[Muppet]

I brought my 718 by accident..... quite literally

In May 2017 I was riding my Harley Davidson Road King to Nottingham.
An inpatient motorist on a side road pulled out in front of me, saw me at the last second and stopped in the middle of the road, leaving me no where to go.
I did an emergency stop (leaving a 20 foot skid mark) and thought to myself "I've got this".
- I hadn't - , the next thing I heard was a crashing sound, I saw the flash of the cars bonnet and then smacked into the tarmac on the other side of the car.
My Road King was dead.
My third Harley,I had owned it for 17 years from new, it had been in mint condition till then.
I ended up in Hospital, I had suffered a few broken ribs & some bad cuts & bruises to my legs.
(I had bent the 1" steel handlebars up and back in the impact. At the time I thought I had broken my legs. It felt like someone had beaten them with a baseball bat.)
The car driver admitted full responsibility for the accident and I was paid out by the insurance company for my bike and injuries.
What do I do now?
I couldn't quite face spending £20,000 to buy a new Road King.
I had test driven the previous Cayman in 2015, but we ended up moving house instead.
So I had a go in a 718. I wasn't expecting to like it after having read the reviews by motoring journalists.
But I was blown away by the car!
We placed our order in November 2017 & collected the car on 1st March 2018.
2 litre Cayman in Night Blue Metallic with the 18" wheels and Manual transmission, plus £7000 worth of extras.
I'm not going to track my car so the 2 litre engine is more than enough for road use.
I picked the spec for comfort on long journeys.
The intention is to use the car for holidays in Italy and France etc.
So far we have clocked up 4000 miles in the car.
Every time I get in the car it feels special, not just traveling from A to B.

Stuart.

 

[dr_john]

Interesting read Stuart. Glad you came out of it in one piece!

I saw a Boxster at the Porsche stand at a motor show in Leicester last August and was immediately smitten. After a test drive a week later, and then a few weeks of indecision I ordered my GTS at the end of September for delivery end of November.

I’m looking forward to some good weather to really enjoy my Porsche.

 

[Uz718]

Glad you made it through the accident without any damage Stuart.... I adore bikes but I the risk to reward just doesn't work out in my mind. Amazing you ran that thing for so long though!!! Glad you're enjoying the Cayman.

The 718 gets better with time... Noise wise performance wise..

I had the 981 before and did 60,000 hard miles in that... That was a great car but you really had the rev the nuts off it to get any meaningful performance. The noise and handling made up for it though. I remember seeing the Banana car in Silverstone while the 981 was in for service and all I remember saying to the sales guy was "make the ****ing numbers work" LOL
One week of posturing later, We agreed a deal and that was it. Best car I've ever owned.

 

[timlaw]

welcome formally Stuart


in my working life I have just dealt with too may savage injury claims to ever entertain riding one


smart choice on the 718 but we are all a bit partisan here I suspect


Uzzy could you have looked any more pleased with yourself on that collection day shot? well deserved smile my friend!

 

[Porsche2018]

@Muppet, my wife and I were going to buy a pair of Indian Scouts but decided against it because of the inherent high risk. In a car, you can lose a fender or a bumper not a leg or an arm or worse. The 718 is indeed a wise choice.

Best of luck with your continuing recovery.

 

[Baka1969]

Welcome,

I currently have a Sportster 1200C that desperately needs to be replaced. I need something much more comfortable. I will choose either the BMW R1250GS or R1250RT as my next bike. I've been riding for almost 25 years and don't plan on giving up anytime soon. However, this will be my first non Harley and non Sportster. I've owned 5 during that time. It's just time for a change.

This is the main reason that when I finally order a Cayman it will be the base Cayman. I don't really see this as much (if any) of a compromise (for me) compared to getting the S. The BMW will run around $25k when it's all said and done. So the base Cayman keeps me within a reasonable budget. Either way, this will be the best sports car I've ever owned. Certainly the fastest and best handling. Even after owning two Corvettes many years ago.

I understand the inherent risks of riding a motorcycle. I just can't see myself stopping. I mean, you can't very well split traffic in a Cayman during rush hour? Can you? That's what motorcycles are for.

 

[Porsche2018]

I understand the inherent risks of riding a motorcycle. I just can't see myself stopping. I mean, you can't very well split traffic in a Cayman during rush hour? Can you? That's what motorcycles are for.

Hmmmmmm, well I hope I never run into you during rush hour. I hope your kidding but, splitting traffic is a quick way to get your head split.>

 

[Baka1969]

Hmmmmmm, well I hope I never run into you during rush hour. I hope your kidding but, splitting traffic is a quick way to get your head split.>

In California lane splitting (on a motorcycle) and filtering is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the only state in the nation where it is. It helps to ease traffic and congestion. In certain parts of Europe splitting isn't uncommon.

When safe I will split traffic. That said, it's not always conducive to do so. I do, however, filter at stop lights regularly.

There are guidelines and conditions to lane splitting. It's certainly not something that should be done haphazardly. Nor on all roads.

For example:

We have a road here (in the Philadelphia area) called Interstate 76. Locally known as the Schuylkill Expressway or the "Surekill Expressway". It's a very dangerous 2 to 8 lane highway that is quite narrow and heavily congested. It is much too dangerous to safely consider splitting lanes. So, I don't or won't.

Interstate 95 also runs (north and south) through Philadelphia. It's a much wider road. When traffic is backed up it is much safer to split lanes. When possible.

I'm a more conservative rider. My days of throwing all caution to the wind are largely a thing of the past. I do, however, have decades of experience and over 500,000 miles of motorcycle riding under my seat. I know lane splitting is a controversial topic. It always has been. That said, I don't take it lightly. I use it as responsibly and safely as possible.

Sorry for the off topic babble.

