[RGM718]

As I had noted in a couple other threads, my 718 Base arrived and was delivered on Monday. While all is still fresh in my mind, I thought that I would offer some initial impressions between my previous 2016 Cayman Base and the 2019 Cayman Base. While not apples to apples, I think the two are close enough (including how I set Sport Chrono in the 2019) that this should be ballpark, fair enough.

2016 Cayman Base PDK, 19" Boxster S Wheels (Pirelli PZeros), X73 Suspension. I always drove this car in Sport mode.
2019 Cayman Base PDK, 19" Cayman S Wheels (Yokohama ADVAN V105), PASM, Sport Chrono. I have the individual setting for Sport, PASM on Sport, PSE off.

Acceleration
Applying as close to same throttle levels/progression in both cars, the 718's acceleration is more linear and seat of the pants quicker while the 981 always had a bit of a flat spot off idle to about 1900-2,000. Net net, I am not feeling any 'dreaded' lag. Interestingly, I am showing between 3-6 lbs of boost in this acceleration. Interesting too is that the 981 had 22,500 miles on it and the 718 has 131 miles on it. So, I expect that the much more aggressive torque curve due to the turbo, is either a or the key factor even though the 718 is still 'tight'.


Handling/Ride
Both cars seem to exhibit similar body lean (or lack thereof to be more precise) taking the same turns at about the same speed.....I have a route that I drive regularly that lets me push the cars a bit. The ride is pretty comparable with the X73 being perhaps just a tad/wee bit more 'harsh'. The 718 is quieter which could be the difference in compounds between the Yokohamas and Pirellis. But, there is undoubtedly a substantial set of factors including the 981 rears having about 5,000 miles on them and the fronts 22,500 miles on them-worn down/less rubber and many, many more heat cycles.

Steering
The 718s are supposed to have slightly quicker steering...….I may have felt that but not absolutely sure it is pronounced. What I did feel, though, is just that......there seems to be a bit more steering feel/knowing where my front tires are in the 718.

Just Driving Down the Road.....
I really, really liked my 981s (both the 2014 and the 2016) and the 718 just seems to have refined much of what I liked. The enhanced torsional rigidity difference is subtle but I can feel it. However, nowhere near the difference that I felt going from my 08CS and Cayman R-987s to the 981s. The GT Steering wheel in the 718 has a great hand feel both in size and structure/design. I like it even more than the Sport Steering wheel that I had in my last 981 which was better than the standard wheel in my 2014 981. I love the backup camera and Lane Change Assist and proximity sensors in the 718. I first had experience with those type features in my wife's 2018 Audi A3 and it was what led me to option them (LCA, sensors) in the 718.

The sound systems are reasonably comparable and the touchscreen enhancements are good...….not huge for me but easy to get used to and use.

One thing that did surprise me is that, even though the 718 is brand new...…...I am consistently running slightly lower (5-6+/- degrees) oil temperature under similar driving conditions (including temperature). That surprised me as it is still a brand new engine compared to a fully broken in engine. I was thinking that maybe this is because the engine is not working as hard to get to speed and hold it but, then again, that turbo sure does drop heat into the engine compartment......so, head scratcher for me. Of course, it could just be that the readout is calibrated slightly different.....


So, for what it is worth...……...

 

[RGM718]

A quick update - my wife's impressions. We took a 50 mile drive today with my wife driving. She has extensively driven my previous 4 Caymans. She, herself drives an Audi A3 and has, in the past, owned 7 other Audis including a 2000 S4 (6MT), BMW E46 M3 (6MT), and a 2004 Mini Cooper S ((6MT). So, she has more than passing familiarity with what she does and does not like. Her observations were:

o I like it, it feels very familiar/easy to get used to.

o The steering feels quicker and a bit more precise.

o The Sport mode on PASM feels pretty similar to the X73 in our 981.

o It accelerates noticeably faster than the 981 and is smoother doing it (we talked about this and she agreed with my comment about much more linear).

As she drove into the garage...……...she said, I like it.

 

[don]

Nice review.

Always great when the wife also gives the heads up for the car!

I couldn't even get my wife out for a 718 test drive. She said she'll give it a go when we get it.:|

 

[ZuffenHouseRules]

I am consistently running slightly lower (5-6+/- degrees) oil temperature (compared to 981)

We've all observed this and discussed it in various threads. When in Sport mode (as you are), the new turbo engine appears to run a slightly richer AFR, accounting for:

- reduced oil temps (10-15 degrees cooler than non-Sport mode in same ambient conditions)
- ability to run less than 93 octane fuel and a high-for-turbo 9.5:1 compression ratio without pre-detonation/knocking
- exhaust burble at idle; and pops on throttle lift-off (at high rpm becoming full-on explosions, as you'll discover)
- increased fuel consumption

 

[Baka1969]

Nice write-up. Thank you.

What were your and your wife's impressions of the exhaust note between the two? This is obviously controversial and quite subjective.

 

[RGM718]

She did not seem to mind it being louder and had no comment about the difference in tone to the 981. She only noted that it was quite a bit louder than the 981. I opened and closed the PSE several times when she was driving......but it is important to keep in mind that I have, over the years, done different exhausts on cars and she is used to it. We had a 68 Mustang on which I put headers, hush thrush mufflers (now there is an old time name...…). 2000 C5 with Billy Boat catback (can you say teeth hurting drone...); 2004 Mini Cooper S with Sprint catback;2003 Jetta GLI with XI catback; 2008 Audit TT with Oettinger catback; 2014 Golf R with Magnaflow catback…...She seemed to focus on the acceleration, steering, and handling (how they were similar or different).

 

[timlaw]

thanks for the very interesting posts

 

[RGM718]

Regarding the oil temperature difference, this is 981 running in Sport Mode vs 718 running in Sport Mode. In the 981 Sport Mode to Non Sport was a delta of about 12-14 degrees difference. I think I will do Normal to Sport Mode in the 718 to see if the delta is similar.

 

[RGM718]

As a further impression..........today, I had the opportunity to take a left turn, slightly downhill and into an off camber turn under decent acceleration. I have taken this turn many times before in my previous 981 Cayman 2.7L which had X73 suspension. What struck me very quickly was the fact that the 718 was accelerating at a much faster rate than the 981 from the standing start (traffic light) and that I was definitely feeling the front tires loading up from weight transfer and I had an increased sense of where the wheels were and how they were responding to steering input. It, pleasantly, caught me by surprise.