German Engineering Gone Wrong? Doug DeMuro Exposes The 718 Spyder RS' Insane Roof Mechanism

Hope It Does Not Rain When You Are Out And About In The RS Spyder

A significant portion of Doug’s video is dedicated to him showing us the convoluted process which begins with the key fob.

• Once the key fob is used to pop open the rear clamshell lid, the first part of the soft top - the sunshield, can be released after manually lifting the lid. The first part of the lid is composed of canvas cloth and metal tubing.

• The sun shield gets attached to the top of the windshield via a latch, which is then unrolled to the back.

• The metal tube can be affixed to the back in the holes meant for it.

• Once the tube is in place two metal strings have to be attached to the hooks provided, these hooks can be tightened and loosened using a lever.

• Then comes the second part of the top - the weather protector, which seals the interior from rain and wind. Of course, this step can be skipped if you do not require it. This is not an easy process and it takes some effort to properly secure.

• Now the last two attachments from the sun-shield can be attached to the latches, which are on top of the air intakes on the rear lid.

If you want to put the soft top back on, you will have to follow the entire process in reverse, taking care to properly fold the sun shield so it fits under the rear clamshell double-bubble Speedster-inspired lid.

This is the single most bizarre top operation of any convertible top I have ever reviewed in 10 years. - Doug DeMuro

Making The Case For The RS’ Complex Soft-Top

We cannot fathom the thought process that went into the design of this cumbersome process. According to Porsche’s official press release, this is "a unique manually-operated, lightweight soft-top’’. The brand emphasizes the convertible’s weight saving which is 16 pounds compared to the 718 Spyder and more than 36 pounds compared to the 718 Boxster.

The base Boxster (manual) weighs 3,036 pounds while the 718 RS has a Speedster-style setup and weighs 3,214 pounds. A complicated folding roof mechanism would add further weight. Unlike its more practical 718 Boxster sibling, the Spyder RS prioritizes raw speed and agility over comfort and convenience. It goes to show how far Porsche will go to save weight in its pursuit of speed.

Now the question remains, what happens if you face a sudden change in the weather when you’re out and about? Do you risk getting yourself and your possessions getting drenched? The process in the Spyder is too complicated for a car that costs $200,000+ after options. While it takes under 10 seconds to put the roof down in a standard Boxster, it is easily an eight to 10-step process in the Spyder RS. Also, the standard Boxster lets you put the roof up at speeds of up to 31 mph, something which you can’t do on the Spyder.

Now in all fairness, Doug does not mind this setup, as he is based in Southern California, where it is pretty much bright and sunny all year around. He speculates that he would never really put the top up if he ended up owning the car. [Aside from the inconvenience, the 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS redeems itself by being a hardcore, high-performance machine on track that can also be useful for daily commutes. It is a shame since the Porsche 718 Spyder RS probably will be the last of its kind - a Boxster that is properly specced out.