718 Cayman - first 6 weeks

718 Cayman - first 6 weeks

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LiamH66

Original Poster:

670 posts

90 months

Monday 26th June 2017
quotequote all
To cut a long story short - have finished running it in, like it, think I will own it for a while.

My first few weeks using the car were mainly commuting, a 200 mile round trip to North Wales, a 300 mile round trip to Birmingham. And it was all OK, but driving sensibly at under 4000 rpm, and not really exploiting the grip available so much for the first 1000 miles. I hit 1000 miles just over a week ago, and had excuses to use the car, so decided it was going to be 5000rpm limit up to 1300 miles, 6000rpm up to 1600 miles, and then progressively more revs and load as opportunity arose up to the 1800 miles of officially "run in".

The first "post-1000 miles" journey was Preston to the Llyn Peninsula, and obviously had to take the more interesting but slower route of Ruthin - Bala - Porthmadog to see what the car felt like. It's pretty refined for a sports car, but pleasantly unrefined as a GT car, with a fair bit of transmission noise in the lower gears. Out of the other side of Ruthin the roads cleared (or at least a 5000rpm limit gave me some more confidence in overtaking), and top gear cruising at around the legal limit was amazingly smooth and quiet. Out the other side of Bala the road surfaces improve a fair bit, so set the PASM to firm, and enjoyed a spirited A-road drive that eventually led to following a Mazda 6 that was making good enough progress to enjoy following, but acted as my "conscience" to save me racking up any more Welsh speeding points. Definitely a car I can live with on my favourite roads - glad I chose 18" wheels - still wasn't sure my old GT86 wasn't a little bit more fun in the corners, but the torque made it a really enjoyable journey. Parked up on the peninsula for a week, and enjoyed carting dogs about in a Volvo for the duration of a stay.

A week later set out from the Llyn to deepest Kent. It was really wet, and the traffic wasn't great through Snowdonia. Out the other side Porsche Nav took over and made what seemed to me to be a very poor job of routing me through Wrexham bypasses I never knew existed, followed by endless recently resurfaced (complete with loose chippings) Cheshire A-roads before I hit the M6. Plain sailing from there, and I felt like I was getting to know the car a bit better.

Final leg was Kent back up to Preston on the Motorways, and I was reminded why I can live without the 981 soundtrack. 50-80 mph is nice in top gear, but then there's a choice of a few more gears depending on how swiftly you want to get there. Yes, the turbo lag is noticeable below 3000rpm, but slot things down a gear (or 2, or 3) and it picks up and goes pretty smartly. I re-fueled at Keele, and was pretty cheerful about the distance covered on a tank full. Can a 981 achieve that kind of fuel consumption at similar average speeds? Not sure it's too much worse than the old GT86.



Shortly after I was amazed that Porsche Nav took a full 1/2 hour to notice I was stuck in a 45 minute tailback due to an accident. Google Maps had it well before things got bad, so I'm guessing I'll end up with a mobile phone cradle and not bothering with the nav I paid for when I bought the car. I wish they could find a way of embracing Android.

On arrival home I got to thinking that I'm pretty happy with the overall package. I like the torque of the turbo 4, and I actually like the noise it makes too. It's quick enough for me, and the ride, handling and general drivability are a delight. As a practical road car that I can enjoy on a daily basis it really does seem to tick every box, and I'm struggling to work out what it might lack as a sports car. I honestly think that while so many are bemoaning the loss of the NA 6 cylinder soundtrack, this might actually end up being a model that is looked back on very fondly in a few years.

Liam

DJMC

3,431 posts

102 months

Monday 26th June 2017
quotequote all
After my 2012 TTS failed to ever get more than 33mpg on a run I have been pleased with my 2014 base 981 Cayman's ability to get low 40's...



