times final ratio (times constant RA ratio, if applicable?)) compare between the 718 GT4 manual vs PDK. So does the PDK solve the problem of the too tall gears in the manual versions?

[@larrycable984]

I believe the PDK ratios are approx 10% shorter than their manual peers - not sure about the comparison of the final ratio ...

[@camirocz]

Lets show you how well a sports car handles. Lets do the review in the rain.

[@Braydenplaysallday]

First GT car I’d actually prefer a PDK. The MT has horrendously long gearing. 😳

[@Luca-hg7yp]

You’re very right, the PDK makes the car much more agile👌🏻😁

[@gladisoleg]

The manual gearbox is ok. At 60 km/h in 5th gear on cruise control the car goes nice. I’m a GT4 owner.

[@Luca-hg7yp]

@@gladisoleg Nice!😁 Are you happy with the performance?

[@Braydenplaysallday]

Just wish they could throw a six speed MT on there & call it a day. Guaranteed they misplaced the gearing ratios so it wouldn’t cut into their 911 sales.

[@gladisoleg]

@@Luca-hg7yp i’m happy. My car does not have particulare filter and the sound is diferent.

[@Alanitoo]

What a gorgeous car! The interior is a bit boring though

[@StreetRiver]

Great car, but the exterior color in the interior simply looks cheap. The carbon option is much nicer imho. :)

[@barryseal5730]

I've seen more interesting reviews of this car on you tube, fair effort though

[@nateisright]

In person it’s stunning. The worst part is the particulate filter exhaust note.

[@edovol3]

Agreed. I have a 981 Spyder, and there is no comparison....

[@spendingtimetogether8428]

The roof mechanism is HORRIBLE....who designed that and why aren't they fired yet? LOL.

[@philipwatkins8157]

'Really' get's a bit annoying after a while!!

[@JeffMarraccini]

Thank you, AJ and Autogefühl! Great review!

[@TheRealTanSeeker]

This is a almost a work of art. Beautiful car. Mate, need to get earning some good money lol

[@11661707]

the pdk box is 9% shorter than the manual, is it really that much of a difference?

[@Xero285]

Big leap! The manual gearbox feels way too long. Not very engaging in everyday traffic.

[@11661707]

I now have my manual GTS4.0 which has the same gearbox. There’s nothing wrong with the manual, it’s close ratio and you’ll find yourself slicing through it on all roads. Everyone says 2 and 3 are too long but I don’t find that to be the case. The PDK is 3mph shorter in 1st and 6mph in 2nd, that’s nothing. The manual is so crisp and so engaging it was definitely the right choice unless you’re going for lap times.

[@philipmurray5900]

Useless roof in the UK. By the time you have manually retracted the roof, it would have started raining.

[@58icarus]

Too bad about the weather conditions. I'm sure these press events are "take it or leave it", but there really is no point in tracking a car like this in the rain.

[@stephenlane9168]

Great review of a great car 👌nice work team 👏

[@autogefuehl]

cheers !!

[@18007422066]

Where is the original host?!?! Full length full hd is missing! 🤣🤣🤣

[@autogefuehl]

AJ has been with us for so long now that he is also an "original" host :)

[@younesten5106]

I need this car in Canada 😍💛👍👍👍

[@nailil5722]

My dream car, not too flashy, not too expensive but balanced in every aspect

[@leonardoluc6362]

Best looking Porsche at the moment special top down.

[@Earl_VTEC]

Endlich mal nen cooles Auto auf dem Channel. Much better than 911!!! Greets from Honda #TypeR

[@gjonno]

So much talk and opinion about gearing of the MT, but I hazard a guess that no one here has ever driven one. If you are looking for absolute track times then the DC is an obvious choice. But then you would buy a Cayman. If you want an entertaining, seriously quick road car which gives you both style and smiles per mile then I assure you the MT Spyder is probably just about the best sports car available today. ....and the roof is NOT a problem!

[@akfrets3770]

He‘s just complaining about that it‘s wet and if he drives faster the Car will get out of Control. It‘s a middle Engine Porsche ist has so much Grip and Traction. Just push it to the Red line Man and Play with the Paddles!!!

[@tinhinnh]

the color reminds me of last gen MR2 🤣

[@amasha88]

10:52 CD player, "Old fashion" ? Porsche is AMAZING, they even understand the audiophile mind of the HiRes audio, that's why they kept the CD player.

