The Porsche 991 Speedster - Is It Worth The Premium?

Doesn’t everyone love saving the best until last? The Porsche 991 Speedster is exactly that. It’s the final car produced in the 991-generation 911,  marking the end of an era for one of the most beloved 911 series.

More than just a convertible, the 991 Speedster is a true driver’s car, blending motorsport engineering, GT3 performance, and open-top thrills in a way that few cars ever have.  But with values sitting well above its original list price, the big question remains: is it really worth the premium? Did Porsche just finish on a high, or is this truly the best of the best? 

From its heritage and rarity to its performance and design, we’re breaking down what makes the 991 Speedster special and whether it justifies its price tag. Read on to find out if this is one of Porsche’s greatest-ever investments or just another overhyped limited edition.

History

The Speedster name dates back to 1948, when Porsche introduced the 356 Speedster, a lightweight, open-top sports car built purely for driving enjoyment. Since then, the Speedster badge has graced a handful of limited-edition 911s, but none have been quite like the 991 Speedster. That’s because it was developed by Porsche Motorsport, the same division behind the GT3, GT3 RS, GT2 RS, and 911R, but this is the first convertible and, without a doubt, the most extreme open-top that Porsche have ever built. 

It’s limited to just 1,948 units worldwide, paying homage to the original 356 Speedster. But unlike previous Speedsters, which were often based on the Carrera, the 991 Speedster shares much of its DNA with the GT3, making it one of the most extreme open-top Porsches ever built.

But does that make it worth the premium? Let’s find out.

Exterior

At first glance, the 991 Speedster looks like a blend of multiple Porsches, borrowing the best elements from across the lineup.

• The chassis comes from the GT3, ensuring razor-sharp handling.
• The bonnet and front wings are taken from the 911R, both made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic to save weight.
• The rear end, spoiler, and bumper are straight from the GT3 Touring.
• The rear wings come from the Carrera 4S Cabriolet.
• The same 20-inch alloys as the GT3.

Carbon ceramic brakes with yellow calipers come as standard on the Speedster, and as with most 911s, the luggage compartment is in the front. 

One of the most defining features is the low-cut windscreen which is shorter than any other 911 and gives it that signature Speedster silhouette. But the real showpiece of the Speedster is the massive rear lid, which is made up of carbon fibre. It’s the largest carbon fibre panel Porsche has ever produced, and it covers the rear roll bars, which automatically deploy in case of a rollover.

It’s worth mentioning the spec option of the Heritage Design Pack (£15,000), which adds:

• Classic racing decals and unique livery for a throwback to the original Speedsters.
• Gold badging (Speedster script, rear badging, and interior plaques).
• Cognac leather seats with contrast stitching.

While not to everyone’s taste, this pack has become highly desirable in markets like Thailand and Hong Kong, leading to even higher resale values for cars specced with it.

Does it justify the extra cost? That depends on how much exclusivity matters to you.

The Roof

Unlike modern convertibles with automatic folding roofs, the 991 Speedster sticks to Porsche’s old-school philosophy with a lightweight, manually operated soft-top.

Porsche actually considered not including a roof at all, following the lead of roofless hypercars like the Ferrari Monza, McLaren Elva, and Aston Martin Zagato Speedster. But practicality won out, and they developed a simple manual system:

1. Press a button to release the rear boot lid.
2. Manually pull up the fabric roof and lock it into place.
3. Close the boot lid again to secure everything.

It’s not as convenient as an automatic roof, but let’s be honest; if you’re driving a Speedster, you’ll want the roof down anyway.

The Interior

Inside, the 991 Speedster retains its GT car roots, but with a few key differences.

• It has a strict two-seater layout. There are no rear seats, just extra storage.
• Most Speedsters come with carbon bucket seats, but this car can have adaptive sport seats, which offer more comfort. It’s a car to be enjoyed on the open road, so the adaptive sport seats make more sense.
• It can be specced with gold contrast stitching (especially with the Heritage Design Pack).
• Trim options include GT Silver, carbon fibre, or black piano wood.
• There’s lots of tech, as you’d expect, that will work with your phone, media, and navigation seamlessly. 
• The suspension lift is another nice-to-have option, although some purists prefer to skip it for a more retro feel.
• There are a few practical cubbyholes behind the seats for storing extra luggage.

