718 GTS, 718T. Less is definitley more.
Discussion
In the last 3 weeks my car has been in for an oil service and a plug service. The first car I had was a Boxster GTS and the second was a Boxster T both with PDK and after driving both I honestly think the T is the better of the two. My overall conclusion from the GTS was that it was too fast and felt more boosty than the T which actually drives more like my 997.2 Carrera in that you have to wring its neck a little to get the best out of it and it certainly feels as quick as the 997. Due to its boosty nature I also think the GTS is better suited to the PDK and the T more suited to a manual. With the PDK in the T I felt I needed to run it in sport mode all the time as it was always needing to kick down whenever you wanted a bit of power whereas the GTS seems to have a lot more power on offer lower down the rev range.
I took the T towards Hebden Bridge from Bolton and the front-end grip is unbelievable I’m not sure if any of the options that come with the T are responsible for that but it certainly felt more precise than the GTS and my 997.2. With PSE enabled the GTS and T make different noises. The GTS seems louder with more pop and bangs and the T just seems to warble. The noise inside both cabins is a lot different to what you hear outside and I don’t mind either.
The one thing I do love about both is the interior. Sitting in the T feels exactly the same as the GTS but both require the leather dash. When I took the T back I was seriously impressed and asked Bolton to see what kind of deal they could do. Unfortunately, though that all went out of the window within 5 minutes of being back in my car. Sat at the traffic lights with the front seat vibrating with the engine I realised that no matter how good the 718 is its never going to have the character that my car has. If I had arrived at Bolton in any other car then I’m absolutely certain I would have bought the 718T.
The issue of the noise the 718 makes both inside and outside the cabin was bugging me so I setup my GoPro with its external mic stuck to the rear number plate and took the car on a local loop just so I can hear what it sounds like from the outside. I then did the same loop in my 997. There is nothing to see because the camera was in the boot/engine compartment but it’s a good comparison of the two. Sadly, I think the 718T sounds a lot like a Golf DSG or any other 4 pot turbo.
https://youtu.be/6vnrHoP9rd0 - 6 minutes in is where the action happens.
https://youtu.be/PKkSPQVdc2A
20190405_181905 by Paul Monaghan, on Flickr
20190405_181824 by Paul Monaghan, on Flickr
20190405_164928 by Paul Monaghan, on Flickr
20190405_182241 by Paul Monaghan, on Flickr
P
I took the T towards Hebden Bridge from Bolton and the front-end grip is unbelievable I’m not sure if any of the options that come with the T are responsible for that but it certainly felt more precise than the GTS and my 997.2. With PSE enabled the GTS and T make different noises. The GTS seems louder with more pop and bangs and the T just seems to warble. The noise inside both cabins is a lot different to what you hear outside and I don’t mind either.
The one thing I do love about both is the interior. Sitting in the T feels exactly the same as the GTS but both require the leather dash. When I took the T back I was seriously impressed and asked Bolton to see what kind of deal they could do. Unfortunately, though that all went out of the window within 5 minutes of being back in my car. Sat at the traffic lights with the front seat vibrating with the engine I realised that no matter how good the 718 is its never going to have the character that my car has. If I had arrived at Bolton in any other car then I’m absolutely certain I would have bought the 718T.
The issue of the noise the 718 makes both inside and outside the cabin was bugging me so I setup my GoPro with its external mic stuck to the rear number plate and took the car on a local loop just so I can hear what it sounds like from the outside. I then did the same loop in my 997. There is nothing to see because the camera was in the boot/engine compartment but it’s a good comparison of the two. Sadly, I think the 718T sounds a lot like a Golf DSG or any other 4 pot turbo.
https://youtu.be/6vnrHoP9rd0 - 6 minutes in is where the action happens.
https://youtu.be/PKkSPQVdc2A
20190405_181905 by Paul Monaghan, on Flickr20190405_181824 by Paul Monaghan, on Flickr20190405_164928 by Paul Monaghan, on Flickr20190405_182241 by Paul Monaghan, on FlickrP
Edited by moonigan on Saturday 6th April 22:20
Yep the 4 cylinder engine is the cars biggest problem.
If you do go for a T keep the lightweight ethos. PDK makes no sense deprived driving involvement and adds weight.
You mention your 997 which you clearly love. I have a Carrera T and consider it very similar to the 997s character in many areas including sound. Great package at the money.
Nice photos looks like Blackshaw Head. Great driving road took the GT3 over there last week.
If you do go for a T keep the lightweight ethos. PDK makes no sense deprived driving involvement and adds weight.
You mention your 997 which you clearly love. I have a Carrera T and consider it very similar to the 997s character in many areas including sound. Great package at the money.
Nice photos looks like Blackshaw Head. Great driving road took the GT3 over there last week.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
That would be the new car of choice.
It'd be even more stellar if they made use of the NA units and put them in a non GT 992.
Pie in the sky, but there was chat of a few 992 specials in the pipeline.
Do the new filters make turbos a bit more redundant? I know the likes of a high output GT engine appears more troublesome but perhaps NA in a lesser state of tune is ok?
