Here’s a recap of the latest live-stream radio show from *Welcome Home, PORSCHE*.
Whether you’re commuting, heading to school, or out for a drive in your Porsche, we hope you’ll enjoy listening along.
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Highlights and Topics

A Rare Sunday Morning Visit to Daikoku Parking Area [0:15]

• After a long break, Hiro headed to Royu on a Sunday morning in his 718 Spyder RS. There were fewer cars than on a typical Sunday morning.
• There were three or four McLarens and some distinctive cars, including an RWB Porsche. But it wasn’t all Porsches—and there seemed to be more people sleeping in their cars, too.
• A yellow 991.2 GT3 RS was there, wearing the exact same Racing Yellow as the 718 Spyder RS. Listeners also loved the Spyder’s yellow paint, which is a rare sight.

Porsche’s Losses and a Tough Chinese Market [6:01]

• Porsche’s loss-making results were a major talking point. Sales in China have fallen sharply, while Audi’s new EV brand has had to cut prices soon after launch, and dealerships have been closing one after another.
• Chinese EVs are ahead in battery technology, offer strong acceleration, lavish interiors, and user-friendly software. When cars offer similar specifications, Chinese models cost far less, making it harder for German brands to win buyers.
• Even the Taycan’s infotainment feels behind the curve: using its YouTube app still requires a Wi-Fi connection. In that respect, it’s nowhere near the level of Chinese EVs.
• They also discussed rumors that production of the electric 718 could be canceled. The industry may be heading toward a point where Porsche needs more gasoline-powered models to survive. Buyers still want the pulse and sound of an engine, making an all-in EV strategy a tough sell.
• There are reports that Porsches are being sold at a 20% discount in China. Everyone who has driven a BYD seems to rave about it, and the situation is starting to resemble the way Japanese automakers once took the U.S. by storm.

The Never-Ending Search for the Right Car [14:00]

• Listener Cody said he’s still loving his 911 Carrera T Cabriolet and its intense heat. Hiro reflected on how fortunate it is to find a car whose tuning feels just right for you.
• Hiro loves the firm ride of his 718 Spyder RS, but he’s also drawn to the elegant way a Mercedes-Benz SL drives. He appreciates the engaging manual gearbox in the 981, as well as the direct feel of the 964, which seems to connect every part of the car to the driver.
• “I’ll probably keep searching forever because my tastes will never settle down.” Hiro clearly enjoys the journey of finding the next car that feels just right.

Stone-Chip Protection for the Windshield: How Effective Is Film? [19:42]

• Hiro shared a story he heard at Royu from a GT3 owner. The owner had applied protective film to the windshield twice for track use, but the glass cracked both times. His advice: “Don’t bother with it—it’s pointless.”
• Car Graphic has suggested that applying two or three layers might help, but the film could blur your vision at night or in tunnels, which doesn’t sound very practical.
• A listener also mentioned that Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance’s Porsche insurance includes windshield coverage, reportedly covering up to ¥100,000 in repair or replacement costs with a ¥10,000 deductible.

992.1 Carrera vs. 991.2 Cabriolet—and Carrera vs. Turbo [25:23]

• A listener asked how the 992.1 base Carrera compares with the 991.2 Cabriolet. Hiro thinks the 991.2 looks better, but the 992 has a more polished chassis. He recommends the 992.1 base Carrera so highly that he still wants one himself.
• Comparing the 992.1 Carrera and Turbo, Hiro says he’d choose the Turbo if price were no object. After driving one and switching back to his Carrera, he thought, “Why does this feel so empty?” The Turbo’s drive is richer and more refined.
• The Carrera and Turbo feel similarly responsive, but the 3.8-liter turbo has more pull at high revs.

Sonax Wheel Coating Is a Game Changer [28:20]

• Hiro couldn’t say enough good things about Sonax “Xtreme Protective Wheel Coating.” He’s used it on his SL, 981 Boxster, and 964, and says it keeps brake dust from sticking as if by magic.
• The 964 is normally a car whose wheels get “filthy beyond belief,” but after spraying on the coating, the grime dropped to less than a tenth of what it used to be. Even after two or three fill-ups in his SL—around 1,000 to 1,500 km—the wheels still looked clean.
• Its main drawback is limited durability: scrubbing the wheels while washing the car can remove the coating. Rain isn’t a problem, though. And if any gets on the brakes, it wears off quickly, so there’s no need to worry.
• It costs around ¥2,000, and Yodobashi Camera offers a good price. When a listener ordered it from Yodobashi during the livestream, everyone laughed that it felt like a TV shopping show.

The Question: Which Cars Have the Best Exhaust or Engine Sound? [35:58]

• This episode’s question was: “Which cars have the best exhaust or engine sound?” Listeners named a wide range of favorites, including the Lamborghini Huracán, 981 Cayman GTS, Cayenne GTS V8, 991.2 GT3 RS, Carrera GT, GT2 RS, and Lexus LFA.
• The 981 Cayman GTS has an especially dramatic sound on blips and overrun, and its PDK feels quicker to shift than the 991 generation’s. Many 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 owners force the exhaust valves open; with the valves open, it sounds terrific.
• The 3.4-liter naturally aspirated engine in the 991.1 Carrera sounds fantastic in the midrange, but seems to run out of breath at high revs—like a singer losing their voice. The 991 GT3 RS’s PDK upshifts sound like a Cup car, making it a high point for engine and exhaust sound.
• Hiro’s personal favorites include the sound of the 991.1 Carrera, the smooth note of an air-cooled 964 or 993 once the engine is warm, the sheer volume of the 981 Spyder, and the sound of the 991 Speedster.
• Naturally aspirated engines were the clear favorites overall, with the 991 and 718 generations earning particular support. Surprisingly, Ferrari barely came up.

Rumors of a GT3 Cabriolet: The “911 S/C” [52:35]

• Hiro discussed the GT3 Cabriolet, which he recently wrote about on his blog. Based on media scoop reports, he believes it’s almost certain to arrive.
• According to information Hiro has received, it may be called the “911 S/C,” short for “Sport Cabriolet.” Unlike the “Super Carrera” of the 930 era, the name may include a slash.
• It’s expected to be based on the 992.2 GT3, with four catalytic converters and two gasoline particulate filters (GPFs)—a setup packed with filters. Even so, it’s impressive that Porsche can make it sound like that. It would be the first Cabriolet with a GT3 engine since the Speedster.
• It will probably be a limited-edition model, but, just as the 911 R led to the GT3 Touring, it could eventually become a regular catalog model. With the Euro 7 emissions regulations taking effect next year, the current naturally aspirated GT3 engine is said to be impossible to continue producing. This could also be one last chance to sell it in its current form.
• They also wondered whether a Turbo Targa might find an audience. If Porsche made one, it would likely cost around ¥40 million to ¥50 million, prompting plenty of excitement.