718 Boxster Launch Event - 20th April 2016

[Eldavo]

I was fortunate enough to attend the launch preview evening of the new 718 Boxster last night along with a number of Region 3 stalwarts.

The event was blessed by sunshine and it was quite a sight seeing so many Porsches all rolling up with their roofs (rooves?) down. The event itself wasn't as busy as others (perhaps a few invitations got lost in the post) and seemed a little bit more low key as a result. Perhaps best evidenced by the fact that poor Chris Mettham went home hungry after finding himself at the wrong end of the nibble route! Kenny's spoiler seemed to be getting a lot of attention from certain quarters too - probably nothing to do with being roughly eye level with the female DJ's bottom

So what of the cars? A big deal was made about the benefits of the new Turbo 4 pots and an acknowledgemeant that it would upset the purists. I won't mention the fact that a 28 year old Turbo-ed 4 pot Porsche sits in my garage with more power than a standard 718 Boxster. But Porsche is really breaking new ground with these cars - the level of refinement in the cabin is a real step change from previous models, it's almost Bentley-esque in the leather and contrast stitching quality. The technology is the big driver too - gone are the woeful PCM days, fancy Nav integrates with Google Earth and the media and car connect system with its apps are real cutting edge stuff.

The looks of the car are the usual evolution rather than revolution- the flatter front profile looked like a mini Ferrari, especially in Guards red! Personally I think that the 981 GTS looks more aggressive but Porsche needs a bit of headroom for future model derivatives.

The base car is about £40k and nearer £50k for the S - however the options are where the costs stack up. The White car "lightly" specced with £10k worth of options was probably the pick of the bunch for me - £70k on a red Boxster S would have me searching the classifieds for a Ferrari 360 instead. Mind you, the inclusion of a £2600 Burmester hifi on that car probably tells you that even Porsche aren't that convinced by the engine note; one option box I wouldn't be ticking!

The proof of the pudding is in the eating though and with the first demo car coming at the end of the month you'll have to book a test drive to find out for yourself. Overall the complete package has moved on in leaps and bounds, 0-60 times of previous gen GT3s whilst checking your emails - but imagine what the R, GTS or next Cayman GT4 will make of the platform? A stripped down version of this car in Boxster or Cayman form could be the true sports car of the Porsche lineup.

 

[markSTI]

Nice pics Dave, did they take many orders? 50K+ for a flat4, I'll keep hold of the flat 6, thanks very much .

I've heard that dealers have not taken many orders and are having to spec the cars up. I suppose people who just buy the car for badge on the front won't know what engine is in it. Can't see many proper Porsche enthusiasts knocking the door down to buy one.

Cheers
Mark

987 Boxster S

 

[Eldavo]

They claimed to have orders in already and have taken some on the night - who knows though.

Turbocharging a mid-engined platform is always tricky managing the inevitable heat but imagine what a Boxster R might look like once a tuning company has their hands on it - 450/500bhp in that package would be an astonishing car with PASM and a manual box!!!

As for the thoughts of the Porsche enthusiasts - it was made clear that this car would upset the purists but they don't care; they're pushing the envelope with this car as a complete package and gunning for new business from other marques and segments.

Yes, the cars are expensive, but they look it too - sit in one and as you grab the chunky polished aluminium interior handle to get out you'll see what I mean.

 

[markSTI]

Hi Dave, As a purist (sad, I know) a Boxster isn't a Boxster without the flat 6. I don't care if the car is half a second quicker than mine in straight line or quicker to 100mph. For me the car is no longer special, no matter how many soft touch plastics it has in the cabin. If I wanted a fast four pot I'd buy a Golf R for 20k less, Ok it's not a Porsche Roadster but 20k is 20k. The sound of the flat six on full chat is one of the reasons I bought our car in the first place and you know you are driving something a bit special. In real world driving, the extra 40bhp the 2.5 S has over the out going model S won't make a heap of difference. I think the buying public are conned in to thinking that newer is better. Porsche are trying to say that the new engines are more frugal than the old cars, which is a bit of a smoke screen. They maybe off boost, but I would be interested to see a back to back comparison with the 3.2 and the 3.4 flat 6 in the 987 & 981.

