New 718 Owner - Collection & 1st impressions
Discussion
So after a small gap was opened by the wife, my perfectly honed skill with 'man maths' did the rest and I picked up my 718 Cayman yesterday.
Had both a 986 & a 987 (currently looking for a buyer if anyone interested in a real bargain) along with some other BMW’s & Mercedes so not completely unfamiliar with ‘nice’ cars and like many of us have an opinion!
So first impressions…
Lets get the big one out of the first, the F4T engine! It was a showroom car so haven’t been waiting for the factory order to slowly progress instead I’ve been watching various Youtube and reading web reviews and of course opinions on the various forums and I have to admit to some concern over the response to the F4T. Had a 986 & currently have a 987 (looking for a buyer if anyone interested in a real bargain) so familiar with the F6 engines and like many love the character (ok the howl) of those engines. However, after a good long drive after pick up last night I’m not sure what all the fuss was about the engine is fantastic! I was worried when it started and there is 15-30 seconds of rattle as it circulates oil, but then it settles down into a pretty throaty rumble, pressing the sport button raises the volume and it settles into a not unpleasant noise . My BMW driving best friend actually complimented on how good it sounded. in my experience of the 986 & 987 (I can’t compare to the F6 in the 981) yes, its different in character to the F6, but it’s a potent engine! So far nothing in terms of the noise or the performance makes me think it it’s a bad engine, just different! I wasn’t around at the time but can only imagine the response must have been like the move from air > water cooled that still rages today!
Anyway, now that’s been said, the rest of the car…
The good
Build quality - exceptional, everything feels fantastic to the touch, nicely weighted…I have a 66 plate C220 AMG that was a class ahead of anything else I’d ever ownedi n terms of build, the Cayman is better hands down…naturally its light years ahead of the 10year old 987
PDK -not sure I can say anything else about this box that hasn’t been said, yes manual is purer, but I commute in the car so wanted PDK. The changes are instant, it has a fantastic ability to predict what you want, I suspect that the lever won’t be moved in the manual position often!
Engine – OK I touched on the F4T above, but it really is astonishing the amount of torque available thru the rev range, in fact scary when I was expecting to have to drop a gear like I would have in the 987 and found it just accelerated like a train!
Brakes – OK brand its new car, after tip toeing around out of the dealer in, when I arrived at the 1st junction at proper driving speeds, they pulled me up about 10m sooner than I thought!
Ride – I’m on the 20in optional wheels and was expecting to have my fillings loosened but rides better than the C220 on 19in wheels
Porsche Connect– Talking here about the whole shebang hardware etc not just the services, OK the setup can be a little convoluted seemed to be getting SMS’s and emails continuously for 2-3 days but the touch screen systems is fantastic. Sound is great even without BOSE. Love the mirrored SatNav display in the main cluster. Overall light years ahead of the equivalent Mercedes Connect
Sports Seats – Most comfortable seats I’ve sat in. Also loads more leg room (I’m 6’4”) vs the 987
Steering – Phenomenal OK I’m comparing it to a C220 and a 10 year old 987, but it is phenomenal….the steering wheel itself feels fantastic too!
The bad
Cupholders – the design still impresses (almost the same as the one in the 987) but I still feel like my travel mug is going to fall onto my lap!
Storage - 2x door pockets in each door, glove box, armrest (although that’s now optimised for the phone, it attenuates the mobile signal into the cars aerial apparently!), 2 big compartments behind the seats and a little coin tray. So plenty of places but not sure how practical any of these are, ie where do you put a bag of Sports Mixture on a trip!
Standard Equipment – I’m spoilt, the C220 has everything…OK I could have spent more money if I’d ordered from the factory, someone will try to point out its about the driving experience but this is an expensive car, not to have things that I’ve taken for granted for >10 years like auto dimming mirror, steering wheel controls etc. is just ‘nickel & diming’ especially at the prices they charge!
I know ‘first world problems’, but really that’s all I can think of at the moment!