Edit:

I have very rarely run into any angry people when splitting lanes. I have, however, been "invisible" on the road to motorists almost daily. "Head on a swivel" always.

 

[Muppet]

in my working life I have just dealt with too may savage injury claims to ever entertain riding one

I will never give up riding motorcycles.

That's like saying stop having sex with that young Supermodel, you'll give yourself a heart attack!!

Been riding them on the road for over 35 years, this was the first serious accident I've had.

If you've never ridden a bike before, the best way I can describe it is that its the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground, when you get a series of bends just right its very very gratifying.
Oh and you never get stuck in traffic.

 

[Baka1969]

I will never give up riding motorcycles.

That's like saying stop having sex with that young Supermodel, you'll give yourself a heart attack!!

Been riding them on the road for over 35 years, this was the first serious accident I've had.

If you've never ridden a bike before, the best way I can describe it is that its the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground, when you get a series of bends just right its very very gratifying.
Oh and you never get stuck in traffic.

^^^this^^^

 

[Muppet]

This is the main reason that when I finally order a Cayman it will be the base Cayman. I don't really see this as much (if any) of a compromise (for me) compared to getting the S. The BMW will run around $25k when it's all said and done. So the base Cayman keeps me within a reasonable budget. Either way, this will be the best sports car I've ever owned. Certainly the fastest and best handling. Even after owning two Corvettes many years ago.

You wont be disappointed with what members keep referring to as the "Base" Cayman.
I have the extended range fuel tank on mine (64 Litre) I regularly get over 400 miles out of it, I have even seen 500 miles on long journeys down motorways. Plus the insurance is cheaper.
Its the most powerful best handling car I've owned, so the 2 litre is fine, that extra 1/2 second to 60 or the extra 7 mile an hour top speed is irrelevant for road use, I would rather have the cheaper running costs.

 

[timlaw]

i understand (sort of) the fact that motorcycling is addictive and that it is an entirely more visceral experience than even the fastest car but never going to change my view that in any crash you will come off worse and there are so many awful drivers on the road that an accident is inevitable no matter how good a rider you are

just dealt with far more head injury claims, para and tetraplegic claims and amputation claims in my legal career for bikers pro rata than for car owners

happy to accept total cowardice on this one

 

[Muppet]

My Spec before I get asked for it....

Night Blue Metallic paint
Manual gear box (I tried the PDK, but wanted more involvement when driving.)
18 Cayman wheels (I wanted the most comfortable ride I could get for long journeys)
Full black leather interior
Sports Seats Plus (2 way electric)
Seat heating (Brilliant in cold weather, wife loves this - even in the summer?)
Cruise control
Speed limit display (very useful)
Bose surround sound-system (I listened to the standard stereo & Bose in the dealership back to back. The Bose is definitely better, has more OOMPH!)
Park assist front & rear
Sports tailpipes
64 Litre fuel tank
Colour Porsche wheel crests
Light Design Package (Love this feature)
Heated Multifunction steering wheel
2 zone automatic Climate Control
Smoking package
Passenger footwell storage net


Only things I wish I had ordered are..

Interior Brushed Aluminium trim (didn't realise the stock one is plastic)
Fake aluminium petrol cap (I want to be cheered up every time I have to fill the car up)

 

[grasmere]

Thanks Stuart, welcome and interesting background plus you have to go with what makes sense for you re your Harley and a 718 is no bad move ;-)

Gorgeous motors, great specs on yours, on mine I do love the sports crono package and with its yellow dials . . .

 

[8833]

Hmmmmmm, well I hope I never run into you during rush hour. I hope your kidding but, splitting traffic is a quick way to get your head split.>

Lane splitting is the hallmark of Latin America and India, where i have witnessed many riders crash. Good luck for those that do, but I'll pass.

 

[nineball]

i understand (sort of) the fact that motorcycling is addictive and that it is an entirely more visceral experience than even the fastest car but never going to change my view that in any crash you will come off worse and there are so many awful drivers on the road that an accident is inevitable no matter how good a rider you are

the same can be said for driving a car or riding a bicycle or walking down the street. they are called accidents because no one plans for them and they happen anywhere and everywhere. the majority of bike accidents are not caused by people riding bikes

 

[timlaw]

I understand accidents and fully agree the majority are not caused by the biker but is that much consolation to a badly injured biker?

I have been a personal injury lawyer acting for insurance companies for 30 years dealing with the most seriously injured claimants so that the consequences of very serious accidents cross my desk every day

the simple truth in my experience is that at any given speed a biker is more severely injured than a car driver - I am not going to say the common term in my circles for bikers

pro rata more of my catastrophic injury claims come from bikers than car drivers - I say pro rata as there are obviously way more cars than bikes on the roads

hence they scare me

I agree sh*t happens in every activity but the consequences are usually much worse for bikers than car drivers in my experience

 

[Porsche2018]

If you've never ridden a bike before, the best way I can describe it is that its the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground, when you get a series of bends just right its very very gratifying.
Oh and you never get stuck in traffic.

I see, and agree based upon my motorcycling days but, not to put too fine a point on it, the flying you did on your last mishap should give one pause.

 

[Schredder]

Congrats on the car. I owned a 2002 springer softtail. Loved it built motor and all. Slid into the ditch once. Not my fault , but broken leg bad. Got rid of all my bikes. Bought a 2017 Shelby gt 350. Sitting at a stop sign and someone cross the line doing 45. Totaled my car and hurt me. I would have been on a bike and probably killed. Just took delivery of my 2019 CGTS. now I just need spring to pick it from the dealership. Gonna be a long winter in Maine. Enjoy your new car and you made a good safe decision .

 

[Muppet]

https://www.718forum.https://www.71...p?attachmentid=19246&stc=1&d=1546129891129654

Worked out how to post some photo's.