[Germanauto]

Will be replacing my car in the next 1-2 yrs, Porsche dealer called stating they have allocations, so I went to test drive the Boxster for first time in 6 years.

I came away feeling flat. The base engine belongs in a tractor, and while the S is better it doesn't warrant $90k+ for a car with a couple options. My car steers faster and handles 90% as well for 40% the cost. Am I onto something or am I totally off the mark?

Would not pay more than $65k for this car. Always loved Porsche, but their pricing is ridiculous. The Boxster is a 10 yr old car now with a 10 yr old interior, what's the point of buying new? I'm gonna take a hard look at the BMW M2 and Giulia QV for my next ride...

Any Porsche fans here who disagree and wanna talk some sense into me, I'm all ears...

[gblansten]

The Porsche tax is very high. Some want to pay and others don't.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by gblansten

The Porsche tax is very high. Some want to pay and others don't.

I still believe Porsches are the best, but it seems one has to get a 718 GTS/GT4 or 911 S or higher variants to really feel the magic. Those are all well above $100k.

[dgoldenz]

Go drive a 981 GTS and skip the 718 unless it’s a 4.0

[Clark_Kent]

Originally Posted by dgoldenz

Go drive a 981 GTS and skip the 718 unless it’s a 4.0

This. The 4.0 is the floor. Germanauto test drive one of the 4.0 models (GTS, GT4/Spyder) and let us know what you think. I love the 718 and for me it was GT4 or nothing.

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Will be replacing my car in the next 1-2 yrs, Porsche dealer called stating they have allocations, so I went to test drive the Boxster for first time in 6 years.

I came away feeling flat. The base engine belongs in a tractor, and while the S is better it doesn't warrant $90k+ for a car with a couple options. My car steers faster and handles 90% as well for 40% the cost. Am I onto something or am I totally off the mark?

Would not pay more than $65k for this car. Always loved Porsche, but their pricing is ridiculous. The Boxster is a 10 yr old car now with a 10 yr old interior, what's the point of buying new? I'm gonna take a hard look at the BMW M2 and Giulia QV for my next ride...

Any Porsche fans here who disagree and wanna talk some sense into me, I'm all ears...

Owned a 718 Cayman S for a couple of years. (before the GTS 4.0 came out)
IMO it was very over rated for the $$
Single strut Rear suspension is very disappointing, especially on track.
You don't get rear multi-link until you get into the GT series cars.

The four banger has enough power but does not feel very refined and not nearly as engaging as the 6.
...and then there's the exhaust.

[lsturbointeg]

I love mine! upgrading to Soul DP's and modified PSE totally changed the sound! Will be flashing the Cayman soon with Softronic! Just drove this 5500k miles from Ohio to San Diego and back!



Been taking her to Rennsport Dragon Rally for the past 3 years with 300+ Porsches!


And to top things off, was in SEMA 2023 for the first time in the BlackVue dash cam booth! I got lots of attention and lots of great conversations with Porsche owners and well as future Porsche owners

[chassis]

Price of Porsche vs other comparable alternatives will never make sense. Porsche GTM strategy includes higher price.

Engine downsizing has a larger, more noticeable effect going to a four banger from a six, which is more noticeable than the change to a six cylinder from an eight. 30% fewer cylinders in a four vs a six makes the engine rougher no matter what, balance shaft notwithstanding. The latest AMG C63 S E Performance is an example, where MB went directly from V8 in W205 to four banger plus eAxle in W206.

Base Porsches imo are for the badge only, and better handling compared with alternatives in the respective segment.

Power starts at S trim, much better at GTS and Turbo levels. That’s how Porsche does it. Affordability and price competitiveness is of no concern to Porsche.

[slilley]

I love my 718! But I've got the GTS with the 4-liter flat 6. On any of the 718 models, the driving dynamics are first-rate. I've got 10K miles on mine, including a bunch of track days and autocrosses.

The 2.0 and 2.5-liter turbo engines get a lot of hate on the forums, but they make a lot of sense in day-to-day driving. They just don't sound appropriate for the price tag. Many get aftermarket exhausts for that reason. Keep the car in Sport or Sport Plus, and the only place they occasionally feel slow is off the line at low RPMs.

