I have a 718 manual Sports sus 718 Cayman GTS for the day

[MrDemon]

To pick up on sports plus the car was manual and I wanted auto blip , that's the only way to get it.

I turned Sports plus on and then tuned PASM off in that order. (I did say this in the review, but it was not clear) PASM on is too hard I ran PASM off but Sports plus on to get more slip and faster throttle response.

I am not sure people are grasping what I call a drive out , over most peoples drives out.

 

[Brian_Innes]

David,

What about your GT3 then?

Too fast for the road applies to many cars these days. It's the enjoyment of the dynamics that appeals to the keen driver. I am lucky enough to live in an area where real driver's roads are in abundance. On such roads, it's not about top speed, it's the pleasure in the tactile feel of a good car beneath you in a flowing, twisty road that sets it apart.

I don't consider my 718 CS too fast for the road, and it's every bit as quick as a 718 GTS. The shorter gearing of the PDK also makes a difference over the manual version.

Turbo lag? What turbo lag? If you go looking for it, you'll find it. In my experience with the 718 CS PDK, it doesn't exist. Throttle response is instantaneous. I have video footage at Oulton Park to prove it.

Now in my Abarth, that has turbo lag, big time......

Brian

 

[MrDemon]

My GT3 is too fast for the road ;-), what it does offer over the GT4 is extra interaction so a bit more fun than the GT4 even though it's too fast.

Over the GT4 I get more noise, less sound deadening, better steering, shorter gearing, so I get more involved in the GT3 over the GT4.

If it's not about speed then the 987.2 cars win's hands down, better feeling at slower more legal speeds or at least 3 points over a ban speeds.

The closer to the limit you get for me the more fun the car starts to get. Drive down a road in the GT4 at 60mph and it's pretty dull.

You don't notice lag when you are on it in between gears with the 718 , you do notice lag when driving normal then want instant throttle response, the Flat 6 gives you an instance response at any time, the Flat 4 does not, but on track or at WOT yep no lag. doing a 30mph over take yep a lag before the boost. Not many of these cars will be at WOT on track with PDK, so yes on road in a manual you will notice lag I did and was not looking for it.

 

[Brian_Innes]

All fair points David.

To be fair, the emissions "lag" on a 987 CR flat-6 manual between 2000 - 3000 rpm also noticeable in urban driving. But, I take your point in good heart.

I had a wry smile at your statement "Drive down a road in the GT4 at 60mph and it's pretty dull". On my roads up here, you can have magnificent fun in your GT4 without exceeding 60mph. You should try it sometime. It's worth the long haul.

Brian

 

[MrDemon]

All fair points David.

To be fair, the emissions "lag" on a 987 CR flat-6 manual between 2000 - 3000 rpm also noticeable in urban driving. But, I take your point in good heart.

I had a wry smile at your statement "Drive down a road in the GT4 at 60mph and it's pretty dull". On my roads up here, you can have magnificent fun in your GT4 without exceeding 60mph. You should try it sometime. It's worth the long haul.

Brian

I never classed the imissions lag as an Issue , that's def one you HAVE to dig out, as it's only in 4th at 2k revs, any one in 4th at 2k does not have the right to own a Cayman R lol, after 5 years in R's and 7 in my Spyder I only knew about that lag after a Video and it was very hard to reproduce it in a car.

where as sitting behind a car and pressing the throttle in the Flat 4 Turbo at any revs you have to wait for the boost, like wise out of a round about you again notice the turbo lag.

I did try and do a fast launch, I got lag off the line so a slow start then once the boost/Torque kicked in I got the PSM light due to loss of traction.

As I stated in my review you do have to plan the throttle input to work around the lag. It's not BIG lag but it is lag which you don't suffer with on the Flat 6.

I think if the 718 had a flat 6, GT3 EPS, GT Electrics with 981 Spyder 6 pot 350mm brakes then more 981/987 owners would make the switch.

lets hope they do make another Cayman R with the above

I only wish the next Spyder had an Electric roof, that would be perfection for a car for me if it has the 4.0 L engine. The roof, long gearing and the basic electrics are big down sides on the 981 Spyder.

For new owners the 718 is amazing as I stated for 987 and 981 owners it's a tough ask to downgrade to a 4 pot or to swap out real feel from the 987.2 car to the 981/718 EPS.

