[RGM718]

I am approaching 4 months of ownership of my 2019 Cayman Base and 2,000 miles. As I was driving the other day, I got to thinking about the debates about the 718 and 981 exhaust/engine sounds. What occurred to me is the sweet sound of the 981 boxer 6's are usually commented on relative to running in the upper rev ranges in the strong power band. I thought, hmmmm, cannot disagree that it has a great sound up there but in my typical driving, I am not running much above 3,500 to 4,000 RPM around town and on the highway. And. at that RPM range, there is not that much of the sound many lament is gone. I then thought, I do not need to rev up into the higher ranges to get the performance out of this 718 because the powerband is broad beginning at 1,950 RPM. And, in this lower RPM powerband, I hear more of the engine sound than I did in my 981s (even with the Soundaktor disabled via fuse removal). Just an interesting observation..........

 

[MLJJ]

I've always wondered about the whole sound issue. I rented a 911 for a couple of days, and to honest, I really didn't "hear" much of the engine/exhaust. Maybe is was just insulation or me not jumping on it hard enough, but I'm still perplexed by this infatuation with sound. Most of the sound comes out of the tail-end and if traveling at speed I would suspect you shouldn't hear much (basic physics). Only those outside would benefit most from whatever difference there is in sound imho. When I test drove the 718 I (w/o pse) I heard very little. We'll see what the PSE adds to the acoustics.

 

[timlaw]

I had 6 Porsches with flat 6 NA engines and they do make a great howl/wail but mainly at above 5-6K revs and unless you drive everywhere in second and third gear in high revs you don't hear it

my 718 CGTS (with the Donald fuse removed), as a fellow Porsche owner said to me, has a different but not worse sound to the flat 6's

I did 160 mixed miles today to meet up with a few UK based forum members and covered some ground quickly at times and at 6K revs that is not a bad sound

but more I cam away with a firm reminder of the huge breadth of talent of these cars - stunning!

 

[Gtipirelli]

Tim, totally agree

What was apparent when you, Uzzi and I were in convoy today was the instant on tap performance these cars have, we were going past some of those cars today (all three of us at once) as if they were not there, there was no “get into the power zone” advance planning required, it was simply a case of ensuring the car was in the relevant drive mode, plant your foot and hold on

I thought they sounded great in convoy and when we entered and exited the car park, as I think the audience we had did also

These cars are deeply impressive and all look amazing

Alan

 

[duegatti]

. . . the instant on tap performance these cars have . . .

Ah, you're referring to the other great flaw of the 718 (according to enthusiasts on other forums) - the "un-engaging wall of torque". I mean, who wants their sports car to be responsive, right?

Which gets us to the third major flaw of the 718 - even though it is too responsive to enjoy, it has terrible turbo lag.

 

[timlaw]

Ah, you're referring to the other great flaw of the 718 (according to enthusiasts on other forums) - the "un-engaging wall of torque". I mean, who wants their sports car to be responsive, right?

Which gets us to the third major flaw of the 718 - even though it is too responsive to enjoy, it has terrible turbo lag.

lets just face it haters gonna hate

you cant make any rational case against the 718 over the 981 so irrational nonsense is all that is left

 

[TEST DRyVer]

I had 6 Porsches with flat 6 NA engines and they do make a great howl/wail but mainly at above 5-6K revs and unless you drive everywhere in second and third gear in high revs you don't hear it

my 718 CGTS (with the Donald fuse removed), as a fellow Porsche owner said to me, has a different but not worse sound to the flat 6's

I did 160 mixed miles today to meet up with a few UK based forum members and covered some ground quickly at times and at 6K revs that is not a bad sound

but more I cam away with a firm reminder of the huge breadth of talent of these cars - stunning!

The flat six NA engines do sound amazing! No doubt there... Problem is, in order to extract the sound, you have to be high up in the rev range, and to properly enjoy the sound, you almost always have to break every speed law to do so. Our cars sound good from the low rev range, and you can enjoy it daily without having to break every law to extract power or listen to the sound. My opinion: the flat sixes do sound better, but the 718 is faster in every measurable way, and the sound is still decent...

 

[johan]

I just think its sad that exhaust sound is more importent that the rest.
If my 718 still had the handling but sounded as Beetle, i would not care....

 

[dekilla]

I love the sound from my 718 B 2.0 with PSE. It gives me that retro sports car sound with open roof, sitting in a hightec sportscar.
Sure you can not compare that to a B6, thats like comparing hiphop with heavy metal. Not possible...


It sounds so good and it sounds unique. - like it drives


In my case money is limited and not growing on trees. I am glad to get a turbo engine in an afordable car. That was my dream. Driving a very fast up to date Porsche. Never thought i can...

