718 review - test drove today
Discussion
griffgrog said:
I've had a bit of a Porsche extreme day today. I started off in my Boxster Spyder with a blast out to run an errand. It's still one of the best sounding cars I've ever experienced. It's quite an involving drive in terms of what a lot of people think is missing in the current Porsche line up.
This afternoon I'went off to the OPC to resolve a minor niggle with my 4 week old 991 Turbo S. As they couldn't resolve the issue there and then they very kindly leant me a 718 S Cayman.
It's quite a different experience than the other two. In fact it feel more 'Porsche GT' car than even the Spyder. It's really quite a ride. Slow town driving and it's like most modern Porssche's with PDK. Very easy to do and you could be in any quality modern car. Given that's how I spend most of my time on UK roads, this is a good thing.
Later on when the roads cleared and I was out of town I gave it a bit of push. It's very much 'an occasion' with a very different engine sound than the Spyder. It really sounds very motor-sport in a purposeful sort of way. It's got a great balance of power allowing you to really drive it between gears using the pedals which in the Turbo S would have you doing deeply illegal speeds. Even the Spyder with it's long gearing would have you endangering your license. In the 718 with it's shorter ratios I enjoyed going up and down the box as I pressed on.
I havent driven to any great extent the previous six cylinder Cayman, but am quite impressed with this 718. It's really good fun to press on in. I never noticed any turbo lag nor did I dislike the sound. It might be different from the Spyder (which is normally too loud for extended use), but the 718 sounds is pretty nice. And so is the rest of the car.
Thanks for the objective view. Very interesting comments having driven the car back to back with very different Porsches.This afternoon I'went off to the OPC to resolve a minor niggle with my 4 week old 991 Turbo S. As they couldn't resolve the issue there and then they very kindly leant me a 718 S Cayman.
It's quite a different experience than the other two. In fact it feel more 'Porsche GT' car than even the Spyder. It's really quite a ride. Slow town driving and it's like most modern Porssche's with PDK. Very easy to do and you could be in any quality modern car. Given that's how I spend most of my time on UK roads, this is a good thing.
Later on when the roads cleared and I was out of town I gave it a bit of push. It's very much 'an occasion' with a very different engine sound than the Spyder. It really sounds very motor-sport in a purposeful sort of way. It's got a great balance of power allowing you to really drive it between gears using the pedals which in the Turbo S would have you doing deeply illegal speeds. Even the Spyder with it's long gearing would have you endangering your license. In the 718 with it's shorter ratios I enjoyed going up and down the box as I pressed on.
I havent driven to any great extent the previous six cylinder Cayman, but am quite impressed with this 718. It's really good fun to press on in. I never noticed any turbo lag nor did I dislike the sound. It might be different from the Spyder (which is normally too loud for extended use), but the 718 sounds is pretty nice. And so is the rest of the car.
griffgrog said:
I've had a bit of a Porsche extreme day today. I started off in my Boxster Spyder with a blast out to run an errand. It's still one of the best sounding cars I've ever experienced. It's quite an involving drive in terms of what a lot of people think is missing in the current Porsche line up.
This afternoon I'went off to the OPC to resolve a minor niggle with my 4 week old 991 Turbo S. As they couldn't resolve the issue there and then they very kindly leant me a 718 S Cayman.
It's quite a different experience than the other two. In fact it feel more 'Porsche GT' car than even the Spyder. It's really quite a ride. Slow town driving and it's like most modern Porssche's with PDK. Very easy to do and you could be in any quality modern car. Given that's how I spend most of my time on UK roads, this is a good thing.
Later on when the roads cleared and I was out of town I gave it a bit of push. It's very much 'an occasion' with a very different engine sound than the Spyder. It really sounds very motor-sport in a purposeful sort of way. It's got a great balance of power allowing you to really drive it between gears using the pedals which in the Turbo S would have you doing deeply illegal speeds. Even the Spyder with it's long gearing would have you endangering your license. In the 718 with it's shorter ratios I enjoyed going up and down the box as I pressed on.
