[catcayman]

I love my 718 Cayman. It's a perfect car but I'm wondering if it can be quicker and better throttle response...To be honest, I feel my 718 is slow even if sports+ mode compared to my Toyota 86. I'm driving manual transmission.

I read article that Porsche will continue having N/A engine only for GT series, which are 718 GT4 and 911 GT3. Though there is a rumor of 718 GTS4.0. However, these are too much for me.

On the other hand, there is a breakthrough of "dream" engine called "SKYACTIV-X". In my knowledge, performance and fuel efficiency is usually trade-off. However, this dream engine boost both performance (power & torque) and fuel efficiency significantly. It is said that advantages over downsizing turbo are:
1. Sharp engine response
2. Higher fuel efficiency
3. Cleaner emissions

In below slide from Mazda, I feel SKYACTIVE-X is Toyota 86 and Competitors Downsizing Turbo is 718 Cayman with sports+ mode. I want Porsche to have SKYACTIV-X like technology...
(I'm totally fine with 718 4 cylinder engine and sound but I want quicker and better throttle response. I love Porsche. I never own Mazda. I'm not thinking to buy old 981.)

 

[cbarra]

That’s interesting... I feel like the 718S has great throttle response. I had an 86 variant many years ago and was amazed at it’s lack of power. I guess it had fairly good throttle response though.

 

[Lelandjt]

Question: If you're in 3rd gear at 2000rpm and step on it (no downshift) does the S accelerate way quicker than the Base? This is basically a test of turbo lag and off-boost torque. I'd expect the larger displacement and variable pitch turbine to pay dividends here that don't show up on a dyno chart or 0-60 time.

 

[Barryng]

Prior to buying my Boxster last year, I drove manual transmission 2 seaters as my daily driver since the early 70s. The past twenty years were BMW Z3/Z4s. After taking delivery of the Boxster in April I perceived the throttle response was excellent but still lacking for 300 HP and a few hundred pounds lighter than my previous Z4. I eventually discovered, I think, the Boxster requires (if pleasing me is the goal) maintaining 500 to 1000 RPM higher for a given street driving condition than I had grown accustomed to for so many years. Whereas previously, for example, 2nd gear always provided satisfactory acceleration going into corners at slow speed, now I have to sometimes downshift into first to get that acceleration dopamine release 2nd previously provided. For city driving, I now fequently find myself in one lower gear than I was for similar conditions with the Z3/Z4s etc. With the higher RPMs, even my base Boxster with 'only' 300 HP, never ceases to outperform anything I previously owned and put a big smile on my face.

 

[Lelandjt]

Yes, with a turbo engine keeping it close to 3000rpm makes the torque nearly immediate. However, I'm currently trying to justify the upfront expense and fuel consumption of the 2.5S and the ability to leap from low cruising rpm to performance rpm without a downshift would help sway me from the 2.0Base. When I got a 2.5 STi this was the situation where it really showed a "power" edge over the 2.0 WRX.

 

[dreamer]

Toyota 86. Zero to 60 in 6.4 seconds. 718 Zero to 60 in under 4.5 seconds (depending on who is reporting, more like 4.0) Regardless, it’s much quicker/faster. So not sure what you’re feeling.