WSJ: The Sultrier Snarl of the Turbo Porsche Boxster
08-02-2016, 06:30 PM
#16
Here's one that is a lot less verbose: http://www.motortrend.com/cars/porsc...-drive-review/
08-02-2016, 07:36 PM
#17
Rennlist Member
Maybe he has just done his homework better than other journalists 
Porsche's mid-engined sportscars come in small numbers compared to the huge fleet of "trucks" providing a much more efficient lever for bringing down the fleet fuel consumption.
Actually one of the Porsche executives in charge of the 718 program spilled the beans in an interview with a german mag:
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/porsc...t-8432237.html
Excerpt: "Die Ausgangslage war komplex", erinnert sich Projektleiter Jan Roth. "Zum einen ging es darum, den Abstand zwischen den Mittelmotor- und Heckmotor-Sportwagen zu vergrößern. Zum anderen hätte der Sechszylinder-Turbo im 718 gar keinen Platz gehabt.
Translation: the task at hand was complex. On the one hand we had to increase the distance between the mid-engined and rear-engined sportscars. On the other hand the six cylinder turbo would not have fitted into the 718 chassis.
Regardless of performance figures the downsizing from 6 to 4 cylinders obviously fulfills the marketing driven requirement "to increase the distance".
The Boxster has grown up over the last 20 years whereas the huge price gap vs. the big brother remained. The new fuel efficiency requirements came in handy for telling a nice story why the 718 had to be fitted with a 4-banger and most journos simply repeated this part of the story without mentioning the other part of the story. IMHO the argument that a 6-flat turbo does not fit the car due to packaging issues does not hold much water either. Porsche claims the 718 is a new model rather than a facelift. My eyes see a facelift only...If they really would have introduced a new model they could have redesigned the car in a way which allowed to fit a flat-six turbo.
Porsche's mid-engined sportscars come in small numbers compared to the huge fleet of "trucks" providing a much more efficient lever for bringing down the fleet fuel consumption.
Actually one of the Porsche executives in charge of the 718 program spilled the beans in an interview with a german mag:
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/porsc...t-8432237.html
Excerpt: "Die Ausgangslage war komplex", erinnert sich Projektleiter Jan Roth. "Zum einen ging es darum, den Abstand zwischen den Mittelmotor- und Heckmotor-Sportwagen zu vergrößern. Zum anderen hätte der Sechszylinder-Turbo im 718 gar keinen Platz gehabt.
Translation: the task at hand was complex. On the one hand we had to increase the distance between the mid-engined and rear-engined sportscars. On the other hand the six cylinder turbo would not have fitted into the 718 chassis.
Regardless of performance figures the downsizing from 6 to 4 cylinders obviously fulfills the marketing driven requirement "to increase the distance".
The Boxster has grown up over the last 20 years whereas the huge price gap vs. the big brother remained. The new fuel efficiency requirements came in handy for telling a nice story why the 718 had to be fitted with a 4-banger and most journos simply repeated this part of the story without mentioning the other part of the story. IMHO the argument that a 6-flat turbo does not fit the car due to packaging issues does not hold much water either. Porsche claims the 718 is a new model rather than a facelift. My eyes see a facelift only...If they really would have introduced a new model they could have redesigned the car in a way which allowed to fit a flat-six turbo.
I'll just stick with the "it's technically better than the .1 version", then, and leave it at that.
08-02-2016, 08:03 PM
#18
Dan Neil was the longtime auto writer for the LA Times and won a Pulitzer there for automotive journalism. I guarantee he's driven more Porsches than 99% of folks on this board, he's well respected in automotive circles, and if you've read his other reviews you'd know he's not the type to pull punches if a car sucks.
Personally I'm withholding judgement on the 718 until I drive it myself. Judging a car solely based on the number of cylinders (as a lot of the Porsche brethren seem to want to do) is just silly.
Personally I'm withholding judgement on the 718 until I drive it myself. Judging a car solely based on the number of cylinders (as a lot of the Porsche brethren seem to want to do) is just silly.
08-06-2016, 07:42 PM
#19
That's almost an insult to the intelligence
... to those who offend easily. Ha ha. But all manufacturers pull that crap, thinking people are stupid and will believe whatever they say. As we all know, the 718 is simply a 981.2 (typical facelift) with an engine change, so attaching the history of the 718 to the new car was sacrilege IMO. And the worst case of marketing hype I've seen in a long time. And by looking under the engine of my Cayman, I'd bet my house a smaller H6T would definitely fit. Worst case scenario would have been a slightly smaller rear storage compartment (like from 987 to 981), but I really doubt that. Porsche simply wanted to downgrade the 981s, since people like me know there's absolutely no reason to buy a more expensive 911 when a Cayman GTS is the best Porsche to own. Glad I was able to ****** one of the last GTSs; it was the last chance to own one Porsche in my life, so mission accomplished.
... to those who offend easily. Ha ha. But all manufacturers pull that crap, thinking people are stupid and will believe whatever they say. As we all know, the 718 is simply a 981.2 (typical facelift) with an engine change, so attaching the history of the 718 to the new car was sacrilege IMO. And the worst case of marketing hype I've seen in a long time. And by looking under the engine of my Cayman, I'd bet my house a smaller H6T would definitely fit. Worst case scenario would have been a slightly smaller rear storage compartment (like from 987 to 981), but I really doubt that. Porsche simply wanted to downgrade the 981s, since people like me know there's absolutely no reason to buy a more expensive 911 when a Cayman GTS is the best Porsche to own. Glad I was able to ****** one of the last GTSs; it was the last chance to own one Porsche in my life, so mission accomplished.
08-06-2016, 09:19 PM
#20
Errrr, it's not a new model even though it has an entirely new motor, almost entirely new sheet metal on the car, new steering rack, new suspension, new brake options, new PCM...?
What about the car is the same that would lead you to believe it's just a .2 facelift?
What about the car is the same that would lead you to believe it's just a .2 facelift?
08-06-2016, 10:48 PM
#21
That's an easy answer. That he doesn't own one.
08-07-2016, 10:34 PM
#22
And never will because I'm not interested
. Recently paid 100 grand for my fully-optioned 2016 Cayman GTS, and that's the only Porsche I'll ever own because it's the only one that interests me.