I havent driven to any great extent the previous six cylinder Cayman, but am quite impressed with this 718. It's really good fun to press on in. I never noticed any turbo lag nor did I dislike the sound. It might be different from the Spyder (which is normally too loud for extended use), but the 718 sounds is pretty nice. And so is the rest of the car.
Good write up there.This afternoon I'went off to the OPC to resolve a minor niggle with my 4 week old 991 Turbo S. As they couldn't resolve the issue there and then they very kindly leant me a 718 S Cayman.
It's quite a different experience than the other two. In fact it feel more 'Porsche GT' car than even the Spyder. It's really quite a ride. Slow town driving and it's like most modern Porssche's with PDK. Very easy to do and you could be in any quality modern car. Given that's how I spend most of my time on UK roads, this is a good thing.
Later on when the roads cleared and I was out of town I gave it a bit of push. It's very much 'an occasion' with a very different engine sound than the Spyder. It really sounds very motor-sport in a purposeful sort of way. It's got a great balance of power allowing you to really drive it between gears using the pedals which in the Turbo S would have you doing deeply illegal speeds. Even the Spyder with it's long gearing would have you endangering your license. In the 718 with it's shorter ratios I enjoyed going up and down the box as I pressed on.
I havent driven to any great extent the previous six cylinder Cayman, but am quite impressed with this 718. It's really good fun to press on in. I never noticed any turbo lag nor did I dislike the sound. It might be different from the Spyder (which is normally too loud for extended use), but the 718 sounds is pretty nice. And so is the rest of the car.
Edited by Tim bo on Friday 5th May 12:08
ORD said:
The words "you could be in any quality modern car" sum it up for me. A 2-seater Porsche should not feel like that.
I think you are taking that out of context. He's talking about around town. I can't think of any sports car that creates a sense of occasion under those circumstances - though a fair few are a PITA. On the other hand he thought it feels special when you set about it.
Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 5th May 13:08
bcr5784 said:
I think you are taking that out of context. He's talking about around town. I can't think of any sports car that creates a sense of occasion under those circumstances - though a fair few are a PITA.
On the other hand he thought it feels special when you set about it.
A fair point. But as a 991 Turbo driver, he is more likely to enjoy a turbo Cayman than is a Carrera driver. It would never even enter my mind to buy a 991 Turbo, so I am more towards the other end of the Porsche fan spectrum.On the other hand he thought it feels special when you set about it.
Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 5th May 13:08
ORD said:
bcr5784 said:
I think you are taking that out of context. He's talking about around town. I can't think of any sports car that creates a sense of occasion under those circumstances - though a fair few are a PITA.
On the other hand he thought it feels special when you set about it.
A fair point. But as a 991 Turbo driver, he is more likely to enjoy a turbo Cayman than is a Carrera driver. It would never even enter my mind to buy a 991 Turbo, so I am more towards the other end of the Porsche fan spectrum.On the other hand he thought it feels special when you set about it.
Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 5th May 13:08
Well the 718 is really rather good. And it's just as much of 'an event' as the Spyder. I suspect the 718 Spyder is the best yet.
FWIW, the cars I've enjoyed owning the most is the ones that you do end up using every day and putting loads of miles on. That's why I'd probably enjoy a 718 Boxste more often, more of the time than my Spyder.
griffgrog said:
I actually like most cars as each has a quality or character of it's own. I have had a lot of Porsche's - both N/A and Turbo. I don't have this 'artisan' preference for N/A over turbo. All this talk of 'purity', 'analogue driving' and the 'air cooled ones are best' is to me just as nobby as people raving about independant hipster coffee shops. Turbo or N/A, PDK or Manual. Who cares??? What's the car like to drive. That's what matters.
