The new 718 Gt4/Spyder are here!
Discussion
donutskidmark said:
Did anyone spec the £2700 Burmester audio in the 718 Spyder and consider it worth the dollar?
It seems a fair wedge over the Bose system....
Yes yes and very yes.It seems a fair wedge over the Bose system....
It’s Brilliant on my Spyder.
The lack of any decent sound system on any GT product to date has been my biggest bugbear with Porsche product planning. I do realize that most GT product owners only want to listen to the sonorous warble of the flat six as they delicately slot in yet another perfectly executed heel and toe change. However it’s a hell of a long way to the Ring or Spa and there aren’t that many gear changes on the way!
The Burmester allows you to crank up the volume a fair bit without distortion. I find that with the top down podcasts or live commentary is ok up to about a 70-80mph cruise. Music is fine for another 20mph or so. I have had mine since October last year so I have had plenty of time to get a handle on it.
Given the very limited space the engineers have to work with its never going to be the last word in sound quality but it’s far and away the best system I’ve ever had in any Porsche GT car.
To be fair I haven’t tried the Bose in a Spyder. However my previous experience with various Bose products in a wide variety of cars is that it’s a reasonable step up but not fantastic.
In my book if you can stretch to it it’s a no brainer.
Edited by bigmowley on Saturday 13th June 09:51
bigmowley said:
Interesting points. I go back even further because I have a Cayman R alongside my 718 Spyder.
They are a fascinating pair, they have exactly the same seats, and a similar feel. The R is a simpler, noisier, less finessed car. The Spyder the more complete package. There are elements of both that are superior but as to which one I prefer the jury is out. By all subjective measures the Spyder is the better, more complete car. Objectively I am not so sure.
I am patiently waiting for the Covid crisis to disappear into the background of life so that I can track them both back to back to see which I prefer. My R is very lightly tweaked so it will be a very very close call. I suspect there will be a long term place for both in the garage.
Perfect pairing really.They are a fascinating pair, they have exactly the same seats, and a similar feel. The R is a simpler, noisier, less finessed car. The Spyder the more complete package. There are elements of both that are superior but as to which one I prefer the jury is out. By all subjective measures the Spyder is the better, more complete car. Objectively I am not so sure.
I am patiently waiting for the Covid crisis to disappear into the background of life so that I can track them both back to back to see which I prefer. My R is very lightly tweaked so it will be a very very close call. I suspect there will be a long term place for both in the garage.
I don’t get people who have 2 or 3 all new cars, without owning a 987 or a 997 as well.
My keepers have been my 987.2 Spyder and 991.2 GT3, again makes a perfect pairing.
718 Spyders def the best new Porker for sale today.
Wait till the next round of 68db exhaust cars if you think these new ones are quite ! £5k is a lot of money though to gain 6db.
Not sure if I want to own a pff fitted car at all really.
TDT said:
They are still using the OEM backbox in the vids... really you'd want to pair this with replacement pipes like you have to full unleash it.
I know they’re only YouTube videos but the Soul seems to have more soul. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qkuM5nlj-uc&feat...[/quote]
The 718 Spyder has lost a lot of the character I love in my 981 Spyder. The above points for starters all very expensive all non Porsche approved and all very necessary to put back a massive chunk of what is sorely missing otherwise
I wasn't impressed with the new lightness of the steering set up but the lighter clutch was very much appreciated especially when I hit a minor traffic jam and the slightly softer feel to the suspension set up in standard mode was impressive considering the new rubber it wears
Factor in the no PTS option, no real world performance gains of any note, I couldn't convince myself that this version was worth the cash difference when I felt overall I was getting a lot less "fun factor" for a lot more money which all seemed a little pointless and this was pre-covid19 & global economic meltdown and all the pain that's going to now bring
The 718 definitely feels and sounds more grown up, very smooth and very quiet while the 981 feels and sounds at any revs more sports car to me with its slightly firmer ride, slightly heavier steering feel and far more dramatic sounding in sports plus mode downshifts not to mention the non PC pops & bangs
Finally due to the gearing and PSE valves opening much later in the rev range compared to the 981 having some muted fun in the 718 you really have to be going at insane speeds which just isn't for me
Bottom line in Porsche sports car world both are exceptionally great pieces of kit and if you never owned a 981 version I can see why the 718 would be the must have model for many especially if price difference isn't your master
Edited by daro911 on Friday 12th June 12:01
[/quote]
Great post. We are on the same page. I had forgotten to mention how much it’s missing those awesome down-shifts!
