[718LA]

I've always admired the Porsche design aesthetics, especially the continuity between and among models. And today, with way too much time on my hands, I was thinking about the subtle design changes made between my previous 987 and my current 718. While the 718 is a stunner:
On the body, I miss the seamlessly fluid design of the 987, especially the smooth curve between the headlight humps and frunk (the dealer explained the hard crease was added to differentiate the Boxster from the 911), and especially the smooth uninterrupted contour of the rear (the 718's banded fascia with the Porsche nameplate looks jarring). The one and only design mistake for me is splashing the Porsche name across the rear--it looks gaudy and ostentatious and at odds with the subtle sophistication the brand embodies.
Inside, the square shapes of the buttons and surrounds, together with the "chrome" banding, seems more like 1995 than 2019.
If anyone else is in the mood and has time to kill, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts comparing the aesthetics of the two models.

 

[Naptown]

Personally I prefer the 718, looks less like a jelly bean

 

[RussellHodgson]

I've owned both. I had my 987 at the same time as my current 718. For me the 718 loks far more aggressive and fast than the 987 did. I like the hard line you describe above.

I also like the interior of the 718. I don't think it looks 1995. I love the actual buttons. I don't like cars where the buttons are all on touch screens. Our Volvo has that, and it is annoying because it takes a while (maybe 15 seconds) for the screen to really become responsive when you start the car. Real buttons always work immediately.

 

[JazzCatGab]

I don't have any issue with the front of the 987, but the side scoops look less functional and the rear looks too round, and maybe because it is so soft in the back, the wing/spoiler looks too demure, definitely less defined.

 

[BlueNorther]

I've noticed that with each new model, I'm resistant to the changes at first, but after about a year, I'm solidly behind the new design. I found the rear of the 718 jarring at first, but now I really like it. I've de-badges the rear of my cars except for "Porsche" (I don't like mixed fonts), so it is clean and simple. You can always replace the chrome Porsche with black letters, Suncoast has them, or just plasti-dip them.

What I always didn't like about 897 was the interior. The shag carpeting really got to me, and the little knobs and center stack looked way outdated IMO. The current buttons look good and work well for me.

Give it a few more months, I'll bet you'll come around.

 

[GTS18BGTS]

When I was looking, I was somewhat drawn to the 981 curves and lines more so than those on the 718. I like the way the rear spoiler wrapped into the taillights. I also initially liked the headlights better. However the 718 lines have grown on me. I think it looks more aggressive than the 981. That has been consistent change from model to model. 981 is certainly more aggressive looking than a 987. The spoiler became an element vs a pop-up. The side vents got larger and more pronounced too.

 

[DriveInHouston]

I like the fenders being higher than the frunk. Only rear/mid engine cars can do this. I like to think of it as a nod to the LeMans prototype heritage!...

I think Porsche blew the rear, so that it doesn't take away from the 911. Long horizontal lights with parallel lines would look phenomenal with the nice(r) 718 curves, but then, what would you give the 911 which always had them?

 

[Graustark]

I've always admired the Porsche design aesthetics, especially the continuity between and among models. And today, with way too much time on my hands, I was thinking about the subtle design changes made between my previous 987 and my current 718. While the 718 is a stunner:
On the body, I miss the seamlessly fluid design of the 987, especially the smooth curve between the headlight humps and frunk (the dealer explained the hard crease was added to differentiate the Boxster from the 911), and especially the smooth uninterrupted contour of the rear (the 718's banded fascia with the Porsche nameplate looks jarring). The one and only design mistake for me is splashing the Porsche name across the rear--it looks gaudy and ostentatious and at odds with the subtle sophistication the brand embodies.
Inside, the square shapes of the buttons and surrounds, together with the "chrome" banding, seems more like 1995 than 2019.
If anyone else is in the mood and has time to kill, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts comparing the aesthetics of the two models.

I prefer the 718's smooth frunk lid lines to the hard lines on the latest 911. I'm not sure I grasp what you are saying about the 987's frunk to headlight lines.

