As a 981 Spyder owner I gotta give it this owner. His interior is excellent. He even did the firewall! The stock Alcantara is nice but overplayed. This interior elevates it a lot.
@@pegcity4evawell since you don’t know, the Boxster is 60% 911 parts, built on the same assembly line to the same quality standards and materials, handles better, easier to drive fast, weighs less, costs far less to own so no, I’ll take that over an overpriced over weight car that doesn’t meet up to these criteria
@@SAMMYJR00777 yeah yeah.... because Porsche never break..... keep dreaming ....every car broke , and Ferrari´s are very realiable cars... so no bro... no, if 911 Spyder in place of the Boxter maybe would be a fair comparition... but not this one.... its 458 all the way
@@rodrigopandocairo4949 dont be bu t hurt mate. i have both and my Ferrari testarossa always breaks all the time, i mean so many updates this that etc bs. while my 992 gt3 never gives me any problems even my 944 turbo better than my over priced Ferrari but hey. I still love them all. just saying the facts.
Another amazing review Fenton. Don’t ever change this format, your channel is growing and when you get to the top, do not change the way you do these reviews. Also great to actually see that more people are letting you drive more expensive cars - props to them for letting you review them. You are the next Doug! Keep it up
Great review! Been lucky enough to drive both. 4.5L 718 Cayman and 458 Coupe. Theater in the Ferrari is turned to 11. The kick in the rear on upshift, F1 sound near redline, and bark on downhift, brings smiles for days and sweet dreams at night. So good. DeMan 4.5L was also emotional but more like a 9 out of 10. Also dished out smiles for days. Couldn't believe how good it was. This is the one to track and drive hard without worry. Trade off is with maintenance. One is more likely to be driven gingerly or risk hefty bills. One can be pound on all day and just change the oil. Both great in their own way. Yes please.
Even with the DeMan engine and all the aftermarket parts, I’d still imagine that the Porsche will be less expensive to maintain and more reliable than the Ferrari
@@d.nakamura9579 yeah but the 458 will hold its value it’s getting a reputation as the last great na Ferrari. The Porsche is a modified Boxster and mods depreciate. Not sure why the engine should cost >50k for a new block cranks pistons etc.
Your ability to drive canyon quickly and simultaneously keep an articulate running commentary is outstanding. All I can say when pushing it really hard is “oh s**t” haha…
The 981 Spyder is my next car. I’ve wanted one for a long time but there aren’t many that are for sale in the US and I don’t want white which seems to be 70% of them. I love the look, I love the size, I love the sound. I can’t wait to get one.
Mine is white, but then I had it wrapped, with peelable paint....ride quality and character from stock > 718, whereas the 718 is the more mature sharper dressed version, but also less rare...
718 is great, but upgrading the exhaust is mandatory with potentially frustrating results, whereas the 981 is perfect out the box. Also, the clutch is way too light on the 718.
Quickly becoming my favourite channel for car reviews. I feel your depth of knowledge in handling, driving physics and the engineering that enables those factors to get close to perfect from the perspective of the driver are top notch. Really appreciate your work @Zygrene
@@Nitrolore41But also the pain of burning a significant amount of money that you never get back. Which is a shame, I’ve wanted to get a bespoke engine for the 987 R I have bring it up to GT3 of the era power and make it the car it always should have been, but you are writing off that investment completely and probably devaluing the car to boot. My fiscal responsibility head will not allow the petrol head to do it.
Awesome comparison, and agree with the end result - given they’re a similar price, I feel like the 458 is more special even in stock form. I would personally want the 981 Spyder but without the 4.5L; better value, and imo you don’t need the power. 375hp with shorter gearing and better handling is perfect for public roads since you can push the car more before you’re going crazy speeds. Plus, as others have said the 3.8L sounds better.
The difference is simple, the 458 has soul and style, the Boxster is (as you said perfectly) seems to be a bit clinical. Just look at the interior of both cars and you can see the 458 comes with reasonable performance and does it with style. Just as one would expect, the Italians come with style and good enough performance and the Germans come with precision performance and god enough style. Thanks for the video, loved looking and watching both cars.
As an ex-race driver and long time enthusiast I can say for a fact Zygrene has it right here, Ferrari for the heart but Porsche for the better build quality and longevity.
The Deman changes the tone of the engine. It is much deeper. The stock 3.8 sounds better with a high pitched supercar wail and would probably help with that emotional aspect that the Ferrari has. But the 3.8 is also way down on power with only 375. I think that's enough power but it would make a lopsided comparison.
I’ve got a stock 981 Spyder. Actually comparing a STOCK 981 to this 458 would be a favorable comparison. Even in its stock form, the 981 is the better car, one of the best Porsche has ever produced.
@@thedudeabides1443 Agree. As a 981 owner and former racer I feel that the 981 Spyder is just about the perfect street car. Being almost 400 #’s lighter than the 458 results in a nicely balanced machine that brings a smile to my face every time I drive it.
The spyder at 90k with the DeMan treatment with a fabspeed exhaust and ohlins R&T setup is nowhere near 200k. Just saying, maybe 160k. That being said the 458 spider is a fantastic car. 458 in general is the modern classic in the making.
Sooo i mean are either as good as an S2000? Loved the review, you’ve come a long way in the last few years and really getting to experience some of the best stuff out there now, keep it up.
