How terrible is the 718 engine ?
Discussion
Have been watching lots of online reviews recently of the 718 Cayman S and the comparisons between that and the new M2 comp and the Alfa QF Giulia.
Sounds like based on everything other than the engine the 718 comes out on top every time.
The journos don’t just dislike it they say it’s awaful.
Question is would you ditch it for say the M2 comp or the Alfa ?
Sounds like based on everything other than the engine the 718 comes out on top every time.
The journos don’t just dislike it they say it’s awaful.
Question is would you ditch it for say the M2 comp or the Alfa ?
The heart of a great car is a great engine.
Porsche’s normally aspirated flat-6 is one of those, although the 2.7 and 3.4 derivatives are not necessarily the very best.
However, the move to the small capacity turbo flat-4s was dictated by necessity and, to most, has been a big disappointment.
It doesn’t stop the 718 still being a desirable car, and I’d have one over the BMW or Alfa if I didn’t need their layout, but the engine would always be an irritation.
Which, I guess, is why the 981s have continued to have such a strong following.
Porsche’s normally aspirated flat-6 is one of those, although the 2.7 and 3.4 derivatives are not necessarily the very best.
However, the move to the small capacity turbo flat-4s was dictated by necessity and, to most, has been a big disappointment.
It doesn’t stop the 718 still being a desirable car, and I’d have one over the BMW or Alfa if I didn’t need their layout, but the engine would always be an irritation.
Which, I guess, is why the 981s have continued to have such a strong following.
Koln-RS said:
The heart of a great car is a great engine.
Porsche’s normally aspirated flat-6 is one of those, although the 2.7 and 3.4 derivatives are not necessarily the very best.
However, the move to the small capacity turbo flat-4s was dictated by necessity and, to most, has been a big disappointment.
It doesn’t stop the 718 still being a desirable car, and I’d have one over the BMW or Alfa if I didn’t need their layout, but the engine would always be an irritation.
Which, I guess, is why the 981s have continued to have such a strong following.
Fair enough.Porsche’s normally aspirated flat-6 is one of those, although the 2.7 and 3.4 derivatives are not necessarily the very best.
However, the move to the small capacity turbo flat-4s was dictated by necessity and, to most, has been a big disappointment.
It doesn’t stop the 718 still being a desirable car, and I’d have one over the BMW or Alfa if I didn’t need their layout, but the engine would always be an irritation.
Which, I guess, is why the 981s have continued to have such a strong following.
What do you currently drive may i ask ?
M2 looks a decent buy with online discounts at under 50k with decent enough spec and DCt and i find the alfa very pretty with a monster 500Hp engine.
All subjective of course
There are literally hundreds of pages on this forum that have discussed the engine already.
The M2 comp and the Alfa are front-engined sport saloons, not mid-engined sports cars. They drive quite differently but the Cayman chassis is a level above IMO. The Cayman is also completely impractical if you need more than two seats though.
The M2 comp and the Alfa are front-engined sport saloons, not mid-engined sports cars. They drive quite differently but the Cayman chassis is a level above IMO. The Cayman is also completely impractical if you need more than two seats though.
Edited by 130R on Monday 1st July 10:55
Think the problem is most people are comparing the 2.5T to the 3.4 N/A, yeh its faster but it doesn't sound half as good!
If you have never owned a flat 6 then the 2.5T will be right up your street, I test drove the 2.5T before I bought my 3.4 981 and compared to my old Stage 2 2.0T with 420ps the engine sounded very well.
If you have never owned a flat 6 then the 2.5T will be right up your street, I test drove the 2.5T before I bought my 3.4 981 and compared to my old Stage 2 2.0T with 420ps the engine sounded very well.
you'd have to try one - came from a 981 GT4 and the new engine feels very, errr, different, to that lump. it's the NVH (noise-vibration-harshness) that I found difficult to accept, it certainly does the numbers performance wise however. the 3.8 in the GT4 was hardly Porsche's finest effort, but I suppose partly the reaction to the flat 4 is because Porsche had been spoiling us. also it's a 
in the 718 Cayman armoury, everything else about the car is of an exceptionally high standard. the first gen M2 didn't have a particularly interesting engine either, flat and no point in revving it out, felt almost diesel like in it's delivery.
best just try all three and see what you think.
in the 718 Cayman armoury, everything else about the car is of an exceptionally high standard. the first gen M2 didn't have a particularly interesting engine either, flat and no point in revving it out, felt almost diesel like in it's delivery. best just try all three and see what you think.