 

[Uz718]

The other thing is, with mileage, the sound improves a lot.... Mine is considerably louder now than when I picked it up.

 

[aeronca65tl]

My thought on engine sound:

I've been attending and competing in sports car races for over 50 years. I have never heard anything as cool-sounding as a Ferrari 312 (V12 mid-engine coupe). That car has the classic "tearing canvas" sound that is a trademark of V12 Ferraris.

By comparison, the current F1 cars sound as soulless as an electric motor.

The front-engine Ferraris like the old Daytona, 375 GTB or even the old 250 cars, also make a great sound. It seems to be in the DNA of these cars.

I was in a 12 Hour race last year that was won by a 911. Every time it went by our pits it made sort of a loud howling, tinny sound. Not particularly appealing, to me at least. And that's been my reaction to the 6 cylinder Porsches long before there was even a 718. I'll also add that I think the air-cooled 911s sound even worse.

Well-muffled American street V8s like Mustangs and Corvettes can have a nice, muscular sound. On the other hand, I think the old Ford 60 Series flatheads sounded hideous (although they have a long and well-deserved history of success in racing).

To be honest I think moderate muffling helps the sound of most engines. Most cars that are unmuffled sound awful, at least to me.....including my own MG Midget vintage race car and the Honda racer I sometimes rent.

Years ago I became enamoring by the sound of street MGBs that were fitted with a free-flow exhaust. They have a nice combo of "throaty" moving into a high pitch as revs increase. I'm sure this is some sort of acoustic accident that was never planned by the folks building MGs. But anyway, to my ears, nothing I can afford sounds better than these British roadsters. In truth, it's part of the reason I bought the one I have currently owned for over 10 years.

The 718 engine reminds me more of the well-muffled American street V8s that I mentioned above. It's nothing special but it's not off-putting either. When my wife first got in ours, she commented that it sounded like it had a really big engine.....probably because she felt it was more V8-like.

My biggest noise concern in the Cayman is the surprisingly loud tire noise. I'm hoping that when the Goodyears wear out that I find something less noisy.

The "concern" about the 718 engine sound seems like much ado about nothing to me.
.

 

[JazzCatGab]

My thought on engine sound:

...


To be honest I think moderate muffling helps the sound of most engines. Most cars that are unmuffled sound awful, at least to me.....including my own MG Midget vintage race car and the Honda racer I sometimes rent.

Years ago I became enamoring by the sound of street MGBs that were fitted with a free-flow exhaust. They have a nice combo of "throaty" moving into a high pitch as revs increase. I'm sure this is some sort of acoustic accident that was never planned by the folks building MGs. But anyway, to my ears, nothing I can afford sounds better than these British roadsters. In truth, it's part of the reason I bought the one I have currently owned for over 10 years.

...


The "concern" about the 718 engine sound seems like much ado about nothing to me.
.

I'm sure you will get plenty of feedback on the sound appraisal, but I liked your comment on MGBs. I loved my 1968 MGB, wire wheels, and with electric overdrive in 3rd and 4th gears. Well, particularly when I could keep it on the road. It didn't have a folding top so I used the tonneau cover more than bothering with the top you had to put together. In fact, that little beauty was the primary inspiration for wanting the ultimate hardtop roadster (if that isn't an oxymoron), and I've found it in my base Cayman! The more I drive it, look at it, and hear it; the more I love it. It has many of my favorite characteristics of the MGB, with three times the power, superior ride and handling characteristics. Driving the MGB also showed me that I didn't need all the many comfort features I would want in a DD, and might distract from the "toy" qualities that I desire.

 

[8833]

These responses are much appreciated. I have been visiting the other Porsche sites where lots of 718 detractors exist. Their sour comments led me to investigate the 981 GT4, but I am still very committed to my 2019 CGTS order.

 

[duegatti]

I just think its sad that exhaust sound is more importent that the rest.
If my 718 still had the handling but sounded as Beetle, i would not care....

I'm glad you said that, because I've got some news for you . . .

 

[DriveInHouston]

These responses are much appreciated. I have been visiting the other Porsche sites where lots of 718 detractors exist. Their sour comments led me to investigate the 981 GT4, but I am still very committed to my 2019 CGTS order.

NA-6 blowhards. All they have left to brag about is THE SOUND. Keep in mind that EVERY 911 in the lineup, with the exception of the GT3 is turbo. Including the GT2 RS.

Aahh THE SOUND...>

 

[duegatti]

I'm new to Porsche. My previous sports car was a 2003 Vette with cold air intake, tune, long tube headers and Borla Stingers. Sounded very nice (although a C5 motor does sound like it's going to grenade near red line).

