[abstruse1]

I have a 2018 Boxster S and would like to make the ride less firm. I understand that the S cars are lower (not good for me), and I suspect that they ride more firmly than the non-S cars.

My car has the sport (two position) suspension option and 19" tires.

What can I do to soften the ride?

Thanx, guys.

 

[cipher]

You could maybe get smaller wheels with a taller tire.

 

[Baka1969]

Yes, 18" wheels will make the car drive a little bit better. Just remember, however, the Cayman/Boxster S is a sports car in the truest sense of the definition. It will never ride like a Toyota Camry. Whenever someone says the 718 rides nicely, what they're really saying is that it rides sort of comfortably... for a sports car.

Maybe a butt cushion?

 

[johan]

S and base have the same comfort as far as i know.
Cars without PASM can be a bit harder and the same with SPASM.
PASM/SPASM is always engaged so if you press the button on the center console your in "sport mode" which makes the car stiffer!


You also have a "Comfort mode" under tire pressure, basically it lets you have less pressure without getting any tire warning.
I would NOT put taller tires on your 18" rims cause it would change the telemetry, you cant go under 18" i Think because of the rotors.
And last we have the seats, there is a big difference between the seats.


Is this your first Porsche, and how many miles have you been driving?
It can take time to settle in

 

[Grasshopper]

I don't think the S is lower than the standard Cayman. They're all the same ride height but the PASM option (with two settings of ride) lowers this by 10mm. On the S version there's also an option of SPASM which is 20mm lower. I've read that the SPASM option is definitely pretty hard - especially on 20" wheels, which you fortunately don't have. If you find it too hard I don't think there's a lot that you can do, without spending a lot of money, apart from change to 18" wheels as has been suggested. Whether that would be enough I don't know.

 

[Choppen]

I got a an `egg seat' from Target (about 40USD). It improves the ride for my bony backside, and it solves the lumbar support issues by reducing the vertical shocks to the spine.

 

[Grasshopper]

S and base have the same comfort as far as i know.
Cars without PASM can be a bit harder and the same with SPASM.

An Autocar test I read said that the standard Cayman had softer suspension than the S - but they were talking about the non-PASM suspension. I don't know if it's true. But I've read several reports that say the standard (non-adaptive) suspension is more comfortable than PASM. Logically that seems likely because there's more suspension travel, but I've never had the chance to try it out so I don't know.


Lowering tyre pressures will help- but at the expense of higher fuel consumption and greater (or uneven) tyre wear.

 

[duegatti]

I do not believe it follows, necessarily, that PASM rides stiffer because it has less suspension travel because it sits lower. That may be true; that does not have to be true.

 

[CaymanMatt]

When demoing I definitely felt that the PASM equipped Caymans had a more comfortable and controlled ride than the the non-PASM Caymans. I hadn't actually planned to get PASM but now that I have the GTS I am happy I did. Ride comfort is incredibly good over the drives we've taken so far.

BTW, we demoed a few Macans a while back and that was even more apparent on that vehicle. PASM definitely more comfortable than the non-PASM. In the non-PASM Macan, the initial impacts were felt very sharply in the car and through the wheel. The PASM equipped Macan seemed to absorb the same hits so much better.

MOO, per usual!

 

[Grasshopper]

BTW, we demoed a few Macans a while back and that was even more apparent on that vehicle. PASM definitely more comfortable than the non-PASM. In the non-PASM Macan, the initial impacts were felt very sharply in the car and through the wheel. The PASM equipped Macan seemed to absorb the same hits so much better.

But were PASM Macans on lowered suspension? (I'm not very familiar with the Macan). In the case of the Cayman the PASM version is 10mm lower - and smaller suspension movement must mean that the springs are harder. That's just physics. I'm sure that the adaptive damper version would be more comfortable than standard were it not for the mandatory lowering of the suspension. I had a TT before the Cayman that had what Audi call "mag ride" and I can definitely say that this was more comfortable than the same Audi without mag ride - but they had the same suspension height.


I got the standard suspension because the roads where I live are very poor and I didn't want to lose ground clearance. I have a standard Cayman (but with 19" wheels) and the ride seems pretty good. However I would have paid more for PASM if they'd been available without lowered suspension. As it is I'm not convinced that the PASM has a better ride than standard because I've heard contradictory reports and I haven't been able to try it myself.

 

[CaymanMatt]

BTW, we demoed a few Macans a while back and that was even more apparent on that vehicle. PASM definitely more comfortable than the non-PASM. In the non-PASM Macan, the initial impacts were felt very sharply in the car and through the wheel. The PASM equipped Macan seemed to absorb the same hits so much better.

