[Xztau]

Brace yourselves! Chris Harris said during the close of the last Top Gear that he would be reviewing the new Cayman on the next show. Given his online video review of the 718 Boxster in which he demonstrated the default British hatred of the sound and power delivery of the new engine, we can expect the same complaints. This is likely to be the most watched review of any 718, given the size of the show's viewership. I myself do not hold his opinions too highly since they are mostly based on how well a car drifts (and because he hates the MX-5 Miata, which is the automotive equivalent of hating a baby koala).

"Linear power delivery" = no power down low. Face it, complainers, you're afraid of torque.

 

[photonscience]

I don't think you'll find many complainers on this website - Planet 9 is the place for that.

I don't care that the 718 goes "growl", whereas the 981 goes "vrooom"; I care that my 718 gives me the torque to be quick, not just fast. Quick is much more useful here in NJ where I drive. So what else can Harris complain about?

 

[RussellHodgson]

Sure - the 718 sounds different. But it is an amazing car! Surpasses the 981 in every way. The only people who are annoyed with it are 981 owners who don't embrace change. I have both the 718 and 987, and while the 987 does have a more dramatic sound to it, it doesn't compare to the 718. It is still fun to drive, but so is the 718.

What are the haters going to do when all cars are electric and silent? They'll be clamoring for the good old days of the 718!

 

[Xztau]

Well, it went about as expected. Harris took a 718 Cayman S (manual) around the Top Gear track, doing mostly drifty type stuff. Complaining about the sound occupied at least 1/3 of the filmed segment time, and it involved a contrived comparison with a previous generation Cayman S. The sound of the old Cayman was presented as it accelerated (including a gear change), while the new one was obviously recorded at constant velocity (and apparently without the performance exhaust). Another minute of the segment was wasted on a demonstration of the CO2 reduction, with measuring equipment hooked up to the exhaust and instructions to drive economically (presumably replicating the European emissions testing workout); Harris complained that if one drove the turbo engine as intended, such a low emission would not be achieved; that isn't Porsche's fault, but rather the standard's. Kind words were actually provided regarding the increase in HP (the prior generations did not have the power to match the mid-engine capability) and the handling. At the end he looked through a list of other 2 seat sports cars available for 50K Pounds (Alfa 4C = spotty build quality, Jaguar F-type = you'd want the V8 turbo which is 90K Pounds, Exige = only if you lived at a track, Audi TT RS = understeer) and concluded that the Cayman was the default best choice. After the film the Stig took it around the track, netting a 1:21.6 time, equal to a Jaguar F-type R and BMW M3, and 0.1 sec slower than an Aston Martin DB11. It was during the voice-over of the Stig's lap that any mention of torque was given (the increase, and not the more important fact that it is down at a lower and more useful RPM). There was even the apparently required mention of a Subaru engine sound. Of course, had they tested it somewhere other than their track the advantage of the improved torque would had been more apparent. After all that Harris said he would choose the prior generation's GTS. Then, they switched to Rory who for some incomprehensible reason mentioned that one could get a Mustang V8 for under 50K Pounds; that's comparing apples to asparagus...

 

[fergusor]

I watched the review and it's exactly how I thought it would be too.


I won't repeat what everyone's already written about the engine sound blah blah blah, but it is getting a bit tiring now. It was nice that Matt LeBlanc tried to shut him up about it.


What's interesting though is that Jaguar have just announced their 4-cylinder F-Type... similar power to the base 718 Cayman (296bhp from a 2.0 litre engine), but more expensive at £49,900, slower to 60 and a lower top speed.


And their 4-cylinder isn't even a flat four, it's the engine that's available in all their other products so I can't imagine it's going to sound as good as the 718's engine (unless of course they use the symposer and fool the driver into thinking it sounds better than it actually does).


But nowhere in the motoring press have I read how 'rubbish' the sound is compared to the 6- and 8-cylinder cars, they just seem to say that Jaguar have tried to make it sound as sporty as the other two. And there's definitely no mention of not buying it because it doesn't sound as good.