Like I said, people who buy purely for the badge won't give one jot and I'm sure Porsche will shift loads of them. For me, the Boxster has lost its soul; Jesus, how sad do I sound?[]

Mark

 

[MartinRS2K]

Dave, have you thought of switching careers from being a drug dealer (pharmaceutical supplier) to a journalist []

Porsche are now a mainstream brand catering for the mass market not the niche market of the 70's, 80's and even early 90's. They will sell lots of these and I expect making the engine a 4 cylinder will make it cheaper to produce thus giving them more profit. Future 911's will follow the same route with plenty of power, more gadgets, better interiors but less soul. But for me that has been the case since 1996 when the air cooled cars were replaced with the 996 and Satan took over Porsche cars [:'(]

 

[Eldavo]

Sorry Luddites, but if it's lighter, more powerful and still sounds good then that counts as progress to me.

If it's got better fuel economy too then great, but you don't buy a Porsche for its mpg do you?

Unfortunately new regulations and laws are forcing manufacturers arms but Porscge have always been innovative. If this innovation to still deliver thrills results in smaller packaged engines and turbos then so be it. what would you rather have: a Turbo-ed four pot 718 or nowt?

If anything it'll keep the prices of the older models buoyant and as current owners and enthusiasts then that has to be a good thing!

 

[kevinnunn]

The Grey Boxster with Red Soft Top with Red Leather look lovely as I think it suits the car.

 

[markSTI]

Sorry Luddites, but if it's lighter, more powerful and still sounds good then that counts as progress to me.

If it's got better fuel economy too then great, but you don't buy a Porsche for its mpg do you?

Unfortunately new regulations and laws are forcing manufacturers arms but Porscge have always been innovative. If this innovation to still deliver thrills results in smaller packaged engines and turbos then so be it. what would you rather have: a Turbo-ed four pot 718 or nowt?

If anything it'll keep the prices of the older models buoyant and as current owners and enthusiasts then that has to be a good thing!

The trouble is it doesn't sound good; it sounds totally synthesised. If, for example it sounded like an Impreza flat 4 then I would hold my hands up. I still think the flat 4 scoob is one of the best sounding engines ever, STI or bog standard Turbo. Unfortunately is doesn't and for me that kills the car for me as potential future purchase. It's now no different from a fast VW or Seat, apart from that badge that is, and it's much more expensive[].

You're right though, this will probably drag flat 6 Boxster and Cayman prices up in the future like the 996 dragged up the air cooled 911s.

Might go and test drive one, next time I go and see D&G.[]

Mark

 

[greg_harm]

Wow David you have definitely opened the proverbial can of worms with this one, brilliant write up which makes very interesting reading, I agree with Martin. Thank you for the feedback from the launch evening, at least there were some club members there to report back to the masses. Having owned 2 Boxsters previously I'm looking forward to trying one myself, the noise from the 3.2S was very addictive although I haven't yet heard the new one in real life to make a comparison. I understand what Mark & Martin are saying regarding the changes that Porsche have implemented over the years, and I guess this debate has gone on long before our enjoyment of the marque and will, without doubt, go on long after. I do think at some point people will wise up to the options as most other manufactuers now offer far more for your money fitted as standard equipment, surely at some point Porsche will have to follow suit and offer better spec base models. I personally think smaller engines can only serve to help future prices of the bigger engined cars increase #rosetintedglasses. May I also add there is nothing wrong with a good old four cylinder turbo powered engine.Did someone use the word evolution.
[h2]Those new engines v old: the tech specs.[/h2]The fresh flat-fours are direct-injection, variable-vane turbo 16-valvers, available in two versions:

• Base model 718: 2.0 litres, 300bhp, 266lb ft, 5.4sec 0-62mph, 168mph+
• 718 S: 2.5 litres, 340bhp, 295lb ft, 4.9sec 0-62mph, 174mph+
• 944 Turbo S 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 5.5 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 13.9 seconds at 101 mph (163 km/h). Top speed was factory rated at 162 mph (261 km/h).

 

[markSTI]

This is great; just what the forum is for, good old banter[].

I'm all for evolution as long as it isn't a step backward. The cynic in me says that Porsche didn't put the flat six in from the 911 as it would tread too much on its toes. To me, they have taken from the Boxster what set it apart from other Roadsters and what justified the price. I'm sorry but I can't get excited by a blown 4 pot in a Porsche.

Mark

 

[Eldavo]

We don't know what it sounds like though - you wouldn't listen to the London Philharmonic on YT and expect that to be a fair representation.

The truth is that none of us have driven one or heard one so its all conjecture based upon the words of journalists who don't have to spend their own money on one and who have access to far more exotic comparisons.

I know a 997 owner who went to enquire about changing to a 991 and when he told them his budget (broadly similar to what he had for purchasing the 997) and he was pointed in the direction of a Cayman. He said it would be very easy for him to justify keeping the 997 based upon "enthusiast" reasons but the truth is that the 991 was more money than he was willing to pay. Given that a moderately specced Carrera S was on display for £103k you can see his point.

