[photonscience]

With all the negative comments about the turbo4 718, not surprised that the sales are not growing. As a long time Porsche 911 owner and a CTGS owner, I enjoyed my test drive, was impressed with the car and ordered a 718BS. Perhaps when more of us "early adopters" get our cars, hopefully love them and say so, the negativity will be muted and sales will pick up.

 

[photonscience]

Sounds like a great name for a rock group: "Opinionated Phallus" and their no. 1 hit : "Stop Dickin' Me Around"

 

[photonscience]

Where has it been confirmed that the 718 base has better performance than a 981S?

"Knock, Knock"
"Who's there"
"Says"
"Says Who?"
"All the REVIEWERS"

(with apologies to Brianna Keilar and Michael Cohen)

 

[photonscience]

I've read Porsche reviews for decades, this is new...It was just startling.....First year sales in production cycles usually are peak sales as everyone rushes to get the new model.

I was surprised by the negativity of the EVO article as well. I've always embraced EVO's reviews and thought they were fair and well represented. But as an owner of a '15 CGTS (as well as 991 Turbo S and R8 V10+), I had a completely different reaction to the time I spent in a 718 BS. I liked it tremendously and ordered one. I too have read Porsche reviews for decades (I've continually owned Porsches for 45 years), so I must agree about the word "startling" with regard to this EVO article.

I think it's fair to assume that Porsche is not happy about any negative press that the 718 has received (though most of the reviews I have read are overwhelmingly positive). I am sure that they are hard at work to improve the cars NVH issues. Therefore, I'd suggest that the sales of 718 may follow a different trajectory, and may ramp up as the car is further improved and the din created by the loss of the 6 cylinder engine subsides. Time will tell.

 

[photonscience]

... evocative (however you want to define that)... I'm talking about the dramatic reduction from 981 to 718, not the slight (if any) reduction from 987 to 981.

"Evocative" - as you said - "however you want to define that". The torque and steering feel of the 718S was plenty evocative to me. - not so to EVO, I guess.

 

[photonscience]

That is why , I have been saying that, in my opinion, the degradation to 4 cylinders and concomitant increase in price is going to kill the model, finally.

Cheers

In my opinion, your definition of "degradation" is different than mine

The Volvo S90 and Porsche 718 Sports Cars Provide Insight Into the Downsized Future ? Feature ? Car and Driver

 

[photonscience]

Having spent silly amounts of my remaining life reading, seeing and listening to everything about the 718, I get the feeling that the early articles were more negative and more current articles are much kinder. This could be the early shock of change in the engine sound (ala EVO) and the later acknowledgement that the 718 is a damn fine car, regardless of sound.

 

[photonscience]

NEWS FLASH:

1443 posts and we now can agree that some people don't like the 718 sound.

If this is new news to you, you're welcome.

Question: Should we start another thread entitled "Best 718 Reviews" or simply move this "worst" thread to where it belongs, to the 98x Board so that those with the older cars can continue their haranguing.

 

[photonscience]

It would be nice if we 981 owners could talk about what we want

You already have that - called the 986/987/981 subsites. I'm just suggesting that all the 718 negativity be continued over there.

 

[photonscience]

Be careful what you wish for. Before this thread collected all the negativity, every thread was full of negative posts. I find the 718 forum much more useful now that the complaints are (mostly) concentrated in one easily avoided thread.

Besides, critical or negative reviews can be informative and useful, even to those of us who like the 718. So I am glad the latest review was posted, even if it's only somewhat glowing...

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

I had suggested to both the moderator and the founder of this site that they take the EVO review and just add it to the "assemble 718 reviews here" thread. It's just another review, albeit quite dramatic. I think that the negativity towards the 718 peaked months ago and as more actual owners started posting overwhelming positive reviews (in addition to journalist reviews that have become increasingly more positive) the swell of negativity in the posts has subsided. Bottom line: I think this "worst..." thread has run its course, should be eliminated, and the EVO reviews should just be part of the review assemblage.

 

[photonscience]

In that article, here's Chris Walton's comments: "The 718 Boxster’s more powerful, more fuel-efficient four-cylinder turbocharged engine outperforms the old 981’s atmospheric flat-six. It doesn’t sound like a 911 because, imagine this, it is not a 911. With our Boxster S’ optional sport exhaust, the engine has texture, a guttural voice, and attitude usually reserved for V-8 cars and V-twin motorcycles. It reminds me of the my first ride in an owner-massaged 914 in the ’70s. It was bored out and had a giant Weber, headers, and minimal mufflers. That car, like this 718, had a genuine personality. Reserve your judgment and trolling until you drive or merely hear one under load."

BTW, Jason Cammisa, who wrote the rebuttal damning the Boxster's engine, rated the Fiat 124 above the Boxster S and the BMW M2, so you can draw your own conclusions.

