Much has been said about the latest 4 cylinder 718 versions of the Boxster and Cayman versus the previous 6 cylinder 981 models and I just thought I would add my thoughts.
I first drove a 718 Boxster S, kindly lent by Porsche Cars Reading, soon after they came out at the Silverstone Classic when we had the PCGB Parade lap in 2016. The roof was down and I had some fun in the car around the circuit albeit at a toned down speed set by the pace car up front. To be honest I didn’t get much of a chance to really appreciate the car, although it did feel a pretty accomplished sports car.
Later that year same year I drove a 718 Boxster S around the Porsche Experience Centre tracks. The first thing I noticed when I started the engine was the noise from the exhaust which must have been made more conspicuous with the roof up. I couldn’t see the Sports Exhaust switch anywhere and the accompanying instructor informed me that there wasn’t one fitted and that the noise I was hearing was from the standard exhaust. I recall saying at the time that I couldn’t live with that on a daily basis, but if I was 30 years younger……maybe. I found it to be a terrific car but I couldn’t put up with that noise for long, or was I being biased because of the fabulous sound from my 981 standard exhaust fitted with the optional twin pipes?
Last week my own 2014 981 2.7 Cayman was in for its 4 year service at PC Bolton and they kindly loaned me a gorgeous looking 17 plate 718 Boxster S in white with 6k. I started it up and there was that noise again only this time it sounded ‘livelier’ and even more so with the sports exhaust switched on. The 50 mile journey home showed me that this car was an extremely accomplished and proficient all round sport car, being much more responsive and certainly faster than my 2.7 981. But then it should be with an extra 75 bhp. It sounded like it was misfiring, firing on 3 and not 4, not just at tick over but accelerating too. I liked the car but not the accompanying sound track from the rear. Cue to listen to the football banter on Talksport!
Fuel economy was pretty poor compared to my 981 at an overall 24 mpg using a mixture of motorways and A class roads driving in the same manner that I normally drive. Not fast but then again not snail pace either. OK I had the occasional blast as I do in my car but I did expect to get more mpg that I did. My own car would get maybe 34 mpg doing the same, but on a longer run I can regularly get 40mpg plus. Maybe the 718 would return better fuel on a longer run, so the jury is out on that one.
This car had the same size wheels (20”) and tyres (Pirelli P Zero’s) as fitted to my own. At very low speeds I do get the Ackerman effect on my car as you do with most later model Porsche’s. On the 718 it was quite pronounced even when not on the full turning circle. The ride was pretty hard even in Normal mode and the tramline effect was much more pronounced than my 981.
I find the electric power steering pretty near perfectly balanced on my 981 and I have never been able to differentiate between that and the hydraulic steering system as fitted to my previous 997. The 718 had Power steering Plus which although very good made for an extremely light feel and would not be an option that I would choose. Maybe it would come into its own on a track, but it doesn’t get much praise on Pistonheads. I do understand that this can be turned off using the PWIS but that would be a waste of £185.
The 718 was fitted with the Sports Chrono package (£1271) and I did enjoy playing with the various driving modes (normal, sport, sport plus, individual) but I would only really need the 2x Sport modes on track days. Very desirable but not essential IMHO and I only used it in my 997 on track days. Its not fitted on my car but each to their own I guess.
Like most of us I am really conscious these days about getting any speeding tickets, and, probably to the annoyance of motorist who are behind me, I set my cruise control on every time I come into areas less than 60mph. On the 718 no cruise was fitted and I really missed that a lot. When I had a 996 I had it retrospectively fitted by PC Bolton and I guess the next owner of this 718 could do the same should they choose too. If only they had a device that would stop me using bus lanes my bank balance would be healthier!
I loved the new sat nav with Apple Play. Great improvement on my system although mine is still very good and I have no complaints with it.
I tried to be as objective as I could when comparing the 718 v the 981 but in the end I decided that for me the 4 cylinder model just does not cut it for me against the 6 cylinder. I don’t give 2 hoots whether it’s 4 or 6 cylinders and as great a drive as the 718 is, until Porsche can make the sound track more appealing to me (and many others) then I will stick with my 981.
I happily handed the keys back to the 718 and collected my 981 from the service chaps freshly serviced, no advisories, new MOT and two wiper blades.
I got into my car, set off towards Manchester and even with the prospect of a day’s shopping with my wife, I had a grin on my face to be happily reunited with my 981. It just felt and sounded so much better!
