mrrippey

Currently have a 718 Boxster S. and thinking of upgrading to either a Spyder, GTS 4.0 or a base 911. I love the way the 718 drives so that is very important to me. Would love to hear how you all like the 911?

Rippey

Carrera-T

Having owned and driven both, I have to admit that the 718 is the better handling sports car. The 911 has grown in size and is now more of a GT. With that said, I have a 911 because it’s a 911. Amazing driving cars too, with handling much improved as the engine has moved forward and over the rear axle. In the hands of a skilled driver, the 911 is a real weapon.

casaforte9

718 , due to its mid engine design is more go cart like. The 911 experience is different but equally enjoyable and may be more but at a much higher price

gcurnew

I've spent a fair bit of time in various 718 Ss, and have nothing but love for the platform. In fact, we are considering ordering an S with the Turbo 4 for European delivery next year to own alongside the 992 C4, assuming COVID gets tamed, and we can scare up an allocation. Even in base form, the 992 is more or less equivalent performance-wise to the 718 S in-day-to-day use, but with flat-six goodness and an (almost) iconic exhaust note. It's more comfortable, better as a long-distance car than a Cayman or Boxster, and while it gives up a tiny bit of nimbleness in some situations to the mid-engine platform, when run hard the 992 is actually a more visceral and connected driving experience in my view. It's easy to run a 718 at 8/10ths and feel like you're wholly responsible for it feeling planted and neutral; in the 992 (especially with PSM off) it takes a bit more skill to not upset the car at pace, and control the slight tail-wagging that's possible. Mastering slow-ish in/fast out of corners is a LOT more fun in the 992 (or any 911) than in the mid-engine cars which feel benign and a bit numb by comparison when pushed hard. As for the 718 Spyder, GTS 4.0 or even the GT4...well, I'm afraid that for me the wail at high RPM just doesn't make up for the lack of torque at low RPM. I'm spoiled by Porsche Turbos - the 992 especially, but I also appreciate the character. usability, the flexibility, and even the unique, gruff sound of the 2.5 T - and have no interest in a NA car from Porsche. Bottom line is that a base 992 with PSE sounds as good to my ears as any of the NA 718 sixes, and will outperform them on all fronts...especially if you go with a C4 with PTV+.

3rdpedal

I have only test driven a 718 S and was so sure I wanted one. Sure on some level I still do. My problem was that the 718 is a 2 seater and I have a 13 year old and an 11 year old (who were 11 and 9 at the time I drove the 718). To have a daily driver when I would need to cart them around or pick them up from school and things like that, obviously a 2 seater was a non-starter. So I bought a used 997.1 4S Cab almost 2 years ago. Manual. Great car, great handling. My only issue is that it is a Cab and I really wanted a Coupe but I went for a local buy. Since then I've become a big fan of course of the 911 and I'm not sure I could go for 718. I do like the idea of the nimbler tighter handling car and of course the 991 and 992 911s are more GT than my 997 is. My car is more like a 718 I suspect.

Yet I've got the 992 bug and I've got an allocation on a 992 that freezes soon. Having only driven the PDK, I am hoping the transmission on the 992 Manual is everything the reviews rave about. And that the refinement of it, especially more stable handling and ride as well as the more modern interior will offset the GTishness of the 992 vs. my 997.

Also I was never a huge fan of the 996 egg-lights and of course the 718s are similar to that. And I think that the 718 is more like a go-kart. But I wonder, should I give up my allocation and try to get an allocation for a GTS 4.0??? The price point on the GTS 4.0 narrows the gap between the 718 and 992 C2S and I still lose the backseats... I don't imagine I could consider the 718 after having owned a 911.

AlexCeres

“Depends”

you should test drive a few. The base 992 is going to be a pretty sweet highway car. And have more torque. The most comfortable of the bunch and still very fast. The spyder will feel more special, but the suspension will also be a bit stiffer. The gts 4.0 is an extremely nice in between

mrcarlo

Before getting my 992 C2 last May, I owned a base 718 Cayman. For me they are very different cars, the 718 was so much fun around town but on long freeway hauls it could be a bit "darty" kinda like it was always looking to get into a fight. For me the 992 has been a better fit since I log most of time pounding the cement freeways in Southern California. The 992 is more stable, comfortable and quieter than the 718. A true GT car, but it can still rip up the roads when needed.

craig66

Just traded my 718 for a 992 and am thrilled. As others have said. the 718 was more go cart like but not always in a good way. In spirited driving it was perhaps a little more nimble but you also felt that you were in a less substantial car. The 992 is more bloated but somehow it feels almost as nimble and there are certain curves and corners that I take on a daily basis with both that frankly feel more fun in my 992.