Well the 718 is really rather good. And it's just as much of 'an event' as the Spyder. I suspect the 718 Spyder is the best yet.
FWIW, the cars I've enjoyed owning the most is the ones that you do end up using every day and putting loads of miles on. That's why I'd probably enjoy a 718 Boxste more often, more of the time than my Spyder.
I find that refreshingly inclusive - but "no one expects the Spanish inquisition!"
Well the 718 is really rather good. And it's just as much of 'an event' as the Spyder. I suspect the 718 Spyder is the best yet.
FWIW, the cars I've enjoyed owning the most is the ones that you do end up using every day and putting loads of miles on. That's why I'd probably enjoy a 718 Boxste more often, more of the time than my Spyder.
I find that refreshingly inclusive - but "no one expects the Spanish inquisition!"
I've currently got a 718 Boxster S PDK for a couple of days while my manual CGTS is at my OPC to cure a rattle. It's the first time I've driven a 718 so here are my first impressions:
- It feels like a minor facelifted version of my CGTS rather than an all new model, which of course is exactly what it is.
- The steering feels much the same as my CTS. I've not noticed a night a day difference in the feel or the speed of turn, if anything my CGTS feels a little heavier and secure.
- The car is fast, lots of torque and it pulls well in the midrange but it doesn't make you want to rev it out at every opportunity like my CGTS does.
- PDK gear changes are crazy quick, but while it's technically impressive it feels a bit too "computer game" to me. Give me a Spanish gearbox every time!
- Full auto works OK but manual gives a much better driving experience. The steering wheel paddles are very close to the stalks which is a bit awkward but I think you would get used to it. Using the stick seems a bit pointless as you lose the full benefit of the fast changes you can get with the paddles while your arm moves.
- I don't like the new rounded air vents on the dash, I much prefer the flatter and squarer vents of my CGTS.
- Sorry to be yet another hater but it sounds terrible - a very low engine note with an unpleasant boom. My wife thinks it throws out infrasound which she finds very unpleasant and makes her on edge. Not nice. She drives a Mk 3 Focus RS, and while also a four-pot turbo the engine sound is much more pleasing to the ear,
- It responds well enough in Sport mode with the revs up but the turbo lag is there and noticeable the lower down the rev range you are. This is what you'd expect of course.
Even though I'm a NASP fan I went in an with open mind, and asked for Mrs Twinfan's thoughts as she's less engine spec sensitive than me. Surprisingly she was really dismissive of it, especially so given her current motor.
The Boxster I have also has PSE and it doesn't make a lot of difference whether it's on or off. I can't see why people would bother speccing it.
The Boxster I have also has PSE and it doesn't make a lot of difference whether it's on or off. I can't see why people would bother speccing it.
Interesting, as I was equally as dismissive of the CGTS after my test-drive due to the relatively meagre real-world performance on offer. Comparatively speaking, the sound at maximum attack may not be as good from the flat-4, but to these ears it at least sounds like an event all the time (was struggling to hear what all the fuss is about at low to medium revs in the CGTS) - and when allied to the significantly higher level of real-world performance, it made the 718S the easy choice. For me.
Different strokes for different folks?
Different strokes for different folks?
Porsche718S said:
Interesting, as I was equally as dismissive of the CGTS after my test-drive due to the relatively meagre real-world performance on offer. Comparatively speaking, the sound at maximum attack may not be as good from the flat-4, but to these ears it at least sounds like an event all the time (was struggling to hear what all the fuss is about at low to medium revs in the CGTS) - and when allied to the significantly higher level of real-world performance, it made the 718S the easy choice. For me.
Different strokes for different folks?
Different strokes precisely.... my experience of the F4 was a 718 Boxster S, loaned for the day when my 981 CS was in for it MOT. To my ears, from start up to making meaningful progress, the F4 just didn't sound like an event at anytime. I too went with an open mind, certainly not a case of not wanting to like it. It didn't stir me in the slightest. No real substance, no soul.Different strokes for different folks?