The more interesting results will be longer term average mpg from the 718. Mine hovers around the 36 mpg figure over 000's of miles...


bcr5784

7,104 posts

144 months

Monday 26th June 2017
quotequote all
I think from what a number of posters have said, the Base 981 will match or better Liam's figures. However the base 718 has a real world performance at least on a par with a 981S - and I've never seen over 40 on a run. High thirties regularly but no more and just over 30 overall since I've had the car.

Maxym

2,020 posts

235 months

Monday 26th June 2017
quotequote all
Interesting post, OP. I think the 718 is a very good car and indeed your post supports that. For me, my Porsches have always been 'special' (sort of weekend) cars, with more mundane motoring left to BMW 3 Series, sporting Golfs etc. And once my special car has had six cylinders I don't want to return to four. There's a certain 'purity' about a N/A flat six.

I've not driven a 718 but I think I'd enjoy it - even the different soundtrack - and dynamically, from what I've read, it's superior to the 981. But if I were to nuy one I think I'd always be regretting the lack of two extra cylinders.

Just my personal view of course.

overunder12g

432 posts

85 months

Monday 26th June 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for that Liam.
My experience so far having a Cayman history in recent years of 987 to 981 to 718,
I regularly cover around 20k miles per year so plenty of driving time of all types.
Had the 718 three weeks now and just about completed the running in period.
Thoughts so far? Well, I think the 718 is the best Cayman yet in just about every department. Interior is better, handling seems sharper and even though I am on 20inch wheels the ride is better than my previous 981 on 19 inch.
Economy seems good so far. On a trip of 270 miles last week, mostly motorway, it achieved 41 mpg. As far as looks go I think this is the best looking incarnation of the model so far. Subjective I know!
So, what about this engine? Well, certainly delivers more power than the previous car. Low down torque is really good. I have found very little turbo lag as long as you keep the revs above 2k.
I find a significant difference in engine braking with the 718 offering much less than the 981. Both PDK by the way.
So to the noise! No contest here. The 981 is a nicer sound through most parts of the rev range. 718 has the sports exhaust which offers some compensation. Still adhering to the 4k rev limit so yet to experience what it sounds like in the upper reaches. Certainly not a deal breaker for me as the other advantages of the 718 over the previous model more than compensate.
As I say, I cover 20k miles per year so appreciate that if the car was a weekend toy then a different view might be taken.
I seem to notice that the more miles I put on the car the smoother the engine seems to be getting, I guess this might be just me getting used to the different engine. However, my wife was in the car with me this weekend and she commented that the engine sounded smoother than when she first travelled in it. She is certainly no petrol head so must be something in it.
So, that's my early impressions. Really impressed with the car for my every day use both on long trips, short trips and fun trips.
Best Cayman so far in my opinion.
Will update once I have started to really exploit the performance.

LiamH66

Original Poster:

670 posts

90 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
quotequote all
overunder12g said:
Thanks for that Liam.
<snip>So, what about this engine? Well, certainly delivers more power than the previous car. Low down torque is really good. I have found very little turbo lag as long as you keep the revs above 2k.
I find a significant difference in engine braking with the 718 offering much less than the 981. Both PDK by the way.
So to the noise! No contest here. The 981 is a nicer sound through most parts of the rev range. 718 has the sports exhaust which offers some compensation. Still adhering to the 4k rev limit so yet to experience what it sounds like in the upper reaches. Certainly not a deal breaker for me as the other advantages of the 718 over the previous model more than compensate.<snip>

Will update once I have started to really exploit the performance.
Since finishing running in, I've been driving a bit harder and using a few more revs. It's an impressively quick car from rest to 60, but choosing gears wisely, pretty amazing for road driving in everyday traffic. I absolutely love the manual gearbox.

I chose PTV, and have to say the limited slip diff is far from the best I have ever come across, but the "fiddle braking" into corners is unobtrusive and so far seems to be well programmed.

I'll update when I have done some more swift road driving, but I think you're going to like it. Engine and vehicle dynamics work really well together - and I am rapidly losing any romantic visions of how much better it might be with a 6 cylinder NA soundtrack. It's just so torquey!