Collection, pretty much spot on with one slightly uncomfortable exception. Picked up from the office by the salesman in a Panamera Turbo (wow, just wow!), and spotted the car covered in the handover bay, plaque welcoming me to the showroom, impressed so far. Very thorough handover, nice bag of goodies…the spare key presentation box is just overkill LOL, handwritten card from the salesman, choice of accessories from the display cabinets, fantastic unveil etc., same thoroughness in taking me thru the vehicle etc….so the exception? Keys on the desk, handover forms signed etc…business manager comes down, you guessed it GAP insurance etc. Almost became a standoff…told him I had seen same cover (as it happens here on PH’s) for a fraction of the price; ‘….they are company doing it out of a small office…’ , ‘…I have a letter from our Finance Director showing how much we have paid out and how good our product is..’, I’m not saying it was high pressure, but he had to be firmly told that I wouldn’t be taking the product…and it did sour the overall experience a little.
Now waiting for the Porsche Driving Experience invite! And getting back in the car for the drive home!
Had both a 986 & a 987 (currently looking for a buyer if anyone interested in a real bargain) along with some other BMW’s & Mercedes so not completely unfamiliar with ‘nice’ cars and like many of us have an opinion!
So first impressions…
Lets get the big one out of the first, the F4T engine! It was a showroom car so haven’t been waiting for the factory order to slowly progress instead I’ve been watching various Youtube and reading web reviews and of course opinions on the various forums and I have to admit to some concern over the response to the F4T. Had a 986 & currently have a 987 (looking for a buyer if anyone interested in a real bargain) so familiar with the F6 engines and like many love the character (ok the howl) of those engines. However, after a good long drive after pick up last night I’m not sure what all the fuss was about the engine is fantastic! I was worried when it started and there is 15-30 seconds of rattle as it circulates oil, but then it settles down into a pretty throaty rumble, pressing the sport button raises the volume and it settles into a not unpleasant noise . My BMW driving best friend actually complimented on how good it sounded. in my experience of the 986 & 987 (I can’t compare to the F6 in the 981) yes, its different in character to the F6, but it’s a potent engine! So far nothing in terms of the noise or the performance makes me think it it’s a bad engine, just different! I wasn’t around at the time but can only imagine the response must have been like the move from air > water cooled that still rages today!
Anyway, now that’s been said, the rest of the car…
The good
Build quality - exceptional, everything feels fantastic to the touch, nicely weighted…I have a 66 plate C220 AMG that was a class ahead of anything else I’d ever ownedi n terms of build, the Cayman is better hands down…naturally its light years ahead of the 10year old 987
PDK -not sure I can say anything else about this box that hasn’t been said, yes manual is purer, but I commute in the car so wanted PDK. The changes are instant, it has a fantastic ability to predict what you want, I suspect that the lever won’t be moved in the manual position often!
Engine – OK I touched on the F4T above, but it really is astonishing the amount of torque available thru the rev range, in fact scary when I was expecting to have to drop a gear like I would have in the 987 and found it just accelerated like a train!
Brakes – OK brand its new car, after tip toeing around out of the dealer in, when I arrived at the 1st junction at proper driving speeds, they pulled me up about 10m sooner than I thought!
Ride – I’m on the 20in optional wheels and was expecting to have my fillings loosened but rides better than the C220 on 19in wheels
Porsche Connect– Talking here about the whole shebang hardware etc not just the services, OK the setup can be a little convoluted seemed to be getting SMS’s and emails continuously for 2-3 days but the touch screen systems is fantastic. Sound is great even without BOSE. Love the mirrored SatNav display in the main cluster. Overall light years ahead of the equivalent Mercedes Connect
Sports Seats – Most comfortable seats I’ve sat in. Also loads more leg room (I’m 6’4”) vs the 987
Steering – Phenomenal OK I’m comparing it to a C220 and a 10 year old 987, but it is phenomenal….the steering wheel itself feels fantastic too!
The bad
Cupholders – the design still impresses (almost the same as the one in the 987) but I still feel like my travel mug is going to fall onto my lap!
Storage - 2x door pockets in each door, glove box, armrest (although that’s now optimised for the phone, it attenuates the mobile signal into the cars aerial apparently!), 2 big compartments behind the seats and a little coin tray. So plenty of places but not sure how practical any of these are, ie where do you put a bag of Sports Mixture on a trip!
Standard Equipment – I’m spoilt, the C220 has everything…OK I could have spent more money if I’d ordered from the factory, someone will try to point out its about the driving experience but this is an expensive car, not to have things that I’ve taken for granted for >10 years like auto dimming mirror, steering wheel controls etc. is just ‘nickel & diming’ especially at the prices they charge!
