718 Boxster Roadster 2.0 PDK

[HighwayStar]

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.

[DJMC]

Speed over sound.
Sound over speed.

It's just down to personal choice.

[mc72]

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.

[Armitage.Shanks]

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.

[scrounger73]

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.

[jimbo761]

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