Liam

Coxey

407 posts

106 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
quotequote all
Sorry to hijack the thread, but I've had my 718 Cayman for a couple of weeks now. I specced DAB radio but find the reception dreadfull compared with my Cayenne which also has DAB. Anyone else having a problem?

Thanks

LiamH66

Original Poster:

670 posts

90 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
quotequote all
Mine has DAB radio, and seems to be as good as any modern car DAB. Might be worth asking your OPC to check it out and see if it's behaving as expected.

Liam

Coxey

407 posts

106 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
quotequote all
LiamH66 said:
Mine has DAB radio, and seems to be as good as any modern car DAB. Might be worth asking your OPC to check it out and see if it's behaving as expected.

Liam
I am going to pop in and see them tomorrow to see if they can have a look at it.

brakedwell

1,229 posts

198 months

Wednesday 28th June 2017
quotequote all
My 718B has DAB and as I drive off down the road it locks on to BBC 4 before my 2015 Cayenne S does. Receptions is very good too. I think the aerial is built into the windscreen like the 718C

Bubbledragon

22 posts

86 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
quotequote all
Thx Liam & others, very informative as usual.
Mine also base 718 (pdk) just hit 1 month on Sunday & done around 1200miles.
1st time Porsche, never sat in / drove / owned / Porsches previously.
Just to add a few comments for those who never drove cayman & considering:
1. Standing outside the car - like coming across an amazing girl, I kept looking away & not dare to stare too long at it as if I feel embarrassed! (10/10)
2. Inside the car:
a) Seat (2 way manual sport) - perfect compact size & ride height (10/10) (additional feel good points given to being able to admire the front bonnet / headlights / wide rear archs whilst driving!)
b) Comfort - shockingly comfortable (10/10) (less bumpy than my TTs)
c) Centre console (8/10)- Buttons feel solid & almost retro - analogy to an expensive hifi with heavy dials.The gear lever gets in the way as many reviews suggested. Touch screen - always on phone mode as always on the phone, using the touchscreen whilst driving is difficult for me, keep pressing the wrong number / icon due to the shakes (the car, not me) .
d) Steering wheel (10/10)- buttonless smaller sports, with sport chrono & cruise.Some reviews complained the space is too cramped and & initially I kept pressing the wiper when upshifting with paddle, & kicking the cruise stalk with my left knee, & phone stalk with my right . Now I figured out what an amazing steering design it is meant to be - basically its designed that all my 10 digits can be utilised at the same time, with perfect positioning-
-thumb & index around the wheel
- middle finger on the paddles
-index finger on the indicator (L) & windwipe (R)
- R thumb sport chronic
- ring & little for the cruise (L) & phone stalk (R) depending whether you wana move them up or down
(hence 10/10)
3) Handling - being electric assisted, if I did not drive it back to back with a hydraulic steer sports car, I can't tell its electric. (9.5/10)
4) Sport chrono - only use sport mode. Never bothered to launch. In Sport+ the active exhaust is less loud hence never use it anymore. The 20secs boost used just to impress friends, To me, its more a matter of counting down & can't wait to stop the hooligan of it. If you ask me, as the gear lever does not have a S below D, this is an expensive way of making me pay for an S mode.
5) Engine sound- All said in the reviews & by others in this forum are true, utterly agree. But as a 1st time Porsche, this is what I have to say:-
-The sound is truly obnoxious, & painful to my ears
- You can't hear it under 2000 rev, which mean its a normal car when driving normally, & cruising (7th).
- This truly obnoxious sound when revving, together with the rest of the other factors, makes me feel I am driving a very very special "racing car", & this is a very special experience. I think this is what Porsche wants to give its new audience, and frankly, I can't imagine any new audience like me not impressed (understatement, more like overwhelmed!).
- This is the most important part - the obnoxious engine sound prevents me from over speeding, whereas with my audi or even VW 7-seater I would overspeed without realising (overall 8/10)
6) Active exhaust - in the 1st week, windows closed, kept wondering why there was always a lorry running over ramps nearby. Yea in the cayman you can't really hear it well unless in a tunnel or underground carpark. I think its better value in the boxter top down. (6/10)
7) Speed & power - some complained huge turbo lag whilst others said powers always present regardless of rev & took away the fun of the NA. This is what I found - from 2nd onwards between 2-3000 there is little power, so yea its a rather long lag, but just downshift 2 - 3 gears & all the power, noise, G-force are there. I am using 1st a lot when needing power below 30 mph, in my previous cars 1st is just for start stop! For me the base cayman is fast enough, & can't stop wondering if the S will take away the fun reaching speed limit too quickly. (10/10)
8) pdk vs manual thing. I considered almost a year before made up my mind. Now this is my view
a) with my average joe driving skills , this car is too fast & powerful for me to safely handle with manual. I even found it unsafe taking 1 hand off the steering wheel to push the pdk lever to change gear (? standard larger steering wheel better in this respect?).
b) Regarding the sequencing gears (eg 5th to 2nd) vs single move in a manual topic. I figured out you don't count 5-4-3-2- each time, which was very clumsy & I kept ending up in the wrong gear! You pre-programme your brain to know how many clicks you need at whatever circumstances in advance based on your experience with the car. I find this learning process fun. You can't really rapid sequence using the pdk lever, its too slow & the bus driver in the next lane would think you are a lunatic.
c) For me the gear lever is too high for manual box, as some reviews commented.

