918 First thoughts
Discussion
Thought I'd share my thoughts....
Well it's about time I get my first impressions of the 918 down. I have deliberately been biting my tongue so far because I don't want to make any premature judgments. The car was a lot of money and for this reason it could be very easy to persuade yourself it is the best thing ever. In fact with any car it's very easy to say whatever you own at that particular point is the best. I will do my best to be impartial and straight forward.
.
Firstly I must say thank you to the previous owner as he really did do a good job of speccing it for me. Sadly when the opportunity was there to buy a car at list I bottled it as couldn't get my head around spending that amount of money on a car. In fact the irony is with the strengthening £ against the €, all the UK cars came out much cheaper than planned. Not only that as soon as the reviews on the 918 started to come out the last lot of cars flew out and before we knew it there was a worldwide waiting list of around 400 cars! Buying at a premium is never an easy pill to swallow but it's obvious like the Bugatti Veyon the parts well exceed the price of the car and even at today's prices I believe you still see value. In terms of spec I don't think there is really anything I would change. The seats are alcantara/leather mix and this is defiantly my preferred choice as they hold you in place better and it's nicer to the touch. The only issue is because the 918 is a convertible, on those occasions you do get caught out in the rain - leather you could simply wipe off, alcantara may mark ? Just something else to manage. The rest of the car is really spot on. I'm very glad he didn't spec the WP pack, really not a fan to be honest and in London, my underground car park just something to go wrong. The standard wheels in my eyes are just the best looking wheels on the planet. I remember thinking when the concept car came out there is no way they will get anyway near them for production... Well they did and to me they look like the posh ones not the BBS type ones.
Next point to mention is just how impressed I was with the set up at Reading. Stuart Jenkins and Andy Keywood instantly made me feel like one of the family. I have their mobile numbers and after the most enjoyable and informative handover ever I was told to call them no matter how trivial the question. I can tell already I'm going to really enjoy this relationship in exactly the same way as I do with Paul from Guildford. Over the years I have been lucky enough to have the pleasure of managing relationships with Ferrari, Rolls, Bentley, Maybach etc etc and I know I am going to get some of the best service with these guys from Porsche Reading/Guildford. Seriously impressed.
I suppose I better start talking about the car now.... Since collecting from the previous owner I have covered about 350 miles and used 2 tanks of fuel. A tank is 60ltrs FYI which suggests as you would expect drive it hard and it will drink... But drive it normally I believe it will do over 50mpg !
Those of you familiar with Porsches PDK boxes may know that the computers that work the shifting in auto mode are so clever that they know better than you how and when to change. In the 918 the ring time was actually done in auto mode I believe and Porsche actually say for the fastest times keep it in auto. In manual mode the box is not as aggressive or responsive as the box in the Speciale. It's not as quick witted. Now thinking about it as I type I wonder if it's partly the electric torque that accentuates this issue. There is a way around it and that is to hold on to gears for longer, Rev till about 4-5k in each gear and you get more power from the engine to offset the electric torque and the changes I think are sharper and crisper plus the noise is miles better. With 300bhp on tap all the time through the battery you can be in any gear, floor it and you shift like nothing I have ever experienced. This is an odd feeling, and it is not a naturally aspirated one because you can both hear and feel the electric motors at work. For example in a conventional engine you have to wring it's neck to be in the power band in this as you start accelerating from zero rpm you go from lots of battery power/minimal engine power (and noise) to the exact opposite. It makes your job as a driver very easy but the feeling is a little synthetic or false. There is a big however though because once you hit maybe 3k (out of 9k) the noise kicks in and the synthetic feeling is gone, it feels n/a it bellows the most guttural noise all the way to 9k. With the roof down it sounds really mega actually, but I do wish it made some more noise lower down. I'm going to have a word with Andy about whether the valves can be opened or something but I'm sure that would not be advisable and I'll just get used to it.
The power is relentless, I have never been in or driven anything that is as quick. You can be in manual or auto, 8k rpm or 1k rpm - when you put your foot down you are going to bolt toward the horizon so quickly that if your not careful you are going to get in a lot of trouble. It's the first time I have said this and truly believed it - this car is way too fast for the road! Because the car is so flat and low the sense of urgency when you accelerate can somehow be slightly masked as you don't always feel like you are going quite as quick as you are. Pay attention to the speedo, plus your rear view mirror to really see what's going on. The way a car disappears in your rear view mirror is frightening ! It's not every day you shake a CGT like it was an m3 to a 458, the difference in power you have to any other car on the road really needs to be respected as well as admired...
