5 Most Driver-Focused Porsches Of The Last Decade

1. 2015 Porsche Boxster Spyder (981)

The Boxster/ Cayman models really came into their own element with the 981 generation, despite the mid-engine Porsche always sharing plenty of tech with the 911. Granted, the large array of Porsche 987 special editions cannot be matched by the 981, but on the other side, we have more reliable, more powerful mills. When it comes to the most visceral of all 981 models, the Boxster Spyder has to be at the top.

It is, essentially, the open-thrills equivalent of the 911 Speedster models, and while models like the insanely obscure Porsche 993 Speedster will be a lot more desired by collectors, this one you can enjoy guilt-free. The 981 Boxster Spyder takes the GT4 engine and puts it in a slightly lighter, open-top body, making this the lightest Porsche 981 ever made. It is also the lightest Porsche on this list. Only about 2,000 examples of the 981 Boxster Spyder were built. Classic.com shows the average price for a 981 Boxster Spyder to be $92,308, with the lowest sale recorded being for $70,500.

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2. 2016 Porsche 911 R

Many consider the 991 to be the last truly compact Porsche 911. If you want to experience the 991 on the road, in its rawest iteration, the 911 R is the best way to go. It is the 991 GT3 Touring turned to the max. Less sound deadening and a single-mass flywheel instead of the GT3 Touring’s DMF make for a much more visceral feel.

The 911 R is also 151 pounds lighter than the Touring. Like the original 911 R, every aspect of the car has been meticulously crafted with weight-saving in mind, making this the lightest of all modern 911s, tipping the scales at just over 3,000 pounds. This is a far cry from more modern models like the 992 Targa 4 GTS’ at 3,847 pounds. Like any driver-focused Porsche sports car, the 991 R comes exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission. Production for this raw Porsche 911 was limited to 991 units. The Porsche 911 (991) R has appreciated with average prices gravitating around $450,000. The low end for these cars is at around $290,000.

3. 2020 Porsche 718 Spyder 4.0

As I already mentioned before, the Porsche Cayman/ Boxster is, often, regarded as the better Porsche sports car. We won’t be getting into such debates, however. I wanted to put the Porsche 718 Spyder RS or its coupe counterpart, the Porsche 718 GT4 RS on here, but both of these models come with PDK as the only transmission option. Despite it being one of the best transmissions in the business, many Porsche enthusiasts are still looking forward to shifting gears themselves.

That’s where the 718 Spyder 4.0 comes in. Despite similar displacement, its rev-happy flat-six engine is not the same as in the GT4 RS. It is based on the 3.0-liter twin-turbo unit found in newer Carrera models. Unlike the more track-focused 718 variants, the Spyder 4.0 can be had with a manual. With 2,486 examples built, the Spyder 4.0 is one of the rarer Porsche 718 models. The Porsche 718 Spyder 4.0 will set you back, on average, about $127,000 if you want one with a manual. The PDK-equipped examples are around $5,000 cheaper.

4. 2022 Porsche 911 Sport Classic

If a bit more torque is what you are after, then the Porsche 992 Sport Classic is right up your alley. Back in 2022, Porsche introduced the second iteration of the 911 Sport Classic, this time based on the 992 generation. The 2022 Sport Classic takes the insanely-capable 992 Turbo, ditches the all-wheel drive and PDK transmission, and reduces power slightly, for a more manageable driving experience.

Just like on the 997 Sport Classic, this special-edition 911 is inspired by the original 911 and the iconic Carrera 2.7 RS, with the iconic ducktail bill being one of the main exterior highlights. Production of the 992 Sport Classic was limited to 1,250 units. The Porsche 911 (992) Sport Classic is a proper collector’s car. With an average price of just under $512,000, on Classic.com, the 992 Sport Classic is holding its value exceptionally well.

5. 2024 Porsche 911 S/T

The S/T designation stands for Sport Touring and was first attached to a Porsche 911 in 1969 when the company developed an ultra-lightweight competition variant, based on the original 911 S. This new model adheres to the same philosophy, making it the lightest Porsche 992 you can get. The 992 S/T is based on the GT3 Touring but features a more aggressive aero kit and the engine out of a 992 GT3 RS.

In this case, Porsche’s iconic boxer engine is mated, exclusively, to a manual transmission. The S/T is also 84 pounds lighter than the lightest possible 992 GT3 Touring you can get. The S/T commemorates the inception of the 911, which is why production of this special-edition Porsche is limited to 1963 units, which is when the rear-engine sports car was first introduced to the world. The 992 S/T is still a new model that retails for $293,350. Prices are expected to soar within the next few years, making this potentially, one of the most collectible Porsche 911s.