718 GTS 4.0…

[Bispal]

Happy23 said:

Hello - firstly thank you to all those that have contributed to the Boxster / Cayman forum over the last decade. The posts helped inform my decision to buy a new 981 2.7 in 2014, assisted with a warranty claim (the PCM failed), what tyres to buy (PS4S) etc etc.

I've driven 75,000 miles and the car still brings a smile to my face. I'm just back from a trip to the Dolomites, one of many European holidays in the car. I have a runabout for driving to work so the Boxster is mainly a weekend car which has never been tracked, has an OPC FSH and remains under Porsche warranty.

I placed a deposit on a 718 BGTS 4.0 in January 2023 and now have been told I have an allocation for which I will need to confirm the spec later this month. Good news, but £85k (approx) is a significant figure and £30k more than I would really want to spend, although it is a great car and I have no interest in buying an EV.

I now have a decision to make and would welcome your thoughts. I would like to drive a Boxster for another 10 years and continue to drive to Italy / Spain for holidays with annual mileage approx 7k. I could buy the BGTS - you only live once, although I may have to delay retirement by 6 months (still 5 years away) - not a great hardship. Or, do I spend some cash on the 981 which would keep it fit for purpose for another 10 years? The brakes will need changing for the first time, but what else would need to be done and what would be the approx cost?

My wife is supportive of either decision, her main concern is over the colour as the Sapphire Blue 981 is much nicer in her opinion (and mine) for a sports car compared with the 718 colours although she thinks my current choice of GT silver is ok. Also she knows I'm not a mechanic and doesn't want to be stranded on the side of the road should there be a problem with the car.

Apologies for the long post but I thought others must have had similar first world problems to deal with.

You are facing the same dilemma I am. I placed a deposit in March 2023 as I have owned 3 Boxster's, 2 x 986s and 1 x 981 Spyder. I have driven 2 x 718 4.0GTS's (including Barchetta Boys on here) and was very impressed, quicker and better to drive than my 981 Spyder. I see it as the last chance to buy a manual ICE car to my spec. However a few things are putting me off and your post just re ignited my doubts.

I have just completed a faultless 2,750 mile road trip to lake Bled and back in my 2001 78k miles Boxster S. It was comfortable, quick (165mpg on the autobahn) did 31 mpg, AC was cold, loads of luggage (I think 718 frunk is smaller?) It has everything I need and I don't need to worry about putting miles on it or where I park / leave it. Yes a BGTS 4.0 will be better but at current prices £75k+ better??? So to answer your question your 981 will definitely be fine in 10 years time. I have completed 7k miles each year over the past 2 years in my 986 and if it goes pop, well it goes pop, 986 are 10 a penny.

The other issue is colour, I'm just not feeling any of the colours, I want PTS and its not available. I cant spend £85k on a colour I don't like. My 986 is rainforest green and as a PTS option on the 718 it costs more than my 986 is worth, but I would pay it if it was possible, but its not.

Cars are changing rapidly, as is the world. I'm deluding myself into thinking the 4.0 BGTS would be a 'forever' car but I don't know if that would even be possible given the way legislation is going. Perhaps a 10-15 year car then throw it away! Next year (2024) I have read mandatory autonomous braking, data logging (black box) and speed limiters come into force. Although required since 2022 they haven't needed to be activated but in 2024 all new cars will need to have these systems functioning . If my 4.0 BGTS were to fall into this legislation there would be NO WAY I would go through with it.

Its a tough choice but ATM the carefree ownership experience of a worthless 986 in a colour I adore with no assistance nannying is winning the argument.

Edited by Bispal on Thursday 7th September 14:41

[OPOGTS]

Pretty much the perfect companion for a blast down to the french riviera, what a great car, we're very lucky

[Scoo555]

Hi,

So I have a Jan 2022 Cayman GTS 4.0. From day one the car has always been put on a battery tender ( official Porsche one as well). Last Sunday after an 80 mile trip, I came out after lunch and the battery was unable to turn the engine over. Dash was lit up like a Christmas tree and warning of low battery. Thankfully AA were able to get it going using a booster, so I got home after a two hour wait.

The OPC tested the battery and said it had a duff cell and needed to be replaced. Porsche won’t cover it under warranty either as it‘s only done 2k miles.

Quite disappointing as I thought I was doing the right thing by always having it on the tender, but it seems to need more than that. Lesson learnt…£380 to replace :-(

Intending to go back to Porsche GB and question the decision. It seems inconsistent to when they do and don’t replace batteries under warranty.

[Fnumber1user]

Scoo555 said:

Hi,

So I have a Jan 2022 Cayman GTS 4.0. From day one the car has always been put on a battery tender ( official Porsche one as well). Last Sunday after an 80 mile trip, I came out after lunch and the battery was unable to turn the engine over. Dash was lit up like a Christmas tree and warning of low battery. Thankfully AA were able to get it going using a booster, so I got home after a two hour wait.

The OPC tested the battery and said it had a duff cell and needed to be replaced. Porsche won’t cover it under warranty either as it‘s only done 2k miles.

Quite disappointing as I thought I was doing the right thing by always having it on the tender, but it seems to need more than that. Lesson learnt…£380 to replace :-(

Intending to go back to Porsche GB and question the decision. It seems inconsistent to when they do and don’t replace batteries under warranty.

In Porsche terms £380 is a bargain, but in the real world that is annoying to say the least. Keep us posted as to how you get on. Also is the battery tender set correctly?