Considering the power and the torque I'm flabbergasted how well the car puts its power down. There is no fuss at all and the car stays so flat, so composed. You can take corners at speeds where I think the Speciale or even turbo would be be starting to scrub but the 918 is on rails, almost magnetised to the road. The steering is heavy but with zero slack and so accurate. It is a bit dead at low to normal speed, where the spaz will be dancing around in your hand the Porsche feel numb. When you start to push on though it starts to weight up nicely with load. I'd like to try it on a track like silly and see how it feels because on the road it's just too fast to get anyway near its limits. It's a fun car to drive 100%, but despite its crazy power it's ultra civilised and controlled, it's not neurotic puppy with add like the spaz - not an issue just different...
The cabin is a work of art, the quality of materials and just the way it's put together puts it in to a class of its own. Forget what you have seen in a Bentley, Ferrari, Rolls or maybach - this is the new benchmark for luxury. With all that said though it's far from opulent or flashy. It's German, functional and fit for purpose. Personally my favourite part of the cabin are the seats. The mixture of carbon, leather, alcontara and black chrome inserts just look the part. I hear these are the same seats that are going in to the new RS too which is fantastic. All the technology and touch screen interfaces are somewhat overpowering at first. My first thoughts were as I'm not using the car every day I'll never get used to them but after the handover at Reading and a weekend behind the wheel I think I know how to do most things. The systems are pretty trick really, the screens are all ultra high def, as clear as a iPhone 6 - one interface has a picture of the car, it's battery and the electric motors. When you drive the car hard you can see the battery life drain away, but when you brake or accelerate in sport mode you can see the car using its power to regen the battery. After a weekend in one of these not only does any other car feel rather slow, they also feel rather basic...
The car gets a lot of attention, but I wouldn't say more so than the Speciale. Because it's black it's less shouty I suppose, however it looks like nothing else on the road and people either don't know what it is or they do know and then are party to just how special the car actually is. It's super cool in a way no other hypercar is, because it's stylish and in a way understated. The quality inside and out is just first class. I have never seen another car this well put together. It really feel very special and I feel privileged to own such an irritant piece of Porsches history. I'm very pleased I have bought it.
Have loads of pics on my Instagram :
http://websta.me/n/woppum
Well it's about time I get my first impressions of the 918 down. I have deliberately been biting my tongue so far because I don't want to make any premature judgments. The car was a lot of money and for this reason it could be very easy to persuade yourself it is the best thing ever. In fact with any car it's very easy to say whatever you own at that particular point is the best. I will do my best to be impartial and straight forward.
.
Firstly I must say thank you to the previous owner as he really did do a good job of speccing it for me. Sadly when the opportunity was there to buy a car at list I bottled it as couldn't get my head around spending that amount of money on a car. In fact the irony is with the strengthening £ against the €, all the UK cars came out much cheaper than planned. Not only that as soon as the reviews on the 918 started to come out the last lot of cars flew out and before we knew it there was a worldwide waiting list of around 400 cars! Buying at a premium is never an easy pill to swallow but it's obvious like the Bugatti Veyon the parts well exceed the price of the car and even at today's prices I believe you still see value. In terms of spec I don't think there is really anything I would change. The seats are alcantara/leather mix and this is defiantly my preferred choice as they hold you in place better and it's nicer to the touch. The only issue is because the 918 is a convertible, on those occasions you do get caught out in the rain - leather you could simply wipe off, alcantara may mark ? Just something else to manage. The rest of the car is really spot on. I'm very glad he didn't spec the WP pack, really not a fan to be honest and in London, my underground car park just something to go wrong. The standard wheels in my eyes are just the best looking wheels on the planet. I remember thinking when the concept car came out there is no way they will get anyway near them for production... Well they did and to me they look like the posh ones not the BBS type ones.
