Help! 981s or 718 or BMW M2!

[981UK]

All,

Would appreciate some advice if possible - am contemplating said cars.

I have the option on a M2 which I can take delivery on in about 7-8 weeks, can order a base 718 (delivery times probably into next year now) or I can source a 981s.

Ideally I would get a 981 GTS but they're out of budget for me atm.

I would order a 718 but the 4 pot engine has me concerned about performance and residuals, whereas having driven multiple 981s I am happy with the power delivery and residuals should be pretty strong (spec, mileage dependant).

Obviously the M2 and Caymans are different beasts altogether, but if it was your money what would you do any why?

I know I am in the Porsche forum but any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

[981UK]

Cheers for the input guys, I have a order for a M2 that I either need to commit too or I'll let go to whomever is next on the list.

I have driven a M2, its a fun car, very capable, agree with the M235i comparison, I admit the option to keep it for 6 months and let it go at minimal loss does appeal. Allow me to see what happens with 981 values too. But saying all that part of me thinks screw practicality and get a proper sports car!

2016 has been a real pita...

If my budget allowed I would also consider the 718s (to help alleviate the lag) but my even my man maths cant stretch that far, having driven the base 718 its definitely quick but it does suffer, its there and the turbo makes the power delivery...well turbo like.

Aarrggghhh

Goes back to man maths calculator...anybody want to sell me a well specced 981 GTS?!

[981UK]

M2 build slots are a weird one, some dealers have nothing till the end of 2017 while others have slots available soon. I think quite a few people bought or ordered to flip and seeing there are quite a few available have decided to cancel.

[981UK]

LiamH66 said:

I'm struggling with the idea that the 718 engine is particularly turbo-like. I've driven a few now, and they can definitely be held in a neutral throttle slide. From there you can open the throttle without waiting with bated breath for the turbo to spin up and flick you off the road, the power delivery is throttle position rather than time dependent. They don't do so much when you're at low revs, but the same criticism could be levelled at the 981 - you need to be in the right gear for the circumstances. Maybe my performance car turbo experience is out of date (Audi Quattros and Sierra RS500s made up the bulk of it), but I am seriously impressed how benign the 718s are in comparison with cars from the 80s. No boost gauge, but didn't even feel I needed one at any point.

All that aside, as stated by others, I'd be getting the BMW to get me through the winter and putting an order in for a 718 for next year.

Liam

Thanks for the input guys - please keep any thoughts coming

Interesting, these things are so subjective, out of interest the 718(s) that you drove, were they PDKs or manual? I can imagine a manual would help as you could drop or hold it in the right gear to keep the revs where you wanted.

For me, the noise aside its about power delivery, agree you need to push the 981s but its response is more progressive.

[981UK]

highscore said:

I was in the exact same situation as you. I put a deposit down on an M2 at the beginning of January this year and had a November build slot. In May I started seriously deliberating and test drove all 3 cars (718 base, 981 CS and M2) multiple times over a period of a couple of months.

In July I was also able to drive all 3 cars within 24 hours of each other while they were fresh in my mind. These were my thoughts:

Although my head was telling me the M2 as it was more practical and the test drive was good, it simply didn't feel as special as either of the Porsches. I ruled the M2 out based on my heart. PDK also seemed much better than the M-DCT. I also currently drive an m235i and although the M2 did feel like a step up, it certainly wasn't night and day for normal road driving.

I actually think the 718 sounds good and I recommend driving it rather than watching YouTube vids (although the 981 definitely has the edge). But as this is going to be a daily driver I actually valued the steering feel, torque and modern creature comforts more in the 718. Going round corners in the 718 was unlike any car I've ever driven, including the 981. I also much prefer the exterior and interior looks of the 718.

Ultimately the sound was the only thing I preferred in the 981 and it wasn't enough to outweigh all the other benefits of the 718. I get my Cayman the first week of November and have no regrets about my decision You really need to drive all 3 and make up your own mind though, horses for courses and all that.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, I think I'm going to do similar, drive all 3 as close together as possible and see what comes out on top. I have driven them all but so far apart its hard to make a judgement.

I have been craving that proper sports car feel for ages and I think the M2 is a compromise, albeit a very nice one.

[981UK]

@Romo, interesting that you thought the steering on the M2 is more direct than a Cayman, I drove the M2 fairly recently and I thought the steering was direct and had good feedback but still not quite at Cayman levels, the Cayman definitely benefits from the lower seating position too (as you say). Did you buy your M2 new?

You guys are meant to be helping me!

Could you not have all got together and let me know?!



But in all seriousness, thanks, I think I'm going to drive them all as close together as possible and then decide. I am definitely open to getting the M2 and using it while I source a Cayman, it wont loose much, its not in 1M territory thats for sure but the supply is limited.

[981UK]

Ozzie Osmond said:

It's not as if a Cayman is hard to find. Do it right!