The s2000 isn't a particular good car. The only parts that made it special, was the 9k rpm limit and the gearbox. But the f20c is just gutless below 6000rpm. The suspension setup leaves a lot to be desired. In fact the porsche boxster 986 is already a better car. Don't know about the f22c. We did not get those in Europe and the f20c is just not ready for the autobahn. The engine has oil starvation problems and here in Germany most of them got replaced before 100k km's (about 60k miles).
@@jjchockey On paper, yes. But implementation matters - for example when it was in production, the E36 M3 was called the best handling car at any price by C&D despite also having MacPherson struts. The s2000 is very lively, to the point where it's finicky and less predictable than the 986 at its limits. Usually, it's the mid-engined cars which are harder to catch before they spin, but IME with both cars, the S2000 is more likely to bite you.
Great review!! I have a 458 Italia and GT4RS and the 4RS will outperform but the 458 is an absolute beast!! I tell people the Ferrari feels like an RS version of the Porsche! The wild nature, snappy old school shifts with the reliability of a dual clutch!
awesome comparison video. love the sound of both cars. if you don't mind asking, where can I get the Porsche's gear ratios lowered? i used to know a place near Las Vegas but lost their information.
Having owned a Ferrari 360 proper gated manual transmission and now a manual 718 Spyder I would agree on the emotional provoked by a Ferrari engine. I wouldn’t bother with interior upgrades other than gt3 knob. It’s about the driving experience so the regearing would be most tempting upgrade. Ferrari’s are special cars but Porsche feels so well built. Interesting comparison- thank you.
The Italians usually can make cars more “emotional”, still an unknown quantity, but so many people say that. Also, the sound is usually better with smaller bore engines.
I had a Deman 4.5 and sold it to get a Spyder RS. The only reason I did so was because meeting smog in California with a modded car is so difficult. Other than that, if you can find a used Deman based on the 2016 for less than 125k, best car deal out there. And, it is a manual. Insanely fast, sound is incredible, very light, Everything you could want. BTW, disagree about the emotionality. Have driven the 458 and think it is just as emotional. And, it is more emotional than almost all newer cars, including the Spyder RS.
Great review! I would love to know how the Deman compares to the new Spyder RS. The Deman looks amazing but I think the RS must take it as the pinnacle Spyder
Both cars are awesome. I think the styling of the Porsche - particularly the interior - is aging better than the Ferrari. Some of the angles on the Ferrari, especially the front end and dash design, just look a bit odd in photos. Maybe it works better in person?
Sorry for the stupid question… why did u turn on bumpy mode button while canyon carving? That’s for cruising in the cities with bad roads. The 458 is a road car, it’s very comfy by default and the bumpy mode makes it even softer, u are rubbing the car off its sharpness by having that mode on. Whenever I put on the bumpy mode button, I cant even do hard acceleration smoothly without the car rocking back and forth… u should have kept it in race in the canyons
Questo confronto è un po' improbabile: come si fa a replicare il risultato della Spyder su un altro esemplare? Tante e tali sono le modifiche che difficilmente si avrebbe lo stesso risultato
Where does all the weight saving go in the Boxster? Is it due to the Boxer engine with 2 cylinders less than the 458……or the smaller size of the Boxster (10 mms narrower than 458)? Both cars are built by conventional materials (without carbon fiber structures), so how come the weight difference is so much?
The car nerd in me loves the paper/real world stats of comparison tests. The 'reasonable' me realises that when it comes to these 6 figure 2 seater sports cars, non of that matters because it's an emotional decision, facts be damned....re: am I a 'porsche' dude or a 'ferrari' guy, and all the self perceptions associated with that self assessment.
its definitely not every day where a Porsche sounds better than a flat-crank Ferrari. This Spyder has that *classic true flat 6 howl that is sadly missing from all Porsches since 2017 except for the GT3, GT3RS, and GT4RS* To get this sound you unfortunately have to pay for soooo much more now. Then again, a 4.5L DeMan mod is by no means cheap. But even then, back in the day even Cayman/Boster GTS or a well specced S trim had this sound in 981 generation or earlier. Then Porsche just gutted the entire Cayman/Boster lineup with the 718. GT4 sounds crap, GTS 4.0 sounds crap, GT4RS is unattainable, don't even get me started on the lower trim 4 cylinder models (that said, they got amazing performance). Starting to have a major fallout with Porsche. It just seems like for a brand that talks about performance all the time, they don't care about their performance cars at all outside of creative prestige allocation type of cars with the GT department's cars. Gone are the days where any Porsche 2 door stood for a type of half purist driving feel where it was pure but compromised JUST enough that isn't annoying to the point that you'd shoot yourself in the face.... Everything drives like a generic-mobile with no soul and barely any noise without heavy mods. And even then, the volume gets louder but the dynamic range of the tone/pitch isn't improving too much.
That spider spec isn't very different than the 4.5 GT4 you tested against the GT3 cars - why the change of heart regarding its performance and liveliness?
I hope Ferrari recreates the 458 in the future with a higher reving flat plane V8 with all the modern tuning techniques, a faster more brutal shifting double clutch, KW or Ohlins suspension, more rigid carbon chassis, and an overall lighter car. Look I love Porsches but this is the only Ferrari I like. It’s an all out attack car meant for full aggression driving with a screaming V8 and darty steering.
What’s your opinion of this DeMan Spyder vs the Spyder RS you drove a few months back? I remember you said the Spyder RS was the best car you ever drove at that time. You think the Spyder RS is more “emotional” and visceral than the 458?
@@CodeBlueNurburgringAtom Spyder RS engine is more in your face and the handling is objectively better with more precise inputs. But the 458 feels more lively. I'd have one of each.
