718 Boxster/Cayman (982) [Official] The new Porsche 718 GTS models

[JLBM]

I took delivery of my 981 GTS yesterday and I love it. Really, it literally puts a smile on my dial. I have defended the 718 and agree it is super quick and downsizing is a reality these days. But the 981 is so authentically Porsche and I love how adaptable the car is to mood. Beautiful evening? Top down. Racy mood? Choose Sport (and decide if you want the sky above and the exhaust crackling and popping or closed top). Feeling boy-racer-ish? Sport Plus, exhaust open and PASM on lockdown. Feeling chilled and listening to a podcast? Top up, sports exhaust off and PASM in comfort. Choices choices!

 

[sako97]

Congrats @JLBM; could you provide some insight on the Flat-4 engine experience (vs. the Cayman) and exhaust note?

 

[JLBM]

Congrats @JLBM; could you provide some insight on the Flat-4 engine experience (vs. the Cayman) and exhaust note?

Thanks!

The flat four 2.5l turbo has way, way more torque. It gives you a thrust from low revs which is great, but when driving in moderate acceleration or coasting it has a bit of a characterless drone to the engine sound and characteristics. It doesn't wail gloriously through to almost 8,000 revs as the highly tuned GTS does. Even at startup and low speed, the flat-6 GTS has a "rock-solid" Porsche personality and timbre.

The one negative I've noticed about my car.. It's so utterly delightful that it begs to be enjoyed, thrusting through traffic in Sport mode (which automatically activates the Sports exhaust). Then, believe it or not, expect to consume 20l/100Km's! If you take it easy, 13l/100Km's..

 

[martinbo]

The flat four 2.5l turbo has way, way more torque. It gives you a thrust from low revs which is great, but when driving in moderate acceleration or coasting it has a bit of a characterless drone to the engine sound and characteristics. It doesn't wail gloriously through to almost 8,000 revs as the highly tuned GTS does. Even at startup and low speed, the flat-6 GTS has a "rock-solid" Porsche personality and timbre.

Yip - agree completely. The low down torque delivery of the new flat 4 exhibits that typical turbo-surge. Sound is great for a four cylinder - it's quite possibly the best sounding turbo-4 ever - but it gets typically whooshy at the top end of the rev range. Not a patch on the sonorous flat 6 though.
One more thing about the torque delivery; it's not that the NA fla-six is light on torque - it's actually got bags of it - it's just that the peak torque takes place higher up in the RPM range. And then it hits hard at 5000 rpm - pretty much when the flat four is plateaud.

The one negative I've noticed about my car.. It's so utterly delightful that it begs to be enjoyed, thrusting through traffic in Sport mode (which automatically activates the Sports exhaust). Then, believe it or not, expect to consume 20l/100Km's! If you take it easy, 13l/100Km's..

Ag shame né boetie. First world problems hey? If you want the horses - you must feed them.

 

[Sunny]

Congrats @JLBM; could you provide some insight on the Flat-4 engine experience (vs. the Cayman) and exhaust note?

One other thing no one else mentioned is - lag and throttle response. No matter what Porsche marketing says, lag is there. And PDK makes it worse by making it a 2 step process - dip throttle - nothing - press throttle more - lot of noise - and then bang, acceleration. I had a Boxster S as a loaner for a day and could never get over it. Mashing the throttle all the way makes every thing work instantaneously, but partial throttle response is horrible.

 

[Iamnotme]

First Drive Reviews are up!

Autocar

Should I buy one?
You should consider investing in a GTS, because it’s still perhaps the best handling sports car this side of £100,000. The GTS probably doesn’t feel that different to an S because every version of the latter we’ve driven has had those desirable dynamic options fitted. Given the cost of those extras is covered in the price leap from S to GTS though, before you’ve even considered the power and styling upgrades, the GTS looks like very good value. In fact, it’s difficult to think of a single thing you’d want to add to the GTS package – bar some Porsche earplugs, perhaps.

Link to the article

If you cherish driving and have no pressing need to own a car with more than two seats and a relatively meagre 275 litres of luggage space, the answer is an unequivocal 'yes' for the GTS.