Next point to mention is just how impressed I was with the set up at Reading. Stuart Jenkins and Andy Keywood instantly made me feel like one of the family. I have their mobile numbers and after the most enjoyable and informative handover ever I was told to call them no matter how trivial the question. I can tell already I'm going to really enjoy this relationship in exactly the same way as I do with Paul from Guildford. Over the years I have been lucky enough to have the pleasure of managing relationships with Ferrari, Rolls, Bentley, Maybach etc etc and I know I am going to get some of the best service with these guys from Porsche Reading/Guildford. Seriously impressed.
I suppose I better start talking about the car now.... Since collecting from the previous owner I have covered about 350 miles and used 2 tanks of fuel. A tank is 60ltrs FYI which suggests as you would expect drive it hard and it will drink... But drive it normally I believe it will do over 50mpg !
Those of you familiar with Porsches PDK boxes may know that the computers that work the shifting in auto mode are so clever that they know better than you how and when to change. In the 918 the ring time was actually done in auto mode I believe and Porsche actually say for the fastest times keep it in auto. In manual mode the box is not as aggressive or responsive as the box in the Speciale. It's not as quick witted. Now thinking about it as I type I wonder if it's partly the electric torque that accentuates this issue. There is a way around it and that is to hold on to gears for longer, Rev till about 4-5k in each gear and you get more power from the engine to offset the electric torque and the changes I think are sharper and crisper plus the noise is miles better. With 300bhp on tap all the time through the battery you can be in any gear, floor it and you shift like nothing I have ever experienced. This is an odd feeling, and it is not a naturally aspirated one because you can both hear and feel the electric motors at work. For example in a conventional engine you have to wring it's neck to be in the power band in this as you start accelerating from zero rpm you go from lots of battery power/minimal engine power (and noise) to the exact opposite. It makes your job as a driver very easy but the feeling is a little synthetic or false. There is a big however though because once you hit maybe 3k (out of 9k) the noise kicks in and the synthetic feeling is gone, it feels n/a it bellows the most guttural noise all the way to 9k. With the roof down it sounds really mega actually, but I do wish it made some more noise lower down. I'm going to have a word with Andy about whether the valves can be opened or something but I'm sure that would not be advisable and I'll just get used to it.
The power is relentless, I have never been in or driven anything that is as quick. You can be in manual or auto, 8k rpm or 1k rpm - when you put your foot down you are going to bolt toward the horizon so quickly that if your not careful you are going to get in a lot of trouble. It's the first time I have said this and truly believed it - this car is way too fast for the road! Because the car is so flat and low the sense of urgency when you accelerate can somehow be slightly masked as you don't always feel like you are going quite as quick as you are. Pay attention to the speedo, plus your rear view mirror to really see what's going on. The way a car disappears in your rear view mirror is frightening ! It's not every day you shake a CGT like it was an m3 to a 458, the difference in power you have to any other car on the road really needs to be respected as well as admired...
Considering the power and the torque I'm flabbergasted how well the car puts its power down. There is no fuss at all and the car stays so flat, so composed. You can take corners at speeds where I think the Speciale or even turbo would be be starting to scrub but the 918 is on rails, almost magnetised to the road. The steering is heavy but with zero slack and so accurate. It is a bit dead at low to normal speed, where the spaz will be dancing around in your hand the Porsche feel numb. When you start to push on though it starts to weight up nicely with load. I'd like to try it on a track like silly and see how it feels because on the road it's just too fast to get anyway near its limits. It's a fun car to drive 100%, but despite its crazy power it's ultra civilised and controlled, it's not neurotic puppy with add like the spaz - not an issue just different...
The cabin is a work of art, the quality of materials and just the way it's put together puts it in to a class of its own. Forget what you have seen in a Bentley, Ferrari, Rolls or maybach - this is the new benchmark for luxury. With all that said though it's far from opulent or flashy. It's German, functional and fit for purpose. Personally my favourite part of the cabin are the seats. The mixture of carbon, leather, alcontara and black chrome inserts just look the part. I hear these are the same seats that are going in to the new RS too which is fantastic. All the technology and touch screen interfaces are somewhat overpowering at first. My first thoughts were as I'm not using the car every day I'll never get used to them but after the handover at Reading and a weekend behind the wheel I think I know how to do most things. The systems are pretty trick really, the screens are all ultra high def, as clear as a iPhone 6 - one interface has a picture of the car, it's battery and the electric motors. When you drive the car hard you can see the battery life drain away, but when you brake or accelerate in sport mode you can see the car using its power to regen the battery. After a weekend in one of these not only does any other car feel rather slow, they also feel rather basic...
