I would think it would be too early to tell? Porsche hasn't made a turbocharged four in regular production since, what, 1989? And when was their last flat-four? The final 914?

I would think that any turbocharged engine would be more "stressed" than a naturally-aspirated one; I know from experience that they are always more complex and maintenance-intensive.

If we're talking reliability, though, one has to consider the IMS issues faced by the 996 and 986 engines, and, to a lesser extent, the 997s and 987s.

They should not be more maintenance. However , Porsche has made some engineering mistakes in the past.
There are plenty of boosted 4cylinder cars on the market today with almost no notice as far as extra anything as far as maintenance .

Yes -- this is true. Although my experiences with turbocharged fours is thus:

I owned a 2009 Mini Cooper S, with the turbocharged 1.6 BMW engine. As I understand it, oil consumption was very high with these turbo engines. The timing chain tensioner was also regulated by the engine's oil pressure; if the engine was low on oil, the timing chain would get loose and rattle. Oil consumption was such that every few months, I would start to get a rattle on start-up, and that would be my signal that I needed to top off the oil (well before the light came on). Forgive me if I'm getting any of this wrong; this is how it was explained to me by the techs at New Country Motors in CT.

I also had a 1986 Porsche 951. That car was very maintenance-intensive, but that probably had more to do with my novice tuning attempts than anything relating to build quality.

I do not want to get off subject here, like I said there are plenty of turbos running around with no problems .
There is no reason why they have to be finicky unless they are running at the end of the envelope.
Cars like the silly Geo Metro .
My Fiat Abarth has lots of problems , like a Vega or pinto. (doors, latches, crap) However it is a turbo, pumps out 18 lbs in stock form.
But zero problems with engine and related parts.
The Subaru seems to be pretty much trouble free.
So the little flat 4 can be trouble free..if the do not under do it.

You guys do realize that carbed cars used to create the popping sounds on over-run. Then computerized FI eliminated that because it could completely cut fuel, but people love it, so they have started injecting fuel back into the motor on over-run just to create that sound.

I think the 991 and 981 cars, or maybe just the S versions or the versions with sport exhaust or sport plus mode or something like that have started doing it again. Many folks like it and miss it.

Here's a 917 doing it
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FkP5Svl16Qg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I don't think Porsche is doing any of the artificial (made by the stereo) noise. I think that's just BMW. I think Porsche is just engineering ways for you to hear the sound of the engine more intensely in the cockpit (ducting the sound in).

But I could be wrong.

Again: I think you're misunderstanding me. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the burbles next to the farts. I LIKE the burbling on over-run; yes, I know that most high-performance Porsches have them. I like it when my Cayman S does it, and I liked it when my 951 did it. What I meant (and perhaps didn't communicate well enough) is that the engine note on the 718 ITSELF sounds somewhat farty. At least it does in that video; maybe it will be much better in person (I hope?).

It sounds ok I guess but I really like the sound of this one: Watch Chevrolet's COPO Camaro disappear in wheelies and tire smoke - Roadshow :)

I have no doubt. But it still doesn't change my previous comment.

It's... Meh. Sounds like a stock STI with a muffler on the BOV.

I agree with other comments above - there is a world of modders looking at the opportunity here.

I'm on the fence on that one. I've owned 2 boxsters and CaymanS over the years.

On the one hand they have always been annoyingly low on torque (every day drivability), on the other hand, the engine sound from 6000 to 7200 RPM was absolutely fantastic.

The 718 (I hate having to call it that, cheap marketing tie-up) will fix the torque and lose the scream. I've had other cars that "fart" like an S4 / Mini Cooper in sports mode.... It's fun for a while but I prefer the high RPM scream... We'll see... The Boxster/718 is very pretty - I cannot wait to see the new Cayman !

CJ you are forgetting that Porshe won LeMans with a turbo flat four last year! They know how to crank some power out of one!

Not mine, 3.4L 300hp, feels pretty good on the low end, and is even better as the revs climb.

It's what you know and are used to I guess... I loved my Cayman S but I always found the gas pedal calibration was odd, and 260 lb-ft of torque was nothing to write home about... Especially when you have grown accustomed to 330 or so.... That chassis can take so much more, such a nicely balanced car... I'm glad to hear the torque is bumped up significantly in the 718, but yeah, I liked the sound of the flat 6 more ! We'll see/hear when it's out in person !

Put me in the "on the fence" camp for the CS. A 3.4L engine should have great responsiveness and torque across the whole RPM range. It is obvious there is some 'de-tuning' in place to keep it from passing the flagship. This is where a little bit of modification (intake/exhaust) and an ECU flash make all the difference. My CS handles like a dream with PASM/Sport. I know there's room for improvement, but for a stock car it's superb.