[@amasha88]

Sorry, with all the respect, but I still want Thomas to keep making the reviews. There's something very special about a German journalist review German cars.

[@RK-hw1vj]

bla bla bla BUT blah blah blah BUT blah blah blah BUT

[@trihardcx6743]

Absolute dream car. Just needs an aftermarket exhaust.

[@leograph5045]

It don’t NEEDS a aftermarket exhaust. But it would be nice

[@leonardoluc6362]

You don’t the car sounds great, special top down as designed.

[@JackKing12.]

Nice but I'd expect an electric retractable roof...

[@autogefuehl]

-> Boxster 4.0 then

[@davidkellogg9176]

Expect away: clearly Porsche surprises us from time to time. Didn't you think that a GT3 without a manual gearbox was a surprise? The manual roof is part of Porsche's keeping an eye on its history. This generation of the Spyder looks back, in many ways, to what was 'pure' about the early Porsches, like the 550 and the later RS 60 and RS 61. Porsche is 'up front' about the 986, 987 and 718 cars harking back directly to these specific early cars, turning to them for both inspiration and to revitalize what was essential to the Porsche marque.

[@V1RT8]

A manual top is BS in 2020. This is not a Lotus Elise, neither is a race car.

[@galeriafuentes]

Made for weight saving

[@sionbonkwok6937]

Porsche Really Good...... Better...

[@hbullock]

Actually the pdk gears are not “a lot” shorter. Second is around 6 mph less, if I recall.

[@kryptoknight.]

Too bad there are none available.

[@993mike]

So now a pdk with shorter gearing, but STILL no shorter gearing for the manual?? Make no sense at all

[@IM_Arcades]

Aye, roof. Porsche :p

[@minniesaab7255]

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

[@seinsmeld13]

Great car except for the manual roof. I'd pay an extra 10% to get a powered roof.

[@lehlohonolotsenasi6457]

beautiful

[@tamasszabo8824]

Weight distribution is closer to 40:60, not 50:50.

[@lensoprezole5322]

Roof you must get out of the car to put it up or down ? FAIL NO BUY 👎👎👎 Next time just take example on the Mazda MX-5's roof, poor porsche engineers 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@Xero285]

Buy a boxster then... spyders are a hommage to the old spyders with manual roof.

[@davidkellogg9176]

Well, I guess You voted with your wallet. Have you driven a Spyder? or even a Boxster? I rather doubt it, or your tone would be different --and perhaps, better informed.

[@UniversalControl]

I always wonder, what AJ stands for! TH, pls. let me know! 8)

[@AdityaJayaram]

Aditya Jayaram :)

[@UniversalControl]

@@AdityaJayaram Great, thank you, Aditya! ;)

[@seinsmeld13]

The manual top is so bad that I leave mine down permanently and only take it when it's sunny.

[@gjonno]

David. I cannot believe that you actually own one. The manual top is not ‘so bad’ as you say. Not at all. The top and aesthetics are all part of the Spyder experience. It’s only people that don’t own, or probably never even seen one that complain about it. No doubt you also have a 992 Speedster with a similar manual roof and you think that is so bad too 🤔

[@Ken_Jones]

Yes! Been waiting for this. Can you also review the Ferrari 812 Superfast?

[@gsten2116]

Snooze. Autobox on a rain soaked track.

[@johnnyboy1586]

Great review 👍

[@autogefuehl]

Thanks 😊

[@yes8032]

Porsche can get even better good job Porsche

[@johnnyboy1586]

Love the way the roof works

[@galeriafuentes]

Would take manual

[@0gy946]

What? Automatic Boxter Spyder?

[@rajjy1976]

Hahah what?!?

[@silberpfeil8863]

Please use Thomas, AJ just doesn’t cut it for Autogefuhl.

[@autogefuehl]

AJ is most welcome in our team and a great asset

[@silberpfeil8863]

@@autogefuehl Then get him to pay attention to details like Thomas. Examples in this review: -Porsche replaced all alcantara with Race-Tex this MY -“Porsche is all about top speed” what? -“Missing the manual with long shift ratios which isn’t suited for a track which I am on right now” what? -The reason adaptive cruise control isn’t available on the GT4/Spyder is because of the bumper design (the GTS has got it available), not “that your money is going elsewhere like the engine” -“LSD is improved” how? Manual has 22% lock max. PDK 27% lock max. -Describing steering as “telephatic” makes no sense, you still use your hands. ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnS3XmmAjsaFqtU )

[@michaelschneider-]

@@autogefuehl .. Damn straight. .. There's no "I" in team. .. AJ, the exterior yellow of this 718 Spyder is what? .. Looks great and a bit softer or lighter than the usual Porsche "Racing Yellow". .. Owned a '73 914 2.0 in yellow back in my college days. ..My 914's yellow exterior was just right. .. Softer hue, but not too soft and certainly not Racing Yellow loud.

