718 Cayman Spec & Colours- what have you gone for?

[ONtheROCS]

Pinball said:

Have you used the Sygic navigation app? It's meant to overide the car's inbuilt screen and and output directions through the audio system. It's on iOS and Android. If it actually works on the 718 without Connect for iOS, it might work on Android, too. Maybe a saving for very occasional Nav users, like me, instead of shelling out £1K. It's not something I got a definitive answer for at the OPC.

Is that similar to how google maps voice commands will output over the car's audio system? That worked okay with an iphone on my BMW but not Android for some strange reason and I could never work out why. I would suggest trying during a test drive as sales folks rarely seem to know about the tech in cars. BMW (Genius) seemed to be getting better but I've usually found that I know more about the car's specs than the sale folk as I've researched it to death.

[LiamH66]

bcr5784 said:

Remote linkages have come a long way and the best examples are wonderfully slick. However there's almost inevitably a loss of feel and a bit of slop introduced. In a completely different league to a 911 of the 70s though.

I had a mid 80s Skoda Estelle or 2 back in the day (I liked them, but 2nd gear was pretty elusive!), but my big sister's 911SC had a better gear linkage, and was quite a bit quicker. You're right, gear linkages have improved enormously.

Liam

Edited by LiamH66 on Tuesday 13th September 00:30

[LiamH66]

bcr5784 said:

Re winter wheels. Plenty of 18inch wheels come up cheaply on ebay. I'd buy a set and get winter tyres fitted. You might get lucky and find some with well treaded winter tyres fitted - but that is less likely.

You will lose quite a lot of handling precision but if you have to use the car in all weathers they may be a good idea. Last winter the weather was so mild that I wouldn't have fitted mine if I could have predicted it.

I've got Nokian A3s on the GT86 winter set. In the wet, losing precision is a bit of an understatement, but when you get used to the idea that you need to work them a bit, and they don't actually do anything too evil on the limit, they're quite addictive in a "can't wait for summer tyres to be appropriate" way. When it snows (and it always does in Blackburn where I work) you can embarrass 4x4s on the hills, and they are blinding for treating empty B-roads as rally stages (in an avoiding hedges and ditches mode). Hopefully I can find some similarly useful but entertaining tyres for the Cayman if it arrives this side of the snow. I'll keep an eye out for wheels that I can get some tyres fitted to - thanks for the advice.

Liam

[LiamH66]

Pinball said:

Have you used the Sygic navigation app? It's meant to overide the car's inbuilt screen and and output directions through the audio system. It's on iOS and Android. If it actually works on the 718 without Connect for iOS, it might work on Android, too. Maybe a saving for very occasional Nav users, like me, instead of shelling out £1K. It's not something I got a definitive answer for at the OPC.

Definitive answers are definitely in short supply, so I'll see if I can get an opportunity to try it. I use Nav most days, particularly for traffic, and I don't want to pay for something that I never use, and have a phone sitting on the passenger seat doing what the car ought to. I did use Nav in the Boxster S I test drove, and it seemed OK, but I'm dubious about the ability of the traffic info in car manufacturer's systems.

Liam

[LiamH66]

And while we're talking options, Sport Chrono in a manual gearbox car? I loved the PDK with extra toys, but if I actually enjoy doing my own blipping on downshifts, and don't really need a stopwatch in the car, what else is worth having?

Liam

[Krobar]

LiamH66 said:

And while we're talking options, Sport Chrono in a manual gearbox car? I loved the PDK with extra toys, but if I actually enjoy doing my own blipping on downshifts, and don't really need a stopwatch in the car, what else is worth having?

Liam

Active engine mounts are also there but it is an expensive option and I reckon the slip diff is much better value.

[Pinball]

ONtheROCS said:

Is that similar to how google maps voice commands will output over the car's audio system? That worked okay with an iphone on my BMW but not Android for some strange reason and I could never work out why. I would suggest trying during a test drive as sales folks rarely seem to know about the tech in cars. BMW (Genius) seemed to be getting better but I've usually found that I know more about the car's specs than the sale folk as I've researched it to death.

I'm not familiar with using Google Maps for car navigation. I don't have iDrive on my BMW but it does come through the speakers. I'll ask the software manufacturers. http://www.sygic.com/gps-navigation

[Pinball]

LiamH66 said:

Definitive answers are definitely in short supply, so I'll see if I can get an opportunity to try it. I use Nav most days, particularly for traffic, and I don't want to pay for something that I never use, and have a phone sitting on the passenger seat doing what the car ought to. I did use Nav in the Boxster S I test drove, and it seemed OK, but I'm dubious about the ability of the traffic info in car manufacturer's systems.

