Selo

Love the way my Porsches handle, but also love the HP of my Shelby.
Both are fun around town. In some ways the big hp is more fun. Any straight road without traffic can accommodate a quick burst of acceleration, but in order to appreciate a Porsche's handling prowess, it takes some good Twisties. Hard to come by for me, without a fair amount of time invested to get there.

cobalt

I find it interesting that some seem to think that those who choose the 981 over the 718 are saying the 718 is an inferior car. I believe the 718 is a fantastic car however it is not the 981GTS. The 718 is faster when on it hard but the experience to me is lacking when your not pushing it 100% of the time. I really enjoy my 981GTS 6 speed. No doubt a PDK would be quicker and more capable. For me the 981GTS offers me a more all around enjoyable experience.

I really wanted to like the 718 as much as the new turbo Cayenne V6's but no matter how many times I drive them they just miss the mark for me. Although if I had a car to drive just for driving pleasure any of my air-cooled 911's would be my first choice hands down. The GTS and my C2 are pretty closely matched. My lap times on track are not much different and I have to work much harder to make the C2 keep the same pace but what I get from it is far superior in ways that numbers don't measure.

Everyone has different opinions and reasoning for buying these cars. When I specked out a 718 to my likes I was well over 6 figures. I can't justify spending that much on a car like a 718S. If it was truly an $80k car all in that might change my mind but where the 718 excels over the 981 it also looses out IMO in other ways. I weighed my pros and cons and quickly came to a conclusion that I and my wife agreed to without hesitation.

I hear that Porsche is already working on ways to bring the V8 and boxer 6 back . It may or may not happen. Until then I will stick with what fills all of my criteria better and that is the 981GTS. I will still appreciate the 718 when I see one as I do all Porsche's and I have no doubt the owner of the 718 will be enjoying his or her ride.

Phil G.

There are a number of advantages of the 718 over the 981. Faster, better steering, braking etc. But, I just can't see trading my 981S for the new model. $5K more base price for a four cylinder just doesn't make sense to me. I agree with Cobalt that if a 718S is well equipped, you can push the price up to six figures, which gets you into 991 territory. I'm an older Porsche guy and for me (call me a purist), and as good as the new car is, and it is certainly a fine car, just the music from the NA six is enough to sway me. Along with the simpler, more classic Porsche look. Each to his own.

jeff0271

Have had a base and an S. The sound does grow on you from the 4 and I do like the engine. I have the base 718.

cobalt

I have the full performance package on my GTS with the spot exhaust, suspension, interior steering wheel etc. I have to say it is a close second to my 964 C2 for ultimate sound. But my C2 has a modified exhaust. I highly recommend the sport exhaust upgrade. I was also told that the 3.8 plenum upgrade will make a huge difference but honestly the car is fast enough for what it is.

I had a base 981 as well and it was a great ride. All you really need for street driving and is more of a drivers car requiring more involvement in keeping the power up but I only buy manual tranny cars.

LewSF

I'm finding this 718S to be quicker to checkpoints along the twisty Hwy1 in CA N of Jenner to be quicker than my 2010 GT3....up to 1 min quicker on a 20 mile stretch ave 60mph....19 min vs 20 min....and 4 min quicker over a 55 mile stretch of road. No doubt the reality of upgrades in handling and shifting with PDK over a 7 year period.

I will say, however, it may have a little too much low end torque. I'm used to going for it to get into the torque and power bands and prefer the higher revving NA but this is a good fix in many ways. I've learned to drive it in the range where I can benefit from engine braking and throttle steering...a lot of 2nd and some third gear thru the twistys....with RPMs that may be a little over the torque back side of the curve. It's fun when you can sort it out.....but the mpg sux in that arena. I will say this car is much like my 430 SCUD except in engine noise.

And, about the noise, if you drive it with RPM's up there its fine...if not a little annoying. Perhaps the note needs to be tuned. But not louder. Maybe louder at 2000 RPM...but its nice to have a quieter car in traffic in some ways.

Push a 718 and you'll have fun! I'll trade it when my allotment comes up for the GT4..or whatever they will call it. NA and manual for me!

jeff0271

Although I love the 718 I am selling mine if anyone is interested lol. Boxsters are not good for infants lol.

MJBird993

They can't reach the pedals.

randr

I own a 981 GTS and as good as it is, the 718S is a better drive (I have logged the friction circles of both).

sl951

Since the 718 introduction last June - the month-to-month sales in the USA have been down compared to the 981 (reference PCA Pano Sales figures)... I don't think you can blame the economy, customers seemed to have spoken, they don't like the 718 as much. Specifically they probably don't like spending that much for a 4-turbo.

06C2s

^^^not sure about this, I believe the GT4 #'s are included in the 981 sales and think that might have skewed them a bit

JCtx

And first year models typically enjoy the highest sales numbers, as everybody wants the latest. But it can go 2 ways after that. Worse, which is the typical scenario. Or better, once 981s are out of showrooms, and folks accept the new configuration. To me, the 2 main changes were deal-breakers by themselves, let alone combined: 4-banger and turbo. I'm in the minority on the latter one, but HATE how turbos drive (not linear, with too much low-rpm TQ), especially for a sports car. But the former is a problem not only for us who have sampled the awesome NA F6, but for the price asked for a 4-banger turbo, which can be found on almost every car now. Only time will tell how sales figures turn out in the future. Hopefully those numbers don't reflect 'punched' cars (sold on paper, but not sold), or it'd be worse than it seems. We'll find out in another year how this model was really received. Hopefully it'll improve, but I will not help with that.

LewSF

All the new Porsche vehicles with turbo have the low end torque. It's the future. Learn to drive one and to milk it for what it has. Great fun. I prefer the NA as well but these cars deserve serious consideration. People who haven't driven them are weighing in and creating nonsense on the net. Try one first. Porsche deserves that from you anyways.

Selo

Many on the forum agree that when built out generously, the 718s approach or exceed the six figure mark, and many of us don't see the value at that cost.
But taken the other way around, looking at the low end, I'm able to build a base Cayman manual with a few key options for MSRP around 63, maybe purchase at 60 or less. No PASM, no SC, no PSE......Is the car good enough in base form, without these extra cost doodads, to justify this price?

jeff0271

No they cannot lol