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The GTS sounds even bass-ier and louder and more racy than the sport exhaust 718S. Sport chrono’s Sport Plus mode with exhaust on and dials cranked all the way up is a really fun ride.
The GTS will, on a track, lap faster than most of the regular 991.2’s, the same way a GT4 is better than most 991.1. Torque/ weight ratio 718 GTS> 991.1
I drove the car for 3 days in June on the Targa Florio while filming a spot for Porsche. We drove it months before press rides etc. was really cool to share the experience with Dario Franchitti.
Sadly we have only been awarded one slot so far in our Q1 allocation pool at my dealership. Anyone wants PTS on it let me know!
I have a 718 Boxster GTS on order that is scheduled for production on December 15th. This is my fifth Porsche after a 987 2009 Boxster, a 2012 Cayman R, a 2015 991 GT3 and a 2016 991 GT3 RS. All of them have seen lots of Track Days. The 718 GTS will be attending numerous Track Days as well.
The Poll did not have a "Ordered One" option, however the 718 GTS interested me enough that I bought one.
Last edited by John Elliot; 11-26-2017 at 09:30 PM.
Knowing that the next Spyder is around the corner, and how world-class the experience of the previous one was.. why would anyone not just skip the gts branding exercise and just wait for the Spyder?
Knowing that the next Spyder is around the corner, and how world-class the experience of the previous one was.. why would anyone not just skip the gts branding exercise and just wait for the Spyder?
maybe timing and $?
Spyder is over a year away and my gut tells me the Spyder will be taking a huge price jump from the $82k 981 base. I wouldn’t be surprise if it based around $102k... if it gets the GT4 suspension/wheels/tires and a lower reving GT3 4.0.
Its been over a year since I drove the 718S Cayman. I thought it was an excellent sports car, markedly improved handling, braking and acceleration. The GTS will turn it up another notch.
Also, I'm not sure the GT4/Spyder is/are relevant - different types of car with different purposes in mind.
The GTS in the Cayster range is a sweet spot, much as the GTS in the 991 range is a sweet spot.
Interesting - Motor Trend named the Cayman S as #2 in it's 2017 Best Driver's Car competition. It just bested the Porsche 911 Turbo S and the winner was (ta - ta) the Ferrari 488 GTB. Just sayin'...
I have not driven the 718 yet, and as good as it is (no one doubts that), the idea of spending $100K or thereabouts for a turbocharged four cylinder Porsche is just something I can't see myself doing.
Totally agree! In the past I’ve gone back and forth between Boxster S and 911s (1980 911SC Targa, 2006 C2S Cab).
New Boxsters are not on my radar anymore. I drove 2 718s (one S, one non S) at Porsche Parade and was turned off by what I’d call a lack of linear feeling of power.
Might just be me, but that video seems terribly edited and doesn't do the car any favors... clips are smashed together and overlapping, and it seems like the vast majority of the sound outside of the car the driver is shifting at ~3500 rpm.
Start the vid at ~5:02 and there's sound from inside the car that actually is indicative of what I imagine most enthusiasts are looking for... but again it's only from inside the car. I've driven a base Cayman with the 2.0 liter and can attest it sounds (and drives) pretty damn good from inside the car... it would be nice if I could find a clip of the GTS being driven actually aggressively from outside the car. This clip doesn't seem to get it done.
That said, the 4 cylinders can be made to sound quite great if I'm honest through the aftermarket... but it's important to NOT place the qualifier of "better than a 981". It does RESEMBLE a Subaru but it's got its own distinct sound. Here's a pretty good example (Fabspeed)-
. For me, it's tough to argue that the sound from that car would be a detriment to the driving experience at all... as long as you're not comparing it to a 981. Most people did that with the F80/82 M3/4 as well. The turbo 6 doesn't sound as good as the V8, but that doesn't mean it sounds terrible either.
Also, for reference, I literally just bought a 981 BGTS a week ago and am beside myself with how pleased I am with it... but I DEEPLY considered a 718, and am sure would have been just as if not even more happy with my decision had I gone that route.
Do I thoroughly enjoy the sound from the flat 6 in my car? ABSOLUTELY. But I also made the concession of buying a used car and all that goes along with that... you just simply can't walk into a dealer and order a brand new GTS with a flat 6 exactly how you want it any more... and that's almost what I did with a 718. For me, this 981 made more sense for a variety of reasons that aren't relevant to this discussion but I wouldn't fault anyone in the slightest for getting a brand new one... so I correctly polled myself as owning a 981 and yet interested in a 718 GTS (although no, I certainly won't be buying one any time in the near or mid future...).
I, for one, don't understand why Porsche didn't make the 718 sound like a true flat-4, even if it sounded like a Subaru. Subarus with their STi performance exhaust sound really good; not 981 good, but the heck of a lot better than a 718. And Porsche first came out with a flat-4, so they wouldn't really be copying anybody. Oh well; their loss. The 718 doesn't sound terrible, but definitely not inspiring at all IMO.
..............and it seems like the vast majority of the sound outside of the car the driver is shifting at ~3500 rpm.
............... there's sound from inside the car that actually is indicative of what I imagine most enthusiasts are looking for... but again it's only from inside the car....................
....................but that doesn't mean it sounds terrible either.
...............
Agree; this clip sounds good. But, he was running through low-speed neighborhoods and short-shifting! Would want to know how it sounds at or near redline (even if the power peaks well before that). As for the sound inside, don't these cars have sound symposer? wouldn't that be kinda cheating or masking the issue?
Agree; this clip sounds good. But, he was running through low-speed neighborhoods and short-shifting! Would want to know how it sounds at or near redline (even if the power peaks well before that). As for the sound inside, don't these cars have sound symposer? wouldn't that be kinda cheating or masking the issue?
It does sound a bit artificial but sound symposers are the norm these days... my STI had one (that was removed with the installation of an aftermarket intake, and then sounded better), my m4 ran it through the speakers, and even the 981 GTS apparently has one as well. I suppose the consensus is that if it's "real engine noise" and not piped through the speakers, it's ok?
For what it's worth, I wasn't offended and in fact never really thought twice about the sound from the M4 and even enjoyed hearing it with the windows down. I guess I'm in the minority. I also think the 981 and the E90/92 M3 are some of the best sounding cars on the planet, but don't hold that against the cars that came after them.