The review hasn't made me feel any differently about my 718 Cayman that I'm expecting delivery of in June. In fact seeing it on the screen and watching how it can handle has made me more excited about it.


It's going to be my first Porsche, ordered it back in September 2016, and I'm now getting quite impatient.

 

[photonscience]

It's going to be my first Porsche...

The 718 Boxster S I got last month is my 15th Porsche. My first one was in the late 60's. The 718 is a typically wonderful Porsche - I hope the UK journalist ninnies don't scare off potential buyers.

About sound: I get a kick when guys in Jags drive by with exhaust blaring, knowing that the Jag's performance is inferior in every measurable way (except noise) to the 718. And it's true that the 718's voice is more subdued than that of my previous Cayman GTS (but not nearly as much as in some of the 911 Turbos I've owned) - if you want a louder exhaust - there's always the aftermarket. I can't imagine buying a used GTS over the 718 (except to save $'S) simply to hear "vroom" instead of "growl".

 

[4802]

Well, it went about as expected. Harris took a 718 Cayman S (manual) around the Top Gear track, doing mostly drifty type stuff. Complaining about the sound occupied at least 1/3 of the filmed segment time, and it involved a contrived comparison with a previous generation Cayman S. The sound of the old Cayman was presented as it accelerated (including a gear change), while the new one was obviously recorded at constant velocity (and apparently without the performance exhaust). Another minute of the segment was wasted on a demonstration of the CO2 reduction, with measuring equipment hooked up to the exhaust and instructions to drive economically (presumably replicating the European emissions testing workout); Harris complained that if one drove the turbo engine as intended, such a low emission would not be achieved; that isn't Porsche's fault, but rather the standard's. Kind words were actually provided regarding the increase in HP (the prior generations did not have the power to match the mid-engine capability) and the handling. At the end he looked through a list of other 2 seat sports cars available for 50K Pounds (Alfa 4C = spotty build quality, Jaguar F-type = you'd want the V8 turbo which is 90K Pounds, Exige = only if you lived at a track, Audi TT RS = understeer) and concluded that the Cayman was the default best choice. After the film the Stig took it around the track, netting a 1:21.6 time, equal to a Jaguar F-type R and BMW M3, and 0.1 sec slower than an Aston Martin DB11. It was during the voice-over of the Stig's lap that any mention of torque was given (the increase, and not the more important fact that it is down at a lower and more useful RPM). There was even the apparently required mention of a Subaru engine sound. Of course, had they tested it somewhere other than their track the advantage of the improved torque would had been more apparent. After all that Harris said he would choose the prior generation's GTS. Then, they switched to Rory who for some incomprehensible reason mentioned that one could get a Mustang V8 for under 50K Pounds; that's comparing apples to asparagus...

Irrespective of whether you prefer PDK or manual, there is no doubt that a PDK equipped car would be faster around the track. If they are going to set times then they should have a level playing field & not compare a manual to other cars which in many cases don't even come with a manual option. I'm sure the Cayman s would have crept up 1 or 2 spaces if they'd actually been fair & used a PDK equipped vehicle. I have previously owned a Cayman 987s, a Boxster 981s (PDK) & now own a Boxster 718s (PDK). I can say with all confidence that the 718s is not only considerably faster than the cars that preceded it, but also in the area where I live which is rural & with many winding roads, it's considerably easier to access that pace due to better spaced gearing & the hugely improved torque characteristics. On the subject of the sound, well I wasn't initially a fan when I drove either the Boxster or the Boxster S but when I got to drive an S fitted with a sports exhaust decided I could live with that. As it is it's grown on me & surprisingly (even to me), many of my friends state that they actually prefer the sound. It's certainly not horrible & far preferable to the monotone droning from Chris Harris for instance. I actually tried to order a last generation 981 GTS but missed out on the order book as it had just closed. I also scoured the U.K dealer network & made multiple calls but just couldn't find anything new with the specification I wanted. Now I'd have to say that I'm kind of glad I missed out as I've grown to love my 718s & side by side with a 981 it also to my eyes looks far sharper.

