4 Versus 6 – Just my opinion

[Peter_Bull]

Much has been said about the latest 4 cylinder 718 versions of the Boxster and Cayman versus the previous 6 cylinder 981 models and I just thought I would add my thoughts.

I first drove a 718 Boxster S, kindly lent by Porsche Cars Reading, soon after they came out at the Silverstone Classic when we had the PCGB Parade lap in 2016. The roof was down and I had some fun in the car around the circuit albeit at a toned down speed set by the pace car up front. To be honest I didn’t get much of a chance to really appreciate the car, although it did feel a pretty accomplished sports car.

Later that year same year I drove a 718 Boxster S around the Porsche Experience Centre tracks. The first thing I noticed when I started the engine was the noise from the exhaust which must have been made more conspicuous with the roof up. I couldn’t see the Sports Exhaust switch anywhere and the accompanying instructor informed me that there wasn’t one fitted and that the noise I was hearing was from the standard exhaust. I recall saying at the time that I couldn’t live with that on a daily basis, but if I was 30 years younger……maybe. I found it to be a terrific car but I couldn’t put up with that noise for long, or was I being biased because of the fabulous sound from my 981 standard exhaust fitted with the optional twin pipes?

Last week my own 2014 981 2.7 Cayman was in for its 4 year service at PC Bolton and they kindly loaned me a gorgeous looking 17 plate 718 Boxster S in white with 6k. I started it up and there was that noise again only this time it sounded ‘livelier’ and even more so with the sports exhaust switched on. The 50 mile journey home showed me that this car was an extremely accomplished and proficient all round sport car, being much more responsive and certainly faster than my 2.7 981. But then it should be with an extra 75 bhp. It sounded like it was misfiring, firing on 3 and not 4, not just at tick over but accelerating too. I liked the car but not the accompanying sound track from the rear. Cue to listen to the football banter on Talksport!

Fuel economy was pretty poor compared to my 981 at an overall 24 mpg using a mixture of motorways and A class roads driving in the same manner that I normally drive. Not fast but then again not snail pace either. OK I had the occasional blast as I do in my car but I did expect to get more mpg that I did. My own car would get maybe 34 mpg doing the same, but on a longer run I can regularly get 40mpg plus. Maybe the 718 would return better fuel on a longer run, so the jury is out on that one.

This car had the same size wheels (20”) and tyres (Pirelli P Zero’s) as fitted to my own. At very low speeds I do get the Ackerman effect on my car as you do with most later model Porsche’s. On the 718 it was quite pronounced even when not on the full turning circle. The ride was pretty hard even in Normal mode and the tramline effect was much more pronounced than my 981.

I find the electric power steering pretty near perfectly balanced on my 981 and I have never been able to differentiate between that and the hydraulic steering system as fitted to my previous 997. The 718 had Power steering Plus which although very good made for an extremely light feel and would not be an option that I would choose. Maybe it would come into its own on a track, but it doesn’t get much praise on Pistonheads. I do understand that this can be turned off using the PWIS but that would be a waste of £185.

The 718 was fitted with the Sports Chrono package (£1271) and I did enjoy playing with the various driving modes (normal, sport, sport plus, individual) but I would only really need the 2x Sport modes on track days. Very desirable but not essential IMHO and I only used it in my 997 on track days. Its not fitted on my car but each to their own I guess.

Like most of us I am really conscious these days about getting any speeding tickets, and, probably to the annoyance of motorist who are behind me, I set my cruise control on every time I come into areas less than 60mph. On the 718 no cruise was fitted and I really missed that a lot. When I had a 996 I had it retrospectively fitted by PC Bolton and I guess the next owner of this 718 could do the same should they choose too. If only they had a device that would stop me using bus lanes my bank balance would be healthier!