For $18K in upgrades, the 981 Spyder can have around 450 HP which is all the car needs to be thrilling - Dundon headers, Dundon intake runners, GT3 throttle body, IPD plenum and sport tune. I did this to my 981 Spyder and it has a spectacular flat 6 howl that makes the hair on your back stand up.
Having driven both and owning a 981, I’d take the STOCK 981 Spyder over the 458-and save about $100k. A 981 Spyder is about the perfect sports car and I’ll never sell it.
The 458 has been on many bedroom walls and people would turn to look as you drove past, the 981 definitely doesn’t have that super car factor. For me it would have to be the 458 I was early 20s when it came out and it’s one of those cars you thought one day I’ll have it…
@ pretty sure the 458 has pretty legendary status among enthusiasts as well. Def seem a few 981s down at the local caffeine and machine type car meet cafe and wouldn’t draw the crowd a 458 would
Not disparaging the 458. It is a gold standard beloved by enthusiasts and others alike. I’d have one in my garage except for the fact there’s too much overlap with my 981 Spyder and I prefer the space be filled with a manual. I’m just saying that any larger crowd you might see looking at a 458 is also packed with non-enthusiasts simply ogling a Ferrari. Take out those casual observers and I suspect a well equipped Boxster Spyder will pull even, if not ahead, in interest from real drivers.
In my day...ALL the cars had 3 pedals and 5-6 gears you moved thru in concert between your feet and the pedals, to make the car go fast. You pull triggers on the back of the steering wheel. At any of my PCA meets, when we vote best non porsche, my vote goes to the best MANUAL non porsche. Not once did I vote for the Ferrari, maserati. I actually voted for a challenger srt the last time. American muscle 6spd. And I say all this as an angry pdk owner. 😂😂😂
Interesting comparison. So time and time again - supercars justify their premiums with the X factor on drama. A third option would be a c8 z06 convertible
The answer is 718 Spyder RS - and don't mess with the suspension or gearing. PDK. Short gears are for rally cars long gears are for track cars. Its not the type of suspension, its the suspension tuning in relation to the cars rigidity and pitch, roll and yaw characteristics - that relate to wheelbase, track, weight distribution and roll centre.
@@Christian-vw8rsChristian Its also a great car, has one of the best NA engines put in a car and is a genuine race engine. The 458 was always too soft particularly in the rear, the 488 had the same issue.
Well, the 981 weighs 400 POUNDS LESS! It’s is easy to work on yourself and parts are easy to get at a fraction of the price. It’s far more reliable and there are exponentially more places that will work on one for 1/10 the price. I’m middle class but a stock 981 Spyder is attainable for me, and also far more practical and usable. No contest to me. I want my dream car to be in the garage whenever I want to use it. Lots of people, like most, who buy a new Ferrari, get it and then sell it within a year. You won’t see more than 5 or 6 981 Spyders for sale nationwide at any given time.
Wow, that’s a tough one. The Ferrari is without question a more beautiful car. And the sound of the engine is more enticing. But, for the overall handling ability, including power delivery, not to mention reliability, I would have to take the Porsche. I’m just more about practicality than flashiness.
458 Spider has the most embarrassing lack of structural integrity for a brand with a reputation like Ferrari. The few I’ve driven have had so much flex that the rear view mirror goes blurry over coarse pavement, which is unacceptable when cars like 718 Spyders and McLaren’s feel nearly the same as their coupe counterparts
Spyder RS owner here: that Boxster Spyder really should have the bucket seats! They are light, beautiful and also comfortable. So many upgrades on that car and then have the 18 way sport seats in there? Come on! On the cars: i think your bottom line is spot on. Boxster is more rigid chassis and more precise to drive, but the Ferrari V8 is just peak ICE and i would got for that one. Last not least let's not forget that we are comparing a modified car with a 10 year + old stock car.
I’m not a huge Ferrari guy but there is no way I would pick a boxter ever! I would love to see a comparison of a the coupes but with a pdk in the Porsche for an even more direct comparison
As a pdk owner myself, I think the manual is a huge advantage for the boxster spyder. It helps a lot with driver engagement, which I think is what truly matters between these two. You’re not getting a drop top for performance, it’s going to be a compromise.
@ the 458 is dual clutch only and he was talking about comparing hard top 458 vs hard top deman 718 so for the sake of closer comparison pdk…also because you compromise in one aspect doesn’t mean you must or should in another area.
@ Both of your arguments are heavily flawed. The boxster spyder is manual only. And driving engagement has more priority when it comes to these cars. You don’t buy a drop top for maximum performance (dual clutch), you drive it to experience more of the elements and the car you’re driving. An automatic takes some of that away.
@@milkyy4168 my arguments were flawed? I didn’t mention the spider once in any of my comments and then you go on to say the driver engagement is more important with those cars but you yourself our PDK owner. WTF are you talking about? 😂 the pdk isn’t only max performance it’s also an easy to drive automatic, perfect for a convertible drive (again I wasn’t even suggesting the pdk+convertible anywhere in my comments)
I find it interesting how on super car reviews when these cars make compromises no one says anything about it. Example people mention the infotainment system in way cheaper cars and steering feel but in these the car seems perfect. I wish you guys would hold these companies accountable for the same stuff you hold way cheaper cars too in order to be consistent in the takes you have.
