718 review - test drove today

[f1ten]

Hi

I test drive a new boxster s
No sports exhaust

Lovely looking car no question about that. The carrera 2 19 inch alloys in black lovely also
Standard seats are a bit boring and black cabin was all a bit dark for my liking.
Pdk gearbox is gorgeous. I've driven many times now and it's a cracker albeit it always downshifts when you floor it. There doesn't seem to be a way of making it hold the gear and use the torque as it always changes down

The torque and pull of the S model is good but it really has lost all its character because the noise it rubbish. The bmw m4 sounds A lot better and frankly it is a disappointment. Why are cars going back the way. The 981 gts sounds amazing and I could listen to it all day as I could the v8 m3.

Why can't bmw and Porsche get real and give us a performance model that works and keep the emissions for the main stream models

[FocusRS3]

981Greg said:

James May has Twitted...

Why would anyone listen to that old crustie . He's the lesser of 3 "has beens" and can't drive!

I get the engine noise isn't want we all want but as a "drivers car" what's not to like.

For me I'll wait for the GTS and spec it out with buckets and good dampers so then with 375hp you have a great occasional track car and a great everyday vehicle .

Edited by FocusRS3 on Monday 3rd April 19:05

[JayK12]

FocusRS3 said:

981Greg said:

James May has Twitted...

I get the engine noise isn't want we all want but as a "drivers car" what's not to like?

Edited by FocusRS3 on Monday 3rd April 19:05

The engine!

[Maxym]

worldwidewebs said:

Maybe a problem with cylinders 5 and 6

Priceless!

[Twinfan]

FocusRS3 said:

I get the engine noise isn't want we all want but as a "drivers car" what's not to like.

Turbo lag and the 'elastic' throttle response of a forced induction engine.

[Tim bo]

As usual, each to their own.

The thrill of a turbine engine is the main reason I waited for the 982 to hit the market and didn't go for a 981 GTS.

Much prefer the mid-range punch of the turbo-charger over the linear crawl to the red-line from an NA.

Others find the lag untenable. Everyone has their preferences.

Edited by Tim bo on Tuesday 4th April 09:02

[ORD]

Have you tried a diesel? I think you'd love it

[Tim bo]

ORD said:

Have you tried a diesel? I think you'd love it

Only had diesels as hire cars. Can't stand them

Edited by Tim bo on Tuesday 4th April 10:06

[bcr5784]

ORD said:

Have you tried a diesel? I think you'd love it

I have to say the comparison with diesels is pretty silly. No diesel (unlike the 718) revs eagerly to over 7000, and none that I have driven are as tardy and laggy below 2000rpm. Likewise comparison with Beetles - apart from a bit of a rattly start the 718 sounds nothing like and (unfortunately imo) it doesn't sound like either of my Subarus either.

As I've said, I'm no great fan of the 718, but many of the comparisons are simply invalid jibes.

[kilarney]

My spyder is in for work and i have a loan 718 2.0t pdk. Well I started with an open ish mind and was genuinely shocked at not just the noise but vibration on cold start up so i will get it out the way it sounds terrible and feels so so.

Its a crying shame because the chassis and grip is spot on in normal imo and the handling sweeter than ever although like I found in my 997 the pasm damping quickly drifts as the damper starts to heat up when really working it I actually think non pasm is the better set up like the 981 sport set up.

Back to the engine, well the upside is it is surprisingly quick and pushes the car along well although I find it hard to believe a 2.5 is even rougher ?. The pdk frustrated as it seems to be occasionally in the wrong gear in sport mode through a series of twisties with a perceptible turbo lag moment when coming on and off the pedal. Counter is it works well in manual being quick as ever and has better ratios than my manual spyder no question -how i wish someone would sort the spyder ratios properly any how I digress.

So Im in the camp that great as the car is its not enough for me to compensate the flat 4 so i would be a 981 3.4 or back to a 997 GTS buyer if the spyder wasnt an option. If i had to be new i would buy an M2

[FocusRS3]

Twinfan said:

Turbo lag and the 'elastic' throttle response of a forced induction engine.

I drove one at the experience centre and i can't say I remember the turbo lag being something I really noticed .

I'd still not pay much attention to James may personally but then the market speaks and there is definitely a preference for the NA engines so fair enough .

[Pinball]

kilarney said:

My spyder is in for work and i have a loan 718 2.0t pdk. Well I started with an open ish mind and was genuinely shocked at not just the noise but vibration on cold start up so i will get it out the way it sounds terrible and feels so so.

Its a crying shame because the chassis and grip is spot on in normal imo and the handling sweeter than ever although like I found in my 997 the pasm damping quickly drifts as the damper starts to heat up when really working it I actually think non pasm is the better set up like the 981 sport set up.

Back to the engine, well the upside is it is surprisingly quick and pushes the car along well although I find it hard to believe a 2.5 is even rougher ?. The pdk frustrated as it seems to be occasionally in the wrong gear in sport mode through a series of twisties with a perceptible turbo lag moment when coming on and off the pedal. Counter is it works well in manual being quick as ever and has better ratios than my manual spyder no question -how i wish someone would sort the spyder ratios properly any how I digress.

So Im in the camp that great as the car is its not enough for me to compensate the flat 4 so i would be a 981 3.4 or back to a 997 GTS buyer if the spyder wasnt an option. If i had to be new i would buy an M2

Was the PDK selecting too low a gear then if you were getting lag?

[kilarney]

Pinball said:

Was the PDK selecting too low a gear then if you were getting lag?