I suspect most points above are already known to current Porsche owners, but this is all new to me which I hope helpful to those considering.

Final point about disappointment moving from previous to current cayman, I was disappointed moving from mk1 to 3 TT after 15 years. I think Audi expected me to have saved enough over the years to move to R8. Porsche probably hoped you guys move to 911 - worth starting a new thread on this? discussion, not argument wink




Si-3PO

525 posts

83 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
quotequote all
Great write up Bubbledragon.

It's interesting you noted that Sport Plus seemed quieter than Sport, in the 987's and 981's I've owned that's certainly not been the case. I'll be disappointed if my 718 CS is quieter in SP as that's the mode I've favoured 90% of the time!

bcr5784

7,104 posts

144 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
quotequote all
Si-3PO said:
Great write up Bubbledragon.

It's interesting you noted that Sport Plus seemed quieter than Sport, in the 987's and 981's I've owned that's certainly not been the case. I'll be disappointed if my 718 CS is quieter in SP as that's the mode I've favoured 90% of the time!
It will be. The 718 has an anti-lag system which works in normal and Sport+. When you lift off the throttle isn't actually closed but remains open and the fuel is cut off. This keeps the turbo spinning. However many owners (not me!) like the pops and bangs you used to get on the overrun in the days of carburettors. They are caused by poor carburation allowing unburnt fuel into the hot exhaust manifold on the overrun where it explodes. You can't have that with the anti-lag system. So in Sport on the overrun the anti-lag system is disabled.

Si-3PO

525 posts

83 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
quotequote all
bcr5784 said:
It will be. The 718 has an anti-lag system which works in normal and Sport+. When you lift off the throttle isn't actually closed but remains open and the fuel is cut off. This keeps the turbo spinning. However many owners (not me!) like the pops and bangs you used to get on the overrun in the days of carburettors. They are caused by poor carburation allowing unburnt fuel into the hot exhaust manifold on the overrun where it explodes. You can't have that with the anti-lag system. So in Sport on the overrun the anti-lag system is disabled.
Thanks, was totally unaware of that. So by quieter we're simply talking about the lack of pops and crackles? TBH, that's probably enough for me to use Sport instead of Sport Plus, I'm a proper child when it comes to pops even when it is artificially coerced smile

Coxey

407 posts

106 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
quotequote all
Had mine for a few weeks now, anyone know why when you have ended a telephone call the pcm display doesn't revert back to the original screen I.e map or tuner? Find it annoying

Thanks

DJMC

3,431 posts

102 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
quotequote all
Coxey said:
Had mine for a few weeks now, anyone know why when you have ended a telephone call the pcm display doesn't revert back to the original screen I.e map or tuner? Find it annoying

Thanks
That's only in the Boxster as women can never make just one call so it stays on the phone screen waiting for the next number to be dialled. In the Cayman, the screen reverts back to whatever it was before the call.

