Help! 981s or 718 or BMW M2!

[981UK]

All,

Would appreciate some advice if possible - am contemplating said cars.

I have the option on a M2 which I can take delivery on in about 7-8 weeks, can order a base 718 (delivery times probably into next year now) or I can source a 981s.

Ideally I would get a 981 GTS but they're out of budget for me atm.

I would order a 718 but the 4 pot engine has me concerned about performance and residuals, whereas having driven multiple 981s I am happy with the power delivery and residuals should be pretty strong (spec, mileage dependant).

Obviously the M2 and Caymans are different beasts altogether, but if it was your money what would you do any why?

I know I am in the Porsche forum but any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Twinfan]

I love NA engines and hate turbos, so it would be a 981 for me all day long.

[pete.g]

981UK said:

All,

Would appreciate some advice if possible - am contemplating said cars.

I have the option on a M2 which I can take delivery on in about 7-8 weeks, can order a base 718 (delivery times probably into next year now) or I can source a 981s.

Ideally I would get a 981 GTS but they're out of budget for me atm.

I would order a 718 but the 4 pot engine has me concerned about performance and residuals, whereas having driven multiple 981s I am happy with the power delivery and residuals should be pretty strong (spec, mileage dependant).

Obviously the M2 and Caymans are different beasts altogether, but if it was your money what would you do any why?

I know I am in the Porsche forum but any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

I was in roughly the same position in June - I stretched my budget to get the 981 CGTS and I am very pleased with that decision. I'm not one of those people that draws up spreadsheets and gets overly analytical, it was just an instinctive decision to go for the car that stirred me the most.

[bcr5784]

pete.g said:

I was in roughly the same position in June - I stretched my budget to get the 981 CGTS and I am very pleased with that decision. I'm not one of those people that draws up spreadsheets and gets overly analytical, it was just an instinctive decision to go for the car that stirred me the most.

While I personally would prefer the 981 S I have to a base 718 (which I have driven), it wouldn't be on the basis of outright performance - the base 718 is damn fast and easily a match for the 981S under most circumstances.

[ikonic]

You're able to take delivery on a M2 in 8 weeks?

If I were you, I'd take the M2 for now and then make a decision if you want a 718 or a 981 longer term. Go test drive both and make your own mind up whilst keeping the M2 for now.

Given the waiting lists currently on the M2, I doubt you'd lose much and you'd have a pretty great car to enjoy in the meantime (Which you might even decide covers all the bases you need).

[Timbola]

Currently in an M235i, and a 135i coupé before that, so progression to the M2 was therefore a natural step. And I did flirt with the idea, as well as a move to an M4.

M235i is a great package. The straight 6 3.0l twin-scroll turbo is a peach, sounds brutal, the ZF 8 speed changes are rapid, the driving dynamics are typical BMW M division, read superb. The tech is top notch, the build quality both inside and out is solid. Ticks all the boxes.

The M2 would be all the above but turned up a notch.

But ... it doesn't feel special. It's not an exotic, mid-engined, 2-seater low-slung hug-the-road sports car. You can't help but feel you're, well, in a blinged-up boy-racer version of an ordinary, everyday car. Which it is, really - it's a family car with bells on.

Whereas the Cayman, whether it be in 981 or 718 guise, IS an exotic, mid-engined, 2-seater low-slung hug-the-road sports car. It's designed to be exactly that. And it feels special because of it.

Well, this is the Cayman forum, would you expect a different answer ...

Edited by Timbola on Tuesday 20th September 23:10

[ooid]

- M2: flat NO.
- 718: hmm..would not wait in the line until next year for a 4pot sorry.
- 981: Yes

[981UK]

Cheers for the input guys, I have a order for a M2 that I either need to commit too or I'll let go to whomever is next on the list.

I have driven a M2, its a fun car, very capable, agree with the M235i comparison, I admit the option to keep it for 6 months and let it go at minimal loss does appeal. Allow me to see what happens with 981 values too. But saying all that part of me thinks screw practicality and get a proper sports car!

2016 has been a real pita...

If my budget allowed I would also consider the 718s (to help alleviate the lag) but my even my man maths cant stretch that far, having driven the base 718 its definitely quick but it does suffer, its there and the turbo makes the power delivery...well turbo like.

Aarrggghhh

Goes back to man maths calculator...anybody want to sell me a well specced 981 GTS?!

[LiamH66]

I'm struggling with the idea that the 718 engine is particularly turbo-like. I've driven a few now, and they can definitely be held in a neutral throttle slide. From there you can open the throttle without waiting with bated breath for the turbo to spin up and flick you off the road, the power delivery is throttle position rather than time dependent. They don't do so much when you're at low revs, but the same criticism could be levelled at the 981 - you need to be in the right gear for the circumstances. Maybe my performance car turbo experience is out of date (Audi Quattros and Sierra RS500s made up the bulk of it), but I am seriously impressed how benign the 718s are in comparison with cars from the 80s. No boost gauge, but didn't even feel I needed one at any point.

All that aside, as stated by others, I'd be getting the BMW to get me through the winter and putting an order in for a 718 for next year.

Liam

[MM57]

LiamH66 said:

No boost gauge, but didn't even feel I needed one at any point.

