718 review - test drove today
Discussion
Hi everyone just thought I'd let you know my thoughts on the 718 as I took one out for an hour today. Car was an S, nice spec with PDK. My current car is manual 987.2 Cayman S and I have driven a fairly wide range of Porsches.
Might as well start with the noise as this seems to be everyone's biggest concern. It sounds terrible when you start it up, more in common with my Dad's diesel van than a raspy straight 6. I was expecting this so no massive surprise and although once you get moving it wakes up, it is quite uninspiring. The old engine had a kind of symphony that meant you could tell from the noise what the revs were doing and how much torque was waiting for you once you changed down a gear or accelerated out of a bend.
This is not for me the biggest hurdle though. I just didn't find the power delivery very engaging. It is fast and noticeably faster than a 981S but the 4000rpm sweet spot is gone as is the build in power to the redline. What has replaced it is more 'usable' and you can pretty much accelerate in any gear any revs but that's not really the point in having a sports car is it? It feels a little bit like the accelerator is a 'go fast button' and you just press it and let the car do the rest. More like playing a computer game than actually driving.
However, the steering is UNBELIEVABLE. The best steering I have felt in a car - it just really wants to go around any corner you show it and the speed and accuracy of it is stunning. Brakes are excellent too and the car feels planted, nimble and beautifully weighted. Looks wise the updates are nice but its getting to look a little bit more like an MR2 than a Porsche. Which is not a good thing. Unless you like MR2s.
All of this sounds quite negative but once you get it opened up on a twisty B road it really is noticeably quicker and better to drive than a 981. It is an incredible car, its just got the wrong engine in it.
Might as well start with the noise as this seems to be everyone's biggest concern. It sounds terrible when you start it up, more in common with my Dad's diesel van than a raspy straight 6. I was expecting this so no massive surprise and although once you get moving it wakes up, it is quite uninspiring. The old engine had a kind of symphony that meant you could tell from the noise what the revs were doing and how much torque was waiting for you once you changed down a gear or accelerated out of a bend.
This is not for me the biggest hurdle though. I just didn't find the power delivery very engaging. It is fast and noticeably faster than a 981S but the 4000rpm sweet spot is gone as is the build in power to the redline. What has replaced it is more 'usable' and you can pretty much accelerate in any gear any revs but that's not really the point in having a sports car is it? It feels a little bit like the accelerator is a 'go fast button' and you just press it and let the car do the rest. More like playing a computer game than actually driving.
However, the steering is UNBELIEVABLE. The best steering I have felt in a car - it just really wants to go around any corner you show it and the speed and accuracy of it is stunning. Brakes are excellent too and the car feels planted, nimble and beautifully weighted. Looks wise the updates are nice but its getting to look a little bit more like an MR2 than a Porsche. Which is not a good thing. Unless you like MR2s.
All of this sounds quite negative but once you get it opened up on a twisty B road it really is noticeably quicker and better to drive than a 981. It is an incredible car, its just got the wrong engine in it.
ORD said:
I am pleasantly surprised to hear the good things about the handling and steering. I thought that was largely made up by journos as a reason to say "Dont worry about the engine". I may test drive one.
It's not enough to offset the engine. Like your football team selling your star striker and making up for it by getting really nice new shorts instead.
Haha cor you lot like an argument don't you?
I only said I prefer a n/a 6 to a turbo 4 and I come back to a debate about house prices and Audi TT's. Having had a few days to think about it, despite its good points, I have absolutely no burning desire to get back in a 718 and it has if anything just made me even more appreciative of what great cars the 987 and 981 boxsters/caymans are.
I only said I prefer a n/a 6 to a turbo 4 and I come back to a debate about house prices and Audi TT's. Having had a few days to think about it, despite its good points, I have absolutely no burning desire to get back in a 718 and it has if anything just made me even more appreciative of what great cars the 987 and 981 boxsters/caymans are.
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