The car gets a lot of attention, but I wouldn't say more so than the Speciale. Because it's black it's less shouty I suppose, however it looks like nothing else on the road and people either don't know what it is or they do know and then are party to just how special the car actually is. It's super cool in a way no other hypercar is, because it's stylish and in a way understated. The quality inside and out is just first class. I have never seen another car this well put together. It really feel very special and I feel privileged to own such an irritant piece of Porsches history. I'm very pleased I have bought it.
Have loads of pics on my Instagram :
http://websta.me/n/woppum
Great write up
What's the deal with the WP then? I know it deletes things like a hi fi and air con but you can spec those back on (as Paul Bailey did). Seems silly doing that on this type of car as at the end of the day its still a road rather than a track car. Who would want to drive one of these around Europe in summer with no ac?
What's the deal with the WP then? I know it deletes things like a hi fi and air con but you can spec those back on (as Paul Bailey did). Seems silly doing that on this type of car as at the end of the day its still a road rather than a track car. Who would want to drive one of these around Europe in summer with no ac?
They are smashing cars to look up close, always spend a bit of time ogling the odd few around in Reading!
Something I've always wondered for the hybrid cars.. and it probably sounds pretty stupid in the context of a 900ish hp car... but has the character of the car been changed to one more like a turbo car (albeit without lag) where you get a massive shot of torque very early but the car doesn't feel more alive or exciting further up the rev range, unlike say a highly tuned NA engine like in the speciale where things really start to happen around 7k rpm?
Something I've always wondered for the hybrid cars.. and it probably sounds pretty stupid in the context of a 900ish hp car... but has the character of the car been changed to one more like a turbo car (albeit without lag) where you get a massive shot of torque very early but the car doesn't feel more alive or exciting further up the rev range, unlike say a highly tuned NA engine like in the speciale where things really start to happen around 7k rpm?
Excellent write up, Mr Woppum.
I've been lucky enough to have been passenger in a few 918's now - and they are EPIC. Best description that I can come up with is like it like driving a 4WD Superbike. The acceleration is nothing short of savage - dollops of torque from the get go. And a great Stereo - that I'd be interested if you needed to upgrade!
Lucky enough to have been in a LaFerrari too. So similar to the Speciale (other than the 370hp odd power deficit) - but is inherently similar. Lots of high end power - devastatingly quick at the end of a long straight - but no match for the 918 in the early part of the straight, for traction or around the twisty stuff.
P1 (passenger ride) is coming soon!
I've been lucky enough to have been passenger in a few 918's now - and they are EPIC. Best description that I can come up with is like it like driving a 4WD Superbike. The acceleration is nothing short of savage - dollops of torque from the get go. And a great Stereo - that I'd be interested if you needed to upgrade!
Lucky enough to have been in a LaFerrari too. So similar to the Speciale (other than the 370hp odd power deficit) - but is inherently similar. Lots of high end power - devastatingly quick at the end of a long straight - but no match for the 918 in the early part of the straight, for traction or around the twisty stuff.
P1 (passenger ride) is coming soon!
Edited by Anjum on Friday 29th May 16:13
Anjum said:
Excellent write up, Mr Woppum.
I've been lucky enough to have been passenger in a few 918's now - and they are EPIC. Best description that I can come up with is like it like driving a 4WD Superbike. The acceleration is nothing short of savage - dollops of torque from the get go. And a great Stereo - that I'd be interested if you needed to upgrade!
Lucky enough to have been in a LaFerrari too. So similar to the Speciale (other than the 370hp odd power deficit) - but is inherently similar. Lots of high end power - devastatingly quick at the end of a long straight - but no match for the 918 in the early part of the straight, for traction or around the twisty stuff.
P1 (passenger ride) is coming soon!