But were PASM Macans on lowered suspension? (I'm not very familiar with the Macan). In the case of the Cayman the PASM version is 10mm lower - and smaller suspension movement must mean that the springs are harder. That's just physics. I'm sure that the adaptive damper version would be more comfortable than standard were it not for the mandatory lowering of the suspension. I had a TT before the Cayman that had what Audi call "mag ride" and I can definitely say that this was more comfortable than the same Audi without mag ride - but they had the same suspension height.


I got the standard suspension because the roads where I live are very poor and I didn't want to lose ground clearance. I have a standard Cayman (but with 19" wheels) and the ride seems pretty good. However I would have paid more for PASM if they'd been available without lowered suspension. As it is I'm not convinced that the PASM has a better ride than standard because I've heard contradictory reports and I haven't been able to try it myself.

Not a clue about the Macan. I presume yes but really have no idea. I understand about the clearance, which is why I did not want PASM originally. Our driveway has a steep transition from the road and I didn't know if it would clear. Suffice to say it does.

 

[johan]

An Autocar test I read said that the standard Cayman had softer suspension than the S - but they were talking about the non-PASM suspension. I don't know if it's true. But I've read several reports that say the standard (non-adaptive) suspension is more comfortable than PASM. Logically that seems likely because there's more suspension travel, but I've never had the chance to try it out so I don't know.


Lowering tyre pressures will help- but at the expense of higher fuel consumption and greater (or uneven) tyre wear.

I have heard the otherway around, that PASM have more Comfort since its a active system.
Since i have owned a car with PASM and i have SPASM now i can say that SPASM aint much harder in normal mode.

 

[duegatti]

In the case of the Cayman the PASM version is 10mm lower - and smaller suspension movement must mean that the springs are harder. That's just physics.

That a Cayman with PASM is 10mm lower does not necessarily imply smaller suspension movement.

 

[Grasshopper]

That a Cayman with PASM is 10mm lower does not necessarily imply smaller suspension movement.

That's true - Porsche could just have jacked up the ride height on the steel sprung car and used the same springs as PASM. But that's not a rational thing to do. When manufacturers lower ride height they usually put on shorter springs which means that the springs have to be harder or they'd run the risk of the car hitting the bump stops. But the ride is a combination of springs AND dampers so it's entirely possible that the clever dampers on PASM make up for the stiffer springs and provide a more comfortable ride than standard. The trouble is that Porsche dealers tend to have only one demonstrator and it's almost always specced up to the eyeballs so it's impossible to make a direct comparison. And the magazine reviews are not much help because the reports are contradictory.


There's a very long review of 718 options on youtube (over an hour) which is worth listening to - I can't find the URL right now. What he says in relation to PASM is that it's only worth getting if you want the dependent options (torque vectoring etc) - when you have to specify PASM. Otherwise he says there's no advantage over standard suspension except you have the option to make it harder. And he says to avoid SPASM - especially with 20" wheels. But ultimately it's all subjective. Some people like Miami blue.

 

[grasmere]

And don’t ignore tyre pressures on whatever wheels you have.
Most garages pump them up to a standard eg 36!
However my 2018 718S has 20” wheels and door sticker states 33psi for continuous high speed motoring but 30psi for
general use and “a softer ride”

Not much but will help !

 

[ArchiProf]

My 2014 Cayman did not have PASM but I did not find the ride overly harsh with 19" Cayman S wheels and nor did my spouse. My 2018 Cayman has PASM with 19" Cayman S wheels and I (and she) find the regular setting slightly "more soft" and the sport setting equal or slightly "more firm" than the no-PASM ride experience. Overall, a great sports car ride!

 

[Ycanada]

For a softer ride you could also try your luck with all season tires. They are generally quieter and softer riding, though handling will suffer somewhat.

 

[seis-speed]

I test drove a car with standard suspension and a GTS set in Sports Plus. I found both to be compliant. I think a poster earlier who mentioned something about a cushion for the seat might be onto something. I wouldn’t want to spend all day in the seat, but the suspensions seemed very compliant. 18” Wheels also would help, more rubber on the sidewall always helps IMO. I put 18” (lightweight) wheels on some of my various cars over the years and it is softer and seems to have a bit more get up and go out of first gear.

Good luck.

 

[ducati1200!]

I have a 17 Caymen S with 20’ wheels. The ride is a little rough but it doesn’t bother me at all. My wife on the other hand hates riding in the car and doesn’t understand what’s so special about it and why everyone stares and give me the thumbs up. In my opinion the car is just bad ass.

 

[Tailwagger]

I would NOT put taller tires on your 18" rims cause it would change the telemetry, you cant go under 18" i Think because of the rotors.

Calipers actually. And to clarify, you can go to 19" or 18" wheels which raise the aspect ratio from 35 to 40 to 45, which in theory should help. Certainly no need to go beyond that. Tire brand, of course makes a difference. Grain of salt, but tire rack rates the Pirellis and Goodyears (what I have) worst, Michelins the best.