A week or two ago I was leaving Knoxville west on I-40, and I heard this car. It was a new-ish red 911 with a big wing on the back. We were going 60-65 in traffic; he was on the phone, gently weaving across lanes.

It sounded awful. It was loud, discordant, and obnoxious. I hope he was in second gear; if it was third, I just can't imagine. I would have crawled under a rock and died of embarrassment if I was driving that car. Well, first I would have shifted up. Essentially a very expensive version of a ricer Honda with a big can for an exhaust. So I'm hoping and assuming that the exhaust was not factory, but I really can't be sure.

 

[DriveInHouston]

I'm new to Porsche. My previous sports car was a 2003 Vette with cold air intake, tune, long tube headers and Borla Stingers. Sounded very nice (although a C5 motor does sound like it's going to grenade near red line).

A week or two ago I was leaving Knoxville west on I-40, and I heard this car. It was a new-ish red 911 with a big wing on the back. We were going 60-65 in traffic; he was on the phone, gently weaving across lanes.

It sounded awful. It was loud, discordant, and obnoxious. I hope he was in second gear; if it was third, I just can't imagine. I would have crawled under a rock and died of embarrassment if I was driving that car. Well, first I would have shifted up. Essentially a very expensive version of a ricer Honda with a big can for an exhaust. So I'm hoping and assuming that the exhaust was not factory, but I really can't be sure.

There is no accounting for taste... I had a MY12 and a MY14 Mustang GT. The factory exhaust sounded different! The MY14 was more muted, still a throaty V8. I've heard aftermarket equipped Mustang GTs and all of them sound obnoxiously loud. I know that Borla (IIR) makes a decent sounding (not very loud) model, but nobody seems to have received the memo.

I like the cold start sound of the 718. Then I press the Sport mode and PSE-off buttons and go merrily on my way. (I still can't believe that I told my wife 'I want to buy a Porsche' and she said 'Ok! Let's go and test-drive some...').

 

[Semitone]

The flat six NA engines do sound amazing! No doubt there...

I'll disagree with this statement. I've owned a 987 Boxster for over ten years ( and still do) and never thought "Wow, this car makes a great sound!", In fact, I never even thought about the sound of thatcar until forum dwellers and some reviewers stated incessantly whining about how turbo charging has destroyed the driving experience.

You want great sound...get an Aston Martin v12. On a lower budget? Then my TR6 with sport exhaust sounds better than anything...OK don't go above 60mph or you will fear for your life. 0-60 in a cool...IDK...whatever...12 secs? but it sounds great. A true sports car!!

The sound thing is a silly discussion that is entirely disproportional to the pros/cons of the car. So what else is new...

Now I have to go back and watch NASCAR and listen to the egg beaters...

 

[8833]

On a lower budget? Then my TR6 with sport exhaust sounds better than anything...

This is so true. I frequently ride with the Western Pennsylvania Triumph club to Watkins Glen. The sound of the TR6's and TR4's with glass-pack mufflers is incredible.

 

[aeronca65tl]

Apologies in advance for going off the rails as far as the original topic. But Brit cars led me to my automotive interests, including Porsches.

I'm sure you will get plenty of feedback on the sound appraisal, but I liked your comment on MGBs. I loved my 1968 MGB, wire wheels, and with electric overdrive in 3rd and 4th gears........Driving the MGB also showed me that I didn't need all the many comfort features I would want in a DD, and might distract from the "toy" qualities that I desire.

Mine's a '69 with wire wheels. And mine also has the non-folding "erector set" top. It takes about 20 minutes to put up the top properly and only if it's warm out. Impossible in colder weather. But yes, a lovely and charming car.

My MGB, etc.

.....my TR6 with sport exhaust sounds better than anything...OK don't go above 60mph or you will fear for your life. 0-60 in a cool...IDK...whatever...12 secs? but it sounds great. A true sports car!!....
Now I have to go back and watch NASCAR and listen to the egg beaters...

Agree 100% on the wonderful TR6 sound. They are another car with great acoustics...accidental or not. Ditto TR5 and TR-250
And as far as NASCAR....I'm just getting this anecdotally, but a number of their fans seem to like multi-car pileups like the one they just had. I run at Watkins Glen once a year and it always strikes me odd that when NASCAR has races there, they cut off the interesting and complex "Boot" and use a bypass road. Turning an otherwise excellent road course into crap.

This is so true. I frequently ride with the Western Pennsylvania Triumph club to Watkins Glen. The sound of the TR6's and TR4's with glass-pack mufflers is incredible.

I know some of those guys.

I helped set this Triumph reunion picture up...that's Kas Kastner in front. Super nice fellow.