'no one says anything about' is because it's been said so many times. Exotics have crappy infotainment, it's because they don't have the manpower for a company like VW group or BMW or Mercedes who have some of the best systems
@ I understand what your saying, major UA-camrs review these cars multiple times and are adamant about the issues but gloss over on certain cars that’s all I’m saying.
I’ve got a 981 Spyder so I’m a bit biased. I believe it’s one of the best cars Porsche has ever produced, even in stock form. It is a superior product compared to the 458. And what this owner has done with his mods has turned the car into a monster, MUCH better than the new Spyder RS, especially since it has a manual transmission.
981 Spyder owner here as well. Absolutely perfect out of the box and grossly undervalued when you consider it’s every bit as good as the legendary 458 yet bests that with an exceptional manual transmission. They’ll have to pry the keys from my cold, dead hands someday.
The biggest difference will be in the ownership experience, and for the "every-person", cost of ownership. For those of us in the "I can afford the car, but can I afford to own the car?" category, the Porsche will be the car to have. For those who can afford to own the Ferrari, they can probably own something more dear than a 9+ year old, $200K sample from the Prancing Horse marque. For those car enthusiasts among us who are foolish enough to live in eastern Canada, the Porsche dealer is 90 minutes away. The Ferrari dealer is 12 hours away...
Seems the spyder rs would have made a better comparison, although I guess the model years would vary a lot. The DeMan seems more like a muscle car in its character. Amazing, but a different critter.
The thing is as much as I am a Porsche guy, own a 911 turbo, you can’t really compare a modded Porsche to a stock 458 once something is modded nothing really means anything anymore. So now you mod the 458 and compare the two again, different outcome I’m sure. Just saying.
You keep talking about steering feedback what car today has steering feedback. I don’t know any car for the last 15 years that has good steering feedback and if they did reviewers would complain that you couldn’t daily the car.
Can’t really compare them to be honest. Ferrari is just in a league of its own even if you did modify the Porsche. Also you will get no where near your 100k back from modifications when you come to sell the car
The 458 is just so incredibly beautiful.
this is the type of review I’ve been looking for.
Not sponsored by manufacturers. Purely for real car fans 🎉
As a 981 Spyder owner I gotta give it this owner. His interior is excellent. He even did the firewall! The stock Alcantara is nice but overplayed. This interior elevates it a lot.
Also a 981 Spyder owner and couldn't agree more. Now I really want that steering wheel, instead of my worn alcantara wheel 😢
I'd have bought a 911 instead. It's still a boxster
@@pegcity4evawell since you don’t know, the Boxster is 60% 911 parts, built on the same assembly line to the same quality standards and materials, handles better, easier to drive fast, weighs less, costs far less to own so no, I’ll take that over an overpriced over weight car that doesn’t meet up to these criteria
I switched from a 991.2GT3 to a Spider. I found the Spider to be by far the best car.
But at 15k, he will never recover it back when selling.
It was game over when he stepped into the Porsche. No style at all. 458 is so much spicier and more stylish, plus sounds amazing.
and 458 breaks more often
And no 3rd pedal. F*ckin stupid. Porsche still makes manuals...why?...because people want them.and they sell. Ferrari Lamborghini too dumb to listen
@@SAMMYJR00777 yeah yeah.... because Porsche never break..... keep dreaming ....every car broke , and Ferrari´s are very realiable cars... so no bro... no, if 911 Spyder in place of the Boxter maybe would be a fair comparition... but not this one.... its 458 all the way
@@rodrigopandocairo4949 dont be bu t hurt mate. i have both and my Ferrari testarossa always breaks all the time, i mean so many updates this that etc bs. while my 992 gt3 never gives me any problems even my 944 turbo better than my over priced Ferrari but hey. I still love them all. just saying the facts.
The way the 458 sounds, looks, and I’m sure makes you feel. It would be my choice if a 200k roadster was in my budget.
Another amazing review Fenton. Don’t ever change this format, your channel is growing and when you get to the top, do not change the way you do these reviews. Also great to actually see that more people are letting you drive more expensive cars - props to them for letting you review them. You are the next Doug! Keep it up
I appreciate the feedback and support!
Porsche: "Where would you like to add extra deviated stitching?"
Owner: "Yes"
Great review!
Been lucky enough to drive both. 4.5L 718 Cayman and 458 Coupe. Theater in the Ferrari is turned to 11. The kick in the rear on upshift, F1 sound near redline, and bark on downhift, brings smiles for days and sweet dreams at night. So good.
DeMan 4.5L was also emotional but more like a 9 out of 10. Also dished out smiles for days. Couldn't believe how good it was. This is the one to track and drive hard without worry.
Trade off is with maintenance. One is more likely to be driven gingerly or risk hefty bills. One can be pound on all day and just change the oil. Both great in their own way. Yes please.
Even with the DeMan engine and all the aftermarket parts, I’d still imagine that the Porsche will be less expensive to maintain and more reliable than the Ferrari
@@d.nakamura9579 yeah but the 458 will hold its value it’s getting a reputation as the last great na Ferrari. The Porsche is a modified Boxster and mods depreciate. Not sure why the engine should cost >50k for a new block cranks pistons etc.
Your ability to drive canyon quickly and simultaneously keep an articulate running commentary is outstanding. All I can say when pushing it really hard is “oh s**t” haha…
Ha don't watch my videos from 2015. It's been a journey to say the least.
Humble, down to earth guy, no ego - your personality is a really good and big part of the growth of your channel too.
