718 review - test drove today
Discussion
Sport modes on Porsches I don't intrinsically have a problem with - I'm happy for there to be different comfort levels and throttle maps dependent on whether I'm going up the stelvio pass with my hair on fire or pottering to work, so long as the experience for each is improved. But I would like it to default to sport rather than comfort.
In terms of the new 20s button, it does seem a bit naff and compensating for a problem of their own making. Barring any gear changes etc, the car should *always* be ready to go. The only way I could countenance it would be if it was like an economy thing, where you could switch on economy mode as a positive action. While we're on it, the power button on the E60 M5 is also annoying in the same vein - I don't mind having it, but ffs, give me the full 507bhp the car comes with when I start it, don't make me push a button to have it. Put the button there for me to turn it down to 400 if I want, but don't make 400 the default choice!
In terms of the new 20s button, it does seem a bit naff and compensating for a problem of their own making. Barring any gear changes etc, the car should *always* be ready to go. The only way I could countenance it would be if it was like an economy thing, where you could switch on economy mode as a positive action. While we're on it, the power button on the E60 M5 is also annoying in the same vein - I don't mind having it, but ffs, give me the full 507bhp the car comes with when I start it, don't make me push a button to have it. Put the button there for me to turn it down to 400 if I want, but don't make 400 the default choice!
Ignoring all the guff - the question is HOW DOES IT WORK? Fundamentally (good word that) you need to open the throttle to get air flowing through the engine and hence through the turbo to spin it up. You could (as in ALS) apply left foot braking and throttle at the same time (I believe you retard the ignition to reduce power while you are doing that). It is conceivable that the "magic button" uses an (automated) variation of that - but Porsche are as usual vague on their websites about how their techy bits do what they claim.
ks. That's the technical explanation.Mario149 said:
When I test drove the 991.2S, I couldn't really feel it doing anything when I was in Sport/Sport+ mode. Maybe if you're in Normal and you push it you get 20s of Sport(+?) mode i.e. Different throttle map, quicker changes, more likely to kick down if in auto etc
Accepting it probably does some or all of that, it doesn't explain how it "pre-spools" the turbo as has been reported, you need either electrical assistance (which we haven't got) or passing air through the engine via a (partially) open throttle (in which case how do you stop the car accelerating). As I say you can't use ALS exactly as rally cars do http://rallycars.com/Cars/bangbang.html but you could use some of the mechanisms. Given that Porsche close the throttle to produce the pops and bangs on the overrun in Sport (but keep it open in Sport+ so the turbo keeps spinning), apply the brakes to aid turn in (PTV), who knows what they might do to pre-spool the turbo.
Pre spin was effectively a pipe connecting the inlet/outlet of the compressor side of the turbo to keep boost at zero which enabled the compressor to be driven at higher speed from the exhaust gases, when the throttle is opened the connection is closed giving high boost immediately without the need to spool up the turbo.....or something along those lines.
I had a look at a 718 up close today, from some angles it looks very nice however there is a couple of things I don't like, the front looks a bit plane and I don't like the shape of the front wings Porsche wings should be rounded on the top with no crease lines ( the 981 has this too but not as sharp ) and the badge arrangement on the rear looks overly fussy.
The Boxster I looked at had a red interior and I must admit it looked like a nice place to sit.
I wish Porsche had developed a small blown F6 instead of a F4 then the new car would at least stand half a chance with the new Porsche beards that's appeared since the announcement of the new power plants...I can see their point.
The Boxster I looked at had a red interior and I must admit it looked like a nice place to sit.
I wish Porsche had developed a small blown F6 instead of a F4 then the new car would at least stand half a chance with the new Porsche beards that's appeared since the announcement of the new power plants...I can see their point.
Having just returned from a test drive in the base Boxster, I'm left rather disappointed.
Interior and exterior styling is nice, not sure about the front end as it looks a bit to square to me.
Obviously the technology has moved on with more toys to play with.
Steering was nice and direct and suspension very composed on bumpy roads.
But, the engine, hmm. On the plus side it felt quick and certainly had lots more torque than the old cars.