Its new turbocharged four-cylinder engine might lack the visceral properties of the old model's naturally-aspirated six-cylinder, but it endows the car with the sort of performance to match Porsche's much more expensive 911 Carrera Cabriolet.

However, it's the sheer delicacy and accuracy of its handling that really seals the deal here, even at a price that pitches it £6987 above its predecessor. Granted, it might not provide quite the same level of everyday practicality as the mechanical identical fixed-top 718 Cayman GTS, but for sheer pose value and price, it has its sibling beaten. With a more enthralling exhaust note, it would be a five-star car.

Link to the Boxster Article


EVO

VERDICT:
Sharper feel and extra power make the GTS the most entertaining 718 Boxster yet.
EVO RATING: 4,5 out of 5 Stars

FOR
Everything, except...
AGAINST
...we'd still prefer six cylinders

Link to the article

 

[Sunny]

I wonder how well the 718 Boxsters/Caymans are sellling....

It is not. Know of one, the sales guy is offering a free Sentra with it, lol.

 

[as7920]

Haven't seen many here in the UK unlike the 981.

My father-in-law has one. 2.0l Non-S in Agate Grey. Fully loaded. Very nice.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

It is not. Know of one, the sales guy is offering a free Sentra with it, lol.

If it is one of those Star Wars-themed Sentras, I might be gamed. /s

Was he able to pinpoint a particular reason? Loss of interest in the segment? The engine?

 

[Sunny]

Was he able to pinpoint a particular reason? Loss of interest in the segment? The engine?

Caymans/Boxsters were not doing well even before 718 either. For a while, I think the GT4 was the best selling Cayman. And now with the 4 cylinder engine it has completely fallen through the roof. The US market is just not going to bear a large number of $80k 4 cylinder sports cars (even one that handles as well as the Caymans/Boxtsers do).

 

[DocM]

Agreed Sunny! It's a real shame, as these are very well made cars now undone by 4 cylinder. Emissions are ruining it for enthusiasts!

 

[Merc1]

So will there be no higher end version with a 6-cylinder ever? GT4 or something?

M

 

[sako97]

So will there be no higher end version with a 6-cylinder ever? GT4 or something?

M

Unless they revive the GT4.2, no. Making it a 4 cylinder was the second kiss of death. The first was this generation Cayman/Boxster being way overpriced for it's size. A loaded Boxster should not be as expensive as an AMG GT or M6.

 

[Merc1]

Those prices are ridiculous. I'd rather have a 911 of some sort.

M

 

[Sunny]

So will there be no higher end version with a 6-cylinder ever? GT4 or something?

M

There is a definitely a new GT4 coming. What will power it is unknown. Various Porsche higher ups have in the past implied it will remain NA. But the latest spy pics show exhaust positioning/shape we have seen with Turbos. So anyone's guess at this point.

 

[martinbo]

All indications point to GT4 and Spyder sticking with NA flat sixes.

 

[sako97]

Hate to be that guy, but Turbo 4 = no care.

Glad that it’s been confirmed that the GT4.2 and Boxster Spyder will receive the 4.0 from the GT3.2.

 

[mihc]

I was talking to my local dealer and he confirmed GT4 and boxster spyder will have 4.0 engine of GT3, apparently detuned to around 430PS. Both will have manual and PDK as an option.

 

[savage-It]

Having owned the 997 Gt3 mkII...I remember those times in which a Gt porsche was much more affordable than today..The next GT4 (I hope Rs) will fill that "price position" and will help people not capable to spend 180/190.0000 euro for the odiern Gt3 or 210/220.000 for the coming soon Rs, to dream again..

 

[sako97]

Having owned the 997 Gt3 mkII...I remember those times in which a Gt porsche was much more affordable than today..The next GT4 (I hope Rs) will fill that "price position" and will help people not capable to spend 180/190.0000 euro for the odiern Gt3 or 210/220.000 for the coming soon Rs, to dream again..

The speculators are killing the special 911 market right now for non-collectors. It’s frustrating because if the market was the way it was 7-8 years ago, I would’ve considered a 911 GT3 RS over a DBS.

We’re seeing a little bit of market adjustment with the addition of the 991.2 manual GT3, the GT3 Touring, and the upcoming 991.2 GT3RS. No more million dollar 911Rs....