I had a base 718 Boxster and have a C2 Coupe and frankly for the kind of roads I drive the power on the C2 is awesome but sometimes almost too much power. Roads that I would really be able to rev up in 3rd or 4th in my Boxster I find often having to shift to upshift in the 992 and cut back on the pedal as 992 would actually have me at too fast a speed. I drive PDK in manual almost all the time. There is no question in my mind that the 992 is the better car and the minor difference in handling is more than overcome by the other delights of the 992.

Now is the 992 $30K - 70K better than the 992. Possibly not but remember that the depreciation on a 718 is so much more dramatic and so a 992 owner selling after 4 years might land up having paid the same price for entry as a 718 owner selling after 4 years. At the 718 GTS level price differences are not going to be that dramatic.

KG-Virus

I currently daily drive a base 981 cayman and my base 992 arrives in less than a month. When I test drove the 992 for the first time the difference was night and day. You'd think handling would be bad because of the rear engine but the car was planted and handled as expected from a Porsche with an amazing performance. I was going to buy a GT4 but after sitting in the 992, the GT4's interior felt 10 years old, The interior in the 992 feels more luxurious, spacious, futurestic, and comfortable.

If you're not buying the car for daily driving then the spyder is an amazing weekend car in my opinion otherwise, 911 is the way to go.
make adequate research before buying and good luck

mrrippey

I did forget to mention that this is my daily car and whatever I get would be a daily driver. Im running around town, drive into NYC weekly on the weekends. That is what kinda scares me away from the Spyder (manual top, super stiff) but I also know that car is special and my NYC runs would be even more epic than they are now.

I think my 718 is super useful, I goto the supermarket with it any everything. I rarely carry people. Usually alone or my wife (but shes getting an X2M (after a JCW Mini Countryman) so she will have her own fun...).

Ill have to test drive a 992. Was thinking maybe wait for the 911T which should be in the low $100k's when it comes out.

The GTS 4.0 would be my compromise or if Im
impatient I guess.

thanks all, much appreciated

phaser

^^^^This.
The 718 Base and "S" models are unacceptable with a 4 cylinder engine that sounds terrible.
US sales of these cars have been in the toilet, maybe a return to 6 cylinders in the GTS and GT4 will help the 718's cause. All of these cars are just way to small for my tastes.

michael818

To answer your question. I sold my 991.1 for an Audi RS3. I liked that car but missed my Porsche and sold it for a 718CGTS. After about 18 months in the 718, I realized that I much prefer the 911 and purchased a 992C2S. My car is a DD and, in my opinion, the 992 is a superior car for daily driving. It is more comfortable, sounds better and is faster. The cockpit is roomier and the electronics are superior. As far as handling - the 718 was good and the mid-engine platform might be better in a track setting but meaningless, to me. in daily driving or even weekend driving. There is nothing that my 718 could do that the 992 can't do on a daily basis. I really like the 718 platform and the sound issue is very subjective. I didn't hate the sound. On long drives it did drone a bit. I had no problem with the power delivery and the CGTS was probably as fast as my 991. I think it comes down to your own feelings - test the 911 is bigger and more a GT car these days but what's wrong with that? It is more capable than I actually need, is a timeless design and, for now, remains the halo car of the lineup. Theres nothing wrong with the 718 platform and it is a lot of fun to drive but, to me, Porsche means 911.

AlexCeres

you seem to have a pretty good handle on the decision. Balancing that is a very personal decision. Folks daily a Spyder, but it requires some commitment. I drive a gt4 several days a week. It’s very special but some of that is lost on the highway. Not in its element. it takes a special car to out do most 911s on the track, hills, and canyons, and the trade off is its a bit high strung just cruising. The suspension is a lot stiffer than a 992. I like that, but plenty of people don’t. The gts 4.0 has the same glorious engine, but a more compliant suspension. It dials down track focus for a little more normal.

The 992 is really something. It isn’t quite as special as the Spyder but has a broader range of talents. And the turbo gives it a lot more low end torque. It’ll be easier to drive casually. It’s a big step up from the 991 generation.

all these cars are fast. For a solo daily, I’d personally rank these 992, gts 4.0, spyder. You should definitely test drive a 992. I really like the cayman platform, but if I couldn’t have a gt4, I think the 992 is probably the all around better daily than the gts 4.0. You’d have to really really want a naturally aspirated car or a mid engine car.

.2PDK

They should all be destroyed on sight and with extreme prejudice.

Mercuriell

My wife just traded in her MB C300 Cab yesterday and drove home in her ‘base’ 718 - she’s used to driving my previous 992 and current GT4 - I have never seen her so happy and I don’t mind it either - I don’t think there’s really a bad P out there - different courses for different horses / not everyone want butt-wrenching acceleration and an ear splitting exhaust note at 9k revs !