I think a proper exhaust system / sound will fix this. The 981 wasn’t perfect, but for me at least, the character, chassis and sheer sound of it just smashed away any minor faults.
I took it out this morning for a spirited drive - sun out, roof down, and gave it some beans. It is a hell of a car. Really, really good. But... it will be EVEN better with some real noise! It’s the only key ingredient that’s missing.
I think that’s the point here. It’s a special car for sure, but with a few small faults, but hey not many cars are absolutely perfect...
For some it’s enough already, it’s already perfect. But if these small faults are enough to bother you - luckily it has untapped potential to be even better !
2XIPA said:
TDT said:
They are still using the OEM backbox in the vids... really you'd want to pair this with replacement pipes like you have to full unleash it.
I know they’re only YouTube videos but the Soul seems to have more soul. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qkuM5nlj-uc&feat...2XIPA said:
I know they’re only YouTube videos but the Soul seems to have more soul. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qkuM5nlj-uc&feat...
That sounds epic Kam 1 said:
Sounds awesome!
Placed my order yesterday... can’t wait
Congrats on the order Kam. I posted a while ago similar thoughts on my 718 spyder, just needed the soundtrack to match all the other brilliant aspects of the car. Did JCR give you an estimated lead time for your exhaust?Placed my order yesterday... can’t wait
SWGT3 said:
Kam 1 said:
Sounds awesome!
Placed my order yesterday... can’t wait
Is Placed my order yesterday... can’t wait
Congrats on the order Kam. I posted a while ago similar thoughts on my 718 spyder, just needed the soundtrack to match all the other brilliant aspects of the car. Did JCR give you an estimated lead time for your exhaust?
Jonny at JCR was brilliant - I had many questions on email and he was great, quick replies, no messing around. Had a few chats on the phone getting it sorted and I would definitely recommend them. The lead time was a very much approx - 8 weeks (down to 5/6 now) - but this was the longest estimate. I would take this with a pinch of salt though as things could have changed - I ordered just as lockdown was easing, things may have sped up now. Might be best just dropping him a quick mail.
I thought about it for a while, then really debated it for a few weeks. Now I can’t wait!
- I’ve also ordered the Cargraphics remote valve controller from a ‘Parr‘ (speak to Lawrence), and Parr are going to do the install for me (both parts).
Hope this helps SWGT3
Kam 1 said:
Thanks mate - very much looking forward to it!
Jonny at JCR was brilliant - I had many questions on email and he was great, quick replies, no messing around. Had a few chats on the phone getting it sorted and I would definitely recommend them. The lead time was a very much approx - 8 weeks (down to 5/6 now) - but this was the longest estimate. I would take this with a pinch of salt though as things could have changed - I ordered just as lockdown was easing, things may have sped up now. Might be best just dropping him a quick mail.
I thought about it for a while, then really debated it for a few weeks. Now I can’t wait!
- I’ve also ordered the Cargraphics remote valve controller from a ‘Parr‘ (speak to Lawrence), and Parr are going to do the install for me (both parts).
Hope this helps SWGT3
That’s interesting. I’m really excited to get mine, but I’m currently at 11 weeks since order and haven’t received anything. JCR have also been ignoring me since week 9. I’m actually understanding about the delays given everything that’s going on, but I’d have expected them to reach out to help manage expectations by now; not promising me an update 2 weeks ago which never came, then ignoring my emails and instagram DMs since. Having sent them 5 grand I’m starting to get pretty concerned. Glad to see others are having and have had more positive experiences though. Hopefully I’ll get an update (or better yet the exhaust) soon.Jonny at JCR was brilliant - I had many questions on email and he was great, quick replies, no messing around. Had a few chats on the phone getting it sorted and I would definitely recommend them. The lead time was a very much approx - 8 weeks (down to 5/6 now) - but this was the longest estimate. I would take this with a pinch of salt though as things could have changed - I ordered just as lockdown was easing, things may have sped up now. Might be best just dropping him a quick mail.
I thought about it for a while, then really debated it for a few weeks. Now I can’t wait!
- I’ve also ordered the Cargraphics remote valve controller from a ‘Parr‘ (speak to Lawrence), and Parr are going to do the install for me (both parts).
