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A Porsche 718 Spyder RS asks its owner to take part before the engine even starts. Its manually assembled roof changes how a day out is planned, while the intake openings behind the seats make the engine’s location impossible to ignore. Those details define the car’s purpose more clearly than calling it an open-top version of another Porsche. This is an evergreen examination of the model introduced in 2023.
Two roof pieces, two different jobs
The fabric roof consists of a sunshield and a separate weather guard. The sunshield can be used alone in a Bimini-style configuration, leaving the cabin open behind the occupants. Adding the weather guard supplies a glass rear window and rain protection with the side windows raised. Porsche describes the arrangement in its body and aerodynamics chapter.
The complete system, including its mechanical parts, weighs 18.3 kilograms, approximately 40 pounds. The removable portions can be stowed in the car. This is a deliberate exchange: fewer pounds and less machinery in return for more owner involvement. It should be assessed as an operating routine, rather than merely admired as a lightweight specification.
Try fitting both sections before deciding whether the arrangement suits your use. A roof demonstration in a sheltered showroom may feel different from stopping during a changing weather forecast. For a US weekend trip, consider where the car will be parked, whether a passenger can help and how much luggage must share the available space.
The intake is part of the experience
The Spyder RS uses a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six with a 9,000-rpm maximum engine speed. Its European rating of 500 PS corresponds to approximately 493 mechanical horsepower. A seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox is the transmission offered. This is an important distinction for anyone assuming that a minimalist roadster automatically has a clutch pedal.
Unlike the fixed-roof Cayman GT4 RS, the Spyder has no rear side-window area available for intake openings. Porsche instead places intake channels behind the rollover bars, feeding an airbox behind the seats. The engine and gearbox explanation also identifies individual throttle bodies and dry-sump lubrication. The sound near the occupants is therefore connected to an actual air-supply route, rather than simply exhaust volume.
Open-air balance changes the chassis brief
Porsche did not carry over every GT4 RS setting unchanged. The US launch specification describes a road-oriented setup with lower spring and damper rates than the coupe. The Spyder’s ducktail and shorter front spoiler likewise reflect a different aerodynamic balance from a fixed-roof car with a large rear wing.
These choices deserve attention on uneven pavement. A technical specification can explain the intended direction of the tuning, but it cannot determine whether the seat, cabin noise and ride work for a particular person. Choose an evaluation route that resembles the roads you actually drive, while remaining comfortably within legal limits.
Judge the complete roadster
Check that both roof sections, their fittings and the correct instructions accompany the car. Distinguish optional magnesium wheels from standard aluminum wheels through documentation, rather than assuming every Weissach-equipped example has them. Have a specialist inspect the intake area and bodywork without improvising access procedures.
The Spyder RS is compelling because its compromises are connected. The roof saves weight, the intake routing intensifies the mid-engine experience, and the chassis is tailored to an open roadster. The right buyer appreciates the entire arrangement, including the few minutes spent preparing for the drive.
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