V4 Turbo, actually.


http://www.racecar-engineering.com/w...11/uppork1.jpg

Do they really think a four cylinder mid engine Porsche would sell? That is just crazy talk!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1455231556.jpg

That's why I like having the sport button. It recalibrates the gas pedal to be what to me feels more linear. The normal calibration feels like it's progressive, long initially and then gets shorter as you get deeper in.

I hated that feature in mine. I'd much rather have a linear relationship.

JR

Have to remember it's a stock exhaust, but it still doesn't sound quite right. In the video when he upshifts at/near redline it sounds like the motor is only revving about 2,500-3000 RPMs, but the tach says otherwise. Nah, don't like it at all. The V-12 video was AWESOME!

I thought I was the only one that heard the wrx/sti off idle rumble.

That was one of my first comments. If you want a comparison go no further than a Subaru. Turbocharged flat four.

^ ouch.

"BROOOOOOOMMMMM - FPTPPTPTPTPTPPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPPPPT"

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Completely. Going from a slightly-modified 951 to a Cayman S was an eye-opening experience. The Cayman is a better car in every way except useable low-end torque. Granted, the scream of that flat-six -- especially after upgrading to a Fabspeed exhaust -- is worth the price of admission, and the Cayman is undeniably faster when allowed to rev to redline, but the 951 just LAUNCHED from around 2700RPM; the flat-six felt anemic at that RPM, although it's more fun to drive at top of the rev range. Apples and oranges, really.

Again -- read my previous comments: I have no doubt that the engine will be powerful and that the car will be fun to drive. Nobody is saying that these things won't be fast; I was commenting on the sound alone.

In regards to sound, it depends on the headers. If equipped with equal length headers, the 718 will have a very apparent 4 cylinder sound much like the 2015+ WRX's, which are powered by a new DI motor (FA20) with equal length runners. All years STi are still equipped with the venerable EJ25, which is an old design with unequal length headers.

As the used car value in WRX's drop, youngsters with no money and poor taste will have some terrible sounding machines, but when I had mine I had a 3.5" catted downpipe to a Prodrive muffler which sounded excellent. As exotic as my Cargraphic exhaust may sound in the mid range RPMs, I do miss the burble and bass notes of the WRX in parking lots and at cruising speeds. It even sounded good throughout the range, just not as good as a flat 6 higher up.

I don't believe enthusiasts will have any problems getting this model to sound amazing. Whether it comes from the factory acoustically pleasing is another story.

That's largely because Porsche will choose to meet the noise laws in the various countries worldwide. Since the goal of those laws is increasingly to allow no noise to be made, it is left to the individual owners to break the laws and allow the joyful noises to be heard.

JR

Well, even if they offer a performance exhaust option, I just can't see Porsche making it sound mean, for fear of cannibalizing 911 sales. It also doesn't match the visual design language that a car that "elegant" would have such an aggressive tone.

I hate to tell you that Porsche's sport exhausts are also neutered. You see, the US noise laws specifiy when and how the noise will be tested. So Porsche, like others, cheats a little and allows noise at certain speeds and not others. Better than no noise, right? The last one I had gave a nice little bark on startup and sounded pretty decent, except from 25 mph to 40 mph, where it reverted to noise Nazi mode. Wouldn't want to make noise in town, you know.

Porsche usually uses horsepower and consequently acceleration, to create the pecking order. They usually don't make the lesser models sound worse, or look worse, to keep us in line buying the "good Porsches."

JR

Having had just about every variety of water-cooled Porsche aftermarket system as well as several PSE cars, I can honestly say that PSE is my least favorite "performance" exhaust system for a modern flat-six Porsche.

Well, at least mine added a little power (8hp!) I have to say, I was not a fan of the "quiet period" every time I ran through the gears. Most aftermarket muffler suck in quality, so there's that to think about.

JR

https://youtu.be/71dPKCqVegs

Here's a One Take video with the sound. It has a much more metallic note than the STi, but does have the burble. Subarus are bassier. This sounds raspier on the top, almost like my old prodrive exhaust.


Personally, I quite like the 4 cylinder flat four sounds.


Also, that color in the sun is stunning!

I don't hate it either, and that torque sure is nice ! The problem in my book is that the 7400 RPM sound of a the flat 6 was awesome, and in my older days, I'm starting to prefer the old fashioned throttle style of a naturally aspirated engine to the lag-rush of a turbo, even a good turbo. In other words, I think the 718 wil be a better car and definitely way faster, and finally with proper torque for that chassis (even the base model). Yet I will try to buy a 981. I'm becoming an old-purist ;-)