I get the ' the significantly higher level of real-world performance,' as in easier access to it etc. but it's not how I want my performance served up. I don't feel I need more speed and I'd rather work for it. I would never say the 718 is a bad car, it's just different now. And we all like different things. It's a fundamental change that for me has moved it away from why I wanted a 981.
And of course for some that fundamental change is what finally made them want a 718 Cayster instead of a 981.
ghiblicup said:
In other words, lazy
Some people seem to have a problem revving an engine out to make progress. You'd think it would be part of the experience, one of the must haves for ownership.... a motor that sings when you put your foot in and responsive too. What's not to love? 
Get in the right gear and it's all gooooooood.
Interesting comments about the "event" feeling. The GTS with it's crackling PSE and wailing approach to the redline is, for me, utterly addictive. The 718 S on the other hand just felt quick but slightly laggy, clattery and farty - not what I think a sportscar should be.
Each to their own of course - for some folk the engine really doesn't matter or they like it which is great. There's no way I'd be paying £53k-plus for it though. Not a chance.
Each to their own of course - for some folk the engine really doesn't matter or they like it which is great. There's no way I'd be paying £53k-plus for it though. Not a chance.
Just a different opinion and perspective that factored into my personal buying decision chaps.
Whether an accepted point of view or not, there are times for all of us in every day driving scenarios where progress is needed with the minimum of fuss (this isn't being lazy, its driving to the prevailing conditions and being respectful of other road users). Thankfully the 718 can do this, or you can ring its neck when the time and place is right - one way is fast, the other faster. In isolation, having to ring the neck of the flat-6 to access all the performance is not a compromise (it's a joy) but in comparison, for me, its a key capability the CGTS doesn't have that is worthy of comment. This lack of flexibility meant the CGTS was not a viable proposition for me given the 718 was available (had this not been the case, it probably wouldn't have been as much of an issue).
You've all got wonderful cars (they do sound glorious at higher revs), just balancing the discussion from the point of view of someone who a. prefers the 718 (for many reasons beyond the engine/sound) and b. thinks it sounds good enough given the compromises Porsche is working with and improvements it has offered us in other area's.
In my view, instead of ridiculing Porsche, the internet should be celebrating the flat-4 in the Cayman/Boxster - it's what is required to allow Porsche to continue to offer premium sports cars in a socially acceptable way, whilst also protecting its halo models like the 911 - in much the same way that it must sell SUV's (even ones with diesel engines) to balance the books. If you don't like it you're free to choose and staying with the flat-6 cars is a great choice!
Whether an accepted point of view or not, there are times for all of us in every day driving scenarios where progress is needed with the minimum of fuss (this isn't being lazy, its driving to the prevailing conditions and being respectful of other road users). Thankfully the 718 can do this, or you can ring its neck when the time and place is right - one way is fast, the other faster. In isolation, having to ring the neck of the flat-6 to access all the performance is not a compromise (it's a joy) but in comparison, for me, its a key capability the CGTS doesn't have that is worthy of comment. This lack of flexibility meant the CGTS was not a viable proposition for me given the 718 was available (had this not been the case, it probably wouldn't have been as much of an issue).
You've all got wonderful cars (they do sound glorious at higher revs), just balancing the discussion from the point of view of someone who a. prefers the 718 (for many reasons beyond the engine/sound) and b. thinks it sounds good enough given the compromises Porsche is working with and improvements it has offered us in other area's.
In my view, instead of ridiculing Porsche, the internet should be celebrating the flat-4 in the Cayman/Boxster - it's what is required to allow Porsche to continue to offer premium sports cars in a socially acceptable way, whilst also protecting its halo models like the 911 - in much the same way that it must sell SUV's (even ones with diesel engines) to balance the books. If you don't like it you're free to choose and staying with the flat-6 cars is a great choice!
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