How many people are going to baulk at the prices and then justify not keeping up with the Joneses because of the engines and it's not a proper Porsche? I specced a 718 Boxster (not an S) up last night, nothing daft just a nice looking car with a manual box and a decent cabin - £54k!!!! The reason I didn't click "send to dealer" wasn't because of the engine but because the monthly payment would cover most of my mortgage.

As an asid, what makes a "proper Porsche" these days given that the company makes and sells more SUVs than sportscar????

Mark, allow me to take you out on track in my blown 4-pot Porsche and we'll see whether you get excited or not. I've already had to curtail one track session due to an R3 member almost vomiting in a helmet

 

[Motorhead]

Dave,

Following this thread, I have to agree in general with your comments. I'm ambivalent towards turbo-engined cars (I own a Mk5 Golf GTi as well as my Cayman S) and I think that, whether or not we like it, we have to accept they're here to stay, primarily because their emissions generally are somewhat lower than for n/a engines for a given power output - an important factor in the conventional power versus hybrid/electric power battle.

Soon, if you want to purchase a new Porsche you'll have no choice but to have a turbo-engined car and I can't believe that making the Boxster/Cayman a four-pot is going to make much difference to future sales. Club Members and general Porsche forum devotees only make up a small - but vociferous! - proportion of Porsche purchasers and in future there'll be a limited and dimishing supply of low mileage n/a cars from which to choose.

Coming back to a couple of Mark'scomments. I don't think that there's any point basing an opinion on how the 4-pot sounds if you've not actually driven a car. Advertising and YouTube clips won't give a true appraisal of the sound. Apparently, there's insufficient space in the mid-engined layout to allow fitment of the 991's flat-6 turbo layout, so no conspiracy involved there to keep Boxsters and Caymans in their place. However, I wonder if the chassis for the next generation of mid-engined cars will be engineered to take a flat-6?

All just my tuppence worth of course.

Jeff

 

[tscaptain]

As far as the purists go, never mind about 4 pot turbos - wait till this hits the showrooms.....[]

Here
For my own 2p I think the future will be more about hybrid than returning to flat six.

 

[Eldavo]

Look at what the 918 and P1 do with their hybrid systems for torque fill - that's an exciting prospect. Hybrid cars in general confuse me as they're pushed on the Eco front but for most of the time you're lugging around the extra weight for no gain.

I'd much rather the hybrid technology be small, low capacity battery packs with high peak current. That way they don't weigh too much and aren't that useful for Eco pottering about but can deliver massive spikes of torque fill when pressing the loud pedal.

I do get the "sound" part of the argument, my Dad's diesel Panamera sounds great until you crack a window and hear the actual engine rather than it being synthesise. In a Boxster, the sound and the proximity to the engine is part of the experience and I genuinely believe that Porsche will have worked hard to ensure that this remains an intrinsic part of the car's DNA.

This must count as the highest number of serious consecutive posts I've ever made so to resume normal service:

Dissing the 718 Boxster for having a crap sound and that being why I won't be buying one is akin to me saying that the only reason I don't date Jennifer Lawrence is because I've heard she's useless between the sheets! Of course, in either scenario the "upgrade" would probably cost me my house

 

[markSTI]

Hi Dave,

I'm not having a go at blown four 4 pots in Porsche's or blown 4 pots in general. I've owned some epic blown 4 pot cars in my time and loved then to death, including a 450bhp EVO VI TME. I'm having a go at Porsche putting a blown flat 4 in the Boxster/Cayman. You are correct, I haven't heard the car in the flesh and I'm only going off the Advertising that Porsche put out. However the first bite is with the eye, or ear in this case and it sounded dreadful and false; all the reviews I have read say the same. That's progress I suppose[].

