Here’s a recap of the latest livestream from Welcome Home, PORSCHE.
Enjoy it on your commute, on your way to school, or as a companion for a drive in your Porsche.
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Topics and Highlights

A Car-and-Ferry Trip to Hokkaido This Summer [1:46]

• Last summer, we drove about 1,200 km from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon and Sedona using Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD)—with our arms folded the whole way.
• But Mina struggles with jet lag and unfamiliar food. She hadn’t been feeling well since our honeymoon, when we drove on Germany’s Autobahn, so this year we’ve decided to travel within Japan.
• We’re planning a car-and-ferry trip to Hokkaido, taking our car by ferry and spending about a week driving around the island.
• We initially planned to take the Tesla, but with relatively few Superchargers in Hokkaido, we’ve decided to go in the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, which can carry all four of us.

Ferrari’s New “Luce”: A Divisive Design [9:41]

• Ferrari’s new “Luce” has arrived, and its design is dividing opinion. It’s so understated that you might not recognize it as a Ferrari without the badge. The interior and exterior feel cohesive, but the styling also brings to mind something you might see on a MINI.
• The design reportedly involved Sir Jony Ive’s company, best known for its work on the iPhone. It may not win over Ferrari purists, but Hiro said he’d want one precisely because it’s unconventional—and predicted it could become popular in 20 years.
• From an EV enthusiast’s perspective, the efficiency is a concern: despite its huge 122-kWh battery, the car’s claimed range is only 530 km, suggesting real-world range could fall below 400 km.
• The price could approach ¥100 million with options. The hosts also shared a pointed remark from former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who hoped someone would remove “that cute little prancing horse” from the car.

A Tough Question: Which Spider Would You Keep? [19:55]

• A listener posed a tough question: if you could keep only one, would you choose the 718 Spyder RS or the 987 Spyder?
• The 718 Spyder RS has a GT3 engine and is likely to be a rare model that Porsche won’t build again. But the 987 Spyder is genuinely scarce—and it hasn’t even been delivered yet, making it difficult to reach a final verdict.
• The lean was toward keeping the 987 Spyder: “You might be able to buy another 718 on the used market, but you may not be able to replace the 987.”
• The 987 Spyder also earned praise for its broader range of abilities, making it enjoyable in a wider variety of situations.

Underrated Classics: A Fresh Look at the 987 and 986 Boxster [21:25]

• A listener commented, “I’m dangerously close to buying a 987 Boxster.” Hiro’s response: “If you’re that close, you’ve basically already bought it!”
• Late-model 987 Boxsters used to sell for around ¥3–4.5 million, but prices for the water-cooled generations—the 986, 987, 996, and 997—have been gradually rising. The 987 Spyder, which went for around ¥8.5 million a few years ago, can now fetch ¥11–12 million.
• The 981 and 991 get plenty of attention in the Porsche community, while the 986 and 987 remain underappreciated despite being excellent cars. Hiro’s theory is that many owners are younger and enjoy modifying their cars, which may mean less social media coverage focused on the cars themselves.
• Newer models deliver more speed and cornering thrills, but older generations offer a stronger analog feel and a more satisfying connection to the controls. Each era has its own appeal.

Why Keep the 964? A Look at a Mid-Engine Preference [28:26]

• Hiro owns an air-cooled 964, but rarely drives it these days. The Taycan Turbo GT now fills the role of his everyday 911.
• He loves the 964’s character, but after driving a wide range of cars, he’s realized that mid-engine models suit his preferences better. That could explain why his collection keeps growing with Spyder and Boxster models.
• Older 911s carried more weight over the rear, rewarding drivers who loaded up the car and turned it through a corner. That gave you the satisfying sense that your own skill made you faster. Newer 911s turn more like mid-engine cars at the touch of the wheel, so Hiro concluded that he keeps the 964 for its more analog character.

Driving the Electric Macan 4: Nimble Despite Its Weight [30:49]

• This time, the hosts drove the electric Macan 4 on mountain roads. Unlike models that feel familiar to drivers switching from a gasoline-powered Macan, this one has a more distinctly electric character.
• It feels planted and stable, as you’d expect from an all-wheel-drive Porsche, yet its weight—more than two tonnes—is barely noticeable on winding roads. The battery mounted in the floor keeps the center of gravity low, helping the car feel responsive and composed even at lower speeds.
• The brakes felt clearly better than those on the facelifted Taycan Turbo GT, with the firmness and control you’d associate with PCCB on a gasoline-powered Porsche. Regenerative braking alone can shed speed confidently on mountain roads, and the transition to the conventional brakes is seamless.
• The owner who joined the drive was a woman and a seasoned Porsche enthusiast who had previously owned a GT4. She was so impressed that she said, “This is all I need.” The hosts suggested that an EV powertrain may suit women and drivers who mostly drive in town better than a V6 or V8.
• They also dreamed aloud about combining Tesla software with Porsche hardware. A standard Macan starts at around ¥10 million, and adding options could easily tack on at least another ¥2 million.

Macan EV Owner Gets More Excited Than Ever About the Taycan Turbo GT [45:41]

• After the test drive, the hosts took a Macan EV owner for a ride in the passenger seat of the Taycan Turbo GT. Hiro said the passenger was more excited than anyone he’d ever taken along.
• From the moment they left the parking lot, the passenger kept saying, “It’s completely different.” Even through a slow corner, they were able to put the difference in the car’s movements into words with impressive precision. Having driven a GT4, the perceptive owner shared Hiro’s view: “There’s no need for anything between the GT4 and the Turbo GT.”
• The owner had been considering a 911 GT3, but after the drive said, “Today’s test drive made me stop caring about it.” That’s the power of the Turbo GT: it can make people lose interest in the 911. Hiro said much of the magic comes from Active Ride.
• It stays flat and planted, moves like a GT3, and still takes rough roads in stride. The owner even said that a four-seat Turbo GT could be the next car, putting resale value aside to share their honest reaction.
• One downside: sound spills out of the cabin. With little sound insulation, music, radio, and phone conversations can be heard loud and clear outside—even in front of a convenience store. The owner said it can be embarrassing.

Recommended Driving Roads in Hyogo Prefecture [58:49]

• Asked to name the most fun road in Hyogo Prefecture, the hosts said the region has some great roads, but they tend to be short. Long, continuous stretches of winding road are hard to come by.
• One recommendation is the route from near Aogaki IC in Tamba toward Sugihara via Route 427. The winding road approaching the roadside station Sugihara Paper Village from the north is a particular highlight.
• Koharu Road, farther south, is mostly straight but has little traffic and offers a longer drive. They also recommended Route 29 from Shiso toward Tottori, along with lesser-known roads near Higashiyama Auto Campground and Fudo Falls.
• These are local favorites Hiro has driven since getting his license, but take care farther out, where the road turns into a forest track.

Closing: Could the 987 Spyder Arrive in June? [65:04]

• An hour flew by, and the 987 Spyder could be delivered as soon as June if everything goes smoothly.
• The hosts also touched on roads around Mount Rokko. With so many sightseeing drivers around, they can be difficult to enjoy during the day—so for a spirited drive, Royu Driveway is about the only option.
• They’ll be back next week with an update after the car is delivered.