718 review - test drove today

[Mario149]

JasonSteel said:

Sparkyhd said:

Now I’ve switched the Cayman back to summer tyres on 20inch rims I’m hating it, the suspension is too jiggly and irritating. Might just switch back to the winter 18’s.

i only got to try the 718 with 20 inchers and have got 20 inch on my order too. should i be considering something different? the 718C doesn't even have the option of 18 inch wheels and only one 19 inch option. the rest are all 20 inch.

It's been the case in the past that so long as you have PASM 20" wheels are okay, so assume it may be a similar situation with the 718. I have 20s on my 981 BGTS with PASM and it's fine, but when I had a 981 base model loan car with 20s and no PASM is was a noticeably busier ride and didn't feel as composed at my car even when with Sport mode set on the dampers

[Sparkyhd]

JasonSteel said:

i only got to try the 718 with 20 inchers and have got 20 inch on my order too. should i be considering something different? the 718C doesn't even have the option of 18 inch wheels and only one 19 inch option. the rest are all 20 inch.

Are you sure, I configured a 718 Cayman earlier today and it offered two 18's and two 19's?

But what I consider hard you might consider soft! If I got a new one I'd get 19's because they look better than 18's but still have a bit of compliance and you can get winter tyres. I'd also get PASM just be to absolutely sure it rides nicely.

[Sparkyhd]

Mario149 said:

It's been the case in the past that so long as you have PASM 20" wheels are okay, so assume it may be a similar situation with the 718. I have 20s on my 981 BGTS with PASM and it's fine, but when I had a 981 base model loan car with 20s and no PASM is was a noticeably busier ride and didn't feel as composed at my car even when with Sport mode set on the dampers

I'll second that. When I test drove the 718S with PASM and 20inchers the ride felt great, at least as good as my Cayman on 18inches and probably better. Salesman did say he thought Boxters were a bit softer than Caymans so need to take that into account.

[DJMC]

Sparkyhd said:

Can't say I'm not entirely bothered about noise. Back in the day I loved sitting in the back of my dad's Stag, roof down and a V8 burble out the exhaust. I didn't find the 718 noise unpleasant. I've had a lifelong interest in cars but I'm not a fanatic or a purist otherwise I'd be driving a Morgan and heading a political party seeking to ban monocoque body shells.

Now I’ve switched the Cayman back to summer tyres on 20inch rims I’m hating it, the suspension is too jiggly and irritating. Might just switch back to the winter 18’s. PASM was one reason to change but it’ll probably be cheaper to pay for extra wear on my all year winter tyres. Or maybe stick with the summer tyres and when my wife next complains about the ride tell her to stop complaining, wind down the window and enjoy the sound of the flat six. I can’t make up my mind.

Have you though about just switching the winters for 18" summer tyres? Sell the 20's?

I tried four 981's pre-purchase. all with 20's and no PASM and felt the ride was jiggly but OK coming from a TTS. My purchase did have PASM and it does make for a much nicer ride. The sport setting is also great for ironing out undulations when pressing on.

I'd put PASM amongst my top three options, so I'd advise Jason to think about adding it to his 718. But try one first, if you can find a demo 718 Boxster with it fitted.

[Sparkyhd]

DJMC said:

Have you though about just switching the winters for 18" summer tyres? Sell the 20's?

Yes but the car's financed so I think it has to go back in the same spec. Plus I've got a room in the Porsche 'Tyre Hotel' and I'd need to get a second room to store my winter 18's. It's all getting a bit out of hand. It's only after owning the Cayman that I now really understand the options so it was really a trial run and I better understand my priorities now.

[boxsey]

bcr5784 said:

I've bought lots of cars too and am not loyal to any BUT brands - at least some of them - have a genuine ethos which you can like or dislike. Personally I like the Lotus ethos - unfortunately they have lost their way in recent years. I used to like the Porsche ethos - sensible, no nonsense everyday supercars (which unfortunately were inclined to send their owners backwards through hedges) - but they have rather become rather bloated designer items of late - and if they weren't, by some margin, the best cars in their class, I probably wouldn't have bought one. So I can see why some might not fancy a Porsche.

Not that old nugget again! It's the actions of the driver that puts a car through a hedge backwards, frontwards or sidewards....mostly because of idiotic driving, not driving to the conditions or thinking that the car drives itself.....the car is not inclined to do it on its own.

Edited by boxsey on Tuesday 24th May 12:11

[JasonSteel]

Sparkyhd said:

Are you sure, I configured a 718 Cayman earlier today and it offered two 18's and two 19's?

it's the 'S'. just checked again and there are 2 19" options not 1, but no 18 inch options. i have spec'ed PASM too.

to be honest my reason for going with the 20" rims is purely aesthetic. i'd like black wheels as i think they look great with the Agate grey body. but the other wheels in black lose all definition and it's difficult to see any detail in them. so i've opted for the Carrera Sport with gloss black painting. they keep the key definition as only the centre piece of each spoke is painted while the edges remain polished. i still have the option of changing if needed until the OPC calls me in to have a look at them when they have some for me to see.

[HighwayStar]

DJMC said:

Sparkyhd said:

Can't say I'm not entirely bothered about noise. Back in the day I loved sitting in the back of my dad's Stag, roof down and a V8 burble out the exhaust. I didn't find the 718 noise unpleasant. I've had a lifelong interest in cars but I'm not a fanatic or a purist otherwise I'd be driving a Morgan and heading a political party seeking to ban monocoque body shells.