Well thank you Sir !I've been lucky enough to have been passenger in a few 918's now - and they are EPIC. Best description that I can come up with is like it like driving a 4WD Superbike. The acceleration is nothing short of savage - dollops of torque from the get go. And a great Stereo - that I'd be interested if you needed to upgrade!
Lucky enough to have been in a LaFerrari too. So similar to the Speciale (other than the 370hp odd power deficit) - but is inherently similar. Lots of high end power - devastatingly quick at the end of a long straight - but no match for the 918 in the early part of the straight, for traction or around the twisty stuff.
P1 (passenger ride) is coming soon!
Edited by Anjum on Friday 29th May 16:13
You make the Laf sound like the ultimate and I'm sure you are right ! When I get back let's get together and I'll show you round the 918 👍🏿
isaldiri said:
They are smashing cars to look up close, always spend a bit of time ogling the odd few around in Reading!
Something I've always wondered for the hybrid cars.. and it probably sounds pretty stupid in the context of a 900ish hp car... but has the character of the car been changed to one more like a turbo car (albeit without lag) where you get a massive shot of torque very early but the car doesn't feel more alive or exciting further up the rev range, unlike say a highly tuned NA engine like in the speciale where things really start to happen around 7k rpm?
Good question and something that I was concerned about when I bought the car. Really the only time the power seems assisted is at 1-2.5/3k rpm and this is because the torque from the electric motor over shadows the power coming from the engine. For example you are gathering massive speed and being sucked in to the back of you seat however the noise and feel from the engine just doesn't seem enough to match it. It feels assisted. However from 2.5/3k rpm that incredible piece of engeneering that is the engine comes alive and revs all the way to 9k faster than any car I have ever experienced. Does it make a nice sound - fSomething I've always wondered for the hybrid cars.. and it probably sounds pretty stupid in the context of a 900ish hp car... but has the character of the car been changed to one more like a turbo car (albeit without lag) where you get a massive shot of torque very early but the car doesn't feel more alive or exciting further up the rev range, unlike say a highly tuned NA engine like in the speciale where things really start to happen around 7k rpm?
k yes ! It sounds guttural, metallic and not like any other engine I have heard before. It's such a monster, and evil f
king monster !
Top write up and some insightful thoughts that you just don't get reading the usual press articles. I've only seen one 918 close up and it fully deserves its hypercar status, bonkers looking machine.
Out of interest, how much have you had to alter your driving style at low rpm given the instant torque available, compared to say a Speciale? I would imagine you'd be able to overwhelm the rear tyres just pulling away from junctions in a semi spirited manner...
Out of interest, how much have you had to alter your driving style at low rpm given the instant torque available, compared to say a Speciale? I would imagine you'd be able to overwhelm the rear tyres just pulling away from junctions in a semi spirited manner...
woppum said:
Well thank you Sir !
You make the Laf sound like the ultimate and I'm sure you are right ! When I get back let's get together and I'll show you round the 918 ????
Jury's out at the moment. All I know is my mates are buying hyper cars and it means we can't drive together anymore? Last week case in point!You make the Laf sound like the ultimate and I'm sure you are right ! When I get back let's get together and I'll show you round the 918 ????
A
woppum said:
Good question and something that I was concerned about when I bought the car. Really the only time the power seems assisted is at 1-2.5/3k rpm and this is because the torque from the electric motor over shadows the power coming from the engine. For example you are gathering massive speed and being sucked in to the back of you seat however the noise and feel from the engine just doesn't seem enough to match it. It feels assisted. However from 2.5/3k rpm that incredible piece of engeneering that is the engine comes alive and revs all the way to 9k faster than any car I have ever experienced. Does it make a nice sound - fk yes ! It sounds guttural, metallic and not like any other engine I have heard before.
!
Interesting that tks, albeit academic as it's not as if I am in a position to get either of the hybrid NA cars anytime....! Phenomenal car anyway, hopefully will see it on track like your speciale...k yes ! It sounds guttural, metallic and not like any other engine I have heard before. !
Great write up of a fabulous car! I've loved the idea of the 918 since it was announced. Probably should have stretched to one but decided not to for similar reasons to you. Have fun with it - I would imagine it'll be with you along time.
Any idea how you will decide when to use the Speciale and when the 918?
Any idea how you will decide when to use the Speciale and when the 918?
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