718 vs 718S

[Ollie1977]

So back on topic... I’ve a base Cayman, but had a few issues when recieving mine, so lived with a Cayman S and a Boxster GTS for a while.

I preferred the base engine in some ways. The noise for one. With PSE sounds less droney. But also feels like it revs harder/higher in the rev range. Just a bit sweeter. Third is just great at the top end. Admittedly feels more on/off boost low down though.

I picked up on the brakes too. Preferred the intial fee of the pedall. That said I just had a civic typeR for the weekend and the brake feel on that, dare I say it, put the Porsche’s to shame!

I’m with you. I’m not sure where to go next for the same money. I’m may ditch the porka as a daily, and invest in a weekend weapon. And a cheap daily with all the tech, and mod cons. And that’s what’s so great about the 718 as an all rounder.

[mabosh]

Jazzer said:

Interesting how touchy some people are.

Also interesting is how the word ‘troll ‘ is now used to refer to a person whose opinion you don’t share.

I’m off to drive my imaginary Porsche (normally aspirated).

Meanwhile, you should stick to the topic!!

The thread was on topic until you waded in to give an opinion that nobody asked for and was irrelevant (although Jimbo's reply was a little OTT).

It was clearly a thread for current or potential 718 owners discussing experiences between two models but you just couldn't help yourself, as usual.

I've no idea why can't grasp the fact that some people have different preferences and make different choices to you.

[DJMC]

One thing I noticed on the brand new 718 Boxster courtesy car I had some months ago was the incredibly hard and "jiggly" suspension.

I contacted the OPC later to suggest they'd left the transit blocks in, but they confirmed they hadn't. I guess there's no difference between the 718 & 718S in this respect? Certainly when testing several 981 Caymans in 2015 I found the standard suspension fine and better than my Mag ride TTS, but the 718 Boxster's set up was something I couldn't live with.

Are the suspension upgrades the same in both 718 and 718S? I advise anyone buying either to check out the options fully.

[stain]

^^^ I find the suspension absolutely fine on the standard car.

[bcr5784]

DJMC said:

One thing I noticed on the brand new 718 Boxster courtesy car I had some months ago was the incredibly hard and "jiggly" suspension.

I contacted the OPC later to suggest they'd left the transit blocks in, but they confirmed they hadn't. I guess there's no difference between the 718 & 718S in this respect? Certainly when testing several 981 Caymans in 2015 I found the standard suspension fine and better than my Mag ride TTS, but the 718 Boxster's set up was something I couldn't live with.

Are the suspension upgrades the same in both 718 and 718S? I advise anyone buying either to check out the options fully.

I tried a 718 on standard suspension and 20" wheels too. Like you I found it unacceptably hard. PASM on the 981 does rather spoil you. Having tried a 981 on standard suspension and 20" wheels I'd definitiely agree that the 718 is noticeably harder - and puts it over the edge of acceptability.

[jimbo761]

bcr5784 said:

I tried a 718 on standard suspension and 20" wheels too. Like you I found it unacceptably hard. PASM on the 981 does rather spoil you. Having tried a 981 on standard suspension and 20" wheels I'd definitiely agree that the 718 is noticeably harder - and puts it over the edge of acceptability.

This is something that concerned me when I bought the car, and one of the reasons for speccing it on 18"s. However having actually tried the 20"s without PASM I have to say for me it is actually fine, although firm. Perhaps the 718 PASM on comfort setting is softer ?

[130R]

bcr5784 said:

I tried a 718 on standard suspension and 20" wheels too. Like you I found it unacceptably hard. PASM on the 981 does rather spoil you. Having tried a 981 on standard suspension and 20" wheels I'd definitiely agree that the 718 is noticeably harder - and puts it over the edge of acceptability.

I have 20" wheels and with PASM set to normal (which it is in either normal or sport modes) I find the ride in 718 fine. It is firm though. The sport PASM setting is way too hard for the road IMO and the reason I never use sport plus.

[dreamcar]

jimbo761 said:

bcr5784 said:

I tried a 718 on standard suspension and 20" wheels too. Like you I found it unacceptably hard. PASM on the 981 does rather spoil you. Having tried a 981 on standard suspension and 20" wheels I'd definitiely agree that the 718 is noticeably harder - and puts it over the edge of acceptability.

This is something that concerned me when I bought the car, and one of the reasons for speccing it on 18"s. However having actually tried the 20"s without PASM I have to say for me it is actually fine, although firm. Perhaps the 718 PASM on comfort setting is softer ?

I’ve had several 718 loan cars over the past couple of years, mostly on 20” wheels with PASM and to be honest I don’t notice any significant difference in ride quality with them compared to our PASM equipped 981 BGTS, both superb, - proves a first rate sports car doesn’t need bone jarring ride if properly sorted to start with.

Edited by dreamcar on Monday 12th November 16:05

[DJMC]

jimbo761 said:

This is something that concerned me when I bought the car, and one of the reasons for speccing it on 18"s. However having actually tried the 20"s without PASM I have to say for me it is actually fine, although firm. Perhaps the 718 PASM on comfort setting is softer ?

Ah, you just reminded me... when I tested one of the first press 718S cars, it came with PASM and also a factory technician.

I noticed that PASM was harder in comfort mode than it is in my 981 and so asked the technician about it.
He replied that the 718 suspension was firmer whether standard or PASM and that would account for the difference I'd noted.
At that point I found the 718S PASM acceptable but didn't drive a standard suspension 718 back then to compare.

That'll be the answer to my own query then!