Hope this helps SWGT3
SWGT3 said:
That’s interesting. I’m really excited to get mine, but I’m currently at 11 weeks since order and haven’t received anything. JCR have also been ignoring me since week 9. I’m actually understanding about the delays given everything that’s going on, but I’d have expected them to reach out to help manage expectations by now; not promising me an update 2 weeks ago which never came, then ignoring my emails and instagram DMs since. Having sent them 5 grand I’m starting to get pretty concerned. Glad to see others are having and have had more positive experiences though. Hopefully I’ll get an update (or better yet the exhaust) soon.
You have to pay upfront! 
At the end of this expensive process can any confirm if the final product equals or betters even the standard fit 981 Spyder PSE
I certainly could not live with the 718's "sound of silence" plus the annoying valves shut "OFF" until circa 5k rpm
SWGT3 said:
Kam 1 said:
Thanks mate - very much looking forward to it!
Jonny at JCR was brilliant - I had many questions on email and he was great, quick replies, no messing around. Had a few chats on the phone getting it sorted and I would definitely recommend them. The lead time was a very much approx - 8 weeks (down to 5/6 now) - but this was the longest estimate. I would take this with a pinch of salt though as things could have changed - I ordered just as lockdown was easing, things may have sped up now. Might be best just dropping him a quick mail.
I thought about it for a while, then really debated it for a few weeks. Now I can’t wait!
- I’ve also ordered the Cargraphics remote valve controller from a ‘Parr‘ (speak to Lawrence), and Parr are going to do the install for me (both parts).
Hope this helps SWGT3
That’s interesting. I’m really excited to get mine, but I’m currently at 11 weeks since order and haven’t received anything. JCR have also been ignoring me since week 9. I’m actually understanding about the delays given everything that’s going on, but I’d have expected them to reach out to help manage expectations by now; not promising me an update 2 weeks ago which never came, then ignoring my emails and instagram DMs since. Having sent them 5 grand I’m starting to get pretty concerned. Glad to see others are having and have had more positive experiences though. Hopefully I’ll get an update (or better yet the exhaust) soon.Jonny at JCR was brilliant - I had many questions on email and he was great, quick replies, no messing around. Had a few chats on the phone getting it sorted and I would definitely recommend them. The lead time was a very much approx - 8 weeks (down to 5/6 now) - but this was the longest estimate. I would take this with a pinch of salt though as things could have changed - I ordered just as lockdown was easing, things may have sped up now. Might be best just dropping him a quick mail.
I thought about it for a while, then really debated it for a few weeks. Now I can’t wait!
- I’ve also ordered the Cargraphics remote valve controller from a ‘Parr‘ (speak to Lawrence), and Parr are going to do the install for me (both parts).
Hope this helps SWGT3
I’m a good few weeks behind you but I hope I don’t end up going that far.
Lets hope someone at JCR is reading and gets back to you ASAP to rectify it.
My experience has been great so far - and Jonny did say that because of the lockdown, even getting the right materials had slowed things down (understandable).
No one even replying with £5k down. It’s not good. Fingers crossed it will land any day now for you
daro911 said:
You have to pay upfront!
At the end of this expensive process can any confirm if the final product equals or betters even the standard fit 981 Spyder PSE
I certainly could not live with the 718's "sound of silence" plus the annoying valves shut "OFF" until circa 5k rpm
I don’t think it will better the 981 in terms of volume, though I think that’s going to be the case for every car going forward. The 718 is a better drive imo, so improving the sound to get close to the 981 should make it the complete package. I appreciate you have and love the 981 and when factoring cost in the 981 is probably the better overall package. For the record I had 2 981 Spyders and list them as my favourite ever cars, so they’re a tough act to follow.At the end of this expensive process can any confirm if the final product equals or betters even the standard fit 981 Spyder PSE
I certainly could not live with the 718's "sound of silence" plus the annoying valves shut "OFF" until circa 5k rpm
SWGT3 said:
I don’t think it will better the 981 in terms of volume, though I think that’s going to be the case for every car going forward. The 718 is a better drive imo, so improving the sound to get close to the 981 should make it the complete package. I appreciate you have and love the 981 and when factoring cost in the 981 is probably the better overall package. For the record I had 2 981 Spyders and list them as my favourite ever cars, so they’re a tough act to follow.