 

[Steve Brookes]

I enjoyed reading your review/thoughts David. Of course I wasn't surprised by it because you're not the target market for a 718 GTS in my opinion. Nor am I. Hence why I was happy to pay the going rate for a 2 year old GT4 but would never have paid a similar amount for a highly specced new 718 GTS. Those that want a GT4 (or a new R if they make one) just woudn't compromise by buying a GTS.

I doubt that those that the 718 GTS is targeted at will think it too fast for the road and they are unlikely to take it to the track. Even if they do, they probably won't want to drive it to the same sort of limits that you and I do. So they're unlikely to experience the short comings that you found on your test drives. I'm sure most of those that buy one will be very happy with the package as it suits what they want from a modern Porsche sports car.

 

[Motorhead]

I doubt that those that the 718 GTS is targeted at will think it too fast for the road and they are unlikely to take it to the track. Even if they do, they probably won't want to drive it to the same sort of limits that you and I do. So they're unlikely to experience the short comings that you found on your test drives. I'm sure most of those that buy one will be very happy with the package as it suits what they want from a modern Porsche sports car.

I think that's right Steve, and Porsche's well researched, marketing-led strategy always seems to come up trumps, with 718 deliveries up 6% in 2017. And as Porsche - and forum! - enthusiasts we tend to forget that most likely we're in a very small minority of Porsche owners.

Last year apparently more than 80% of new cars were "purchased" using PCP, which adds to the mix: just drive the car for 2 or 3 years and then decide if you want to keep it, replace it with a different Porsche or move on to a different marque.

Jeff

 

[Brian_Innes]

Quote: "I did try and do a fast launch, I got lag off the line so a slow start then once the boost/torque kicked in I got the PSM light due to loss of traction."

David,

On the manual version of the Cayman, blitz starts are always a fine art and seldom mastered, except by those who have practice in dramatic off the line starts, such as former hill climbers like me. I've done thousands of 'em.

On PDK versions of the 718 it's easy peasy, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the pointless Launch Control mode which is nothing else but a useless gimmick. I've never used it on my car and never will.

So, for the interest of those readers who have the PDK with Sport Chrono on their 718, allow me to describe the technique for a fast blitz start from a standstill. Making sure of course that the track or road conditions are clear and it's safe to do so. Things happen very quickly.

Bring the car to rest on a clear straight stretch of road or track.

Select Sport Plus on the mode dial switch.

Switch off PSM on the centre console switch.

Select "M" gear shift on the central gear selector.

Select 1st gear with the paddle and place your left foot on the brake.

Now the to the action, from idle revs, quickly plant your right foot on the throttle to the floor while simultaneously releasing the brake pedal. Because PSM is off, you'll need to modulate the throttle to control wheel-spin, and take each intermediate gear to 7200 rpm before upshifting to the next.

Result, two tram-lines of rubber from rest, and 0-100 in 9.0seconds flat. No lag, no hesitation, just pure back-in-the-seat urge from the off. I have video footage to prove this technique works better than any launch control. My 718 has the LSD diff option which further improves traction off the line.

On manual 718's blitz starts are tricky and problematical, not helped by the ECU limiting revs in 1st gear from a standstill to protect the fragile dual mass flywheel and clutch. Also the ability to apply throttle modulation during the crucial first 20 meters, is compromised by ECU interference limiting the power delivery to the manual gearbox.

I hope this helps to make things clear about doing blitz starts on modern mid-engined Porsches.

Brian

 

[Twinfan]

Regarding the non-GT EPS steering feel, I found that having the geo setup made quite a difference to how it feels with the PASM in Sport Chassis, it's much firmer and direct and it feels OK to me. PASM is never off by the way, which I'm sure you know - you toggle it between Normal (light off) and Sport (light on).

Interesting review though Mr D, thanks. I feel much the same way about the 718CS loaner I currently have sat on my drive. I find no joy in the F4T whatsoever I'm afraid to say [] and I would never own one. Yes it's fast but there's no joy in revving out the engine, I find the exhaust/engine note very droning and I despise the turbo engine characteristics. To top it all off, the car I have is a PDK and I feel like I'm driving in a computer game.

My "Spanish" 981 GTS is in for its first service and a couple of small warranty jobs. I can't wait to get it back tomorrow.

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

Nice review Mr D

Glad you also noticed the so called better fuel economy NOT. We have had both a 718 PDK and a Manual not a GTS I might add and neither get no where near the old 981 or in fact the predicted MPG a 718 supposed to do. .

Well done mate for the pros and cons of a few models.