[anonymous-user]

dreamcar said:

I’ve had several 718 loan cars over the past couple of years ..... and to be honest I don’t notice any significant difference in ride quality with them compared to our.... 981

^^^ This has been exactly my experience as well.

[Ollie1977]

130R said:

have 20" wheels and with PASM set to normal (which it is in either normal or sport modes) I find the ride in 718 fine. It is firm though. The sport PASM setting is way too hard for the road IMO and the reason I never use sport plus.

Same here. 20s on PASM is superb ride quality. But sport is useless unless your on a smooth surface. On track it’s great though! Either way I think pasm is superb if you like your wheels big!

Edited by Ollie1977 on Monday 12th November 19:55

[DJMC]

Ollie1977 said:

Same here. 20s on PASM is superb ride quality. But sport is useless unless your on a smooth surface. On track it’s great though! Either way I think pasm is superb if you like your wheels big!

Edited by Ollie1977 on Monday 12th November 19:55

PASM Sport & 20s is fine on my 981 but just that little too firm on the 718, as the factory technician's answer suggests.

[Bone Rat]

We, or at least the wife went from a base 981 2.7 to a 718S this May. This isn't a rant about engines as they are both a bit loud for me (have to take aids out of ears for comfort). Must admit the new S is much more what I imagined a Cayman to be, acceleration in the 981 was OK but wasn't what we had expected. Previously there had been a Mazda3 MPS with 260 hp & iffy handling and still have a 7 for the Beacons. The 981 wasn't a leap forward, better handling than the MPS, yes, but not a quantum jump in performance.

The 718S does seem a leap up in performance and does pin you back in the seat. The handling is spot on an I think an improvement on the 981. The only bits that are annoying are the Carerra Wheels which get curbed at the drop of a hat, they seem to protrude beyond the tyres and the leather seats. As the OP said cold in winter hot in summer and slide around in both. The previous TT was much better with alcantara inserts.

What sold it to her - the 981 was battleship grey (she ignored my advice for dog knob red), she regretted this and the 718s was electric blue. Salesman tried to explain all the features but colour won out, hmm...

[Blink982]

Bone Rat said:

The only bits that are annoying are the Carerra Wheels which get curbed at the drop of a hat........

If you are referring to the Carrera Sport wheels, it is because they are wider than all the other wheels (8.5J - 10.5J IIRC). If/when you refurb your wheels, replace the tyres with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S which are now standard fitment on US 718's. The Pirelli N1 are simply not wide enough but the same size e.g. 265 in Michelin offer a degree of rim protection. Apparently they also eliminate judder and crabbing at low speed on full lock, however most of the issues I was having with my car suffering from this have gone after my OPC did a full geo check and apparently it was way out.

[Bone Rat]

Blink982 said:

Bone Rat said:

The only bits that are annoying are the Carerra Wheels which get curbed at the drop of a hat........

If you are referring to the Carrera Sport wheels, it is because they are wider than all the other wheels (8.5J - 10.5J IIRC). If/when you refurb your wheels, replace the tyres with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S which are now standard fitment on US 718's. The Pirelli N1 are simply not wide enough but the same size e.g. 265 in Michelin offer a degree of rim protection. Apparently they also eliminate judder and crabbing at low speed on full lock, however most of the issues I was having with my car suffering from this have gone after my OPC did a full geo check and apparently it was way out.

Thanks for the advice! On second repair already. They'll need replacing before long so will change from the Pirelli.

Suspect the real reason is that someone seems to have the visio-spatial skills of Big Bird at the moment - "it's the hormones, you don't understand..."

[DJMC]

My son looked at a private sale newish BMW with one slightly kerbed diamond cut alloy. BMW dealer said they won't repair these any more and replacement was the only option.
Guess it's because material has to be removed?
For this reason I'd stay away from diamond cut altogether. Change to another style/finish maybe?

[Bone Rat]

DJMC said:

My son looked at a private sale newish BMW with one slightly kerbed diamond cut alloy. BMW dealer said they won't repair these any more and replacement was the only option.
Guess it's because material has to be removed?
For this reason I'd stay away from diamond cut altogether. Change to another style/finish maybe?

Yup these were the Carrera S wheels which I think are diamond cut, came on it as it was ex-demo car. the local refurbisher (Renowheel in Bridgend) did an excellent job on them. I think they've been smoothed, filled and touched in so you can't see the difference. That's good enough for us as it's a daily drive car not a weekend toy and will be kept for years.

Had the same experience when I bought my demo m240i, dealer offered 2, was very keen on the one with the expensive, bigger cut wheels and a bit miffed when I explained that the option of smaller painted wheels was the clincher to buying - "But, but these are bigger...."

[DJMC]

Carrera S are painted, Carrera Sport or Classic are diamond cut.

[Ollie1977]

DJMC said:

PASM Sport & 20s is fine on my 981 but just that little too firm on the 718, as the factory technician's answer suggests.

Sorry I wasn’t clear. Mines not sport PASM. I mean when you select sport setting, the ride is too firm in my opinion (on Carrera S wheels) unless the road is ultra smooth.

[dreamcar]

Ollie1977 said:

DJMC said:

PASM Sport & 20s is fine on my 981 but just that little too firm on the 718, as the factory technician's answer suggests.

Sorry I wasn’t clear. Mines not sport PASM. I mean when you select sport setting, the ride is too firm in my opinion (on Carrera S wheels) unless the road is ultra smooth.

For me PASM sport is too firm on the 981 BGTS too - at least on our rutted and broken roads