718 Boxster Roadster 2.0 PDK - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

I’m a convert, this is far better than I had imagined. Roof down driving through country roads and lanes is such a pleasure. Having owned a 22b for many years the 4 cylinder sound is not an issue especially as it’s very quick combined with the PDK box. It handles with lovely weighted steering precision. It also has enough boot space to take golf bag and buggy. It’s my wife’s car but she’s losing it to me as I drive it at any opportunity. The negativity surrounding the four cylinder is just rubbish as I’ve been finding out. My previous 996 GT3 RS and 997 GT3 RS were tracked and toured around Europe extensively I’m looking forward to doing the same with this.

Boxster is a great car for UK roads, good handling but not too wide. Those turbo wheels are rare on the 2.0 I assume due to the cost! Enjoy.

I agree entirely. I picked up a 3000 mile Dec 69 plate 718 Boxster T on Saturday having sold my 2018 Macan SD and 2005 987.1 Boxster S . Have previously owned 2 other Macans plus a 987.2 Cayman PDK and 981 Boxster PDK I can honestly say that the performance of the 2.0 turbo combined with the PDK Is superb especially in Sport and Sport plus mode. Performance Boost mode is licence busting scary. The -20mm PASM is also excellent.

Not a fan of the 4 cylinder engine,but I had one as a loan car and was stunned how quick it was ,in the real world it felt faster than the gt4 I had a while back.

It certainly was a revelation to me. The low down torque compared to the normally aspirated 6 cylinder predecessor is far more useable in most circumstances. The sports pasm suspension is sublime. I was worried that the -20mm drop might make the suspension too harsh but that’s not the case at all.

Congratulations, they are good aren't they and pretty under rated IMHO. We got our 2.0 at Christmas after taking advantage of a surprisingly good deal from our local OPC. We've also got a 981 Cayman and the 718 is much better all round, performance, suspension, steering etc. although without doubt the 981 does sound better We managed to get in a 2 week road trip to SW France in July and it was brilliant fun, so much so that I'm questioning the value/sense of going ahead with the 4.0 GTS we've got on order. Oh, and Gentian Blue is a bit dull in poor light but more than makes up for that when the sun comes out.

Gentian does look lovely. I tried to buy a nearly new Cayman in Gentian but the dealer would not budge enough for my liking. You did right to buy last Christmas as prices of nearly new and pre reg cars have firmed up in the last few months due to lack of supply.

Rhodie said: I’m a convert, this is far better than I had imagined. Roof down driving through country roads and lanes is such a pleasure. Having owned a 22b for many years the 4 cylinder sound is not an issue especially as it’s very quick combined with the PDK box. It handles with lovely weighted steering precision. It also has enough boot space to take golf bag and buggy. It’s my wife’s car but she’s losing it to me as I drive it at any opportunity. The negativity surrounding the four cylinder is just rubbish as I’ve been finding out. My previous 996 GT3 RS and 997 GT3 RS were tracked and toured around Europe extensively I’m looking forward to doing the same with this. In order to get my better half's permission to order the Boxster GTS4, I had to arrange a test drive of a manual Boxster. Our last three cars were all DCT inc my 981s PDK. We got a drive of a 2l Boxster T. My wife wasn't sure she wanted to go back to a manual but the expression on her face was clear and she scared the willies off me. It wasn't much short of the 315BHP of my 981s and obviously had buckets of torque low down. I love the 981s engine note, particularly the banshee like wail over 5k rpm. I'm also loving the GTS4 which is completely different - lower, growly, angry. Having said that it's all down to what your priorities are. My favourite engine note used to be the old 80s Audi Coupe 5cyl. I also loved the Scooby flat 4 sound, particularly in a 280BHP variant I drove with short shift and water injection. The car look super, the ride will be exciting. If you like the sound or are not bothered about it, that makes it your perfect car. Enjoy.

Mark-ri571 said: Gentian does look lovely. I tried to buy a nearly new Cayman in Gentian but the dealer would not budge enough for my liking. You did right to buy last Christmas as prices of nearly new and pre reg cars have firmed up in the last few months due to lack of supply. Agreed, according to WBAC its worth roughly £5k less than the remarkable price we paid for it.