I loved the new sat nav with Apple Play. Great improvement on my system although mine is still very good and I have no complaints with it.
I tried to be as objective as I could when comparing the 718 v the 981 but in the end I decided that for me the 4 cylinder model just does not cut it for me against the 6 cylinder. I don’t give 2 hoots whether it’s 4 or 6 cylinders and as great a drive as the 718 is, until Porsche can make the sound track more appealing to me (and many others) then I will stick with my 981.

I happily handed the keys back to the 718 and collected my 981 from the service chaps freshly serviced, no advisories, new MOT and two wiper blades.
I got into my car, set off towards Manchester and even with the prospect of a day’s shopping with my wife, I had a grin on my face to be happily reunited with my 981. It just felt and sounded so much better!

PS My wife loved the sound of the 718 but what does she know…………………

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks for that résumé Peter - a useful comparison based upon experience with your own 981 Cayman. However, I notice that both your 718 drives have been in Boxsters and I'm sure that you'd have had a slightly difference experience if you'd driven the "tin top", given that the fabric roof will be more transparent acoustically.

There's no doubt that the sound of the F-4 turbo engine is a bit marmite though, especially to those of us accustomed to the n/a F-6 engine, but we have to accept that it's here to stay and only time will tell if Porsche are able to refine the turbo's sound; based upon past performance, I'm sure that this aspect of the car is high on the agenda for the vehicle refinement and exhaust system development teams. Interesting to note your comments about fuel economy (once again highlighting the differences between published and real-world figures), but it was the more powerful engine; and improved emissions was one of the reasons for Porsche taking the turbo route.

Regarding your comments on the steering and handling, it sounds as though the car would have benefited from a full geo check as most Press reports comment upon the improved steering and sharper handling of the 718 over the 981.

By the way, I'm with you 100% on cruise control - my first call for a must-have option - which really should be fitted as standard on a £43k+ car.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

My wife loved the sound of the 718 but what does she know…………………

Clearly not as much as my wife, who bloody hated it! [8D]

 

[MrDemon]

Quote

“I find the electric power steering pretty near perfectly balanced on my 981 and I have never been able to differentiate between that and the hydraulic steering system as fitted to my previous 997”

Its night and day and put me off off the whole 981 model range.

its very hard for me to be nice about gen 1 EPS. So I find the review very odd.

 

[pse_SC]

Interesting write-up, Peter.

I’d agree with the sound part of course... if others can have nice sounding 4 pots, surely Porsche with their unique experience ought to be able to manage it on these? []

 

[Peter_Bull]

I find the electric power steering pretty near perfectly balanced on my 981 and I have never been able to differentiate between that and the hydraulic steering system as fitted to my previous 997

Its night and day and put me off off the whole 981 model range.

its very hard for me to be nice about gen 1 EPS. So I find the review very odd.

Hi David

I agree with your first statement exactly and that's just what I said too.

But your next two sentences seem to be a contradiction or just a typo or two.

 

[s999sws]

Yes, I can't understand what he means either.

sws

 

[penguinman]

Always good to hear different opinions and on the subject of sound, bound to be a case of 'light the blue touch paper and retire'!

I also cannot agree on the power steering subject. I started my Porsche journey with a 987 Cayman S bought new in 2007, and the Hydraulic PS on that was sublime. Then had 6 years with a 997.1 GT3, again, amazing steering feel. Felt as if you could drive over a matchstick at 8 tenths and feel it!

Now have a 981S having tried the 718. Steering is good (of it's type) , but have to say not a patch on the previous cars. Not criticism of other opinions, just adding mine.

 

[Peter_Bull]

My wife loved the sound of the 718 but what does she know…………………

Clearly not as much as my wife, who bloody hated it! [8D]

Love it!!! []

 

[ralphmusic]

You ask your wife?????

 

[tscaptain]

I think the first line of Mr D's post above should have been quotes (it's a line from Peter's original post). That said the review isn't "odd", it's a personal opinion which may differ from someone else's.

