New model lightweight brakes.

[PaulJ]

I just had a new Boxster 2.7 out on a days loan from Nottingham PC (thanks to all concerned there - perfect service as usual). Having previously driven all of the new models at a Silverstone experience day, where I did not notice the difference in brake pedal effort weighting, I was surprised how lightweight - dare I say it ordinary - the required braking effort was today. Has anyone else noticed this?

The reason I didn't get a Cayman for the day is because they had no manual demonstrator and had no plans to register one this year as the demand is not there. (Are we not the men our fathers were?).

Apart from the lightweight brakes and silly parking brake the car was delightful, but I've just been on the model configurator and feel the call of a new Cayman S later in the summer"¦ Will have to see how finances are as we will both be on early retirement pensions by then!

 

[Motorhead]

Paul, I too had a 981 2.7 Boxster as a courtesy car when my 987.2 Cayman S was last in for service and I found the brake pedal "grabby" compared with the Cayman, which requires a firm push to be effective. Maybe it's just part of making modern vehicles easier to drive and more user-friendly. Follow that argument and you can see why it's difficult to find a manual Cayman demonstrator too. I also run a Mk5 Golf GTi on which I find the brakes rather over-sensitive, particularly so if I've just jumped out of the Cayman. Even worse going the other way though, as I almost stand the Golf on its nose. Jeff

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

#starwars mode ON This is not the gearbox you are looking for...........)

ORIGINAL: PaulJ The reason I didn't get a Cayman for the day is because they had no manual demonstrator and had no plans to register one this year as the demand is not there. (Are we not the men our fathers were?).

 

[PaulJ]

Thanks for confirming my thoughts Motorhead - 'grabby' is a good way to describe the brakes. Our other car is a Fiat Abarth 500 (to be swapped for a 595 tomorrow), so I'm always conscious that it will provide a very different drive, and it never fails to meet expectations!

 

[PaulJ]

Hi Chris, You win - I'm baffled!

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

It was a (bad attempt) at a Star Wars type Jedi mind trick where Porsche are telling people that there is no call for the manual box....... (gets coat and leaves.......)

ORIGINAL: PaulJ Hi Chris, You win - I'm baffled!

 

[PaulJ]

I've woken up and can now smell the coffee! May the force be with you.

 

[Buddy]

I may be one of the few to have driven the new Cayman S as a manual and I must admit to being very tempted by the PDK as it does make for such a nice driving experience but I have to say that the new manual is even better than the 987 manual, it has a very positive feel to the selection since it feels very much like the stick is moving in the slots of a gate, in fact it feels good to the point that it's about as good as it can get. Next time Porsche will either drop the manual option or prove me wrong!

 

[PaulJ]

Hi Kevan, Agree about the manual gear change mechanism feel - superb on the latest models. Another thing I forgot to mention is the unhelpful reconfiguring of the rear luggage compartment shape, meaning my existing luggage no longer fits! Doubtless there is a new range of fitted luggage to relieve us of a small fortune… Paul p.s Think I'm falling in love with the Cayman GTS.

 

[Buddy]

Hi Paul, I know what you mean on all counts, I have boot liners, roof bars and winter wheels for my Gen 1 but a Gen 3 won't take them!! I may just have to retire into a Gen 2![]

 

[Motorhead]

I've had a look on the internet but can't find an official Porsche "roof transport system" for the 981 Cayman. Unlike that of the 991 (for which there is an official RTS), the 981 roof is completely smooth and doesn't have the 987 channels so, as you say Kevan, the 987 roof bars won't fit. A year after release of the 981, I'm surprised that nothing is available. Jeff

 

[Buddy]

Well Jeff, it may be that there were thought to be insufficient takers on previous models to have Tecalmit come up with a viable and suitably expensive item to add to the options list of the new model although judging by the prices the early ones go for on ebay, they are still sort after for Gen 1 & 2! The Boxster item was much more rare!

 

[Buddy]

Brian, I'm sure that most if not all manufacturers consider the manual gearbox an old fashioned idea that is more of a nuisance to them than a benefit to the driver. I currently work in the emissions compliance group at JLR and manual gearboxes are extremely rare, on many models they aren't even on the options list and that includes the new F-Type although they are considering a manual. Personally I've not driven the F-Type and that may be amended soon but in hearing them pass me on site it does seem that the old Torque Converter "slip" is not at all pronounced as on some cars but I have said to people that an automatic clutch of some type would be a more acceptable solution. At present the transmission is a conventional automatic with Tiptronic capabilities and 8 gear ratios. My view is that PDK is a better solution.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Better solution - maybe for reasons posted. As for driver involvement and input - no. Each to their own - what annoys me is being 'told' what I have to have.

 

[Buddy]

For driver input I've found that both manual and PDK in the new Cayman S is very good, as for how anyone drives them well I don't like a computer selecting my gears or the older type of auto where they changed on the torque loading of the box but when I tested the PDK I had to see how good it was as an auto and I must say I was impressed! Selections were at the point I would have made them and it was a much better operation than any other automatic drive I have ever used in anything else. But I'd still drive it in manual mode. Having said that, I've driven the new manual box and it is improved over the earlier transmissions which are, as we all know, still better than most. It's more a question I think of whether we like to use a clutch or not than how we select the gears and in towns the PDK has it, for faster gearchanges again the PDK has it. On the other hand, if you like to use the low ratios to get to speed and then jump one or two to cruise having left the other cars behind at the lights then in the PDK you will have to go up sequentially which is not slow but... whereas the manual allows you to skip the unnecessary cogs. For driving pleasure it's a personal choice and I like both.[]

 

[Motorhead]

As you say Kevan, manual or PDK is purely a matter of choice and possibly dependant upon where you drive (high or low traffic conditions?). The PDK is an extremely competent semi-automatic gearbox and one wonders how much longer manufacturers will continue to offer manual transmissions; my guess is that we'll gradually see them being phased out in the next ten years or so. The Porsche PDK 'box is rather heavy, due in part to the wet clutches which are capable of transmitting high torque levels, but I note that VAG have lower torque variants which use two single-plate dry clutches, so I'm sure we'll be seeing an expansion in the use of the technology even in bottom-of-the-range variants. Jeff