That sound on the 458. They won’t make it like this anymore
The 981 Spyder is my next car. I’ve wanted one for a long time but there aren’t many that are for sale in the US and I don’t want white which seems to be 70% of them. I love the look, I love the size, I love the sound. I can’t wait to get one.
Get a 718. I have one. It’s insane. Change the exhaust if you want
Mine is white, but then I had it wrapped, with peelable paint....ride quality and character from stock > 718, whereas the 718 is the more mature sharper dressed version, but also less rare...
718 is great, but upgrading the exhaust is mandatory with potentially frustrating results, whereas the 981 is perfect out the box. Also, the clutch is way too light on the 718.
Quickly becoming my favourite channel for car reviews. I feel your depth of knowledge in handling, driving physics and the engineering that enables those factors to get close to perfect from the perspective of the driver are top notch. Really appreciate your work @Zygrene
Many thanks!!
That 981 Spyder engine symphony 🤌🏽🤌🏽
boxster with a 4.5 and set up in this way I think it's a definitive, wonderful car
Have to disagree, far better option is to get the Spyder RS. Great car.
You don't value the pleasure of personalizing a tailor-made vehicle
@@Nitrolore41But also the pain of burning a significant amount of money that you never get back.
Which is a shame, I’ve wanted to get a bespoke engine for the 987 R I have bring it up to GT3 of the era power and make it the car it always should have been, but you are writing off that investment completely and probably devaluing the car to boot. My fiscal responsibility head will not allow the petrol head to do it.
passion is irrationality, you live to have fun with cars, not to think about the value it will have in the future, it becomes interest there
@@Nitrolore41 If you buy a Porsche new the options for customisation are vast and won't devalue the car.
Great comparison. I own a 997 but would take the 458 spider for the noise and the hard top.
Awesome comparison, and agree with the end result - given they’re a similar price, I feel like the 458 is more special even in stock form.
I would personally want the 981 Spyder but without the 4.5L; better value, and imo you don’t need the power. 375hp with shorter gearing and better handling is perfect for public roads since you can push the car more before you’re going crazy speeds. Plus, as others have said the 3.8L sounds better.
I am a Porsche guy, but I’m taking the 458, no questions asked. Yes maintenance and repair budget will be orders of magnitude higher, but worth it!
The difference is simple, the 458 has soul and style, the Boxster is (as you said perfectly) seems to be a bit clinical. Just look at the interior of both cars and you can see the 458 comes with reasonable performance and does it with style. Just as one would expect, the Italians come with style and good enough performance and the Germans come with precision performance and god enough style. Thanks for the video, loved looking and watching both cars.
As an ex-race driver and long time enthusiast I can say for a fact Zygrene has it right here, Ferrari for the heart but Porsche for the better build quality and longevity.
My heart says no sports car should be autotragic. But maybe I have a problem with my heart 😅
Follow your heart! It will triumph in the end
The Deman changes the tone of the engine. It is much deeper. The stock 3.8 sounds better with a high pitched supercar wail and would probably help with that emotional aspect that the Ferrari has. But the 3.8 is also way down on power with only 375. I think that's enough power but it would make a lopsided comparison.
Absolutely adore that change of sound, sounds just like an old air-cooled souped-up 911
I’ve got a stock 981 Spyder.
Actually comparing a STOCK 981 to this 458 would be a favorable comparison.
Even in its stock form, the 981 is the better car, one of the best Porsche has ever produced.
@@thedudeabides1443the market will ultimately agree with this take.
@@thedudeabides1443 Agree. As a 981 owner and former racer I feel that the 981 Spyder is just about the perfect street car. Being almost 400 #’s lighter than the 458 results in a nicely balanced machine that brings a smile to my face every time I drive it.
Fascinating comparison. You are so lucky to be able to drive both!
Great cars. I’ll take a 458 any day over a 981.
The spyder at 90k with the DeMan treatment with a fabspeed exhaust and ohlins R&T setup is nowhere near 200k. Just saying, maybe 160k. That being said the 458 spider is a fantastic car. 458 in general is the modern classic in the making.
@@thomasschimmeyer8715 don't forget the $50k interior. But from a pure driving dynamics standpoint yes, the DeMan 981 is cheaper.
@@Zygrenebonjour mon ami , la nouvelle traduction automatique en français est catastrophique, on n’a lus ta voix 😞
I still prefer the sound of the stock ‘16 GT4’s engine to this Deman upgrade, but it sure is a beast.
Sooo i mean are either as good as an S2000? Loved the review, you’ve come a long way in the last few years and really getting to experience some of the best stuff out there now, keep it up.
The s2000 isn't a particular good car. The only parts that made it special, was the 9k rpm limit and the gearbox. But the f20c is just gutless below 6000rpm. The suspension setup leaves a lot to be desired. In fact the porsche boxster 986 is already a better car.
Don't know about the f22c. We did not get those in Europe and the f20c is just not ready for the autobahn. The engine has oil starvation problems and here in Germany most of them got replaced before 100k km's (about 60k miles).
@@amduser86how is a 986 better?
@@amduser86what? The S2000 has a much more sophisticated chassis and suspension than a 986.
@@jjchockey On paper, yes. But implementation matters - for example when it was in production, the E36 M3 was called the best handling car at any price by C&D despite also having MacPherson struts. The s2000 is very lively, to the point where it's finicky and less predictable than the 986 at its limits. Usually, it's the mid-engined cars which are harder to catch before they spin, but IME with both cars, the S2000 is more likely to bite you.