Trevor555 said:
Does anyone know why it went flat 4?
I asked a sales chappy and he said it was all about emissions, and EU rules etc....
True?
Correct.I asked a sales chappy and he said it was all about emissions, and EU rules etc....
True?
The whole drive to Turbos is about producing less CO2 - fuel economy in real world tests in pretty much do different if you drive then with any kind of purpose. Its specifically 4 because they couldn't get the 6 pot - 3.0TwinTurbo in the 718 - and so a new solution was required... hence 4 pot and single turbo.
WLPT regs, and GPFs now mean that actually we still can have NA engines for a while - so Porsche can deliver cars like the 718 Spyder and GT4 again, as well as the upcoming 718-6's
caminator11 said:
If its all about engine an M2 comp is great but the character of an S55 lump isn't nearly as sexy as the Alfa V6 for me
The Alfa is a pretty car also.70k with the right Spec is what a friend paid but i'm sure they are freely available used now with circa 8k miles for circa 50k
The bucket style seats are a must IMO
FocusRS3 said:
Have been watching lots of online reviews recently of the 718 Cayman S and the comparisons between that and the new M2 comp and the Alfa QF Giulia.
Sounds like based on everything other than the engine the 718 comes out on top every time.
The journos don’t just dislike it they say it’s awaful.
Question is would you ditch it for say the M2 comp or the Alfa ?
I’ve driven the 2.0 and the 2.5, they feel quite rough and lumpy, not a smooth experience but most of the people I see driving them are middle aged women driving them to Waitrose and the local nursing home to visit their mothers. That isn’t me exaggerating either or playing down the 718’s! I’m not sure what the sales figures are but I’m sure a lot of people didn’t chop in their 981’s like they did going from the 987 to 981.Sounds like based on everything other than the engine the 718 comes out on top every time.
The journos don’t just dislike it they say it’s awaful.
Question is would you ditch it for say the M2 comp or the Alfa ?
.Found myself looking at the Alfa after Top Gear's testing a week or so ago. Catch it on iPlayer?
I have 981 Cayman 2.7.
Those 718 models I've driven leave me uninspired.
The last, a 2.0, I called a gurgling gargoyle as I pootled around in it.
Horrible noise. Spoils the whole experience.
I have 981 Cayman 2.7.
Those 718 models I've driven leave me uninspired.
The last, a 2.0, I called a gurgling gargoyle as I pootled around in it.
Horrible noise. Spoils the whole experience.
DJMC said:
Found myself looking at the Alfa after Top Gear's testing a week or so ago. Catch it on iPlayer?
I have 981 Cayman 2.7.
Those 718 models I've driven leave me uninspired.
The last, a 2.0, I called a gurgling gargoyle as I pootled around in it.
Horrible noise. Spoils the whole experience.
I've seen the Clarkson review where he moans about the A pillar so that maybe the same one?I have 981 Cayman 2.7.
Those 718 models I've driven leave me uninspired.
The last, a 2.0, I called a gurgling gargoyle as I pootled around in it.
Horrible noise. Spoils the whole experience.
He act called it a "masterpiece" i think was his words
FocusRS3 said:
I've seen the Clarkson review where he moans about the A pillar so that maybe the same one?
He act called it a "masterpiece" i think was his words
No, this was the new Top Gear bunch. Episode 2, 23 June 2019, comparison with Tesla 3, Merc, BMW. The Alfa wins.He act called it a "masterpiece" i think was his words
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00068rr/top...
T'was only brief.
Edited by DJMC on Monday 1st July 16:21
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