RE: 2019 Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder | Driven
Discussion
I have a 981 spyder and part of the enjoyment is revving the engine out and not having to whip crack through gears every 0.3 seconds like a pdk / dual clutch supercar. The anticipation makes it much more of a drivers car and swapping between 2nd and 3rd gears is a real joy. There is enough torque to make very, very good progress. No one ever complains that a Tesla only has one gear! The Spyder & GT4 are proper analogue drivers cars in the old school sense of being invigorating and involving and not just super fast. There is more time to enjoy the car, learn it and grow with it.
I think the Spyder / GT4 appeal to drivers who are not to bothered about headline grabbing figures and more interested in the experience and thrill of driving. The numbers will be relatively limited so they will probably make just enough (or not quite enough) to satisfy this limited market and others who want to whip through 8 gears to 150mph in 12 seconds have plenty of choice elsewhere.
If I do get offered a 718 (I am on the waiting list) I am not sure of I would take it. I prefer the sound and looks of the 981 but would reserve any final decision pending a test drive. A probable £25 - £30k cost to change from a 981 to an ideal spec 718 would need a decent jump in driving enjoyment for me to take the plunge.
I think the Spyder / GT4 appeal to drivers who are not to bothered about headline grabbing figures and more interested in the experience and thrill of driving. The numbers will be relatively limited so they will probably make just enough (or not quite enough) to satisfy this limited market and others who want to whip through 8 gears to 150mph in 12 seconds have plenty of choice elsewhere.
If I do get offered a 718 (I am on the waiting list) I am not sure of I would take it. I prefer the sound and looks of the 981 but would reserve any final decision pending a test drive. A probable £25 - £30k cost to change from a 981 to an ideal spec 718 would need a decent jump in driving enjoyment for me to take the plunge.
Edited by Bispal on Monday 15th July 17:30
My Tuscan S with the short ratio gearbox hits 60 in 1st and nearly 100 in 2nd. So what? Just get used to actually driving around in 1st gear rather than just using it to pull away. Pretend 1st is 2nd, 2nd is 3rd, etc. I prefer it to overly short ratios - had a 911 turbo with a low geared manual box and a Noble the same and those cars were so quick you could barely spend more than a second in the lower gears. No chance of proper, sustained acceleration.
Of course my Tuscan is a lot faster than than this Boxster as it weighs 300kg less but I’d imagine the same approach would still be effective.
Of course my Tuscan is a lot faster than than this Boxster as it weighs 300kg less but I’d imagine the same approach would still be effective.
Walter Sobchak said:
Does everyone hate the turbocharged 4 in the normal 718 S then?, I drove one the other week and loved it.
No I don't think so.... Depends what you want from the car. I've driven them all and each generation has got better turbo 4 no exception. If you want a track focused car the GT4 or Spider is an an amazing car, for a daily drive the 4 pot is superb and let's not forget the GTS in PDK Sports Chrono guise is actually faster 0 - 60 anyway....
Everyone has something different they want to get from a car and a variable amount of cash to spend
Walter Sobchak said:
Does everyone hate the turbocharged 4 in the normal 718 S then?, I drove one the other week and loved it.
As a stand-alone it’s great, an alien who came across it would say it was fantastic. The problem is the comparison to the previous-generation flat six in pretty much the same car, which was one of the all time great sports cars - and one of the all time great engines on a normal production £60k sports car.
Anyone with a 981 GTS manual, well done, the prices on those are just not going down.
Walter Sobchak said:
Does everyone hate the turbocharged 4 in the normal 718 S then?, I drove one the other week and loved it.