I know ‘first world problems’, but really that’s all I can think of at the moment!
Collection, pretty much spot on with one slightly uncomfortable exception. Picked up from the office by the salesman in a Panamera Turbo (wow, just wow!), and spotted the car covered in the handover bay, plaque welcoming me to the showroom, impressed so far. Very thorough handover, nice bag of goodies…the spare key presentation box is just overkill LOL, handwritten card from the salesman, choice of accessories from the display cabinets, fantastic unveil etc., same thoroughness in taking me thru the vehicle etc….so the exception? Keys on the desk, handover forms signed etc…business manager comes down, you guessed it GAP insurance etc. Almost became a standoff…told him I had seen same cover (as it happens here on PH’s) for a fraction of the price; ‘….they are company doing it out of a small office…’ , ‘…I have a letter from our Finance Director showing how much we have paid out and how good our product is..’, I’m not saying it was high pressure, but he had to be firmly told that I wouldn’t be taking the product…and it did sour the overall experience a little.
Now waiting for the Porsche Driving Experience invite! And getting back in the car for the drive home!
Edited by gronk on Thursday 5th April 10:14
Enjoy your car 
be sure to put some pictures up.
I agree on the cup holders, i'm sure they're safe but they don't feel / look it with my Starbucks in. And yeah they're stingey on add ons but one could argue the other way that this is what makes it affordable to more people who don't need the car. Appreciate the margin on extras will be high but if everything was included as standard it would lock quite a few people out so I see it as a bonus.
That said I spent around £14k on extras if I remember correctly.
be sure to put some pictures up.I agree on the cup holders, i'm sure they're safe but they don't feel / look it with my Starbucks in. And yeah they're stingey on add ons but one could argue the other way that this is what makes it affordable to more people who don't need the car. Appreciate the margin on extras will be high but if everything was included as standard it would lock quite a few people out so I see it as a bonus.
That said I spent around £14k on extras if I remember correctly.
tcs0tm said:
Enjoy your car be sure to put some pictures up.
I agree on the cup holders, i'm sure they're safe but they don't feel / look it with my Starbucks in. And yeah they're stingey on add ons but one could argue the other way that this is what makes it affordable to more people who don't need the car. Appreciate the margin on extras will be high but if everything was included as standard it would lock quite a few people out so I see it as a bonus.
That said I spent around £14k on extras if I remember correctly.
Yes mine had approx. £10k of extras....but no remote start, keyless entry, auto dimming mirror.On a £50k + car the last one at least should be there out of the box IMHO. be sure to put some pictures up.I agree on the cup holders, i'm sure they're safe but they don't feel / look it with my Starbucks in. And yeah they're stingey on add ons but one could argue the other way that this is what makes it affordable to more people who don't need the car. Appreciate the margin on extras will be high but if everything was included as standard it would lock quite a few people out so I see it as a bonus.
That said I spent around £14k on extras if I remember correctly.
One other bad I just thought of....closing the hatch. On the previous Boxsters the lid was pretty small & light and the badge was there to use, the Cayman has nothing... dread the wife trying to close the hatch, I'm sure she wont be a gentle as me...another reason she wont be driving LOL
Edited by gronk on Thursday 5th April 13:14
gronk said:
Fantastic tip, will try later!
Have never had to leave a door or window open in my 981C. Just grab the inside handle and throw the lid down. Too soft and it will half latch and you have to open it and chuck it down again. Don't be scared, it's made of metal and the glass is tough.You can shove the lid closed from outside but this will leave fingerprints on the paint work. Can't be having that can we!
The front boot is different. Lower gently then push on the badge until it clicks locked.
Enjoy!
gronk said:
GAP insurance etc. Almost became a standoff…told him I had seen same cover (as it happens here on PH’s) for a fraction of the price; ‘….they are company doing it out of a small office…’ , ‘…I have a letter from our Finance Director showing how much we have paid out and how good our product is..’, I’m not saying it was high pressure, but he had to be firmly told that I wouldn’t be taking the product…and it did sour the overall experience a little.
The problem is you implied that the reason you weren’t taking GAP was price, so really that’s an invitation for him to start a negotiation and sell his product. I find a simply. “Sorry not interested” seems to shut them down immediately.Congrads on the car.
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