Like catalytic converters, I think anything bunging the exhaust in an NA engine is less than ideal. It's clearly taking Porsche a lot of time and effort to get it right, hence the GT3RS and GT4 delays.
An NA 992 other than a GT3 would be pretty low on power compared to the rest of the range. I think that's why the NA Cayman/Boxster 6 makes more sense.
An NA 992 other than a GT3 would be pretty low on power compared to the rest of the range. I think that's why the NA Cayman/Boxster 6 makes more sense.
Twinfan said:
Like catalytic converters, I think anything bunging the exhaust in an NA engine is less than ideal. It's clearly taking Porsche a lot of time and effort to get it right, hence the GT3RS and GT4 delays.
An NA 992 other than a GT3 would be pretty low on power compared to the rest of the range. I think that's why the NA Cayman/Boxster 6 makes more sense.
Maybe they'll do one like the original T, less power / less money etc. Fat chance eh! An NA 992 other than a GT3 would be pretty low on power compared to the rest of the range. I think that's why the NA Cayman/Boxster 6 makes more sense.
I wish they would! I've specced up a 718T out of interest a few times and if it was NA I'd have one on order. However, I can't buy an F4T.
If the Cayman 718-6 appears and you can get it in manual with PCM delete, 918 buckets, PCCBs, alcantara and all the handling toys I'll be all over one like a rash.
If the Cayman 718-6 appears and you can get it in manual with PCM delete, 918 buckets, PCCBs, alcantara and all the handling toys I'll be all over one like a rash.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
It would go against the whole 992 marketing of a new 'digital' car though, especially in light of the massively modern dashboard, but I hear what you're saying. That's why the Cayster-6 makes more sense to me.We'll need to see what the 718 GT4 engine is like to see if it would work in a 992 I suspect.
drcarrera said:
A pared -down lighter-weight car with fabric door handles ... air con, sat nav, dual-clutch gearbox ... 
I rather like the contrast stitching, though.
Really? Does anyone really believe that deleting the infotainment, having fabric door handles (or making the tank smaller to make the declared weight lower) makes any difference whatsoever to the driving experience? Practically everyone will add them back (at no cost - because the car will be difficult to sell otherwise.). If light weight is a SERIOUS issue to you - buy something else.I rather like the contrast stitching, though.
Is it just me that thinks the 'straps' for handles are naff? I would much rather have the machined alloy handles that come as standard. The rest of the T interior is spot on but I think you would tire of telling people how they've shaved 5 grams off the weight of the car. How much does full leather add if you spec the full T interior? Pointless but okay if you're playing door handle top trumps I suppose..... I saw my first T at Brands Hatch at the weekend and the interior is pretty special.
bcr5784 said:
drcarrera said:
A pared -down lighter-weight car with fabric door handles ... air con, sat nav, dual-clutch gearbox ...
I rather like the contrast stitching, though.
Really? Does anyone really believe that deleting the infotainment, having fabric door handles (or making the tank smaller to make the declared weight lower) makes any difference whatsoever to the driving experience? Practically everyone will add them back (at no cost - because the car will be difficult to sell otherwise.). If light weight is a SERIOUS issue to you - buy something else.I rather like the contrast stitching, though.
moonigan said:
Personally I think it looks awful in white. I cannot stop thinking it looks like it's fitted with some strange aftermarket bodykit and the white diffuser is somewhat hideous.Rich_AR said:
moonigan said:
Personally I think it looks awful in white. I cannot stop thinking it looks like it's fitted with some strange aftermarket bodykit and the white diffuser is somewhat hideous.I think as standard it is black plastic like the GTS rear.
White is the best seller on the Boxster and Spyder and has been for some time. The Apple effect knows no bounds.
Not hard to see why as it nicely contrasts with the black hood etc.
Good road presence, safe, not too shouty, easy to keep looking good, official GT Porsche colour.
And it's a no cost option so free.
Not hard to see why as it nicely contrasts with the black hood etc.
Good road presence, safe, not too shouty, easy to keep looking good, official GT Porsche colour.
And it's a no cost option so free.
diffstar said:
Having the rear diffuser painted in body colour I think is an option, possibly sport design kit.
I think as standard it is black plastic like the GTS rear.
Agree and looks far better in black. One above has the front bumper lip painted as well, just looks far too busy.I think as standard it is black plastic like the GTS rear.
av185 said:
White is the best seller on the Boxster and Spyder and has been for some time. The Apple effect knows no bounds.
Not hard to see why as it nicely contrasts with the black hood etc.
Good road presence, safe, not too shouty, easy to keep looking good, official GT Porsche colour.
And it's a no cost option so free.
Keep your beard on old chap! Not hard to see why as it nicely contrasts with the black hood etc.
Good road presence, safe, not too shouty, easy to keep looking good, official GT Porsche colour.
And it's a no cost option so free.
No denying the 981 Spyder in white looks loads better than this one above and I'm sure the new 718 Spyder will look better too...
Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 9th April 19:37
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