It would change up between close corners which annoyed so I used manual but even if you come fully off and then straight on the power (and it held same gear) there is perceptible unresponsiveness just like slight turbo lag, in the n/a its immediate.

[ORD]

Exactly my point - a turbo 4 petrol is vastly more similar to a turbo 4 diesel than it is to a Nasp 6.

[bcr5784]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's about as valid as comparing a RX8 (wankel) engine or Two Stroke with other NA engines - they are all NA but there the similarity ends. (or 2 valves per cylinder sidevalve engines with 4 valve OHC engines with variable valve geometry) Diesels (whether NA or otherwise) have very different technology which results in very different engine characteristics (and sound). There are huge differences between mildly and heavily boosted petrol engines, let alone between them and diesels and to simply group them all in the same pot is simplistic nonsense.

The "like a diesel" remark was (repeatedly) made in advance of any knowledge of the 718 engine - so can only be regarded as generic term of abuse.

Edited by bcr5784 on Tuesday 4th April 20:28

[bcr5784]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Given that in every objective regard (lag/throttle response/power curve/refinement etc) the 718 is completely different from (say) my old 330D BMW how anyone can regard the driving experience as, in any way, similar is completely beyond me. Actually, come to think of it the nearest comparison (engine-wise) I can make to my 330D is a Mk2 4.2 E-Type - absolutely nothing like a 718.

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 5th April 08:34

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 5th April 15:47

[Cheib]

kilarney said:

Pinball said:

Was the PDK selecting too low a gear then if you were getting lag?

It would change up between close corners which annoyed so I used manual but even if you come fully off and then straight on the power (and it held same gear) there is perceptible unresponsiveness just like slight turbo lag, in the n/a its immediate.

I think that's the way the PDK is programmed....I think you either drive it in manual or accept it's an "automatic". Much like my old E46 M3 with the SMGH box. I had a Panemera 4S diesel on loan recently which now has the PDK box and noticed the same thing....wants to change up the whole time which is presumably for fuel economy/emissions.

[HighwayStar]

Cheib said:

kilarney said:

Pinball said:

Was the PDK selecting too low a gear then if you were getting lag?

It would change up between close corners which annoyed so I used manual but even if you come fully off and then straight on the power (and it held same gear) there is perceptible unresponsiveness just like slight turbo lag, in the n/a its immediate.

I think that's the way the PDK is programmed....I think you either drive it in manual or accept it's an "automatic". Much like my old E46 M3 with the SMGH box. I had a Panemera 4S diesel on loan recently which now has the PDK box and noticed the same thing....wants to change up the whole time which is presumably for fuel economy/emissions.

PDK in normal auto is primarily about economy, so it will always be in the best gear for optimal economy. Trying to press on with the box in that mode is pointless as it will change up when you don't want it to. Besides that, just foot down and hanging on isn't any fun IMO. Sport mode improves things a little bit but to really get the best out of PDK you really have to go manual mode whether in Normal, Sport or Sport Plus (if SC).
My 981 CS is the first non manual car I've had... I've had it for almost a year now but it's only recently that I decided I really needed to make a concerted effort to get to grips with and really learn how to get the best from the PDK. Now I'm really enjoying the car and loving it even more.

[bcr5784]

HighwayStar said:

PDK in normal auto is primarily about economy, so it will always be in the best gear for optimal economy. Trying to press on with the box in that mode is pointless as it will change up when you don't want it to. Besides that, just foot down and hanging on isn't any fun IMO. Sport mode improves things a little bit but to really get the best out of PDK you really have to go manual mode whether in Normal, Sport or Sport Plus (if SC).
My 981 CS is the first non manual car I've had... I've had it for almost a year now but it's only recently that I decided I really needed to make a concerted effort to get to grips with and really learn how to get the best from the PDK. Now I'm really enjoying the car and loving it even more.

Agree with pretty much all of that. However I would add that the change algorithm isn't fixed. If you are in Normal (auto) and use override (which you really need to )quite a lot the box adopts a more sporty algorithm. I can't be sure of the exact combination of circumstances (whether more aggressive cornering or braking is required) - but even in Normal it can switch to something similar to Sport for a while.

You touch on what I think is a very important point too. You can, of course, drive PDK in manual as you would a manual car. However that isn't getting the best out of it. Because gearchanges are so fast and smooth, and you don't have to take your hands off the wheel, you have opportunities to change gear which you wouldn't have with a manual. I find learning to "get the best our of PDK" as you put it is rewarding.

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 5th April 14:48

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 5th April 15:48

[ORD]

bcr5784 said:

Agree with pretty much all of that. However I would add that the change algorithm isn't fixed. If you are in Normal (auto) and use override (which you really need to )quite a lot the box adopts a more sporty algorithm. I can't be sure of the exact combination of circumstances (whether more aggressive cornering or braking is required) - but even in Normal it can switch to something similar to Sport for a while.

You touch on what I think is a very important point too. You can, of course, drive PDK in manual as you would a manual car. However that isn't getting the best out of it. Because gearchanges are so fast and smooth, and you don't have to take your hands off the wheel, you have opportunities to change gear which you wouldn't have with a manual. I find learning to "get the best our of PDK" as you put it is rewarding.

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 5th April 14:48

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 5th April 15:48

I disagree. PDK is always dim-witted compared to anyone with any skill using the paddles. You can give it clues as to what you want with the throttle, but that is pretty crude. Just choose the gear you want directly! It is a key part of driving. Leaving it to something with the intelligence of smart phone application is pretty strange.