LiamH66

Original Poster:

670 posts

90 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the very useful post. I've snipped it down a bit for comments, but I really did enjoy every word!

Bubbledragon said:
Mine also base 718 (pdk) just hit 1 month on Sunday & done around 1200miles.
1st time Porsche, never sat in / drove / owned / Porsches previously.
Just to add a few comments for those who never drove cayman & considering:
<snip>
2. Inside the car:
a) Seat (2 way manual sport) - perfect compact size & ride height (10/10) (additional feel good points given to being able to admire the front bonnet / headlights / wide rear archs whilst driving!)
Absolutely. I was so relieved that the standard 2 way sport seats turned out to be, at least for me, more comfortable than Sports Seats Plus. I like leather, but I prefer Alcantara, even if the side bolsters are plastic.

Bubbledragon said:
c) Centre console (8/10)- Buttons feel solid & almost retro - analogy to an expensive hifi with heavy dials.The gear lever gets in the way as many reviews suggested. Touch screen - always on phone mode as always on the phone, using the touchscreen whilst driving is difficult for me, keep pressing the wrong number / icon due to the shakes (the car, not me) .
I had not thought about it, but you are absolutely right. I am tending to use the right hand instrument stalk in preference to the touch screen for most phone calls, etc. There seem to be about 3 ways of achieving most things with Nav and Comms, so it's maybe a question of figuring out preferences.

Bubbledragon said:
<snip>
3) Handling - being electric assisted, if I did not drive it back to back with a hydraulic steer sports car, I can't tell its electric. (9.5/10)
This was an old complaint about the 981 when it first came out, but not many are complaining now. Yes, ePAS generally feels cruder than hydraulic, but I would struggle to make this criticism in the case of Porsche. I don't know if I can tell, because I know it's electric already. But it's really, really good. Ride, handling and driving responses (engine included) are to my mind really hard to find fault with. Just exceptional.

Bubbledragon said:
4) Sport chrono - only use sport mode. Never bothered to launch. In Sport+ the active exhaust is less loud hence never use it anymore.
I don't have PDK or Sports Chrono, but you simply HAVE to try launching it. I tried it many, many times at the PEC and it is really great fun. Just be sure there is nothing in front of you the first time. You might be surprised how quickly and easily you reach high speeds. It isn't aggressive or savage, just surprisingly effective.

Bubbledragon said:
5) Engine sound- All said in the reviews & by others in this forum are true, utterly agree. But as a 1st time Porsche, this is what I have to say:-
-The sound is truly obnoxious, & painful to my ears
- You can't hear it under 2000 rev, which mean its a normal car when driving normally, & cruising (7th).
- This truly obnoxious sound when revving, together with the rest of the other factors, makes me feel I am driving a very very special "racing car", & this is a very special experience. I think this is what Porsche wants to give its new audience, and frankly, I can't imagine any new audience like me not impressed (understatement, more like overwhelmed!).
They don't sound like anything else I have ever heard. I quite like it (possibly not supposed to say that around here), but I don't have the noisy exhaust option on my one.

Bubbledragon said:
<snip>
7) Speed & power - some complained huge turbo lag whilst others said powers always present regardless of rev & took away the fun of the NA. This is what I found - from 2nd onwards between 2-3000 there is little power, so yea its a rather long lag, but just downshift 2 - 3 gears & all the power, noise, G-force are there. I am using 1st a lot when needing power below 30 mph, in my previous cars 1st is just for start stop! For me the base cayman is fast enough, & can't stop wondering if the S will take away the fun reaching speed limit too quickly. (10/10)
Agree completely. At 50mph it will accelerate in 5th gear, but put it in 3rd (or even better 2nd) and the progress is alarmingly faster. The torque is always there, but you can make much quicker progress in the right gear for the circumstances. This makes the car more fun from my perspective. I could maybe have loved the 3.4 NA6 more, but it's a moot point as I couldn't find a used car in a spec that I wanted last year, and Porsche only sell the turbo 4 now.