Absolutely a good point. It is also quicker and lighter etc etc but you’ve got to be able to whinge on for pages and pages about “engine sound’ and “high gear ratios” and other such irrelevant nonsense if you want to be considered a proper 
t artist981. The Perfect Car. Just watch that front suspension strut. Or the steering. Or... ?
macky17 said:
My Tuscan S with the short ratio gearbox hits 60 in 1st and nearly 100 in 2nd. So what? Just get used to actually driving around in 1st gear rather than just using it to pull away. Pretend 1st is 2nd, 2nd is 3rd, etc. I prefer it to overly short ratios - had a 911 turbo with a low geared manual box and a Noble the same and those cars were so quick you could barely spend more than a second in the lower gears. No chance of proper, sustained acceleration.
Of course my Tuscan is a lot faster than than this Boxster as it weighs 300kg less but I’d imagine the same approach would still be effective.
Jeez. What are the Max in-gear speeds with the ‘long ‘ ratio box then?Of course my Tuscan is a lot faster than than this Boxster as it weighs 300kg less but I’d imagine the same approach would still be effective.
The Turbocharged 4 in the S with PDK and Sports Chrono is marginally quicker to 60,cheaper to buy and no doubt much more tuneable if you wanted to go down that route, I get that this is more of a purists car and understand the appeal, but after the one I drove the other week I honestly think I'd rather the normal version.
Also, speaking as an ex Tuscan owner, I genuinely think a 718 Boxster, weather the S,GTS or Spyder would be the faster car out of the two, it would definately handle better!.
Also, speaking as an ex Tuscan owner, I genuinely think a 718 Boxster, weather the S,GTS or Spyder would be the faster car out of the two, it would definately handle better!.
Edited by Walter Sobchak on Monday 15th July 22:43
SpunkyM said:
Agree on the ratios.. it was a massive and widespread complaint on the previous model so for them to have done nothing about it is quite a disappointment. Cost.....my arse.
Long gear ratios are, rephrasing Motley Crüe, “all in the name of lower fuel consumption”.Porsche had to do this.
Walter Sobchak said:
The Turbocharged 4 in the S with PDK and Sports Chrono is marginally quicker to 60,cheaper to buy and no doubt much more tuneable if you wanted to go down that route, I get that this is more of a purists car and understand the appeal, but after the one I drove the other week I honestly think I'd rather the normal version.
Also, speaking as an ex Tuscan owner, I genuinely think a 718 Boxster, weather the S,GTS or Spyder would be the faster car out of the two, it would definately handle better!.
Over the years I’ve had a bit of experience with open top sports cars. S2000, 996 Turbo and Exige V6. I test drove a 718 Boxster GTS late last year when deciding whether I wanted to put my name down for a Spyder. It was a lovely place to sit, but the engine sounds comparatively terrible and the delivery doesn’t suit a sports car. I’m not convinced by the new engine in this one from a noise perspective, but it will surely be better than the turbo 4. Also, speaking as an ex Tuscan owner, I genuinely think a 718 Boxster, weather the S,GTS or Spyder would be the faster car out of the two, it would definately handle better!.
Edited by Walter Sobchak on Monday 15th July 22:43
If you want to chase 0-60 times, better to wait until the PDK Version of the Spyder is released. I was surprised about the 0-60 being the same as a 996 Turbo, given it’s lighter with the same power, but suspect the times are conservative. That isn’t really the point of the car though.
Reading the autocar review they roughly say "second gear takes care of everything from 40 to 80 mph but you'll want to shift across the gate as the shift is so good". "If you want to drive fast stick it in third or fourth and use second for a thrash".
This underlines perfectly the problem with the gear ratios.
This underlines perfectly the problem with the gear ratios.
To those complaining about the ratios, take it on to a track or an autobahn with no restrictions. Then they make perfect sense, as they give the car optimal acceleration from rest to top speed. Following usual Porsche form, they'll get closer as you work your way up the box to allow you to keep the engine in a more focused power band as speed increases.
Perhaps they don't make sense for UK roads, with our absurdly low speed limits. But that's not really what this car is about, is it?
Perhaps they don't make sense for UK roads, with our absurdly low speed limits. But that's not really what this car is about, is it?
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