[LiamH66]

Scoo555 said:

<snip>
Intending to go back to Porsche GB and question the decision. It seems inconsistent to when they do and don’t replace batteries under warranty.

Yes, absolutely, I'd be miffed too. On a CTEK charger, I've managed to keep batteries going way past their sell-by date, and having been properly flattened in some cases. (My 981GT4 battery was not great when I bought the car, used, from an OPC, in 2018, but it's still going. Won't be trying to claim on goodwill for that one when it dies!)

If there is ever a reasonable claim, it should be for parts that have been looked after well over a relatively short period.

Liam

[Charlie_1]

stewieyan said:

Apart from being new at a ridiculous price, there's not much point in 718 GTS 4.0
Get a used 981 (not even S) and you'll get literally the same 2-3x times cheaper, with a better exhaust note.

Edited by stewieyan on Thursday 31st August 21:27

Well having owned a 981& now BGTS 4.0 I can say you are wrong

[Dabbers]

What’s the view on indy servicing. Due first minor service (done 8k miles, 2 years old BGTS 4.00)?

Clearly want to preserve the warranty but we’ll be keeping the car very long term so not bothered about resale in the short to medium term.

I’m NW based.

[Carl9729]

I would personally try to keep the OPC service schedule up, but anything other than servicing I would choose a good indy.

It's is purely for resale, I don't believe the OPC does a better job, but keeps your options more open should you change your mind about ownership.

Edited by Carl9729 on Thursday 21st September 08:20

[Dabbers]

Thanks

[LiamH66]

Finally, after what felt like a long wait, despite being no longer than any new Porsche purchase so far (aside from self inflicted, due to work trips and a holiday)... I have a Cayman GTS 4.0 safely home. So I have a winter hack ready for the coming months, and my rather well-enjoyed 981 GT4 can breathe a sigh of relief.





You'll notice that unlike most, I remembered to spec a rear wiper so I can see where I have been. Mickey has already been taken about this by the PPF installer, so no need to repeat that here. He was pretty relaxed about my choice of manual gearbox, and the full Crayon stitched GTS leather/alcantara interior package, so if you want to deride me for either of those, I'm up for it.

Worse than either of those, I was sufficiently besotted to pick up a TAG Heuer/Porsche watch during one of the work trips. I feel like it sort of "goes" as a reminder, except that the face designer at TAG Heuer clearly never got the memo about Porsche not putting a zero ahead of the 5 in the first position.



Haven't driven it far yet, and running in carefully as I always do. I think it's going to turn out to be a monumentally good car. Especially pleased that it came with Michelin PS4S. Less so that there are a load of switches, including a rotary selector, on the steering wheel. But it does seem that 2024 MY 718s come with a CD player slot, which I hadn't expected.

First world issues I know. I keep saying the next 718 will be a keeper. This one definitely stands the best chance so far!

Liam

Edited by LiamH66 on Sunday 24th September 23:41

Edited by LiamH66 on Sunday 24th September 23:41

[ECG1000]

Has anyone bothered with corrosion protection?

I intend to use my BGTS all year round so am toying with the idea of full Lanoguard treatment. I've had this done to a couple of my cars before, but they're Japanese, so tend to come with very little corrosion protection when new.

Edited by ECG1000 on Monday 25th September 11:52

[P. ONeill]

Haven’t driven the GTS for a couple of weeks and the steering feels off, notchy if that makes sense, especially at low speed. Is there any way to recalibrate it without a visit to the dealer?

[testdrive]

Piwis is what I use to calibrate mine it needs to be done every time you mess with the alignment or it feels a bit off. There might be some other tools available Google it.

Edited by testdrive on Saturday 30th September 21:57

[Wollemi]

ECG1000 said:

Has anyone bothered with corrosion protection?

I intend to use my BGTS all year round so am toying with the idea of full Lanoguard treatment. I've had this done to a couple of my cars before, but they're Japanese, so tend to come with very little corrosion protection when new.

Edited by ECG1000 on Monday 25th September 11:52

I asked my OPC service manager and technician about applying Lanoguard and they were not keen, in fact told me not to do it.

We have Lanoguard on my wife's Lupo GTI and it's good stuff.

[ECG1000]

Wollemi said:

I asked my OPC service manager and technician about applying Lanoguard and they were not keen, in fact told me not to do it.

We have Lanoguard on my wife's Lupo GTI and it's good stuff.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess it's a conversation I can have with Porsche at handover day.

[Ken986]

Great car for 2 weeks to Germany and Switzerland.

[matt21]

My cars just passed 1 year old and I let my Porsche Car Connect Service lapse. Looks like I’ve lost basic app functions of mileage and fuel etc too. I’m used to BMW where you don’t need to pay for this? Do I really need to pay to get this basic info on the app?

[Ken986]

matt21 said:

My cars just passed 1 year old and I let my Porsche Car Connect Service lapse. Looks like I’ve lost basic app functions of mileage and fuel etc too. I’m used to BMW where you don’t need to pay for this? Do I really need to pay to get this basic info on the app?

Yes , afraid so.
Didn’t bother me though I’m probably a Luddite .

[scrounger73]

I paid for the renewal. It gives you other things as well such as the cars location in the My Porsche app.

[matt21]

Porsche don’t miss a trick to extract money do they! Most manufacturers simple mileage, location and fuel remains free. Not here. Don’t think I’ll pay for the odd occasion I use it.