Mate both of these cars are much better than an s2000
Your Narrating on Car are exceptional.
Wow that's quite the 981 Spyder!
Great review!! I have a 458 Italia and GT4RS and the 4RS will outperform but the 458 is an absolute beast!! I tell people the Ferrari feels like an RS version of the Porsche! The wild nature, snappy old school shifts with the reliability of a dual clutch!
Thank you, excellent comparison and good work explaining how they feel 👍👍
awesome comparison video. love the sound of both cars. if you don't mind asking, where can I get the Porsche's gear ratios lowered? i used to know a place near Las Vegas but lost their information.
Having owned a Ferrari 360 proper gated manual transmission and now a manual 718 Spyder I would agree on the emotional provoked by a Ferrari engine. I wouldn’t bother with interior upgrades other than gt3 knob. It’s about the driving experience so the regearing would be most tempting upgrade. Ferrari’s are special cars but Porsche feels so well built. Interesting comparison- thank you.
Ferrari 458NA one of the Italians best still
458 without a shadow of a doubt. It will be a 190k when selling, the Deman 140k max.
The Italians usually can make cars more “emotional”, still an unknown quantity, but so many people say that. Also, the sound is usually better with smaller bore engines.
Short Stroke, not small bore.
Well, you said it. Porsche put on a clinic.
Ohhhh this is sickkkkkk
Excellent comparison!
I had a Deman 4.5 and sold it to get a Spyder RS. The only reason I did so was because meeting smog in California with a modded car is so difficult. Other than that, if you can find a used Deman based on the 2016 for less than 125k, best car deal out there. And, it is a manual. Insanely fast, sound is incredible, very light, Everything you could want. BTW, disagree about the emotionality. Have driven the 458 and think it is just as emotional. And, it is more emotional than almost all newer cars, including the Spyder RS.
Great review! I would love to know how the Deman compares to the new Spyder RS. The Deman looks amazing but I think the RS must take it as the pinnacle Spyder
@@chrisharris4223 Spyder RS is one of the best cars I've ever driven. It's spectacular.
@ I saw your three way review featuring it, looked amazing. It is at the very top of my wish list! 😀
Both cars are awesome. I think the styling of the Porsche - particularly the interior - is aging better than the Ferrari. Some of the angles on the Ferrari, especially the front end and dash design, just look a bit odd in photos. Maybe it works better in person?
Ill take the Ferrari all day. A 458 is peak Ferrari and for the street id rather be in that. No question porsche for the track
Sorry for the stupid question… why did u turn on bumpy mode button while canyon carving? That’s for cruising in the cities with bad roads. The 458 is a road car, it’s very comfy by default and the bumpy mode makes it even softer, u are rubbing the car off its sharpness by having that mode on. Whenever I put on the bumpy mode button, I cant even do hard acceleration smoothly without the car rocking back and forth… u should have kept it in race in the canyons
Questo confronto è un po' improbabile: come si fa a replicare il risultato della Spyder su un altro esemplare? Tante e tali sono le modifiche che difficilmente si avrebbe lo stesso risultato
Great video..
I love my Porsche but Ferrari all day.
Where does all the weight saving go in the Boxster? Is it due to the Boxer engine with 2 cylinders less than the 458……or the smaller size of the Boxster (10 mms narrower than 458)? Both cars are built by conventional materials (without carbon fiber structures), so how come the weight difference is so much?
The car nerd in me loves the paper/real world stats of comparison tests.
The 'reasonable' me realises that when it comes to these 6 figure 2 seater sports cars, non of that matters because it's an emotional decision, facts be damned....re: am I a 'porsche' dude or a 'ferrari' guy, and all the self perceptions associated with that self assessment.
@zygrene, real question : have you ever practiced on track with a coach ?
its definitely not every day where a Porsche sounds better than a flat-crank Ferrari.
This Spyder has that *classic true flat 6 howl that is sadly missing from all Porsches since 2017 except for the GT3, GT3RS, and GT4RS*
To get this sound you unfortunately have to pay for soooo much more now. Then again, a 4.5L DeMan mod is by no means cheap. But even then, back in the day even Cayman/Boster GTS or a well specced S trim had this sound in 981 generation or earlier. Then Porsche just gutted the entire Cayman/Boster lineup with the 718. GT4 sounds crap, GTS 4.0 sounds crap, GT4RS is unattainable, don't even get me started on the lower trim 4 cylinder models (that said, they got amazing performance).
Starting to have a major fallout with Porsche. It just seems like for a brand that talks about performance all the time, they don't care about their performance cars at all outside of creative prestige allocation type of cars with the GT department's cars.
Gone are the days where any Porsche 2 door stood for a type of half purist driving feel where it was pure but compromised JUST enough that isn't annoying to the point that you'd shoot yourself in the face.... Everything drives like a generic-mobile with no soul and barely any noise without heavy mods. And even then, the volume gets louder but the dynamic range of the tone/pitch isn't improving too much.
That spider spec isn't very different than the 4.5 GT4 you tested against the GT3 cars - why the change of heart regarding its performance and liveliness?
I hope Ferrari recreates the 458 in the future with a higher reving flat plane V8 with all the modern tuning techniques, a faster more brutal shifting double clutch, KW or Ohlins suspension, more rigid carbon chassis, and an overall lighter car. Look I love Porsches but this is the only Ferrari I like. It’s an all out attack car meant for full aggression driving with a screaming V8 and darty steering.
That would be a 458 speciali
Oooooh I’m excited for this one…!
