I sat in a 2018 718 Boxster GTS today

Zeke · 06-03-2018, 02:18 PM

And was pretty impressed. Call these things girl's cars or whatever you want, this is freakin' nice ride. Didn't drive it as it was in a showroom and I didn't want to make any trouble. I couldn't afford the tires and wheels, much less the car.

I do still have a 2000 Boxster normal that has always been cramped for me at 6'. So, true to the image created by 911 purists, my wife is really the rightful owner. But there is no comparison. Totally new cockpit layout and my legs were flat on the floor when seated. I'd have to move the seat up to drive it.

Then I walked past a 2018 Lamborghini. I would be embarrassed to be seen in that. I could see myself in that GTS. It was this color, sort of a coppery orange. Under the LED's it nearly blew me away.

I put this in OT because I think it's a topic for all the model's forums.

pwd72s · 06-03-2018, 02:20 PM

They finally got some legroom? That can't hurt sales.

gduke2010 · gduke2010's Garage

Wow! Zeke, I thought the same thing when I drove a friend of mines 2013 Boxster. They are amazing sports cars. Never seen a 718 Boxster up-close but, plan on going to the dealership soon and will look for one.

I'm 6'0 and her car had more leg room than an earlier Boxster. Also, impressed with short throw of the 6 speed gear shifter.

Don Ro · 06-03-2018, 02:57 PM

That's a beauty!
A used Boxter was on my want list when I spied the '03 Toyota MR2 in a Michigan dealer ad.
Always wanted one of them.............so, probably no Boxter for me.
3 stall garage is now full...and a house full of motorcycles.

Bill Douglas · 06-03-2018, 03:42 PM

Darn Zeke. I was hoping you had bought it.

At least I'd have bragging rights that I sort of know someone with one

It does look nice.

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

It is an attractive car, makes me think "Ferrari" when I see one.

If the interior is the same as the 911 of similar year then it is a good fit, comfortable.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

Not a "girl's car"...but, a "hairdresser's car".

I would love to have one...but no more red cars for me. Make mine silver.

HardDrive · 06-03-2018, 07:08 PM

I ain't paying that much for a 4 banger. N

manbridge 74 · 06-03-2018, 07:27 PM

I expect the last flat six models will only go up in desirability. The are sooo much more responsive than the laggy fours. Very competent cars....

rfuerst911sc · 06-04-2018, 03:06 AM

Last year my oldest son and I did the Porsche driving experience at the Atlanta headquarters . I specifically picked a turbo Cayman because I wanted to compare it to my Boxster . Interior was very nice , launch control was crazy and the car had good grunt but it did NOT compare to my Boxster with the beast engine . Mine sounds much better and pulls much harder . I fit like a glove in mine but I am 5 ' 10 " . But I did really like that Cayman .

livi · 06-04-2018, 03:16 AM

I wouldn´t mind that at all. Mighty fine vehicle.

Deschodt · 06-04-2018, 06:39 AM

I drove one (S - not GTS)... Lovely car, and usually the magazine writers exaggerate their complaints to show they aren't sell outs, but in this case the 4 banger really doesn't sound all that great - it's true...

The people at the dealership even commented to me on several occasions they weren't moving those cars, at least not to enthusiasts, mostly due to sound. Said and I quote "people who buy them don't even know it' s a 4 banger". Which is too bad because they finally have the torque/hp they always lacked a bit...

I've read rumors that they're not doing well enough to stay in the lineup, which would be sad...meanwhile they can't keep a Macan on the lot, or a new Panamera...

cairns · 06-04-2018, 06:48 AM

At $100K for a four banger I can understand why they wouldn't sell. Still they are nice cars......

Zeke · 06-04-2018, 07:21 AM

GTS has 365 HP.

That ain't enough? You gotta move well up the 911 chain to see better than that.

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cairns

At $100K for a four banger I can understand why they wouldn't sell. Still they are nice cars......

The base 718 Cayman/Boxster is considerably less than $100 us. It can do 0-60 in 5 seconds. The S in 4 seconds. Look forward to a few years from now when values come down.

Deschodt · 07:42 AM

Interestingly, the price of the 718 GTS is probably putting it in a bit of a corner... Sure they cost less in theory, but in practice at my dealer, GTSes are going for $98-104K !
Boxster S are $90K !!! That's a serious amount of money for a 4.

The base 991.2 (w/ a turbo) produces plenty of torque and power, has a 6, sounds immensely better despite the turbo (well done!), and the 991 in general has a very Boxster like "turn in" compared to a 997. I think a base 991.2 is the best car out there for the $ (coming from a guy who owns a 991.1 and is slightly jealous of the torque they have). Couple that with the way a rear engine 911 puts its power down way better than a mid engine car, the 991 IMO kinda negates some of the old boxster's advantages (that great sharp turn in)... I've gone back and forth between Boxster/cayman and 911s over the past 15yrs and tracked them a lot, and I genuinely like both. Now though, I'm firmly in the 991 camp vs a 718 (I'd love a used 981 Cayman though)

So between the high price, 4 cylinder subaru beetle sound, and goodness of the 911 big brother for similar money, it's a tougher sale. Porsche IMO has pushed the greed way too far on those and the market is telling them to buzz off - kinda good... Cut 15K and they'd sell more...

Zeke · 06-04-2018, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fintstone

Not a "girl's car"...but, a "hairdresser's car".

I would love to have one...but no more red cars for me. Make mine silver.

I've tracked that slur since picking up the Boxster in'02. Indeed, then you saw a lot of women driving the 986 in its original form before the days of the S model. At 205 HP ours is a little anemic but it gets the job done. I've done 130 in it so what's the beef? No need to go that fast and I probably won't again. If you want a track car, that's another story.

Back to the slur, 'hairdresser' evokes the male image of someone that is light in their shoes, or some well turned out beauty with overdone hair and lots of make up. I have never really seen either in a Boxster. I'm sure they are out there, but the slur is one of a soft jealousy adding in a bit of contempt.

Same scenario that occurred by 356 owners when the first 911's appeared, same when water cooled hit the market, and so on.

Enough of the population in any groove do not like change. I try to keep an open mind and find the joys of anything new before criticizing. That said, I'm known as the curmudgeon here but that comes from knowing humans, not cars and everything else that comes our way in our lifestyle.

I've never found anything inherently wrong with the Boxster other than the lack of room in the early models. Even a normal is more than I can use. I've put it to the test in the twisties and to get a lot of tire howl you have to push pretty hard. Harder than is prudent.

Tidybuoy · 06-04-2018, 09:13 AM

I like the redesigned rear ends for the Boxter/Cayman's but I'm not a fan of the huge grills up front. I think the Boxter is much more attractive than the early versions.

I watched dozens of YouTubes and I can't seem to get myself to like the engine sound. With your eyes closed, you would not be able to tell it was a Porsche. Even my 4 cylinder 944 sounds better.

Deschodt · 06-04-2018, 09:38 AM

Perfect timing:

https://jalopnik.com/the-2018-porsche-718-cayman-and-boxster-gts-feel-like-b-1826094445

john70t · 06-04-2018, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

The base 718 Cayman/Boxster is considerably less than $100 us. It can do 0-60 in 5 seconds. The S in 4 seconds.

Four seconds was super car territory back in the 1980's.
(Available now in daily driver flavors.)
There are very few people and very few situations where the full potential could be realized.
That is a nice looking car. I'd like two please.