Many thanks for the info and always good to hear from people who have experienced the subject matters first hand 
I actually had 2 987 Spyders and just the one 981
I think if PTS & some CXX interior options would have been available my chosen 718 spec ran out OTR to £90k. Then there was always the sound track issue to fix which would have added another £5k for the JCR and whatever the other fix was to control the valves - So all in all being realistic on the value of mine this was going to be circa a £26++k upgrade for me
Now we have global economic meltdown and covid19 not going away anytime soon this upgrade would probably have cost me something starting with a 3! so maybe Porsche refusing me PTS & CXX has done me a favour - for now
Enjoy your 718
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/record-slump...
SWGT3 said:
daro911 said:
You have to pay upfront!
At the end of this expensive process can any confirm if the final product equals or betters even the standard fit 981 Spyder PSE
I certainly could not live with the 718's "sound of silence" plus the annoying valves shut "OFF" until circa 5k rpm
I don’t think it will better the 981 in terms of volume, though I think that’s going to be the case for every car going forward. The 718 is a better drive imo, so improving the sound to get close to the 981 should make it the complete package. I appreciate you have and love the 981 and when factoring cost in the 981 is probably the better overall package. For the record I had 2 981 Spyders and list them as my favourite ever cars, so they’re a tough act to follow.At the end of this expensive process can any confirm if the final product equals or betters even the standard fit 981 Spyder PSE
I certainly could not live with the 718's "sound of silence" plus the annoying valves shut "OFF" until circa 5k rpm
The 718 is the better handling car and it’s prettier (no mean feat - I thought the first was very, very pretty). It’s a 5 star Porsche - no doubts at all. Entry level GT but definitely GT. And it’s a Porsche na rag top! Without these new rules I’m sure Porsche would have made it sound just as a crazy as the first.
But - it is what it - all new models will have to fight this handicap.
I’ll also add the 981 Spyder was my favourite car, and I plan to buy another again in the future as a keeper.
The exhaust improvements - they probably won’t go as outright loud as the 981 - which, let’s be honest - was very very loud (and awesome!). It wont have the pops and bangs either, but it will be a big improvement. And, with the right sound - the car will be epic.
I don’t mean to drag RSVP911 into this - but he was very much of this opinion - (not happy) then he got the JCR and now he’s absolutely loving it!!
Im also adding the valve remote - so it can be fully open. No flap closing at all.
If you have the 981, then keeping it wouldn’t be a bad move. If you don’t mind losing a few quid swapping around and fancy a change then you can always go back to it.
In a perfect world, I would drop my old 981 engine into this shell, tinker with it to add another 50/60bhp, then keep it forever!!
daro911 said:
SWGT3 said:
I don’t think it will better the 981 in terms of volume, though I think that’s going to be the case for every car going forward. The 718 is a better drive imo, so improving the sound to get close to the 981 should make it the complete package. I appreciate you have and love the 981 and when factoring cost in the 981 is probably the better overall package. For the record I had 2 981 Spyders and list them as my favourite ever cars, so they’re a tough act to follow.
Many thanks for the info and always good to hear from people who have experienced the subject matters first hand I actually had 2 987 Spyders and just the one 981
I think if PTS & some CXX interior options would have been available my chosen 718 spec ran out OTR to £90k. Then there was always the sound track issue to fix which would have added another £5k for the JCR and whatever the other fix was to control the valves - So all in all being realistic on the value of mine this was going to be circa a £26++k upgrade for me
Now we have global economic meltdown and covid19 not going away anytime soon this upgrade would probably have cost me something starting with a 3! so maybe Porsche refusing me PTS & CXX has done me a favour - for now
Enjoy your 718
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/record-slump...
Maybe more than a few quid then !
Kam 1 said:
Sorry daro911 - I replied before reading your last message...
Maybe more than a few quid then !
Many thanks Kam for another factual view as an owner of both Spyders in questionMaybe more than a few quid then !
Enjoy your summer 2020 together but I would add I have never found the PSE too loud its 100% exactly how I want it - Each to their own of course
daro911 said:
Kam 1 said:
Sorry daro911 - I replied before reading your last message...
Maybe more than a few quid then !
Many thanks Kam for another factual view as an owner of both Spyders in questionMaybe more than a few quid then !
Enjoy your summer 2020 together but I would add I have never found the PSE too loud its 100% exactly how I want it - Each to their own of course
I’m with you - it was never too loud. I loved it! Could have even gone up a notch..
Enjoy your summer drives too
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