Liam

Thanks

[Krobar]

Pinball said:

I'm not familiar with using Google Maps for car navigation. I don't have iDrive on my BMW but it does come through the speakers. I'll ask the software manufacturers. http://www.sygic.com/gps-navigation

For Android the software just needs Mirrorlink. If the Posrche Systen is anything like the other VW solutions it should support it; check the manual.

[Ian in Halifax]

I have a brand new Golf with top spec sat navigation fitted I'm assuming that my Cayman system will be the same, therefore the voice recognition won't work the maps are useless and the inputting of way points is tedious namely no Google send to car. I'm an android user so connect not much use to me. You can knock BMW but there business navigation system is the one to beat. I'm only specing navigation for sell on purposes...should be free !!!

[FourPotPorsche]

Ian in Halifax said:

.. and the inputting of way points is tedious namely no Google send to car

If you specify Connect Plus to go with your navigation module you can use the Porsche Connect app for Android to replicate the Send To Car:

http://www.porsche.com/uk/connect/availability/

OK, as an Android user you won't be getting the benefit (or hindrance!) of Apple CarPlay but you can still get all the other functions outlined via the URL above. It might be worth looking into but please confirm with your OPC before dropping £800 extra on Connect Plus.

Cheers

PS I think what you need is under the Connect App Services (when you click on the URL, select the 718 models and then Connect Plus) and is entitled "App destinations"

Edited by FourPotPorsche on Tuesday 13th September 19:25

Edited by FourPotPorsche on Tuesday 13th September 19:27

[bcr5784]

Krobar said:

For Android the software just needs Mirrorlink. If the Posrche Systen is anything like the other VW solutions it should support it; check the manual.

Not all phones support mirrorlink, so it won't work for everyone.

[Pinball]

Krobar said:

For Android the software just needs Mirrorlink. If the Posrche Systen is anything like the other VW solutions it should support it; check the manual.

I've asked Sygic. They said they don't support Potsche at the moment. I've asked if that includes Apple CarPlay. Probably won't, I guess Porsche are being clever/miserly by preventing it.

[LiamH66]

Krobar said:

Active engine mounts are also there but it is an expensive option and I reckon the slip diff is much better value.

Useful advice, and good to get an opinon on this.

Better value, but do you think necessary? I've bought few LSDs over the years, and came as standard in the car I've driven for the last 4 years. One of the things that struck me at the PEC day was that the cars are very "over-tyred", and have a definite rearward weight bias. Even in my current front engine rear drive car, it's rare that the LSD actually has to do very much for a living. Good fun when you're snaking up a slippery road, but so rare with modern tyres. Think it's why I want 18" wheels, and I might just have answered my own question.

Liam

[Krobar]

LiamH66 said:

Useful advice, and good to get an opinon on this.

Better value, but do you think necessary? I've bought few LSDs over the years, and came as standard in the car I've driven for the last 4 years. One of the things that struck me at the PEC day was that the cars are very "over-tyred", and have a definite rearward weight bias. Even in my current front engine rear drive car, it's rare that the LSD actually has to do very much for a living. Good fun when you're snaking up a slippery road, but so rare with modern tyres. Think it's why I want 18" wheels, and I might just have answered my own question.

Liam

I have the older 2.7 981 and I thought definitely not needed but still more useful than the dash wart. The turbo should have much more torque so might well be worth it, if I had the cash for the bigger engine I would have considered it more seriously. Over tyred seems to be a Porsche thing, at least with mine it only really plays in the wet or at speeds you cant safely sustain on public roads at least, more torque will help here. The only Porsche I ever drove which did not feel over tyred was a mid 90s GT2 (I haven't driven any classics). I went with 18s, they are the most comfortable although you might have a more limted choice of tyres (That said I think the 718 offer PS4s in that size which I suspect are excellent).

All this extras selection and spending depends on your outlook and if it is a weekend or daily driver. Me, I bought 3 options, the dealer showed me a list of past orders and it was the least optioned car they had sold in about 2 years Above all buy what you like and want the beauty of these pricey options is you can pick alacarte but they all depreciate.