The 718 I had as a loan car last week had a boost gauge on one of the settings of the RH instrument display

[ikonic]

MM57 said:

he 718 I had as a loan car last week had a boost gauge on one of the settings of the RH instrument display

Don't hold me to this, but i think you need to have sport chrono to get that. A 'G-meter' was another of the options you get too in the display.


To the OP, I totally get where you're coming from as I myself am a current M135i owner with a 718 on order.

The Cayman definitely feels more special regardless of whether a 718 or 981 than the BMWs. However, if finances allow, I think you'd be making a mistake not taking delivery of the M2 now and using it whilst you search for your perfect spec Cayman judging by the way people seem to be scrambling around for M2 build slots.

[Timbola]

MM57 said:

The 718 I had as a loan car last week had a boost gauge on one of the settings of the RH instrument display

Indeed.



I can't confirm if this is only available with Sport Chrono though. Configurator states the Sport Chrono comes with a 'Performance display' but doesn't give any further detail.

[JayK12]

I was always looking around at various cars, and was just taken by the GTS after seeing it, sitting in it and hearing it. A week later I had bought one.........And I'm glad i did, feels special every time i get in it.

[f1ten]

The Gts is a stunning piece of kit out of the three that's my option
The m2 is the only one of the three I have not driven
It's a 4 seater and it's the new toy of the moment and I think values will hold reasonably if you are talking 48k delivery price. I drove the 718s and sadly the engine noise put me right off it you just can't compare to a gts
The boxsters appear not to be selling or am I jumping to conclusions ? Seems quite a few 718 in here so I'm pretty sure you could get one already specced ?

[981UK]

M2 build slots are a weird one, some dealers have nothing till the end of 2017 while others have slots available soon. I think quite a few people bought or ordered to flip and seeing there are quite a few available have decided to cancel.

[JayK12]

f1ten said:

The Gts is a stunning piece of kit out of the three that's my option
I drove the 718s and sadly the engine noise put me right off it you just can't compare to a gts

I heard a Renault Megane RS yesterday, and it sounded very similar to the 718. Some people will like for me, its dull and boring.

[981UK]

LiamH66 said:

I'm struggling with the idea that the 718 engine is particularly turbo-like. I've driven a few now, and they can definitely be held in a neutral throttle slide. From there you can open the throttle without waiting with bated breath for the turbo to spin up and flick you off the road, the power delivery is throttle position rather than time dependent. They don't do so much when you're at low revs, but the same criticism could be levelled at the 981 - you need to be in the right gear for the circumstances. Maybe my performance car turbo experience is out of date (Audi Quattros and Sierra RS500s made up the bulk of it), but I am seriously impressed how benign the 718s are in comparison with cars from the 80s. No boost gauge, but didn't even feel I needed one at any point.

All that aside, as stated by others, I'd be getting the BMW to get me through the winter and putting an order in for a 718 for next year.

Liam

Thanks for the input guys - please keep any thoughts coming

Interesting, these things are so subjective, out of interest the 718(s) that you drove, were they PDKs or manual? I can imagine a manual would help as you could drop or hold it in the right gear to keep the revs where you wanted.

For me, the noise aside its about power delivery, agree you need to push the 981s but its response is more progressive.

[JayK12]

981UK said:

Thanks for the input guys - please keep any thoughts coming

Interesting, these things are so subjective, out of interest the 718(s) that you drove, were they PDKs or manual? I can imagine a manual would help as you could drop or hold it in the right gear to keep the revs where you wanted.

For me, the noise aside its about power delivery, agree you need to push the 981s but its response is more progressive.

The PDK is a clever gearbox, you can flick the throttle and it will drop down a gear or two or three, depending on how hard you flick the throttle.

If it was a daily, i would say PDK, if a fun 2nd car etc, I'd say manual, its a lovely box.........not many times you can say that and get away with it
I drove PDK and Manual back to back, and just enjoyed the manual about 100% more.

981 N/A motor revs out nicely, not as high as i would like, but its pure pleasure working the motor. However you can feel the torque range and sometimes shift up early.

[highscore]

I was in the exact same situation as you. I put a deposit down on an M2 at the beginning of January this year and had a November build slot. In May I started seriously deliberating and test drove all 3 cars (718 base, 981 CS and M2) multiple times over a period of a couple of months.

In July I was also able to drive all 3 cars within 24 hours of each other while they were fresh in my mind. These were my thoughts:

Although my head was telling me the M2 as it was more practical and the test drive was good, it simply didn't feel as special as either of the Porsches. I ruled the M2 out based on my heart. PDK also seemed much better than the M-DCT. I also currently drive an m235i and although the M2 did feel like a step up, it certainly wasn't night and day for normal road driving.

I actually think the 718 sounds good and I recommend driving it rather than watching YouTube vids (although the 981 definitely has the edge). But as this is going to be a daily driver I actually valued the steering feel, torque and modern creature comforts more in the 718. Going round corners in the 718 was unlike any car I've ever driven, including the 981. I also much prefer the exterior and interior looks of the 718.

Ultimately the sound was the only thing I preferred in the 981 and it wasn't enough to outweigh all the other benefits of the 718. I get my Cayman the first week of November and have no regrets about my decision You really need to drive all 3 and make up your own mind though, horses for courses and all that.

Hope this helps.

[Ozzie Osmond]

981 is a thing of rare joy. Highly recommended.