Used 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder

The 2020 Porsche 718 Boxster could easily qualify as the world’s best 2-seater convertible. The base model comes with 300 horsepower, which is more than enough for public roads yet still sufficient for a thrilling drive whenever the roads become twisty and less traveled.

That’s because the foundation is right, setting the engine just behind the seats. The body is virtually free from flex (a common issue with older soft-tops), allowing the chassis to be athletic and precise. And there’s still that Porsche cachet that no one can really match at this financial level.

Once we go beyond the base version and up to the new-for-2020 718 Spyder, which is a sleeker iteration and packs 414 horsepower, those enthusiasts who always felt the iconic 911 sports car was great but had its engine in the wrong place can now have their ideal ride.

The premium-sports-car world is working through some changes at the moment. The Audi TT is due to be reincarnated as a 4-door model, and the Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class is simply expected to slink off into history. However, a fresh generation of BMW Z4 is now with us and the Jaguar F-Type soldiers on with all its charms intact.

To appreciate the finer qualities and nuances of a Porsche chassis would require a road trip taking in mountain passes and uptown avenues, right down to coast-hugging curves. The 718 Boxster flows through them all, providing plenty of sensation at the steering wheel and pants seat, with a neutral attitude enabling swift changes of direction with few complaints from the front tires.

Where this car has an advantage over its tin-topped 718 Cayman sibling is that the roof can be lowered. And in seconds. Many driving enthusiasts look down on convertibles for not being sufficiently serious. They make an exception for Porsches. Even the “base” engine is a blast, zipping from a standstill to 60 mph in barely five seconds, while it just gets better and quicker from there.

Another aspect of Porsche driving is the consistency in how much driver effort is required. It always feels just right. The manual transmission moves sweetly from gear to gear, while the PDK alternative allows faster acceleration and often better fuel economy.

The GTS 4.0 and 718 Spyder versions both have a sport-tuned adaptive suspension as standard.

The cabin of the 718 Boxster is quietly sophisticated, with partial leather seating and aluminum accents. The seats are comfortable yet hold their occupants in place whenever cornering forces exert their pull. The 3-spoke steering wheel has the right size and weight, and the pedals are in the perfect spot.

In common with other Porsches, the rev counter is the dominant dial, a continual reminder that this is a driver’s car, with simple instrumentation that’s easy to take in while under full throttle through a tight corner. Don’t expect a lot of cup holders, but a 718 Boxster is more stimulating than any grande latte.

Storage space amounts to 5.3 cubic feet up front and 4.4 cubic feet at the rear. Not great, yet why play golf when there’s a Porsche to enjoy?

There’s something wonderfully simple about the 718 Boxster — no oversized grille or boy-racer wings. Instead, Porsche went with a sculptural elegance.

The doors and hood/trunk lids are made from aluminum, the regular Boxster has a single central exhaust, and the other variants have dual tailpipes. It takes a keen eye and a little background knowledge to tell when a 718 Boxster is fitted with the optional carbon-ceramic discs — the calipers are painted yellow.

The new-for-2020 718 Spyder has in its own front-bumper design and little vent on the hood’s leading edge, sitting just more than an inch lower than a regular counterpart, and rolling on 20-inch alloy wheels. But it’s behind the seats where the big visual differences lie. The roof is a different shape and there’s a streamliner following each seat’s headrest.

SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE
Optional in the base and S models — standard elsewhere. As well as a nice dash-mounted clock, this package brings four driver modes, plus a launch control with the PDK transmission.

PDK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Although 718 Boxsters come standard with a perfectly fine manual transmission, this 7-speed optional automated transmission is one of the best, shifting gears quicker than any human.

It might seem stingy that the standard seats in the 2020 718 Boxster only have power-seatback adjustment with manual settings for height and the fore/aft directions. This could be a good thing, since there are fewer motors and therefore less weight in what is, after all, a sports car.

Other features include a fast-operating fabric top (10 seconds, although not with the manually operated 718 Spyder’s roof), sport exhaust system, 18-inch alloy wheels, 6-speed manual transmission, climate control, front/rear sensors, garage-door opener, 7-inch infotainment touch screen, 8-speaker/150-watt audio setup, satellite radio, two USB ports, 11GB of music storage, two SD card slots, CD/DVD player, and Bluetooth.

Some features that are standard in swishier versions of the 718 Boxster can be ordered as options lower down the order, like the Sport Chrono package. The PDK transmission costs $3,210. Those seeking finer handling abilities should also check out the adaptive suspension ($1,790) and torque-vectoring mechanical limited-slip differential ($1,320). If the funds are there, the fade-resistant ceramic-composite braking system is $7,410.

There’s a wide choice of leathers, trim accents and interior color schemes. Sure, buyers can also have heated/ventilated/18-way power-adjustable seats, adaptive cruise control and a Burmester surround-sound system, but perhaps they should be looking at a Mercedes-Benz instead.

Even Porsche has fallen in with the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine formula that has proliferated across the automotive world. But at least those cylinders are still in the hallmark horizontally opposed “boxer” configuration.

The regular 718 Boxster and 718 Boxster T have this engine, with 300 horsepower going to the rear wheels through the standard 6-speed manual transmission. In the Boxster S is a 2.5-liter version, developing 350 horsepower.

A naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-6 engine propels the upcoming 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 with 394 horsepower, while the same unit is boosted to 414 horsepower in the 718 Spyder.

To save a little fuel while idling, 718 Boxsters have an engine stop/start function that can be turned off if drivers find the restart action irritating.

2.0-liter turbocharged flat-4 (718 Boxster, 718 Boxster T)
300 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 1,950-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/28 mpg (manual), 22/29 mpg (automatic)

2.5-liter turbocharged flat-4 (718 Boxster S)
350 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
309 lb-ft of torque @ 1,900-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/26 mpg (manual), 21/28 mpg (automatic)

4.0-liter flat-6 (718 Boxster GTS 4.0)
394 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
309 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000-6,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

4.0-liter flat-6 (718 Spyder)
414 horsepower @ 7,600 rpm
309 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000-6,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A