Driving

With a GT3-derived chassis and engine, the 991 Speedster drives like a dream. It delivers a pure, engaging driving experience thanks to its 4.0L naturally aspirated flat-six, revving to 9,000 RPM. Porsche managed to squeeze 10 bph more from the Speedster by introducing high-pressure fuel injectors and individual throttle valves, raising the power from 493bhp to 503bhp.

It’s exclusively available with a 6-speed manual gearbox, and there’s no PDK option. This shows that Porsche built this car for driver enjoyment, engagement, and a slightly more retro experience rather than just speed and performance.

Porsche had to fit particulate filters to meet emissions regulations, which were supposed to dull the sound. But the Speedster still sounds incredible, especially with the roof down.

Compared to the GT3, the suspension is softer, making it more forgiving and usable on the road and very comfortable to drive at low speeds. That’s what makes it so special; it’s not a track car, but a high-performance roadster built for pure driving pleasure.

Price

The 991 Speedster had a base price of £211,000, but well-specced examples have reached £250,000. This might sound very expensive, especially when compared to the GT3, but Porsche have a knack for undervaluing their cars which almost always end up selling for premiums over list price. This is one of the reasons why there's such a frenzy when a new GT car gets announced - everyone wants to be on the list for an allocation.

When the 991 Speedster was first released, early allocations were impossible to get. Some buyers needed to purchase multiple other Porsches that they didn’t even necessarily want  just to be considered. The first used examples sold for £100,000 over list, with Heritage Design Pack models fetching even higher premiums. Many UK Speedsters were exported to Asia, reducing supply and driving up values even higher.

So, does it make financial sense? Compared to other high-end convertibles on the market, the Speedster is still one of the best-value collector cars: 

• 911 Turbo S Cabriolet - Faster, but with a completely different character and priced from around £100,000-£160,000
• 718 Spyder - Costing around £128,000 and has links to the Porsche Motorsport Division, but it just doesn’t compare
• Ferrari 488 Pista Spider – A good spec example will set you back £400,000+
• McLaren 720S Spider – Priced at £300,000+ and is not even a special edition, so unlikely to hold its value
• Carrera GT or 918 Spyder – Going into hypercar territory to get something better than the 991 Speedster

It’s expensive, but you have to compare it to where it sits in the market. There’s no other Porsche like the Speedster. 

The biggest question for potential buyers is whether we’ll see a 992 Speedster in the future. If so, will it retain a naturally aspirated engine and manual gearbox? Given the shift towards hybrids and electric vehicles, it’s very possible that the 991 Speedster will be one of the last truly analog driver’s Porsches.

In Summary

The Porsche 991 Speedster is a true driver’s car, a collector’s dream, and a fitting farewell to the 991 generation. But does it justify its price tag?

Here are the key reasons why the 991 Speedster commands a premium:

• It’s exclusivity and rarity. Being limited to just 1,948 units worldwide, long-term desirability is assured. With many exported, UK cars are even harder to find.
• It’s Motorsport Pedigree. The 991 was developed by Porsche’s GT division, the same team behind the GT3, GT3 RS, and 911R, but this is the only convertible they’ve ever built.
• It’s performance and driving experience. It combines a 4.0L naturally aspirated flat-six, revving to 9,000 RPM, with a 6-speed manual gearbox for pure analog thrills.
• It’s unique design and engineering. The 991 features a low-cut Speedster windscreen, GT3 chassis, and the largest carbon fibre panel Porsche has ever produced.
• It’s strong market value. Prices have remained well above the original list price, with Heritage Design Pack cars commanding an even bigger premium.

In a world shifting towards hybrids and electric vehicles, the 991 Speedster is a reminder of what Porsche does best; building high-revving, naturally aspirated, thrilling manual-driver’s cars. Whether it remains one of Porsche’s best investments in the long run is yet to be seen, but as far as collector’s 911s go, this one is already a legend.

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