New Boxster 718 - What are your views

tjb · Feb 9, 2016

Well the announcement has been made and more detail is now available on the new Boxster but not very much comment so far on here?
What are the general feelings about the new styling changes and dare I ask the 4 cylindar engines.

Of all the videos out there this one appears to give the best overview of the new car.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ssG-yLJHsDE

kitchens · Feb 9, 2016

Porsche don't make bad cars so will sell by the bucket load .The new engine will make no difference to sales IMO .PDK will be the best seller .Dislikes the PORSCHE script on the rear spoiler .The front end is to pointy and the steering wheel to cluttered and as to that Sport button on the side looks an afterthought same as on the new 911. As said will sell well

Ivor · Feb 9, 2016

I would miss the howl of the flat six!

flat6 · Feb 9, 2016

I agre with Brian in that Porsche don't make bad cars. There'll be some backlash about the engine being 4 pot and blown but if the engine drives well all will be forgotten and outside of the connoisseurs, the 'less informed' won't care what's in the engine bay if the test drive is enjoyable.

I was a little surprised that it is named and badged '718' AND 'Boxster'. Waiting to understand the actual naming convention. I expect the 718 not to increment like 986 to 987 i.e. like 'name' 911 does not increment but the type number like 996 to 997 does. So is this a 718, type 982 or something? But if so i'd have expected the Boxster and Cayman names to be dropped. Just 718 coupe and roadster type 982, for example (arbitrary example, not saying it is a type 982).

Conversely, a 911 Carrera is just badged 'Carrera', likewise a 911 turbo is not badged '911 turbo', just 'turbo'. So why does a 718 have '718' badged on the rear as well as 'Boxster'? Seems a lot of naming but as I say i'll wait to see how the naming unfolds. I'm guessing one will be dropped in time. Maybe just to get the 718 name out there and familiar they're badging it, but if they're to keep the names Boxster and Cayman, 718 becomes a given like 911 and not included in the badging.

Chappelle · Feb 9, 2016

New cars are 'better' in every respect but some years from now the 6 cylinder models are going to be worth more than the 4 cylinder cars

tjb · Feb 12, 2016

Hmmmm I was expecting more debate than this, or is it stunned silence, not sure what this says about the new car or the views of current Boxster owners particularly the later 981 versions?

MJB · Feb 12, 2016

Having gone to the trouble of actually badging it '718' perhaps a few 718 styling references might have been in order? To many people it's not really going to look that different to the present model, although perhaps that is as intended.

I think that a lot of us are waiting until we've actually at least seen one before commenting. Another Porsche film about it here.

whytewm · Feb 12, 2016

I await any judgement until I hear it on the open road. It will have to be very good to match the sound of the 3.4 flat 6, and to warrant a price hike!

tjb · Feb 13, 2016

The styling changes to the front and rear are very distinctive in my mind, the front air intakes make the front more square and blunt than the 981, which had a more rounded look, the rear spoiler seems now to be raised on the platform with the words Porsche running between the now much smaller rear lights again seems to have removed the previous rear curves of the 981, overall it seems to have lost its curvyness and become more blunt to the front and rear.
Looking on the configerator there is no sports exhaust option! and also GT Silver Metallic as an option is not available only this new orange colour.

jdpef356 · Feb 14, 2016

On the technical side.

- The six cylinder 981 was at the end of its life cycle, you would be be buying the finest flat six Porsche could produce.

- The new 718 four cylinder Turbo is at the beginning of its life cycle so now doubt improvements will be made.

Styling

- That's a personal thing.

The investment

- My Guess is that both these cars in standard format are produced in such numbers that investment is in the ownership, enjoyment and driving. I suggest you do just that[

]

CLIFFWILKINS · Feb 14, 2016

Indeed John.

spyderman · Feb 14, 2016

I'm it going to pass judgement until I've driven one. The 981 was fantastic and at the moment if I was looking to change my 550 Anni I'd seriously consider a slightly leggy early 981 S PDK.

Chris.

MrDemon · Feb 14, 2016

981 was not a great car imo, could not own one myself.

spyderwhite · Feb 14, 2016

But you do own a 981 or did and it is a red herring to say you are still using it on the Cayman gt4 post!

MrDemon · Feb 14, 2016

I don't class the GT4 as a run of the mill 981 so I excluded it from my normal 981 Cayman and Boxster talk, as it's a GT car and is so far off a Cayman S or Boxster.

geoff lane · Feb 14, 2016

I'm not sure I agree with the comment that a 981 is not a good car it may not offer the same driver involvement as for example my previous 997 RS but if you get the spec right you can have a very enjoyable drivers car. I have found mine a lot better than I initially expected before I took it out on a test drive and since owning it I have not been disappointed to the extent that recently having been offered a lovely Viper Green GT4 which was what I initially wanted and have decided that I cannot justify an extra £40k for the extra on offer.
I accept my 981GTS will loose money but it is a good car.

Dylan1 · Feb 14, 2016

I too am considering a 981 GTS in some guise Geoff as I've friends who think they're excellent and I can save 40k like you rather than get the 991 I'd promised myself .
i agree with you and suspect Walter Rohl wouldn't have bought a very similar car to yours if it were pants ;-) but maybe Mr D knows something Walter doesn't !!!!!!!!!

fasterthanlight · Feb 17, 2016

I agree with others who say that Porsche will have tried their utmost to ensure that the 718 is a sensational car to drive, but quite different to the 981 I currently drive.

Searching on YouTube for "718 driving sounds" reveals an interesting 20 minute video of the car. Certainly lots of pops and burbles from the exhaust, but it doesn't appear to be quite as noisy as a 981. Will it be as exciting to drive with the top down - I guess only a test drive will reveal that.

While I am sure that the styling will grow on me, at the moment it's not a winner in comparison to the 981. In particular the rear spoiler looks terrible in the photos. I love the way the 981 spoiler integrates with the rear lights and this has been lost and instead we have something that looks like an after thought, with a massive Porsche badge. It almost looks like the badge is hiding a very wide brake light behind it, but the official videos don't seem to show that. Looks like that part will be fun to try and keep clean!

nwhear · Feb 19, 2016

Having just bought a yellow 918 I think it looks better than this actually - also don't like the rear signage at all - I like the sound of mine with the sport exhaust and twin pipes - this thing sounds way to "rice crispy" to me (and its a 4 cylinder OMG ).

Just my opinion I am sure it will sell well