It was this video that persuaded me to buy a Boxster 718T: https://youtu.be/kexVpg8Gdt8

When I picked up my Boxster at the weekend the dealership had this nice GTS 4.0 in the showroom

Mark-ri571 said: When I picked up my Boxster at the weekend the dealership had this nice GTS 4.0 in the showroom New for sale?

Voodoo Blue said: Congratulations, they are good aren't they and pretty under rated IMHO. We got our 2.0 at Christmas after taking advantage of a surprisingly good deal from our local OPC. We've also got a 981 Cayman and the 718 is much better all round, performance, suspension, steering etc. although without doubt the 981 does sound better We managed to get in a 2 week road trip to SW France in July and it was brilliant fun, so much so that I'm questioning the value/sense of going ahead with the 4.0 GTS we've got on order. Oh, and Gentian Blue is a bit dull in poor light but more than makes up for that when the sun comes out. Ah yes a trip to SW France - memories. I too have the 4.0 GTS lined up but questioning the wisdom of going ahead. A couple of problems seem to pop up, the interior is unavailable in Race -Tex in the GTS, there could also be a 10% increase on the price which configured is already £85k ish. Our car's colour of Night Blue Metallic is stunning in the sunshine.

Nuttcase said: New for sale? Yes I think so but did not look inside it. Porsche Leicester if you are interested.

Another one of the Porsche Leicester showroom car

Rhodie said: Ah yes a trip to SW France - memories. I too have the 4.0 GTS lined up but questioning the wisdom of going ahead. A couple of problems seem to pop up, the interior is unavailable in Race -Tex in the GTS, there could also be a 10% increase on the price which configured is already £85k ish. Our car's colour of Night Blue Metallic is stunning in the sunshine. Yep, at £85K+ a GTS will effectively be a 100% uplift on our current 2.0 and regardless of anyone else's opinion mine is it absolutely is not a 100% improvement so the dilemma is reconciling the cost/benefit conundrum. I'm going to wait until the OPC chases me before I make the final decision which I suspect will be fairly soon. I saw a Night Blue Cayman in the showroom a couple of months ago and it looked really good in the sun/lights so I can see why you went for that. Hoping we might get another trip to France and/or Italy next year, fingers crossed.

First time I've seen the PDK box GT4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl8e9ReWRJ8&t=...

Lovely Mint Green one listed today https://finder.porsche.com/gb/en-GB/dealer/details...

Looks good, have never understood the negativity on here over the 2.0. I've had plenty of loaners and prefer to my F6, so much more pull early in the rev range makes acceleration effortless. Sound is also very good in my experience, particularly if you go pre-GPF and I currently drive an F6! Suspect I'd go for a less interesting colour though.

The green car is Python Green (I have a Boxster GTS in it) it hasnt been available as an option for about 6 months so either its not new or been sat around a little while , amazing car & colour

Dunbar871 said: Looks good, have never understood the negativity on here over the 2.0. I've had plenty of loaners and prefer to my F6, so much more pull early in the rev range makes acceleration effortless. Sound is also very good in my experience, particularly if you go pre-GPF and I currently drive an F6! Suspect I'd go for a less interesting colour though. It’s just personal choice/preference re the F4T v F6. I’ve had a few 2.0 loan cars from the OPC when my F6 has been in. The F4 isn’t for me no issue with anyone preferring it. All for variety and choice… that’s fading away.

Speed over sound. Sound over speed. It's just down to personal choice.

Dunbar871 said: Looks good, have never understood the negativity on here over the 2.0. I've had plenty of loaners and prefer to my F6, so much more pull early in the rev range makes acceleration effortless. Sound is also very good in my experience, particularly if you go pre-GPF and I currently drive an F6! Suspect I'd go for a less interesting colour though. Been searching and reading through the threads on here re: 718 boxsters and felt the best thing to do would be to drive one myself and make my own mind up. My Porsche background is that I’ve had an early cayman S manual, and most recently a 997.2 Carrera S. This weekend I had a decent drive in a 718 Boxster PDK (std 2.0, with 296bhp I believe). Car felt really well screwed together, driving position very good and dynamics were very good. The engine sounded ok when started up and I was outside the car. On the move the first mile or so felt fine, car felt quiet more than anything else. First chance to open it up was on a slip road and it felt like it had significantly less than 296bhp. Car felt well insulated and civil on the motorway and I sensed it could do many motorway miles in comfort. Onto B roads and put in into “sport” and it felt reasonably eager to start with but not fast at all. As I mentioned, dynamically it felt good but the overriding feeling was that it didn’t feel like very much like a Porsche to me, it felt like a well sorted cabrio with a lacklustre engine. On the move with roof down the noise didn’t improve either, and I tried opening the car up more and it didn’t feel much better or faster. The car also didn’t really feel that special. My conclusion was that it would maybe suit someone that was buying their first Porsche and wanted a “nice well built cabrio”, but I wouldn’t buy one. I can understand why people with 981 cars have been critical. I thought I didn’t necessarily need something very fast, but felt the std was too slow for me. Driving an “S” might address the speed/pace issue but would not address the noise or feeling of it not being special. All of the above is just my opinion as I don’t own a 718 or a 981. As it is my next step will probably be trying a 981S or GTS.

