Chris Harris Drives: the Porsche 718 Boxster

[Sparkyhd]

Malo said:

So which is more devisive, the NA6 v T4 718 debate or the remain v leave debate???

These threads would make you think 4 cylinders will have a bigger negative impact on German car exports than Brexit.

[dreamcar]

Patrick Bateman said:

If someone feels they must 'move off the forum' on that basis I'd suggest there's more of an issue with them than the forum.

+ 1 Very well said

[Magic919]

I expect you could implement an 'ignore' function or ban a few individuals and the forum use would increase.

[adamishome]

dreamcar said:

Don't understand this outburst. I imagine the original poster of this thread did so as a discussion topic on the good, bad and indifferent aspects of the 718 as Chris Harris viewed it. This naturally invites similar comments from those that like and those that dislike the new 718. It isn't a worship the car thread. The changes (only the engine really) are certainly controversial no doubt about that.

I agree completely with you that the original post here was about the good, bad and indifferent - however, this thread seemed to morph into 718 bashing. I personally don't like the Kia Sportage. My wife had one once and it was crap. However, I wouldn't think of going onto a Kia Sportage thread and be critical of all of the things I don't like about the car. Why would I do this? To what end?

In the same vein, there are people posting in a 718 thread that said they would never buy a 718, lament the features, character and even the existence of the car. My boredom (obviously shared by many) with this negativity is now defensive, aggressive and an outburst? If you don't like this car and have no intension of buying one, why are you adding your 2 cents worth? This was my point.

While nobody expects these threads to be "a worship the car thread", the constant negativity is becoming a drain on current, future and potential buyers. Why not start a "Pre-718 positivity thread" so you can call pat each other on the back for owning a pre-718 Boxster/Cayman? We all love those cars but, and this may come as a big surprise, it is possible to appreciate both!

[Pinball]

adamishome said:

I agree completely with you that the original post here was about the good, bad and indifferent - however, this thread seemed to morph into 718 bashing. I personally don't like the Kia Sportage. My wife had one once and it was crap. However, I wouldn't think of going onto a Kia Sportage thread and be critical of all of the things I don't like about the car. Why would I do this? To what end?

In the same vein, there are people posting in a 718 thread that said they would never buy a 718, lament the features, character and even the existence of the car. My boredom (obviously shared by many) with this negativity is now defensive, aggressive and an outburst? If you don't like this car and have no intension of buying one, why are you adding your 2 cents worth? This was my point.

While nobody expects these threads to be "a worship the car thread", the constant negativity is becoming a drain on current, future and potential buyers. Why not start a "Pre-718 positivity thread" so you can call pat each other on the back for owning a pre-718 Boxster/Cayman? We all love those cars but, and this may come as a big surprise, it is possible to appreciate both!

And don't forget if you object to the same repetitive negative comments it's your issue apparently.

[Pinball]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's not restricted to this thread, though,is it. Even in the 718 positive vibes thread, where the OP did politely ask for people to only post positive comments, some posters still failed to have the self-control/courtesy to stop themselves posting negative comments.

[Phooey]

Magic919 said:

I expect you could implement an 'ignore' function or ban a few individuals and the forum use would increase.

Fantastic idea! You'll be greatly missed Magic919. Honest <cough>

[FourPotPorsche]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Does this apply to a dedicated owners thread too? FYI, on Planet 9 such a thread was started and was also plagued by non-owners posting mostly negative comments. Consequently, their Mods posted several warnings, deleted all such posts and threatened the naughty ones with bans. Personally I am not in favour of this kind of censorship but I understand why the action was taken as, has been mentioned on here several times, the repetitive sniping does wear you down.

Initially I took umbrage with the negative postings on this forum towards the 718 (even on the Vibes thread I created) but now I ignore them and try to post counter-arguments, reviews and performance figures to boost the flagging 718 spirit. So in predictable fashion, here's a pick me up from the Vibes thread:

From Car and Driver's instrumented test results:

Zero to 60 mph: 3.6 sec*
Zero to 100 mph: 8.5 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 15.1 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 22.7 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 4.3 sec
Top gear, 30-50 mph: 2.5 sec
Top gear, 50-70 mph: 2.8 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 11.9 sec @ 117 mph*
Top speed (drag limited, mfr-s claim): 177 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 143 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 1.02 g

It may not be a lot of things but it is a fast sports car

Edited to include another positive set of results, this time from Autocar's recent Best Driver's Car 2016 lap times at Anglesey:

675 LT Spyder (trofeo R): 1:35.7
488 (super sport): 1:36.9
570S (corsa): 1:37.9
911 R (cup 2): 1:38.7
M4 GTS (cup2): 1:40.4
718 Cayman S (p zero): 1:41.2
Ftype SVR (p zero): 1:41.2
New NSX (sportcontact 5p): 1:41.7
Vantage GT8 (cup2): 1:42.9
M2 (super sport): 1:44.4
Focus RS (super sport): 1:46.3

Put some Cup 2s on her and that M4 GTS begins to look expensive ...albeit round a short technical circuit but, hey, us 718 owners need a little cheer

Edited by FourPotPorsche on Wednesday 2nd November 19:00

Edited by FourPotPorsche on Wednesday 2nd November 19:01

[Pinball]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Unfortunately, that seems an inevitability even if the thread starts positively where the 718 is concerned. Or maybe I'm foolish expecting anything different having read many threads here long before I joined

I'm not averse to negative comments regarding the 718. It's just tiresome when it's the same one that already has been rinsed to death and offers nothing to further the discussion.

[Patrick Bateman]

That's the nature of any subject though. When it's often discussed the same things are bound to be mentioned.

[Phooey]

I haven't watched the vid yet.. but here's a couple more new links to keep the thread alive and on topic. Enjoy!


http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-compariso...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSQDX0fUq74

[FourPotPorsche]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The beauty of free choice and the freedom to express it.

[Twinfan]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Exactly. Being faster is no compensation for the losses IMHO.

[ORD]

I don't really understand the sense of saying 'But it's really fast!'. Any remotely competent manufacturer could make a car go around a circuit in those kind of times or post good 0-100 times. It all simply depends on how much boost you use. A Golf R can get close to 3 seconds 0-60 with the boost turned up.

None of that tells you very much at all about whether a given car is exciting or fun to drive.

There are plenty of driving enthusiasts who don't see any incremental benefit to a sports car having much more than about 200 or 250bhp per ton. And if there is any incremental benefit, it pales in comparison to the importance of things like steering feel, chassis feel, throttle response, engine note, etc etc. For my part, I think the 981 S was just about as fast as I would want. I would see some small benefit in a little more power, but nothing like enough to make up for any loss feel or character or sound.

All a long-winded way of saying that speed matters not a lot if you are comparing a very fast road car to another very fast road car.

(As a caveat to the above, I think the 2.7 was a bit slow for modern driving. But that is down to gearing as much as raw power. The solution there, in an ideal world, would be to produce a lightweight Cayman 2.7 with shorter gearing. Heaven.)

[ooid]

Well half of the current base 718 price, here is a proper 718 replica for you guys.



http://www.classiccars.co.uk/porsche/718/advert/12...

[FourPotPorsche]

ooid said:

Well half of the current base 718 price, here is a proper 718 replica for you guys.



http://www.classiccars.co.uk/porsche/718/advert/12...

Also faster than a 981.

[ags11]

I don't think the criticism is directed at the 718 buyers, it's more towards the broader direction of the industry, and the negative effect on an enthusiast's sports car.
There's no doubt the 718 improves on the 981 in many areas. I think it looks better, having not driven or heard it, by all accounts the steering & handling are a step up too.
The engine change obviously isn't if it's compared with what went before- to quote AP-"atmospherical". The so called improvements here don't match with the latter- they're obviously driven by a whole other agenda. Personally the sound I'd get over, turbo characteristics possibly not!
However if anyone's in the market for a new car in the cayster mould,it's still probably the best all round package available.
So enjoy,and health to drive everyone!

[_Leg_]

ags11 said:

(Leg - referring to the 718) having not driven or heard it, by all accounts the steering & handling are a step up too.

It's no different to a 981 in terms of steering and handling. Nothing different at all. Back to back on the same roads at the same pace on the same day, it felt identical.

ags11 said:

if anyone's in the market for a new car in the cayster mould,it's still probably the best all round package available.

Agree with that.

[TB303]

_Leg_ said:

ags11 said:

(Leg - referring to the 718) having not driven or heard it, by all accounts the steering & handling are a step up too.

It's no different to a 981 in terms of steering and handling. Nothing different at all. Back to back on the same roads at the same pace on the same day, it felt identical.

Not true. The 718 has a 10% faster rack - the same as the 981 Spyder (derived from the 911 Turbo):

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/porsche/718-ca...

[Malo]

TB303 said:

Not true. The 718 has a 10% faster rack - the same as the 981 Spyder (derived from the 911 Turbo):

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/porsche/718-ca...

Unless you are a professional driver, I'd imagine that 10% increase is impercevable. I certainly did not notice it in the Cayman I had.