Edited by Krobar on Wednesday 14th September 08:14

[Pinball]

Pinball said:

I've asked Sygic. They said they don't support Potsche at the moment. I've asked if that includes Apple CarPlay. Probably won't, I guess Porsche are being clever/miserly by preventing it.

Had another update from Sygic. This may be useful for anyone pondering the merits of the Porsche Nav. Basically, it won't work with any Porsche either on Android or iOS, or even if you have CarPlay for the latter. This means you would only have the option of using Apple Maps via CarPlay. More info here: http://www.sygic.com/blog/sygic-car-navigation-for...

[LiamH66]

Krobar said:

I have the older 2.7 981 and I thought definitely not needed but still more useful than the dash wart. The turbo should have much more torque so might well be worth it, if I had the cash for the bigger engine I would have considered it more seriously.

I was actually considering a 981 at the time of the last car purchase, and the 2.7 interested me more than the 3.4. Both were out of my league, but for whatever reason I enjoy working a less powerful engine harder on smaller tyres...

Krobar said:

Over tyred seems to be a Porsche thing, at least with mine it only really plays in the wet or at speeds you cant safely sustain on public roads at least, more torque will help here. The only Porsche I ever drove which did not feel over tyred was a mid 90s GT2 (I haven't driven any classics). I went with 18s, they are the most comfortable although you might have a more limted choice of tyres (That said I think the 718 offer PS4s in that size which I suspect are excellent).

I really don't want to stray from 18s - like you say, most comfortable (but the damping is amazing, masks no end of potholes and poor surfaces), and in the real world mean you can make reasonable progress without hearing the rims being tortured. 718 18" PS4 fronts are widely available. Rears less so from research to date. I have soft spot for the Michelin Primacy HP (don't ask, and not for winter use!), but PSS seems to be the only widely available Michelin rear. Guess I'll have another look when the first set is wearing out. Are the PS4s OK at lower ambient temperatures? The Primacies get poor below 5 celsius, but are actually pretty good otherwise.

Krobar said:

All this extras selection and spending depends on your outlook and if it is a weekend or daily driver. Me, I bought 3 options, the dealer showed me a list of past orders and it was the least optioned car they had sold in about 2 years Above all buy what you like and want the beauty of these pricey options is you can pick alacarte but they all depreciate.

Expecting a similarly (but probably not equally) low number of options for my one, but enough for me to hop in it every day to go to work or wherever work takes me. Hopefully on the next "experience" day I can get a drive in a manual 2.0 litre with sports suspension and limited slip diff - but I may well have committed to the spec for my order by then. Either way, think I'll live with any disappointment that I chose something I don't need, or vice versa. They're all good!

Liam

[Cpb1702]

Just taken a 718 Cayman 2.5 S for a test drive. It had 20 inch wheels but the PASM was off. The salesman, a brother of a friend, said he would spec bigger wheels over PASM and that PASM is only useful if you want to have a stiffer / sporty ride. It doesn't provide a comfort setting.

Appreciate most people say its worth having?

[mogli882]

Cpb1702 said:

Just taken a 718 Cayman 2.5 S for a test drive. It had 20 inch wheels but the PASM was off. The salesman, a brother of a friend, said he would spec bigger wheels over PASM and that PASM is only useful if you want to have a stiffer / sporty ride. It doesn't provide a comfort setting.

Appreciate most people say its worth having?

Thats not quite how it works - with PASM specced its always on, constantly adjusting the ride and smoothing out the bumps. If you drive more aggressively it will firm up (even when in default mode). If the button is pressed "sport" mode is activated and the ride is much firmer all the time, "sport" mode is only really beneficial for the track.

IMO the benefit of it is in default mode, allows for a very comfortable ride even with 20s.

[HighwayStar]

mogli882 said:

Cpb1702 said:

Just taken a 718 Cayman 2.5 S for a test drive. It had 20 inch wheels but the PASM was off. The salesman, a brother of a friend, said he would spec bigger wheels over PASM and that PASM is only useful if you want to have a stiffer / sporty ride. It doesn't provide a comfort setting.

Appreciate most people say its worth having?

Thats not quite how it works - with PASM specced its always on, constantly adjusting the ride and smoothing out the bumps. If you drive more aggressively it will firm up (even when in default mode). If the button is pressed "sport" mode is activated and the ride is much firmer all the time, "sport" mode is only really beneficial for the track.

IMO the benefit of it is in default mode, allows for a very comfortable ride even with 20s.

Exactly this!