However I found it rather laggy, boot throttle in any gear at low-ish revs and there is quite a delay before the slug of torque. Slow corner 2nd gear, boot throttle mid corner - nothing, nothing, torque surge - corner over. Probably doesn't help that the gears on the manual are so long.
My old S would have delivered an instant shove allowing a lovely adjustment of cornering line with the back wheels.
Also the noise, not bad sometimes but nothing very interesting. The engine revs very freely but you find yourself changing gear early as there is no real desire to keep the drone going any longer. High rev howl of the old car has sadly disappeared.
I think a long hunt for a GTS is required, if only I had specced one when I had the chance. We live and learn.
Interior and exterior styling is nice, not sure about the front end as it looks a bit to square to me.
Obviously the technology has moved on with more toys to play with.
Steering was nice and direct and suspension very composed on bumpy roads.
But, the engine, hmm. On the plus side it felt quick and certainly had lots more torque than the old cars.
However I found it rather laggy, boot throttle in any gear at low-ish revs and there is quite a delay before the slug of torque. Slow corner 2nd gear, boot throttle mid corner - nothing, nothing, torque surge - corner over. Probably doesn't help that the gears on the manual are so long.
My old S would have delivered an instant shove allowing a lovely adjustment of cornering line with the back wheels.
Also the noise, not bad sometimes but nothing very interesting. The engine revs very freely but you find yourself changing gear early as there is no real desire to keep the drone going any longer. High rev howl of the old car has sadly disappeared.
I think a long hunt for a GTS is required, if only I had specced one when I had the chance. We live and learn.
cay said:
Having just returned from a test drive in the base Boxster, I'm left rather disappointed.
Interior and exterior styling is nice, not sure about the front end as it looks a bit to square to me.
Obviously the technology has moved on with more toys to play with.
Steering was nice and direct and suspension very composed on bumpy roads.
But, the engine, hmm. On the plus side it felt quick and certainly had lots more torque than the old cars.
However I found it rather laggy, boot throttle in any gear at low-ish revs and there is quite a delay before the slug of torque. Slow corner 2nd gear, boot throttle mid corner - nothing, nothing, torque surge - corner over. Probably doesn't help that the gears on the manual are so long.
My old S would have delivered an instant shove allowing a lovely adjustment of cornering line with the back wheels.
Also the noise, not bad sometimes but nothing very interesting. The engine revs very freely but you find yourself changing gear early as there is no real desire to keep the drone going any longer. High rev howl of the old car has sadly disappeared.
I think a long hunt for a GTS is required, if only I had specced one when I had the chance. We live and learn.
At this rate, nearly new GTS are going to be worth a fortune!Interior and exterior styling is nice, not sure about the front end as it looks a bit to square to me.
Obviously the technology has moved on with more toys to play with.
Steering was nice and direct and suspension very composed on bumpy roads.
But, the engine, hmm. On the plus side it felt quick and certainly had lots more torque than the old cars.
However I found it rather laggy, boot throttle in any gear at low-ish revs and there is quite a delay before the slug of torque. Slow corner 2nd gear, boot throttle mid corner - nothing, nothing, torque surge - corner over. Probably doesn't help that the gears on the manual are so long.
My old S would have delivered an instant shove allowing a lovely adjustment of cornering line with the back wheels.
Also the noise, not bad sometimes but nothing very interesting. The engine revs very freely but you find yourself changing gear early as there is no real desire to keep the drone going any longer. High rev howl of the old car has sadly disappeared.
I think a long hunt for a GTS is required, if only I had specced one when I had the chance. We live and learn.
cay said:
However I found it rather laggy, boot throttle in any gear at low-ish revs and there is quite a delay before the slug of torque. Slow corner 2nd gear, boot throttle mid corner - nothing, nothing, torque surge - corner over. Probably doesn't help that the gears on the manual are so long.