 

[kitchens]

It always does ! strange as he has a 981 Spyder at present

 

[Brian_Innes]

Good to hear other opinions on the 718. The Cayman 718S as I have specced it, does not drive like a 718 Boxster S. I say that with confidence, because I have also road tested the 718 Boxster S PDK. It's a different car for a different purpose.

On the question of exhaust sound, I know its not the best, and it doesn't sound like a Porsche should. It took me a few months to get used to its off-beat burble. But believe me when I say, you do get used to it.

I was very taken with the alternative cat-back sports valve exhaust from FVD Brombacher. Photo below. It provides a very sporty and "throaty" range of acoustics across the rev range as well as a modest power and torque gain. The thing that attracted me was that this mod is easily reversible. I would have to take the risk with the warranty. I've done 10k miles with my 718 and no issues have arisen at all. I think this exhaust would be worth a try on my 718CS. As yet I haven't taken my enquiry to FVD any further, but I am still interested. Porsche will also be working on improving the flat-4 engine exhaust note on the next evolution.

For interest, I made some enquires to FVD Brombacher recently, and asked for decibel figures at 5000 rpm. Those on the forum who know me, know I do track days with my 718CS and I was concerned about noise levels with this new exhaust. I was told by FVD Brombacher that the Sport Valve exhaust is reading over 100db with the flaps open. I am therefore concerned that the circuits I use may decline my car if fitted with this exhaust mod due to excessive noise. Most track days I attended last year have noise checks at the start of the day. It not just a case of closing the flaps, with Sport Chrono Plus selected the exhaust flaps open automatically.

I would welcome any comments on noise levels at PCGB track days, and if anybody has experienced any problems. GT3's and GT4's seem to pass the noise check ok.

Brian

 

[ralphmusic]

Brian,

I think most issues arise with drive-by rather than static tests. Some tracks have the trackside noise monitor right by the edge of the track (Donington is one I believe), others half a track width away and some tracks are closely monitored by their local authority and others can be more sanguine.

You can run Sport and Sport+ on a 981 and switch the exhaust to normal, not sure if this is possible on a 718.

You might try the track day Forum section to get views there.

 

[pse_SC]

You ask your wife?????

He obviously likes to live life dangerously

 

[rowtietowers]

Well after 3 F6 Boxster S’s all manuals (2003 -986 facelift, 2007 - 987, 2009 Gen 2 987), a brief 7 month ownership of a Macan SD, I finally swapped to a 718 Boxster (non S) with PDK last year (6 month old with big spec inc PSE, power steering plus, cruise control, sat nav etc etc).

My initial idea was to go for a 981S with PDK (our congested roads mean that manual can be a bit of a pain), decent spec to include 20 inch alloys, sat nav, leather interior, heated seats, sport chrono, PASM plus PSE would be nice, ideally in red or white. Trawling through the Porsche Centre sites, Autotrader etc etc identified that there weren’t that many to be had with low miles and the prices seemed to be holding. My wife suggested that if I went for a 981, I would be looking to change in another 2-3 years and she was right so the search then went down the 718 route. I realised an S was out of my price range so that narrowed it down to a 718 but with decent spec. Eventually I found one in PC Belfast which looked good value but I hadn’t driven a 718. I contacted PC Teesside (who we’d sold our Macan to) & they provided a 718S PDK for a lengthy test drive. OK it was an S so difficult to compare & this one had PSE, sport chrono & PASM. Initial impressions were yes the sound is different (there seemed to be a vibration from the engine bay which I didn’t like) & when you stick it in sport plus + in sport chrono, the sound is raucous to say the least (manic is probably a better description!). However, engine sound aside it was just like any other Boxster.

I have to say I’m not a huge fan of the rear end styling of the 981 and the 718 styling addresses this beautifully - a much more cohesive design with the integrated spoiler & revised lights.

