This article is a summary of the recent live stream radio session, “Welcome Home, PORSCHE.”
Feel free to enjoy it during your commute, school runs, or even as a driving companion inside your Porsche.
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Key Topics and Highlights

The Live Stream Is Now Available on YouTube Music [00:15]

• Kicking off the second consecutive week of live streams with recent updates. Around 230 listeners joined right at the start, and we began by expressing our gratitude.
• Announced that the “Welcome Home, PORSCHE” live stream is now accessible as a podcast on YouTube Music. With roughly 150 hours of archived content, it’s perfect for long drives and road trips.
• YouTube Music streaming does not require a subscription—you can just access the URL. Great for Porsche owners and enthusiasts who want Porsche chat as car audio entertainment (with a smile).

Tesla Model Y Long-Range Test Drive — Experiencing the 3-Row SUV as a Couple [05:52]

• Visited the Tesla Store in Shinbashi on a weekday for a hands-on test drive of the newly released Model Y Long-Range, a sizable SUV measuring 4980mm with three rows of seats. They approached the drive seriously, considering a purchase.
• The second-row seats stood out for their premium build and deep recline, creating an open, relaxing feel. Hiro remarked it’s “the kind of car where you’d rather sit behind the passenger seat.” The third row comfortably fits adults, with plenty of headroom even for Mina’s height.
• Using Camp Mode allows folding the rear seats for easy car camping, complemented by a dedicated mattress. With built-in air conditioning, music, and Netflix, it’s designed for a full camping experience.
• Regarding driving, it features active suspension similar to Porsche’s PASM, though Hiro felt the difference from the Model 3 Long-Range was minimal. The ride quality mildly improved, but nothing dramatically different.
• Acceleration, quietness, and audio quality surpassed the Model 3. The German-style, thickly padded seats impressed. With a price tag around 7 million JPY (6 million after subsidies), it offered value unmatched by competitors.
• Ultimately, since they already own a Model 3, buying essentially the same EV twice felt redundant. Discussion also covered the expected arrival of Full Self-Driving (FSD) in Japan this year and rumors about subscription services.

Listener Age Survey — Discovering the Age Demographics of Porsche Owners [27:01]

• Learning from a previous poll mishap, a fresh real-time age survey was conducted during the live stream with four groups: under 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50+.
• As expected, those 50 and above represented the largest group, followed by 40s, 30s, and then 20s. Over 80% were aged 40 and up. Both hosts admired the achievement of those owning Porsches in their 20s.
• Hiro and Mina reflected on purchasing their first Porsches in their early 40s, resonating with listeners’ comments about buying after settling family and education expenses.

987 Boxster Spyder Test Drive — Driving Experience Beyond Expectations [33:41]

• Hiro finally got behind the wheel of the 987 Boxster Spyder, a car he had been eagerly eyeing since 2023. Widely praised by 911 days magazine and recommended by Tetsuya Tanaka, Porsche Japan’s chief driving instructor, it’s a celebrated classic.
• First impressions: “exceptionally light.” Despite its 1300kg weight, it feels much lighter and nimbler. Its front end turns in remarkably well, handling tight corners smoothly even from low speeds like 30-40 km/h. Enjoyment normally reserved for 981 Boxsters at 60-80 km/h is felt here at much lower speeds.
• The seating position feels uniquely placed further forward than the 981 or 718, creating a go-kart-like sense of connection with the front wheels.
• The suspension is firm yet supple—classified as a prime example of “suspension with backbone.” Softer than the 718 Spyder RS but still with a solid core and unique tuning.
• Powered by the naturally aspirated MA1 flat-six from the 997.2 GTS (320ps, 370Nm), the test car was equipped with a sports exhaust that offered a perfectly balanced sound—not overwhelming, just an enjoyable soundtrack even after extended drives.
• The test route covered a round trip from Rokko Observatory to Arima, so thrilling that Hiro took a second lap spontaneously, expressing amazement repeatedly during the drive.

987 Boxster Spyder Specs and Historical Background [46:39]

• Introduced at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show and launched to market in 2010, only 1667 units were produced worldwide, with roughly 100 in Japan—making it an extremely rare model. Available in both manual and PDK; the test car was a manual.
• Specs: 320ps, 370Nm torque, 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, top speed 267 km/h. Weighing about 1300kg and just under 1800mm wide, it’s notably compact. Standard equipment includes 20mm lowered suspension, sport bucket seats, 19” wheels, and lightweight aluminum doors.
• It’s a modern reinterpretation of the spirit behind classic 550 Spyders and 718 RS60 Spyders, focusing purely on the driving experience. Some overseas versions even omitted AC and audio systems for weight savings.
• Roll Walter, Porsche’s legendary test driver, helped oversee its development, and his expertise shines through in the car’s precise tuning and feel.

Comparison with the 981 Spider — The Essence of “Wearing Porsche” [53:38]

• Comparing with Hiro’s beloved 981 Spider, the 987 Spyder offers a stronger sense of control—being “in the palm of your hand.” It truly embodies the expression “wearing Porsche.”
• If the 981 Spider is like a slightly oversized jacket, the 987 Spyder fits like a tailor-made, perfectly fitted jacket—creating an intimate connection with the driver’s body.
• Despite similar dimensions, Porsche’s engineering focused on setup and weight reduction make this a markedly different drive, showcasing Porsche’s technical prowess. Hiro boldly states this is the truest “wearing Porsche” among the water-cooled generation.
• Sound-wise, the 981 Spider emphasizes a crafted “performance” tone, whereas the 987 delivers a raw, old-school combustion sound thanks to looser environmental regulations of its era—related to the MA1/MA2 engines in the GT3 series (991 and 997).

987 Boxster Spyder Purchase Decision! [57:14]

• The test drive was so impactful it lingered in Hiro’s dreams, and he immediately decided to buy the car—going as far as placing a preliminary contract.
• The car is a one-owner example from Kagoshima, meticulously maintained by the dealer, in pristine condition. Aside from some aged foam inside the AC, the suspension and engine are perfectly preserved. It also features the sport exhaust.
• Feeling a strong sense of responsibility—“If I miss this, I might never get another”—he likened owning it to preserving a world-class heritage. A detailed blog report is planned.

Replacing the SL400 and Future Car Life Plans [63:42]

• The 981 Boxster GTS remains a cherished first Porsche and will not be sold. The manual 981 GTS is considered irreplaceable.
• The 987 Spyder will be acquired as a replacement for the SL400, which is about a year old. Despite their very different personalities, the hosts joked about the change, and Mina humorously noted she never got a chance to drive the SL before it’s passed on.
• Delivery is anticipated around June, with planned long drives, including tours through Tohoku. Look forward to updates via blog and streams.
• Hiro recently shares a personal affinity for both the spirited pre-regulation engines and electric vehicles, seeing them as two extremes compared to the increasingly quiet latest Porsches facing stringent environmental standards.