Did you try the sport response button (if it had one) and if so could you tell what it was doing.Incidentally am I the only one who finds the mode dial and response button dreadfully low rent? The springy, poorly engineered, feel of the indicator switch and all the other steering column stalks is bad enough, but the mode switch looks like a Heath Robinson afterthought and feels worse.
bcr5784 said:
mode dial and response button dreadfully low rent? The springy, poorly engineered, feel of the indicator switch and all the other steering column stalks is bad enough, but the mode switch looks like a Heath Robinson afterthought and feels worse.
The "traditional" and much revered Porsche 911 approach had random dials and switches strewn across the dashboard in haphazard fashion!Ozzie Osmond said:
The "traditional" and much revered Porsche 911 approach had random dials and switches strewn across the dashboard in haphazard fashion!
Very true - try doing anything in an old air cooled - its great fun trying to work out which random button does what - much hilarity ensues ..... 
RSVP911 said:
Very true - try doing anything in an old air cooled - its great fun trying to work out which random button does what - much hilarity ensues .....
They weren't alone - try an E-type with its row of identical switches. It was even worse on bikes - some with the gearchange on the right brake on left, some the opposite, some moving the lever up for upward changes some the opposite - and all the possible combinations. I'm surprised Brussels haven't imposed some standards!
cay said:
Maybe as I was in Sport+ mode already?
That could well be it. Clearly the button accesses a specific "map" and it may well be the same "map" as sport+. The sport/sport+ button does much more in a PDK and/or PASM car than it does in a base manual.In my base manual 981 it apparently "sharpens the throttle response". What does that mean? Absolutely nothing! At least, nothing that you can't achieve yourself by pushing the throttle pedal a bit more firmly!
mollytherocker said:
cay said:
Having just returned from a test drive in the base Boxster, I'm left rather disappointed.
Interior and exterior styling is nice, not sure about the front end as it looks a bit to square to me.
Obviously the technology has moved on with more toys to play with.
Steering was nice and direct and suspension very composed on bumpy roads.
But, the engine, hmm. On the plus side it felt quick and certainly had lots more torque than the old cars.
However I found it rather laggy, boot throttle in any gear at low-ish revs and there is quite a delay before the slug of torque. Slow corner 2nd gear, boot throttle mid corner - nothing, nothing, torque surge - corner over. Probably doesn't help that the gears on the manual are so long.
My old S would have delivered an instant shove allowing a lovely adjustment of cornering line with the back wheels.
Also the noise, not bad sometimes but nothing very interesting. The engine revs very freely but you find yourself changing gear early as there is no real desire to keep the drone going any longer. High rev howl of the old car has sadly disappeared.
I think a long hunt for a GTS is required, if only I had specced one when I had the chance. We live and learn.
At this rate, nearly new GTS are going to be worth a fortune!Interior and exterior styling is nice, not sure about the front end as it looks a bit to square to me.
Obviously the technology has moved on with more toys to play with.
Steering was nice and direct and suspension very composed on bumpy roads.
But, the engine, hmm. On the plus side it felt quick and certainly had lots more torque than the old cars.
However I found it rather laggy, boot throttle in any gear at low-ish revs and there is quite a delay before the slug of torque. Slow corner 2nd gear, boot throttle mid corner - nothing, nothing, torque surge - corner over. Probably doesn't help that the gears on the manual are so long.
My old S would have delivered an instant shove allowing a lovely adjustment of cornering line with the back wheels.
Also the noise, not bad sometimes but nothing very interesting. The engine revs very freely but you find yourself changing gear early as there is no real desire to keep the drone going any longer. High rev howl of the old car has sadly disappeared.
I think a long hunt for a GTS is required, if only I had specced one when I had the chance. We live and learn.
bcr5784 said:
Incidentally am I the only one who finds the mode dial and response button dreadfully low rent?
Yes it's a bit tacky. Should be in metal not plastic. Won't bother me though because I'll be ordering it without.It must be a daunting task being a Porsche designer. Basically the brief is bring the car up to date, comply with forthcoming legislation and make it competitive for economy and emissions but your not allowed to change anything because you'll upset all those that seem to know more what defines a true Porsche than Porsche.
I'll have a nice Cayman 981 2.7 PDK 2015 to sell soon for those addicted to the sound of the F6.
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