Only you can decide if the Porsche premium is worth it! For a fun around-town convertible, a new Mazda Miata would (still) be my first choice. They are just a joy to drive at close-to-legal speeds. But they definitely feel like a toy, whereas a Boxster is a car that you can comfortably drive cross-country in.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by chassis

Price of Porsche vs other comparable alternatives will never make sense. Porsche GTM strategy includes higher price.

Engine downsizing has a larger, more noticeable effect going to a four banger from a six, which is more noticeable than the change to a six cylinder from an eight. 30% fewer cylinders in a four vs a six makes the engine rougher no matter what, balance shaft notwithstanding. The latest AMG C63 S E Performance is an example, where MB went directly from V8 in W205 to four banger plus eAxle in W206.

Base Porsches imo are for the badge only, and better handling compared with alternatives in the respective segment.

Power starts at S trim, much better at GTS and Turbo levels. That’s how Porsche does it. Affordability and pride competitiveness is of no concern to Porsche.

That hybrid C63 is a tragedy.

[c1pher]

The prices for Porsches in general have gone crazy. I actually could have gotten a new 911 Turbo fairly easily 2-3 years ago but now with all the ADM and add-ons they want, I just can't do it. This is happening across their spectrum of cars.

I think for a base 718, you have to buy it base. You accept that it doesn't have a bunch of creature comforts but gets you to the true essence of a sports car. If you consider a different 718, then yes, I'd move up to a GTS or GT4. But again, dealers want 10-20k in markup, plus add-ons in general. Even the used 4.0s are going 10-15k over original sticker. The market is softening but still too hot.

[Alfisti]

I can't believe anyone buys a 4cyl Porsche. Porsche IS the flat 6. Find a well looked after previous gen with a proper engine.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I can't believe anyone buys a 4cyl Porsche. Porsche IS the flat 6. Find a well looked after previous gen with a proper engine.

You don't know what you're talking about.

[Germanauto]

Tbh this makes me appreciate my dad's 2020 Macan S even more. Outside the limits that car drives very similarly to the 718 while having a proper 6 cyl engine, all for $75k at the time. If I roll with the Porsche it'll certainly be a used example, as the new 4 cyl variants of these cars are $30k overpriced in my book.

And again will definitely take a hard look at the M2, Giulia QV, and maybe Supra. While these cars are heavier, they're less clinical, more "fun" to me, and actually feel worth their asking price.

[///MPhatic]

It's easy to be in awe of Porsche, but if you're lucky enough to drive them regularly, back to back with other performance cars, you'll see that the magic is ONLY in the high-end cars (and boy is it magic then).

I will say that it also depends on your goals for the car. The base 718 is the new Miata...only not as fun. Skip it. Then look to the higher variants, and skip them because of the price. In this day and age you really have to want a Porsche to buy a Porsche.

[XutvJet]

New and used Porsche prices are kind of like current home prices....ludicrous I could not pay more than $100K for one of these cars new, any of them really. I also could not own a turbo variant of any year. A high rpm screaming NA H6 is where it's at and dear God, not a Boxer turbo 4. The complexity of the turbo motors is also frightening and I don't see how you can do much work with the motor in the car.

I've owned my slow ass 265hp 2011 Cayman Base 6MT for a year now. I absolutely love it and basically daily it while my much faster 2016 M235 with 450hp collects dust most days. Yeah, my Cayman is not fast and I don't care much. The car makes you work for the power and chase that redline. It's so damn fun and well built. Plus 0-60 in the lower 5s ain't all that slow for a 2.9 H6. The car turns heads and constantly brings attention which to me says people love the thing as much as I do. For the $32K I paid and about $3K in maintenance and repairs, I could not be happier. The car is generally easy to work on and I've already had much it apart.

If I had to do it over again, I would find a pristine 987 Cayman with a shot motor for $10K-15K, swap in a fully built 350hp 3.8 for around $20K, put $10K into suspension/tires/wheels/interior upgrades, and have one hell of a fun and classic car for around $40-45K.