What’s your opinion of this DeMan Spyder vs the Spyder RS you drove a few months back? I remember you said the Spyder RS was the best car you ever drove at that time. You think the Spyder RS is more “emotional” and visceral than the 458?
@@CodeBlueNurburgringAtom Spyder RS engine is more in your face and the handling is objectively better with more precise inputs. But the 458 feels more lively. I'd have one of each.
@ thanks!
"Hopefully the audio isn't too bad" *angelic v8 noises* 😂
Cool, I guess. But where's the MR2 for the three way Spyder comparo? 😏
So what’s the difference between the 981 Spyder motor and the GT3 motor of the same period?
The DeMan 4.5 for the 991 GT3, still revs to 9k I believe.
981 Spyder (and GT4) engine is basically the 991 Carrera S motor.
who did the interior work?
For $18K in upgrades, the 981 Spyder can have around 450 HP which is all the car needs to be thrilling - Dundon headers, Dundon intake runners, GT3 throttle body, IPD plenum and sport tune. I did this to my 981 Spyder and it has a spectacular flat 6 howl that makes the hair on your back stand up.
You should really do a comparison between the current stock Porsche 718 Spyder RS and the Ferrari 458 Spider
17:37 when it comes to precision in performance, I think that clinical isn’t such a bad thing.
“Would you pick a 458 or..”.
No need to finish that sentence. 458.
Having driven both and owning a 981, I’d take the STOCK 981 Spyder over the 458-and save about $100k.
A 981 Spyder is about the perfect sports car and I’ll never sell it.
When you know you know
The 458 has been on many bedroom walls and people would turn to look as you drove past, the 981 definitely doesn’t have that super car factor.
For me it would have to be the 458 I was early 20s when it came out and it’s one of those cars you thought one day I’ll have it…
You haven’t followed many 981 Spyders around have you? More rare than a 458, they draw more enthusiasm from the right crowd… actual car enthusiasts.
@ pretty sure the 458 has pretty legendary status among enthusiasts as well.
Def seem a few 981s down at the local caffeine and machine type car meet cafe and wouldn’t draw the crowd a 458 would
Not disparaging the 458. It is a gold standard beloved by enthusiasts and others alike. I’d have one in my garage except for the fact there’s too much overlap with my 981 Spyder and I prefer the space be filled with a manual.
I’m just saying that any larger crowd you might see looking at a 458 is also packed with non-enthusiasts simply ogling a Ferrari.
Take out those casual observers and I suspect a well equipped Boxster Spyder will pull even, if not ahead, in interest from real drivers.
@@jscifres100exactly!
In my day...ALL the cars had 3 pedals and 5-6 gears you moved thru in concert between your feet and the pedals, to make the car go fast. You pull triggers on the back of the steering wheel. At any of my PCA meets, when we vote best non porsche, my vote goes to the best MANUAL non porsche. Not once did I vote for the Ferrari, maserati. I actually voted for a challenger srt the last time. American muscle 6spd. And I say all this as an angry pdk owner. 😂😂😂
Can u do a reveiw if the 1929 Cadillac l line
I would take one of each 😂. The Porsche overall maintenance might be less expensive than the Ferrari .
Interesting comparison. So time and time again - supercars justify their premiums with the X factor on drama.
A third option would be a c8 z06 convertible
GMA T.50 is ICE at its finest. Makes the 458 engine look like a Corolla's
The answer is 718 Spyder RS - and don't mess with the suspension or gearing. PDK. Short gears are for rally cars long gears are for track cars. Its not the type of suspension, its the suspension tuning in relation to the cars rigidity and pitch, roll and yaw characteristics - that relate to wheelbase, track, weight distribution and roll centre.
RS is too nerdy
@@Christian-vw8rsChristian Its also a great car, has one of the best NA engines put in a car and is a genuine race engine. The 458 was always too soft particularly in the rear, the 488 had the same issue.
you get all point.❤ compare this 4.5cayman to exige v6 410 430 something like that see which one handling better or more connect to you
compare elise s1 to caterham see which one is the best handling car ever
@@terrydu1572 wish we got the V6 Exige in the states
Well, the 981 weighs 400 POUNDS LESS! It’s is easy to work on yourself and parts are easy to get at a fraction of the price. It’s far more reliable and there are exponentially more places that will work on one for 1/10 the price. I’m middle class but a stock 981 Spyder is attainable for me, and also far more practical and usable.
No contest to me. I want my dream car to be in the garage whenever I want to use it. Lots of people, like most, who buy a new Ferrari, get it and then sell it within a year. You won’t see more than 5 or 6 981 Spyders for sale nationwide at any given time.
Wow, that’s a tough one. The Ferrari is without question a more beautiful car. And the sound of the engine is more enticing. But, for the overall handling ability, including power delivery, not to mention reliability, I would have to take the Porsche. I’m just more about practicality than flashiness.
Porsche quality is much better too.
458 Spider has the most embarrassing lack of structural integrity for a brand with a reputation like Ferrari. The few I’ve driven have had so much flex that the rear view mirror goes blurry over coarse pavement, which is unacceptable when cars like 718 Spyders and McLaren’s feel nearly the same as their coupe counterparts
dope
Crazy how 500hp seems slow by today's standard
U drive the 2025 boxster rs yet
@@RandyLe4zero8 I've driven the 718 Spyder RS. Video on the channel
Spyder RS owner here: that Boxster Spyder really should have the bucket seats! They are light, beautiful and also comfortable. So many upgrades on that car and then have the 18 way sport seats in there? Come on! On the cars: i think your bottom line is spot on. Boxster is more rigid chassis and more precise to drive, but the Ferrari V8 is just peak ICE and i would got for that one. Last not least let's not forget that we are comparing a modified car with a 10 year + old stock car.