As far as 92K for the Boxster, that car had 23K worth of options - very nice, not necessary. BTW my '15 CGTS cost in the mid 80's.

So conclusion: 98x owners apparently love their cars and 718 owners apparently love their cars. Equipoise.

 

[photonscience]

Last sentence of the article probably says it best.

Regardless, the Cayman remains among the best driver’s cars you can buy at any price.

Too bad the controversy over the turbo 4 has interfered with what is really essence of these superb automobiles. I dislike the sound of the four and I don't particularly like forced induction, especially when justified as a measure to reduce emissions, but its still a Cayman or Boxster.

The move to 4 cylinder has at least 3 purposes: 1) an entry point to Porsche vehicles for enthusiasts coming from less expensive 4 cylinder cars 2) in ROW - handle the tax/displacement issues 3) in U.S. - reduce the overlap of the entry level cars with the more profitable 911 (i.e., you want the classic Porsche flat 6, you gonna pay for it).

I don't think it has much to do with gas mileage or emissions at all.

 

[photonscience]

The tea was scrumptious.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Three comments:

1) Tea? Perhaps she meant "t" as in turbo?
2) Finally, a positive 718 review by a UK reviewer.
3) Verily, the worst review evah.

 

[photonscience]

Worst 718 review that has any real credibility .....from a top Porsche salesman...
Ready to close out this topic. Next.

Curious - do you always base conclusions on a sample of one ? But can't argue with the conclusion - time to close out this ridiculous topic

 

[photonscience]

And don't keep bringing it up. Subshooter is free to post his experience as is anyone else.

Of course he is free to express his opinion. Where did I say that he shouldn't? And I didn't bring up closing this thread - he brought it up, and I simply agreed with him.

And as far as this thread is concerned, I'm too am expressing my opinion.

 

[photonscience]

...Sorry guys...

First let me express another opinion - you are a gentleman.

My comments are pure speculation, but I think even the 718 with a 6 cylinder engine wouldn't be setting the US sales numbers on fire. The Macan fills such a sweet spot (the "sports car" of SUVs, whether it is true or not) and it is priced similarly as a 718. It allows families to drive a sporty Porsche from both a price point and utility perspective and therefore has changed the sales trajectory of the Boxster/Cayman. I have owned 986, 987 and 981 cars and loved them all. I will soon own a 718 S (the RoRo with my car has just landed in Davisville) and I'm sure I will love it as well, but in reality I'm not sure that Porsche needs the Boxster/Cayman anymore - they have the Macan, a killer product positioned at a very attractive price point

 

[photonscience]

For anyone new to Planet 9 718 board, I'd like to sum up this 1600 post thread:

"The 718 Sucks"
"The 718 is Great"
"My SUV can handle more dirt than your Boxster"
"I've shoveled more dirt than you"

Now, can we move on and discuss who's gonna win the basketball championship.

 

[photonscience]

I just went back to the original post from a year ago (the EVO review) and the early follow up comments made here after that original post. And now, after 1000 miles in the 718 Boxster S, I kind of just shake my head in amazement. I love this car - it's as good if not better than most of the Porsches I've owned. And, actually, it sounds a heck of a lot better than the stock exhaust in my 991 Turbo S (yes, opinion). So I ask myself, what am I missing - I mean, how could I be so wrong to enjoy this car so much when it was so damned by EVO etc.?

I wonder if I had read that article initially would I have ever test driven the 718 - what a shame if others choose to pass on the 718 because of it.

 

[photonscience]

Well, we all have opinions, so here's mine: 4 cylinder engines, sound, "poor" reviews (lol), price may be somewhat contributory, but the "real" culprit is saturation.

Simply put, the market for sports cars is not expanding, and at the same time manufacturers have made available an increasing number of quality products at the sub 100K price point. There is simply less market opportunity for any one model. Bottom line, I postulate that if the 718 had a 6 cylinder howling, wailing engine, the numbers would be the same.

BTW - here are corvette U.S. numbers:

2014 34,839
2015 33,299
2016 29,995
2017 (to date) 8560 (-10% from same time 2016)

Notice a trend?

All that's important (to me) is that the 718 is one heck of a fine Porsche.

 

[photonscience]

I checked the inventories of the 718 Boxsters at three dealers in my area. The prices for the base cars averaged mid to upper $60K (one was mid $70Ks) and the S mid $80Ks. The number of Boxsters ranged from 5 to 7 at each dealership. So there are 19 Boxsters within an hour drive of my house.

Well then, they'll be 19 people who will get a very fine Porsche at a good price and undoubtedly be in love with their new cars, much the same as virtually every 718 owner who has posted on this board and others.