Regarding the P O R S C H E on the back, I can see your point, but I am not personally bothered by it. I plan to do the model designation delete, which will reduce the showiness.

 

[GTS18BGTS]

I prefer the 718's smooth frunk lid lines to the hard lines on the latest 911. I'm not sure I grasp what you are saying about the 987's frunk to headlight lines.

Regarding the P O R S C H E on the back, I can see your point, but I am not personally bothered by it. I plan to do the model designation delete, which will reduce the showiness.

So what's the deal with your Euro car/delivery?

 

[dreamer]

I always loved the curves of the 987 Cayman but didn’t think too much of the side intakes. When the 981 came out I loved it much more, especially with the rear spoiler integration into the tail lights, the larger intakes and the sexy “hips”. The 718 is more sleek and the rear signage is probably the one thing I don’t care for but it’s not so bothersome that it detracts.

 

[Semitone]

I've always liked the curves of the 987 Boxster because it is reminiscent of the 550 to me. When others were dreaming of the 911 and had a 930 on their bedroom walls, I always dreamt about the 550.

The 981 lines were more aggressive than the 987 (masculine?) which most people preferred but I didn't. The 718 is even a bit more aggressive which I do like. I guess I always found the 981 to be neither fish nor fowl so I never bought one. I have both a 987 and 718 in the garage.

I prefer either black or brushed nickel badging over the chrome, however, I have never really been in the camp that Porsches are sophisticated in any sense. They are just funny looking sports cars...Now my Saab 900...that was sophisticated!...Still miss that car.

 

[Yipekiye]

I miss my 987. Mostly for nostalgia because that was my first Porsche. I liked the view of the hood better from the inside - the sharp creases you see on both sides of the hood on the 718 are less appealing to me than the smoothness of the 987. I think I got more compliments about the 987 than I do for the 718 - I think the 987 looks a lot more like a classic car and the 718 is so modern that I think I get tagged as a “Porsche jerk”. Their mistake, I was a jerk before I owned a Porsche!

I like the inside of the 718 much better. And overall, there is no comparison, the 718 is a much better car.

 

[Silversword]

The 987 (and to some extent, 981) are beautiful cars, but they look too soft to me now, especially the rear end. I prefer the more aggressive looks of the 718. I think the first time I drove a 987 it was love - it begged to be driven and sounded glorious, but from some angles it just never looked quite as sporty as I felt it should.

When I saw my first 718 it just highlighted how far things have moved on in the styling department. It looks more purposeful all over, whilst keeping the overall classic lines. And thank god the Cayman finally lost those little round lights at the front, they looked awful. I really like the PORSCHE strip on the back - I think its bold but not ostentatious. Interior-wise, its night-and day, the new steering wheel looks so much nicer - might be a small detail to some, but you do have it right in front of you, so to me it is little things like that which matter.

 

[Naptown]

As an aside I never liked the bug eyed look of the old air cooled 911s. The styling of last two 911 generations really appeals to me. Though I still prefer the 718.

 

[Graustark]

So what's the deal with your Euro car/delivery?

AAARGH. I'll put it in my order thread.

 

[718LA]

I've always liked the curves of the 987 Boxster because it is reminiscent of the 550 to me. When others were dreaming of the 911 and had a 930 on their bedroom walls, I always dreamt about the 550.

The 981 lines were more aggressive than the 987 (masculine?) which most people preferred but I didn't. The 718 is even a bit more aggressive which I do like. I guess I always found the 981 to be neither fish nor fowl so I never bought one. I have both a 987 and 718 in the garage.

I prefer either black or brushed nickel badging over the chrome, however, I have never really been in the camp that Porsches are sophisticated in any sense. They are just funny looking sports cars...Now my Saab 900...that was sophisticated!...Still miss that car.

The 550 is pretty much perfection!

 

[BlueNorther]

The 550 is pretty much perfection!

James Dean would probably think otherwise