Now I’ve switched the Cayman back to summer tyres on 20inch rims I’m hating it, the suspension is too jiggly and irritating. Might just switch back to the winter 18’s. PASM was one reason to change but it’ll probably be cheaper to pay for extra wear on my all year winter tyres. Or maybe stick with the summer tyres and when my wife next complains about the ride tell her to stop complaining, wind down the window and enjoy the sound of the flat six. I can’t make up my mind.

Have you though about just switching the winters for 18" summer tyres? Sell the 20's?

I tried four 981's pre-purchase. all with 20's and no PASM and felt the ride was jiggly but OK coming from a TTS. My purchase did have PASM and it does make for a much nicer ride. The sport setting is also great for ironing out undulations when pressing on.

I'd put PASM amongst my top three options, so I'd advise Jason to think about adding it to his 718. But try one first, if you can find a demo 718 Boxster with it fitted.

I have 20's and PASM on my 981 S... I didn't really know what to expect but the test drive was a revelation. The TTS in sport mode, the ride was just firm and rough. And that was on 18's! The Cayman though, unbelievably good. Not just good for 20's. Great.

Edited by HighwayStar on Tuesday 24th May 13:05

[DJMC]

HighwayStar said:

I have 20's and PASM on my 981 S... I didn't really know what to expect the test drive was a revelation. The TTS in sport mode, the ride was just firm and rough. And that was on 18's! The Cayman though, unbelievably good. Not just good for 20's. Great.

Yes, my TTS was on 19's and Mag Ride was just stupidly hard. It was PASM that sold me on my car, not having driven one with it until the test drive.

[Krobar]

JasonSteel said:

i only got to try the 718 with 20 inchers and have got 20 inch on my order too. should i be considering something different? the 718C doesn't even have the option of 18 inch wheels and only one 19 inch option. the rest are all 20 inch.

I'd go with the 18s or 19s. The 19s have the best selection of rubber available, 20s on the 981 seemed tolerable but noticeably worse ride quality. My guess is a lot of the variance in opinion depends on if you compare 20s to other cars or compare 20s to other wheel sizes on the Boxster.

Edited by Krobar on Tuesday 24th May 13:17

[HighwayStar]

Krobar said:

JasonSteel said:

i only got to try the 718 with 20 inchers and have got 20 inch on my order too. should i be considering something different? the 718C doesn't even have the option of 18 inch wheels and only one 19 inch option. the rest are all 20 inch.

I'd go with the 18s or 19s. The 19s have the best selection of rubber available, 20s on the 981 seemed tolerable but noticeably worse ride quality. My guess is a lot of the variance in opinion depends on if you compare 20s to other cars or compare 20s to other wheel sizes on the Boxster.

Edited by Krobar on Tuesday 24th May 13:17

I think it's what's tolerable to the individual... I found the TTS ride in sport mode uncomfortable/annoying for the general schlep but for a lot of guys on the TT forum it was the only way to travel. Like cars in general, 981/718, 20's or whatever, PASM or not.. best try them and see for yourself. I don't know about passive suspension and 20's but with PASM there is magic going on there. real sophistication.

Edited by HighwayStar on Tuesday 24th May 15:31

[Twinfan]

HighwayStar said:

I don't about passive suspension and 20's but with PASM there is magic going on there. real sophistication.

My CGTS has 20" wheels and PASM and the ride is superb. My wife's Toyota GT86 with 17" wheels and passive suspension is incredibly crashy in comparison. Even on the Sport Chassis setting my Cayamn is incredibly good.

Sport PASM on 20s might be a little harsh though?

[Sparkyhd]

Twinfan said:

Sport PASM on 20s might be a little harsh though?

Probably why it's listed on the configurator as SPASM

[Adam190]

I was wondering if anyone who has placed an order on a 718 would PM me the details of any discount they received.

I am more than likely going to order a 718C over the next month and want to see if I can push for a good deal. Specifics are not needed but % discount or £ saved would be good

Thanks in advance.

[Ozzie Osmond]

You really need to decide how much you want to spend. There's often much more scope to negotiate on a car loaded with extras than if you just want the keenly priced base model.

Or to put it another way, the dealer usually makes a better margin on the options than on the car itself.

[Adam190]

Thanks for the quick response and advice.

I have not fully settled on the spec yet but it's more than likely going to be the 2.0 with 10k extras.

[bcr5784]

boxsey said:

Not that old nugget again! It's the actions of the driver that puts a car through a hedge backwards, frontwards or sidewards....mostly because of idiotic driving, not driving to the conditions or thinking that the car drives itself.....the car is not inclined to do it on its own.

Edited by boxsey on Tuesday 24th May 12:11

While ultimately the driver is responsible, some cars are less helpful than others depending on their design. If you have a rear engined car which has a natural tendency to oversteer and then fit semi trailing arm rear suspension (as used to be the case) which gives power understeer and lift off oversteer it's not the best recipe for safe handling in an emergency situation.

[fredt]

Love the teachings on what is a real driving enthusiast.

Learnt a lot in here!

[Dyffed]

Adam190 said:

I was wondering if anyone who has placed an order on a 718 would PM me the details of any discount they received.

I am more than likely going to order a 718C over the next month and want to see if I can push for a good deal. Specifics are not needed but % discount or £ saved would be good

Thanks in advance.

I ordered my 2ltr. 718 Boxster start of March. Told it will arrive late July. No discount or deal. Good luck with your search.

[bcr5784]

fredt said:

Love the teachings on what is a real driving enthusiast.

Learnt a lot in here!

Well I have raced and my family has been steeped in racing for over 20 years - how about you? I don't claim that not having raced suggests you not a driving enthusiast - but I would suggest that if you are prepared to spend thousands and countless hours on racing, it might qualify you as an enthusiast.