So what do I think of my 718? Well the engine sound is different but not unpleasant (we’ve driven from NE England to Honfleur in France and it didn’t offend in any way - most with the roof up as it was mid October). The Sports Exhaust alright is a bit gimmicky but still great fun. We’ve added nearly 3,000 miles since August & must admit I haven’t had a chance to really stretch it yet on some nice country roads but the PDK gearbox is fantastic & the flappy paddles address the need for more involvement - traffic light Grand Prix are great fun!

The power steering plus doesn’t offend although with summer tyres, the car does tramline badly in the cold.

Fuel economy on a decent run is around 34mpg but I did actually get nearly 41mpg on a particularly leisurely run down the A1 to Doncaster & back which was amazing (probably never to be repeated!!). Around town it’s probably nearer to 27mpg which is around the same as my Gen 2 S.

Now looking forward to our 19 day tour in late June/mid July down to the South of France via Holland, Belgium & looping back via Italy & Switzerland.

Overall perfectly happy with my choice although I could hanker after a 981GTS if I get bored!

I realise this was posted in the Cayman register but the reference applies to both models.

 

[Motorhead]

If you believed all the adverse publicity surrounding the sound of the mid-engined cars' F-4 turbo engines you'd think that it was an unmitigated disaster for Porsche. Not so according to this article http://www.carmag.co.za/n...-porsche-sold-in-2017/ with year-on-year sales up 6% to about 25,000 units; although that will probably include some 981-series run-out cars too.

It probably goes to show that the mags and, in particular, forum keyboard warriors have very little or no influence on sales, valid though their comments and criticisms may be. Punters just buy what's available and if you don't like what's on offer you go elsewhere.

As time moves on the n/a cars will become a distant memory in much the same way as the air-cooled cars have now become. Except of course that with their complex electrical/electronic systems, those cars could be much more expensive to maintain long-term.

Will we be seeing a reasonable number of low mileage and well cared-for 987 and 981 Caymans and Boxsters around in enthusiasts' hands in 30-years time? I've no idea - and I doubt I'll be around to see it - but I hope that Porsche will still be trying to sell proper sports cars, even if they are electrically propelled. But that's entirely another issue..!

Jeff

 

[Brian_Innes]

Well said Jeff.

Fact: I'm not averse to change. Porsche don't make bad cars. Like all car manufacturers, Porsche are compelled to adhere to ever more stringent emissions legislation and political directives, no matter how unsavoury these may be for the driving enthusiast. The flat-4 turbo is merely a stop-gap power unit until full electric propulsion takes over.

The glorious flat-6's will remain supreme for many enthusiasts, but as the demographic profile changes with passing of time, the n/a flat-6's will simply join the ranks of the classic car shows and historic events such as Goodwood and Silverstone Classic.

Porsche Mission E is going live in production in 2019-20 and this focus will rapidly gather momentum. Also, Porsche's participation in Formula E in 2019 will accelerate electric road car development apace. We had all better get used to it, electric is the future. I just wish the support infrastructure, i.e. charging stations and the national grid, will be ready for the shift from petrol power to electric......and I don't just mean in the cities. Rural areas and remote parts of the country also need to be included.

The flat-4 turbo v flat-6 n/a debate will become a distant memory. Albeit a nostalgic one.

Brian

 

[tscaptain]

As time moves on the n/a cars will become a distant memory in much the same way as the air-cooled cars have now become.

The air cooled cars aren't a distant memory here - there's one in the garage[] (Alongside the 5L V8 dinosaur..)

 

[MrDemon]

I find the electric power steering pretty near perfectly balanced on my 981 and I have never been able to differentiate between that and the hydraulic steering system as fitted to my previous 997

Its night and day and put me off off the whole 981 model range.

its very hard for me to be nice about gen 1 EPS. So I find the review very odd.

Hi David

I agree with your first statement exactly and that's just what I said too.

But your next two sentences seem to be a contradiction or just a typo or two.

The 1st line should have been a quote,

the next two lines are in relpy to it and hence any one who cannot tell eps from the older system makes me not take any of the rest of the review serious.