[Hulk Smash]

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

If I had to do it over again, I would find a pristine 987 Cayman with a shot motor for $10K-15K, swap in a fully built 350hp 3.8 for around $20K, put $10K into suspension/tires/wheels/interior upgrades, and have one hell of a fun and classic car for around $40-45K.

Yeeeeeah nah. A fully built 3.8 will yield 400Hp but closer to $35K.

[No one]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

drove this 5500k miles from Ohio to San Diego and back!

1000 times ('k' stands for a 1000, I guess)? "The Moon is an average of 238,855 miles away from Earth" (that's 240k miles I presume), they say.

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

Been taking her to Rennsport Dragon Rally for the past 3 years with 300+ Porsches!

Those must be perfect roads to drive so much lowered car on!



I looked at base Cayman. It's annoying how much attention they pay to decorative crap options and the price of those. They do seem to intend it for a relatively cheap show off. Yet, the one preceding the 718 looked technically perfect for me (I'd have no use for more power in jams under speed cameras and in winters when I struggle to drive my 170hp already) and much cheaper than an excessive in power and space (no need for rear seat) M2. Regarding a 4 cylinders turbo (718) - I have it (this spec. of an engine) already.

[SoCal_NSX]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I can't believe anyone buys a 4cyl Porsche. Porsche IS the flat 6. Find a well looked after previous gen with a proper engine.

I've had them both and much more enjoy my base 718 6MT over the 981 S PDK that I sold it for....

I wanted to get back into a manual so started hunting for one...never thought I'd be team 718, but found a dealer that had a 981 S 6MT and a 718 2.5 gts and test drove them back to back....I was instantly sold on the 718.
Had better response in everything from throttle to steering and just overall more fun....I sold my 981 S and hunted down a 718 6MT

yeah, outside the car it didn't sound as good, but inside the car all that went out the window...sounds really good from the cockpit with no more drone and don't care about impressing anyone else but myself.

Honestly not much difference between a base and a GTS or even a 4.0 GT4 once you drive a Model 3 Performance as a daily driver...they all feel much slower these days, but still fun

My 2014 Cayman S




My 2018 718 Cayman 6MT

[MineralWhiteF80]

I bought a 718 Cayman S 6MT new in 2018 after getting rid of my F80. I ticked every performance box which was essentially the GTS without the extra 15 horsepower, but that was before the GTS came out and I just couldn't get one.

I loved my Cayman for many reasons, but also disliked several things to make me go back to BMW:

The GOOD:
- Shifter in the 6 speed manual was soooo good. It officially ruined all other manual cars for me and made the BMW shifter feel downright sloppy and horrible. Ill only buy DCT BMWs now
- Seating position was perfect for me
- Great steering feel
- Absolute drivers car
- engine powerband was good and the car was very quick

The BAD:
- Engine sound- just god awful except for maybe at full throttle at redline. At idle, it sounded like an air cooled VW hippie bus, and then a lumpy Subaru all other times.
- gear ratios in 1st and 2nd were LONG- 80 mph in 2nd so you weren't banging gears a lot and just seemed like the car would be more fun on the street if 2nd gear went to 62mph even though I respect the gear ratios for track and autocross reasons.
- Parking brake, I hated the design and functionality
- I didn't like the infotainment system. BMW is far superior in how buttons/levers for creature comforts operated.
- I didn't like the lack of aftermarket parts. I felt like it was just a car you buy and keep stock and be happy with what it originally came with. BMW is way better and there are 1000s of options for every possible part you could want and I like that community better.

[TXSTYLE]

I've had the opportunity to drive multiple Porsches in my time including: 911 TT, Carrera 4S, Panemera, Cayman, Boxster, Cayenne and Macan. I have friends and family who love the brand!
I have and will always feel that they are severely overpriced as a brand. Mostly because of their stark, bland, interiors. And exteriors that barely change. Sure they drive well, some are very fast, and there's a certain poshness. For every model they have, I'd take a less expensive brand that would either provide more curbside appeal and equal performance. Even their Hyper cars I'd choose Ferrari or McLaren over.
That's my opinion.