718 - Cayman/Boxster considerations - "Basic" or "S"?

[JonathanB]

I'm sure they know their onions.

However think of it in terms of depreciation... £8,956 in 3 years will have a residual value of half of that - and roughly a quarter in 6 years.

 

[dpoynton]

I run a Cayman S (56 plate) and was contemplating swapping into a 718 Cayman S in early 2017.

I was at the Porsche Experience Centre* yesterday and had the chance to speak to a marketing manager from Porsche Cars GB, Reading.

I asked him to explain to me the differences between the "basic" model and the "S" version of the Boxster, and what I get for the £8,956 extra (based on current Boxster pricing).

The answer I was given is that the difference covers three things;
1. the engine
2. different wheels, and,
3. the seats - full leather in the S version versus leather outsides and alcantara centre panels for the basic model.

I am not hung up on 2 and 3 above and for me the difference in price is material (S costs 21% more than Basic) whereas the difference in performance is minimal (PDKs; 177mph, 4.4secs v 170mph, 4.9secs).

Has PCGB got the pricing right?

David
* They currently have a white 718 Boxster on display with £10k of extras on it.

 

[dpoynton]

Jonathan

Agreed, in that case which model would you buy? D

 

[Motorhead]

David,

You'd need to try both versions to make the right decision for you, but don't forget that you need to add in the new VED road tax rules from April next year ( [link=http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/88361/tax-disc-changes-everything-you-need-to-know-about-uk-road-tax]http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/88361/tax-disc-changes-everything-you-need-to-know-about-uk-road-tax[/link] ). It could make the cheaper car a better proposition for you.

Jeff

 

[JonathanB]

I wouldn't know without driving them And pricing up a PCP or similar.

However my money would

be on basic as it stands based on choosing. 2.9 o a 3.4 gen2 987!

The the selaction process is half the fun isn't it?

 

[Buddy]

David, whichever you choose will be a quicker vehicle than your present Tiptronic and not simply due to the PDK transmission which I presume you will go for but with them being turbos the way in which the power will come in is quite different to the normally aspirated, having owned a 944 turbo some years ago which had only 220bhp I can tell you that the torque really built as th turbo spooled up and there is an element of driving by feel for the turbo and how the boost is building. I like turbos but not everyone does, you can option up the basic Cayman to bring in a few features which may push the price towards that of an S or rather to make it to your personal requirements but to decide you will need to drive both preferably at the experience centre which will show you just what they are capable of and also on the road since you need to appreciate how they are to handle amongst traffic.

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

i'd suggest you look on Porsche website for the actual spec differences. Your three bullet points over simplify it a bit. For instance , you now get the old S brakes on the basic car and the S has 911 derived stoppers on the front and it's not just the seats that have changed in the cabin.

 

[chrishak]

If, like you, I already owned a Cayman S, I know exactly what I'd do...

 

[dpoynton]

Your three bullet points over simplify it a bit.

If I have overlooked something major then fair enough, but I asked Porsche's Marketing Manager to justify the price difference and expected him to point the major differences out to me, which he did, those three.

D

 

[Motorhead]

David,

If - as you said in your OP - price is a consideration, don't forget that for the first time Caymans will be cheaper than Boxsters so you justifying the purchase of a 718 Cayman S could be made easier for you. Of course, we don't know if lower price means lower spec.

Jeff

 

[tscaptain]

Going to the launch at Exeter PC tomorrow - will compare and contrast![]

 

[dpoynton]

Me too; club night at PC Nottingham Wednesday 20th, launch party on 26th.

David