[@michaelschneider-]

@@silberpfeil8863 ,,, Yeah, yeah. .. Picky, picky. .. However, your examples list is constructive.

[@larrycable984]

AJ has zero charisma and brings zero excitement IMO ... he might as well be reading the back of a cornflakes packet... sorry!

[@davidkellogg9176]

The discussion about the Boxster's gearing often misses the point, in my respectful opinion. Please consider this: the current version of the Boxster is, despite not being Porsche's "flagship" car, a Very high performance car, to the point that it's simply impossible to approach, let alone reach its performance potential in street driving applications. THIS is what accounts for a considerable amount of the 'disappointment' in the ratios of the manual gearbox. As was correctly pointed out, this is a close ratio gearbox, something that is normally used for track applications. It will, in street use, require what's often called 'rowing the gearbox', meaning shifting a lot. The close ratio gearbox was designed for track use, so a driver could shift during competition to keep the engine within its optimal power band. This approach was developed for small displacement engines that many would call 'under powered'. Modern sports cars are Far better powered than their predecessors. You hear people speak of 'street legal race car' and this description is more accurate now than ever. Porsche's 718 ( third generation ) Boxster is just such a car. With its 4.0 liter naturally aspirated engine, it's no surprise that you don't shift much: you can reach 80 mph in second gear. Doesn't this sound more like a race car's capability than a vehicle suited to road use? The common mistake here is to misconstrue the character of the car and what it's best suited for. Porsches have long been as comfortable on track as on the street. In most cases, nowadays, any Porsche is better capable of reaching its potential on track than on the street. And this is one compelling reason that Porsche occasionally releases automatic transmission-only models. First, they want to bring the car to market as soon as it is complete. In many recent instances, the PDK gearboxes forestall consumer dissatisfaction with a poorly matched manual gearbox that's already 'on Porsche's shelf' while allowing Porsche to evaluate consumer response to improvements in the new generation of a car. This was done earlier in the GT3 model cycle and led to the opposite response than Porsche anticipated: consumers ranted that they missed the manual gearbox, rather than noticing how remarkably the PDK suits the GT3's track prowess. If you don't want a track-level car, simply don't buy the Spyder. If you want to strike a middle ground, get a PDK Spyder. Just don't grouse if you purchase the Spyder and don't like the manual gearbox: it may be better suited to track use than street applications. Only you can decide. On my Boxster, I'm happy to have the ratios Porsche chose for optimum matching of gearbox and power plant. And I grew up on a standard and race an early 60's vintage car that is underpowered, that lack of power being compensated for by both a close ratio gearbox and an overdrive. In my opinion, it's the buyer who is responsible for their satisfaction when they select a vehicle. If you're intent on having a third pedal, accept that today's engines may have superceded that design's potential because they offer so much more power and torque than was available when manual gearboxes were invented. If you like having heat in your car --or your seats, or your steering wheel-- don't grouse about the possibility that your car will better handle its power with a gearbox that takes shifting out of your hands. And take your Boxster to the track every time you can, so your dissatisfaction remains less a frustration than an accepted requirement of owning a high performance car that is, truly, a 'street legal race car'.

[@helderSilva77]

subtitles please

[@Nathan-zv2rz]

You’re not German...

[@_b_k]

RS3 is a better choice 🔥

[@PaulTC777]

RS3 is crap at corners... too much understeer

[@paddle_shift]

I’ll sell you mine.

[@innerhammer]

I like RS3 a lot and absolutely love inline 5 sound. If you know what you are doing with a 4WD car, you can have a lot of fun driving it too. That being said, other than practicality, there is nothing which RS3 is better at.

[@yes8032]

You don’t compare it whit an RS3

[@Xero285]

You compare a 50k 4door turbo awd hothatch to a 100k 2 door middle engine rwd cabrio? Are you on mushrooms?

[@sebastiangmail8823]

This is a Boxster Spyder with PDK? Oh I think this is not available in Germany🤔