PS My wife loved the sound of the 718 but what does she know…………………
I first drove a 718 Boxster S, kindly lent by Porsche Cars Reading, soon after they came out at the Silverstone Classic when we had the PCGB Parade lap in 2016. The roof was down and I had some fun in the car around the circuit albeit at a toned down speed set by the pace car up front. To be honest I didn’t get much of a chance to really appreciate the car, although it did feel a pretty accomplished sports car.
Later that year same year I drove a 718 Boxster S around the Porsche Experience Centre tracks. The first thing I noticed when I started the engine was the noise from the exhaust which must have been made more conspicuous with the roof up. I couldn’t see the Sports Exhaust switch anywhere and the accompanying instructor informed me that there wasn’t one fitted and that the noise I was hearing was from the standard exhaust. I recall saying at the time that I couldn’t live with that on a daily basis, but if I was 30 years younger……maybe. I found it to be a terrific car but I couldn’t put up with that noise for long, or was I being biased because of the fabulous sound from my 981 standard exhaust fitted with the optional twin pipes?
Last week my own 2014 981 2.7 Cayman was in for its 4 year service at PC Bolton and they kindly loaned me a gorgeous looking 17 plate 718 Boxster S in white with 6k. I started it up and there was that noise again only this time it sounded ‘livelier’ and even more so with the sports exhaust switched on. The 50 mile journey home showed me that this car was an extremely accomplished and proficient all round sport car, being much more responsive and certainly faster than my 2.7 981. But then it should be with an extra 75 bhp. It sounded like it was misfiring, firing on 3 and not 4, not just at tick over but accelerating too. I liked the car but not the accompanying sound track from the rear. Cue to listen to the football banter on Talksport!
Fuel economy was pretty poor compared to my 981 at an overall 24 mpg using a mixture of motorways and A class roads driving in the same manner that I normally drive. Not fast but then again not snail pace either. OK I had the occasional blast as I do in my car but I did expect to get more mpg that I did. My own car would get maybe 34 mpg doing the same, but on a longer run I can regularly get 40mpg plus. Maybe the 718 would return better fuel on a longer run, so the jury is out on that one.
This car had the same size wheels (20”) and tyres (Pirelli P Zero’s) as fitted to my own. At very low speeds I do get the Ackerman effect on my car as you do with most later model Porsche’s. On the 718 it was quite pronounced even when not on the full turning circle. The ride was pretty hard even in Normal mode and the tramline effect was much more pronounced than my 981.
I find the electric power steering pretty near perfectly balanced on my 981 and I have never been able to differentiate between that and the hydraulic steering system as fitted to my previous 997. The 718 had Power steering Plus which although very good made for an extremely light feel and would not be an option that I would choose. Maybe it would come into its own on a track, but it doesn’t get much praise on Pistonheads. I do understand that this can be turned off using the PWIS but that would be a waste of £185.
The 718 was fitted with the Sports Chrono package (£1271) and I did enjoy playing with the various driving modes (normal, sport, sport plus, individual) but I would only really need the 2x Sport modes on track days. Very desirable but not essential IMHO and I only used it in my 997 on track days. Its not fitted on my car but each to their own I guess.
Like most of us I am really conscious these days about getting any speeding tickets, and, probably to the annoyance of motorist who are behind me, I set my cruise control on every time I come into areas less than 60mph. On the 718 no cruise was fitted and I really missed that a lot. When I had a 996 I had it retrospectively fitted by PC Bolton and I guess the next owner of this 718 could do the same should they choose too. If only they had a device that would stop me using bus lanes my bank balance would be healthier!
I loved the new sat nav with Apple Play. Great improvement on my system although mine is still very good and I have no complaints with it.
I tried to be as objective as I could when comparing the 718 v the 981 but in the end I decided that for me the 4 cylinder model just does not cut it for me against the 6 cylinder. I don’t give 2 hoots whether it’s 4 or 6 cylinders and as great a drive as the 718 is, until Porsche can make the sound track more appealing to me (and many others) then I will stick with my 981.
I happily handed the keys back to the 718 and collected my 981 from the service chaps freshly serviced, no advisories, new MOT and two wiper blades.
I got into my car, set off towards Manchester and even with the prospect of a day’s shopping with my wife, I had a grin on my face to be happily reunited with my 981. It just felt and sounded so much better!
PS My wife loved the sound of the 718 but what does she know…………………