mc72 said: Dunbar871 said: Looks good, have never understood the negativity on here over the 2.0. I've had plenty of loaners and prefer to my F6, so much more pull early in the rev range makes acceleration effortless. Sound is also very good in my experience, particularly if you go pre-GPF and I currently drive an F6! Suspect I'd go for a less interesting colour though. Been searching and reading through the threads on here re: 718 boxsters and felt the best thing to do would be to drive one myself and make my own mind up. My Porsche background is that I’ve had an early cayman S manual, and most recently a 997.2 Carrera S. This weekend I had a decent drive in a 718 Boxster PDK (std 2.0, with 296bhp I believe). Car felt really well screwed together, driving position very good and dynamics were very good. The engine sounded ok when started up and I was outside the car. On the move the first mile or so felt fine, car felt quiet more than anything else. First chance to open it up was on a slip road and it felt like it had significantly less than 296bhp. Car felt well insulated and civil on the motorway and I sensed it could do many motorway miles in comfort. Onto B roads and put in into “sport” and it felt reasonably eager to start with but not fast at all. As I mentioned, dynamically it felt good but the overriding feeling was that it didn’t feel like very much like a Porsche to me, it felt like a well sorted cabrio with a lacklustre engine. On the move with roof down the noise didn’t improve either, and I tried opening the car up more and it didn’t feel much better or faster. The car also didn’t really feel that special. My conclusion was that it would maybe suit someone that was buying their first Porsche and wanted a “nice well built cabrio”, but I wouldn’t buy one. I can understand why people with 981 cars have been critical. I thought I didn’t necessarily need something very fast, but felt the std was too slow for me. Driving an “S” might address the speed/pace issue but would not address the noise or feeling of it not being special. All of the above is just my opinion as I don’t own a 718 or a 981. As it is my next step will probably be trying a 981S or GTS. It's interesting opinions are divided on the 718 F4, but then we're all different. I came from a 981 GT4 and wanted a Boxster to tide me over so I set my stall out for a 981 2.7. Tried a few and they were OK but then I thought why not try a 718 2.0. I drove a few and ending up buying an early (pre GPF) 718 2.0 with SC and PDK. Comparing it to a 981 2.7 it's more modern (interior), as well put together, and in Sport/Sport+ it certainly picks its feet up when the turbo is on full boost. Engine/exhaust note in SC sounds OK to me and I wouldn't go out of my way to find one with PSE or pay extra to retrofit it. OK it 'wallows' in the twisties but coming from a GT4 what did I expect. I do think the engines need some miles under their belt to mellow. I looked at one with 23k and when cold it sounded like a bag of spanners so that was rejected! For me I would't pay extra for the 'S' and at sub £30k I think they're a bargain. I get the 'insulated and civilised' perspective as its easy to get carried away thinking your speed is actually lower that what the speedo is telling you.

If the engine on the 2.0 feels a little lackluster there's a pretty good chance that the turbo actuator has seized. It's a common fault and can be freed up on your driveway however if too badly seized its a new turbo. Easiest way to check is to nail the accelerator and if the boost rises then falls or doesn't rise at all then the actuator is stuck. Doesn't help it's say at the bottom of the engine and exposed to the elements.

Would certainly appear a technical fault is possible. Unless you're coming from a Model S Plaid even the 2.0 should feel fast and pin you to the back of your seat on overtakes, especially in sport mode. Interesting how the base engine stacks up against the 997: https://fastestlaps.com/comparisons/9dldzcl9bo1k