 

[trusted]

Yawn... Didn't he "review" the same about the 718 Boxster last year? I get it he likes the flat 6 good for him. Moving on - nothing to see here.

 

[4802]

I took a great deal of time before finally jumping from my previous Boxster 981S (PDK) into a Boxster 718S (PDK) & it was mainly the loss of the flat six engine that made me delay. There are still times that I miss that howl but the new car compensates in other ways (I especially miss it just down the road where there is an S bend cutting through solid rock. The echo/reverb was absolutely amazing). But things move on & as far as I am concerned the Cayman & Boxster are still quite simply the best cars that Porsche makes apart from the exotics & if you want new then the turbo fours are now the only game in town. I didn't buy my Boxster S because I couldn't afford a flat six 911 Cabriolet, I bought it because I vastly prefer the driving experience of the mid engined cars, as well as how they look. My own car is very high specification & the extras actually account for over a third of the price of the vehicle, so it's into 911 territory in terms of expenditure anyway. Boxster S, Lava Orange, 20 inch Carrera S wheels in platinum grey, PDK, PASM, Sports chrono, 18 way memory adaptive sports seats +, heated seats, full interior leather, Burmester surround system, Sat nav, LED headlights with PDLS, Porsche entry & drive, park assist front & rear, electrically folding mirrors, embossed head rests, roll over bar painted in exterior colour, power steering +, sports exhaust, adaptive cruise control, auto dimming mirrors with rain sensor, multifunction heated GT sport steering wheel, climate control, interior trims painted etc. I did consider a 981 Spyder which had only 180 miles on the clock & which despite the speculative price hike wouldn't have cost a great deal more than my car. The engine on that was fabulous, but nowadays I simply prefer PDK & there is no way I could put up with that roof (Believe me, in Wales where I live, you really need the practicality of a full auto roof). I also prefer the updated looks of the 718 over the 981. If Porsche ever brought out a new Spyder or indeed any version of the 718 with a flat six, PDK option & full auto roof then I'd be straight on to the dealer to try & get my name down, but that car doesn't exist. This one however does exist & because of my initial reservations over the turbo four (and also whilst waiting to try a 718 with a sports exhaust) I went & tried some of the supposed competition before I bought it (Jaguar F type & BMW M4). But for me they didn't actually compete, not at all (no offence intended to anyone who might own one in addition to their Porsche), but I just felt completely unmoved & I'd rather have kept my old 981 than swop to either of them. The BMW felt a bit like my daily driver (2 Series Coupe) & just not special enough. I also couldn't actually get to try a cabriolet which is what I wanted, but seeing as I wasn't particularly impressed with the tin top there was little point in any case. The Jaguar F type convertible felt rather ungainly by comparison to a 718 & to me more of a cruiser than a true sports car. Nice car, don't get me wrong, but I just couldn't shake the feeling that I'd somehow end up sticking it in a hedgerow if I even attempted to keep with a Porsche. No, for me it's still only a choice between the Cayman or Boxster & you can keep pretty much everything else with a less than stratospheric price. Like I said previously, I think my S with sports exhaust sounds ok & some of my friends actually prefer it to the six. I don't if I'm honest, not by a long way, but it doesn't sound awful like some journalists would have you believe either. I know it's slightly faint praise but I'm trying to be honest here & remember I've been spoilt by having owned flat sixes for the last 8 to 9 years (a sound which I loved). I certainly wouldn't let the new sound put you off, it didn't stop me buying one & I certainly don't regret having done so despite my comments. The 718 is still a better car overall than the 981 it replaced (in some areas considerably so) & being as that car itself was already far better than the competition then it's highly unlikely you'll regret the decision should you decide to purchase one.