Bubbledragon said:
8) pdk vs manual thing. I considered almost a year before made up my mind. Now this is my view
a) with my average joe driving skills , this car is too fast & powerful for me to safely handle with manual. I even found it unsafe taking 1 hand off the steering wheel to push the pdk lever to change gear (? standard larger steering wheel better in this respect?).
b) Regarding the sequencing gears (eg 5th to 2nd) vs single move in a manual topic. I figured out you don't count 5-4-3-2- each time, which was very clumsy & I kept ending up in the wrong gear! You pre-programme your brain to know how many clicks you need at whatever circumstances in advance based on your experience with the car. I find this learning process fun. You can't really rapid sequence using the pdk lever, its too slow & the bus driver in the next lane would think you are a lunatic.
c) For me the gear lever is too high for manual box, as some reviews commented.
I get all of that! You get used to it, and it's a very nice car to drive with a manual gearbox once the oil is warm. But PDK is exceptional to say the least. The high gear lever is fashionable for sports and performance cars right now, and for me doesn't seem too much in the way, but I know having a manual box is a bit of an anachronism. I went for it firm in the knowledge that it might be my last one. PDK is ludicrously good in every way.

Bubbledragon said:
I suspect most points above are already known to current Porsche owners, but this is all new to me which I hope helpful to those considering.
Helpful thoughts to me, and I am a very long term Porsche driver, but very much new to owning one!

Bubbledragon said:
Final point about disappointment moving from previous to current cayman, I was disappointed moving from mk1 to 3 TT after 15 years. I think Audi expected me to have saved enough over the years to move to R8. Porsche probably hoped you guys move to 911 - worth starting a new thread on this? discussion, not argument wink
Lots of people are disappointed by new 911 models when they come out, but then it turns out the last model was really good when the next successor arrives. In the perfect world I would have been buying a brand new 964 Carrera 2 or Club Sport instead of a Cayman this year, but at the time they came out people were complaining they were no longer a "real" 911. Times change!

Thanks for the thought provoking post.

Liam

LiamH66

Original Poster:

670 posts

90 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
quotequote all
DJMC said:
That's only in the Boxster as women can never make just one call so it stays on the phone screen waiting for the next number to be dialled. In the Cayman, the screen reverts back to whatever it was before the call.
biggrin My Cayman seems to be stuck in a girly mode, even if I have parked up at the end of the phone call. Might be because my preference is to turn the screen off. How does that get to be 3-4 presses on the screen? Must figure out if there's a faster way to remove the distraction!

Liam

brakedwell

1,229 posts

198 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
quotequote all
DJMC said:
That's only in the Boxster as women can never make just one call so it stays on the phone screen waiting for the next number to be dialled. In the Cayman, the screen reverts back to whatever it was before the call.
You must be joking laugh

DJMC

3,431 posts

102 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
quotequote all
brakedwell said:
DJMC said:
That's only in the Boxster as women can never make just one call so it stays on the phone screen waiting for the next number to be dialled. In the Cayman, the screen reverts back to whatever it was before the call.
You must be joking laugh
Sorry, my error. From the Boxster manual:

"When ending a telephone call the "Phone" screen will be prominent in the central display for the duration of the following ten outward calls. This is to allow easy access to the touch screen Phone controls in the central display. On completion of the tenth call the screen will revert to the screen shown prior to the first of these calls. The screen can be changed prior to the tenth call by selecting another screen. When doing this, the message 'Oi matey, what you doin drivin a girlie's car' will be prominently displayed in pink in the central display."