718 review - test drove today

[lums]

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.

[Twinfan]

Thanks for the review, it sounds like what I was expecting then unfortunately. Looks and engine kill it for me, which is what a sports car should be all about in my opinion!

[Sustenpass]

lums said:

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.

---

It is an incredible car, its just got the wrong engine in it.

This is exactly what I expected. Such a shame.

[EricE]

Sounds like the 718 GT4 and Spyder will be amazing.

[Dr S]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

These modern Turbos are really boring. It's similar with the M235i BMW. Have only driven the VLN cup car twice. Everybody is calling it "the tractor" for good reasons. You have little clue where you are in the rev range from the sound of it. You need to look at the shift lights. It emits a constant drone no matter the revs. And this is a straight six and not a four pot

What a shame. Especially as all the claimed fuel efficiency gains happen in the laboratory and not on the road.

[ORD]

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.

[lums]

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.

[andy97]

lums said:

Might as well start with the noise as this seems to be everyone's biggest concern. It sounds terrible when you start it up,

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....,,,,

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.

I don't buy a car for the noise, I buy it for how it drives and handles. Sounds like the 718 has this nailed. But then I think that the 944 turbo would be the best car that Porsche have built if it wasn't for the lag, and really like the 968 Sport.!

[Porsche911R]

lums said:

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.

the steering or the handling ?

the steering should not be a patch on the 987.2 car you own for feel, it's just the 991 turbo eps unit.
The handling I expect it to be loads better, but the steering is a shock if that's what you mean ! but it does come across as handling not steering being "UNBELIEVABLE" , "it just really wants to go around any corner you show it " is handling, not steering !

[981Greg]

James May has Twitted...

[mollytherocker]

OP, your findings would seem to confirm some of our greatest fears.

[Klippie]

As much as everyone on here will bh and moan about the loss of the flat six engine Porsche will sell every one of the Beetle engined 718's they can build because the mass market sales is what will make the new Boxster and Cayman a success, those buyers won't give a flying fk and will have no interest what so ever whether the engine is a six or a four they will just drive it and admire the Porsche badge on the bonnet.

If we want to drive a mid engined Porsche with a flat six engine there is no other option than to hold onto what we already have which is a bloody disgrace if you ask me as there is suddenly no chance progression to a newer model...I'am sad thinking about it.

[v8ksn]

Klippie said:

As much as everyone on here will bh and moan about the loss of the flat six engine Porsche will sell every one of the Beetle engined 718's they can build because the mass market sales is what will make the new Boxster and Cayman a success, those buyers won't give a flying fk and will have no interest what so ever whether the engine is a six or a four they will just drive it and admire the Porsche badge on the bonnet.

If we want to drive a mid engined Porsche with a flat six engine there is no other option than to hold onto what we already have which is a bloody disgrace if you ask me as there is suddenly no chance progression to a newer model...I'am sad thinking about it.

I agree!

I wonder what those on lease plans etc will do when their current agreement comes to an end. Hand over the keys to their 981 and reluctantly accept the keys to a 718? Or write a cheque for their 981 and walk out the dealership never to return...

[ORD]

Any guess at what proportion of Porsche buyers will care about the engine? 10% at most? Not a big deal.

[v8ksn]

ORD said:

Any guess at what proportion of Porsche buyers will care about the engine? 10% at most? Not a big deal.

I guess those who care about Porsche, care about the engine.

[andy97]

v8ksn said:

ORD said:

Any guess at what proportion of Porsche buyers will care about the engine? 10% at most? Not a big deal.

I guess those who care about Porsche, care about the engine.

Hmmm, I care about Porsche but I care about the whole package. Probably why I am not wedded to rear engines or flat 6l

Edited by andy97 on Tuesday 26th April 21:33

[Nick981]

Those that care just for the kudos of the Porsche badge won't mind the engine. Whether they will care about the price v. cheaper 4 cylinder turbo alternatives is another matter.
Fingers crossed that there are some 718 special editions a few years down the line that revert to a F6 engine.

[Ozzie Osmond]

It can't possibly be any good - it's a new Porsche.

[lums]

They will still sell a few boxsters but I can't imagine them shifting any caymans. I'm off to find myself a decent 981 GTS...

[Darkcat]

Bring on the halt in depreciation of the 6-pot caymans...!

Exactly as expected again, taking away the '9' and giving it a subaru engine is a really weird business choice.
Or is it? it WAS stealing business from the 911, so maybe this is a purposeful downgrade?

Edited by Darkcat on Tuesday 26th April 23:21