I’m not a huge Ferrari guy but there is no way I would pick a boxter ever! I would love to see a comparison of a the coupes but with a pdk in the Porsche for an even more direct comparison
As a pdk owner myself, I think the manual is a huge advantage for the boxster spyder. It helps a lot with driver engagement, which I think is what truly matters between these two. You’re not getting a drop top for performance, it’s going to be a compromise.
@ the 458 is dual clutch only and he was talking about comparing hard top 458 vs hard top deman 718 so for the sake of closer comparison pdk…also because you compromise in one aspect doesn’t mean you must or should in another area.
@ Both of your arguments are heavily flawed. The boxster spyder is manual only. And driving engagement has more priority when it comes to these cars. You don’t buy a drop top for maximum performance (dual clutch), you drive it to experience more of the elements and the car you’re driving. An automatic takes some of that away.
@@milkyy4168 my arguments were flawed? I didn’t mention the spider once in any of my comments and then you go on to say the driver engagement is more important with those cars but you yourself our PDK owner. WTF are you talking about? 😂 the pdk isn’t only max performance it’s also an easy to drive automatic, perfect for a convertible drive (again I wasn’t even suggesting the pdk+convertible anywhere in my comments)
I find it interesting how on super car reviews when these cars make compromises no one says anything about it. Example people mention the infotainment system in way cheaper cars and steering feel but in these the car seems perfect. I wish you guys would hold these companies accountable for the same stuff you hold way cheaper cars too in order to be consistent in the takes you have.
🎯
'no one says anything about' is because it's been said so many times. Exotics have crappy infotainment, it's because they don't have the manpower for a company like VW group or BMW or Mercedes who have some of the best systems
@ I understand what your saying, major UA-camrs review these cars multiple times and are adamant about the issues but gloss over on certain cars that’s all I’m saying.
I’ve got a 981 Spyder so I’m a bit biased. I believe it’s one of the best cars Porsche has ever produced, even in stock form. It is a superior product compared to the 458.
And what this owner has done with his mods has turned the car into a monster, MUCH better than the new Spyder RS, especially since it has a manual transmission.
987 though. Lighter, smaller, hydraulic steering, and looks better inside and out imo. Classic.
@@jjchockey 987Spyder's engine is more boring and less reliable than 981's
@ they have virtually identical motors… both MA1
981 Spyder owner here as well. Absolutely perfect out of the box and grossly undervalued when you consider it’s every bit as good as the legendary 458 yet bests that with an exceptional manual transmission. They’ll have to pry the keys from my cold, dead hands someday.
2 legends
The biggest difference will be in the ownership experience, and for the "every-person", cost of ownership. For those of us in the "I can afford the car, but can I afford to own the car?" category, the Porsche will be the car to have. For those who can afford to own the Ferrari, they can probably own something more dear than a 9+ year old, $200K sample from the Prancing Horse marque. For those car enthusiasts among us who are foolish enough to live in eastern Canada, the Porsche dealer is 90 minutes away. The Ferrari dealer is 12 hours away...
Seems the spyder rs would have made a better comparison, although I guess the model years would vary a lot. The DeMan seems more like a muscle car in its character. Amazing, but a different critter.
Because 981Spyder is considered the best Boxster ever.
@ By 981 owners, for sure. They’ll never stop telling you. lol
@@hbullock If RS was the best, DeMan would bring it. But the reality is different. Here's the proof.
@ That doesn’t even make sense. Why would DeMan bring an RS? DeMan has nothing to do with the RS models.
I think we can all agree Boxster Spyder with Ferarri engine is best car.
I don’t know if boring-out a 3.8 alloy block is the greatest idea, but I guess it works.
@@TML34 I haven't heard of any DeMan failures yet
I wish they kept the Porsche Spyder stock because it's already perfect as is...now it seems like there is too much power. That said I prefer the 458
The thing is as much as I am a Porsche guy, own a 911 turbo, you can’t really compare a modded Porsche to a stock 458 once something is modded nothing really means anything anymore. So now you mod the 458 and compare the two again, different outcome I’m sure. Just saying.
CA plate with a DeMan build... someone knows someone at the DMV...
@@OVER5TEER my understanding is that only the headers are illegal in CA so I was surprised to hear they were in the list of mods.
@@Huub1e The whole thing is def not legal in CA...
10:59 f1 3 6 v8 barks to life 🤷
Watching both it seems like the Porsche is the play
With an unlimited budget-----I'd take the Ferrari. But best bang and reliability for the buck---Porsche all the way!
hodling that steering wheel like a bitcoiner hodls his corn
Porsche all day everyday
You keep talking about steering feedback what car today has steering feedback. I don’t know any car for the last 15 years that has good steering feedback and if they did reviewers would complain that you couldn’t daily the car.
Both of them, so good I'm not rich😂
The ultimate German spider is the 918 spyder tho
Can’t really compare them to be honest. Ferrari is just in a league of its own even if you did modify the Porsche. Also you will get no where near your 100k back from modifications when you come to sell the car
What’s the point of this comparison? You’re taking a heavily modified car and comparing it with a factory car without mods.
For the $$ I'm sitting in the 981 spyder
True comparison is 911 turbo s cab