Colours, options...thats the challenge!

[981UK]

Sandy59 said:

I know of a Sapphire blue 2014 GTS I think might be for sale privately, well spec'd I believe ??
Could find out more if you're interested, it's up in Aberdeen though.

Sure - drop me a PM

[981UK]

ooid said:

I just do not find M2 in the same category of cayman to be honest. On paper with numbers probably but the look of the car, design and soul they are on completely different scenes.

Different cars, different feel, but its not as bulky as the M4 / M3, so smaller and more nimble. Also have to consider the practical aspects, a couple of extra seats are definitely useful sometimes.

But I agree, the interior isn't great and the ride height and make it a very quick coupe rather than a out and out sports car, but it sounds pretty good (not that I am too worried about the sound in the 718) and its very responsive.

[981UK]

PhilLL said:

Obviously you have posted in the Porsche section so expect some bias in your responses, but having driven all 3 I have an M2 on order coming in a similar timeframe (about 9 weeks!).

A lot of this will come down to personal preference and circumstances/use etc. This video I think is a very good, detailed comparision between the GTS and the M2 and also has no 'definitive' answer as they are quite different.

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

I had a build slot for one of the very last Cayman GTS cars but gave this up at the very last minute due to ordering issues with my salesman (he no longer works there!) and also personal circumstances (just bought new house). While it was the right decision at the time I do have some regrets passing up a GTS to my spec which would have lost me very little money; it's now very difficult to find one to a spec and colour that floats my boat for a price I'm willing to pay! I do think they will retain very strong money though and no doubt follow similar market values as the 997 GTS.

The 718 is technically excellent - if you are using it as a daily driver then it addresses some of the minor issues of the 981 IMO, e.g. noise from tyres/road/stones in wheel arches, the 'juddering' caused by the geo at full lock, improved media connectivity. The way it flows down the road is just incredible and there's no doubting it's quick!

Rather predictably though, I found the engine in the S lacking character compared to either the M2 or the GTS and when specced up how I would want it for a daily driver it comes out at nearly new GTS money. Really at that point I would rather take the GTS (if I could find the right one for sale!) and I think it would cost a fair bit less in the long run.

There's no getting away from the fact that to spec a 718 to a similar level 'daily driver' spec as the M2 there is about a £15k difference. With the M2 you would have the new updated nav and all the toys and fully optioned even with DCT you will be at around £50k. I found it more exciting to drive than the M4 at a size I thought is perfect for the UK. It may not flow quite as smoothly as the 718 but it just felt more fun, particularly at low speeds.

I think it looks great and as a daily driver the added practicality can't be overlooked. Dealer allocations/availability/finance residuals are all over the place at the moment but I can't see it losing more than the 718 if not quite holding up like a 981 GTS.

Manual seats in the M2 go lower than the electric ones and weigh/cost less if you're likely to be the only driver. If ride height/ultimate handling is a concern there is an M Performance coilover package available. The interior is a bit of a let down - I would have liked better leather, leather dash etc but I will fit the M Performance shift/handbrake trim and steering wheel to help lift it a bit!

Ultimately is comes down to personal preference and usage but as a DD I've gone for the M2; if it was a car for weekends and hooning then I'd go for the 981 GTS if you find the spec you want!

Thanks for the post, will check out the vid. Its definitely a nice problem to have!

Agree re residuals, allocations are strange, some places have a slot and others none at all. People are cancelling too, be interesting to see how prices fluctuate over the next 6-12 months. I think constant, if drip fed supply will see them go down but slowly.

I know I posted in a Porsche section but I think all the input has been great, balanced with a real mix of preference.

[981UK]

Romo said:

Maybe this will help, maybe not :-)


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

That's the one that Phill posted earlier - tis really good, I think it provides a good perspective on both, there different cars, I am going to drive them as close together as possible but I think I already know I will prefer the lower more connected feel of the Cayman. Just wish I could find someone selling a well specced GTS privately - the ones at the OPC are well above what my man maths allow.

[981UK]

Well if someone could tell anyone thinking about selling one (with PDK and PASM) to get in touch that would be great!

Most if not all are at dealers with very high prices and margins no doubt.

[981UK]

7184c said:

I'm having a similar dilemma at the moment albeit not considering the M2.

I had originally considered a used 2.7 981c, late last and early this year these could be had with a good spec for 32-35k. Now they are that much for a poverty spec the value IMO in a 981 is the 3.4s.

Having driven a base 718 manual I'm very tempted to go new.

I need to get out and drive a 981s in manual and PDK to make my own mind up but what are the general views of the 981s in manual flavour.

Not wanting to throw another cat amongst the pigeons but with a half decent specced 718 at 50k does this not bring a 991c2 into play...

Nooooo....no more options!

Just kidding I have always preferred the Cayman over the 911, just feels more nimble and connected to the road.