Mark

 

[greg_harm]

Whatever will they think of next Mark, I know, what about putting the engine in the front. Perhaps they could call it a 951, hang on[8|] seems they already had found perfection once before, just no one realised it at the time and then bowed down to purist pressure and went off in another direction.I seriously wonder if they will eventually do a complete u-turn and return to that winning formula 25+ years later. My 944 Turbo cab never fails to put a smile on my face and drives superbly even comparing it to today's modern car standards.
I do however understand that a lot of these cars will probably never see the red part on the rev counter, never mind a track day and I'm also guessing a lot of the new owners won't ever feel the urge or necessity to see the engine in their Boxster either. May I even be so bold as to suggest in some cases just having that all essential emblem on the bonnet will be all that's required to see these new cars fly out of the showrooms without the sales teams having to make much of an effort and having to work too hard.[]
Some clients won't even worry about option costs or depreciation costs and will never even actually own these new cars thanks to finance deals like PCP and will only worry about what they feel is a comfortable payment each month thus leading to a ready made supply of new customers for the dealerships rather than forking out a massive balloon payment at the end of the term on their current models.
I think I will wait a while yet, maybe when they hopefully bring out the Spyder variant which reportedly is to push the figure over that magic 400bhp mark, before I contemplate rushing out and ordering one. I personally really like the look of the new car and agree with David about it being Ferrari esque.

I do wonder when you look at the GT4 v 911 prices, looks and performance maybe the guys at Porsche feel it's now becoming a necessity to widen the gap between models again in order to keep the 911's exclusivity.
After all I think we all know the Macan, the Cayenne and the Panamera are the real big sellers these days and not an engine in the back between them.

 

[am1985uk]

Jeff was suggesting that the next generation of mid engined cars might be re-engineered to take a flat 6. Not a chance! I'm afraid the flat 6 is going the way of the Ferrari and Mercedes V12s. The drive in the industry to meet emission regulations is all towards fewer cylinders (lower surface area, lower emissions) and turbos, not to mention hybrid power. Electric power is waiting in the wings for a breakthrough in battery technology.

The multi-cylinder engines are dinosaurs - glorious ones, but still dinosaurs.

Alan

 

[Jarmin]

I was there also but not having met anyone yet was a little shy to say hello i did recognise some faces from the pics of meetings etc..lols

 

[markSTI]

Whatever will they think of next Mark, I know, what about putting the engine in the front. Perhaps they could call it a 951, hang on[8|] seems they already had found perfection once before, just no one realised it at the time and then bowed down to purist pressure and went off in another direction.I seriously wonder if they will eventually do a complete u-turn and return to that winning formula 25+ years later. My 944 Turbo cab never fails to put a smile on my face and drives superbly even comparing it to today's modern car standards.
I do however understand that a lot of these cars will probably never see the red part on the rev counter, never mind a track day and I'm also guessing a lot of the new owners won't ever feel the urge or necessity to see the engine in their Boxster either. May I even be so bold as to suggest in some cases just having that all essential emblem on the bonnet will be all that's required to see these new cars fly out of the showrooms without the sales teams having to make much of an effort and having to work too hard.[]
Some clients won't even worry about option costs or depreciation costs and will never even actually own these new cars thanks to finance deals like PCP and will only worry about what they feel is a comfortable payment each month thus leading to a ready made supply of new customers for the dealerships rather than forking out a massive balloon payment at the end of the term on their current models.
I think I will wait a while yet, maybe when they hopefully bring out the Spyder variant which reportedly is to push the figure over that magic 400bhp mark, before I contemplate rushing out and ordering one. I personally really like the look of the new car and agree with David about it being Ferrari esque.
I do wonder when you look at the GT4 v 911 prices, looks and performance maybe the guys at Porsche feel it's now becoming a necessity to widen the gap between models again in order to keep the 911's exclusivity.
After all I think we all know the Macan, the Cayenne and the Panamera are the real big sellers these days and not an engine in the back between them.

Hi Greg, totally agree with the above.

At the end of the day, Porsche is a business, and it's business is selling as many cars as possible, and good luck to them. I believe that we (enthusiasts) are not their target audience, if we were, they'd probably go bust, which none of us want.

Alan is correct, the flat 6 will now be seen as a Dinosaur and it's been lamented on all the Porsche forums I peruse. However, I like the sound of my Dinosaur, so I'll be keep hold of it[]

Mark

 

[Motorhead]

Jeff was suggesting that the next generation of mid engined cars might be re-engineered to take a flat 6. Not a chance! I'm afraid the flat 6 is going the way of the Ferrari and Mercedes V12s. The drive in the industry to meet emission regulations is all towards fewer cylinders (lower surface area, lower emissions) and turbos, not to mention hybrid power. Electric power is waiting in the wings for a breakthrough in battery technology.

The multi-cylinder engines are dinosaurs - glorious ones, but still dinosaurs.

Alan

Yes Alan, sadly I can't really disagree - more a case of the heart ruling the head (plus wishful thinking) really.

I fear that he electric car revolution will be upon us sooner than we think. Electrichead somehow doesn't have the same ring to it as Petrolhead..!

Jeff