Porsche 718e? Plug in Boxster
Discussion
I really don't get this.
As the former owner of a 987.2 Cayman, one of this best parts of it was the howl from the engine as it swung through 5,000rpm on its way to the redline, and being the lowly 2.9 meant you could appreciate it quite often as well.
ETA: and that is not because I have a problem with electric car's, I reckon EV's make perfect daily's.
As the former owner of a 987.2 Cayman, one of this best parts of it was the howl from the engine as it swung through 5,000rpm on its way to the redline, and being the lowly 2.9 meant you could appreciate it quite often as well.
ETA: and that is not because I have a problem with electric car's, I reckon EV's make perfect daily's.
Edited by Megaflow on Friday 4th August 09:53
I can see another view to this ...
Particularly in the Boxster one of the most lovely experiences is wafting along on a warm evening watching the stars "come out" ... and a quiet electric drive would be quite a good fit with this. Shouting isn't always the best way ...
For many these cars are also not used for really long distance cruising ... families, luggage, dogs are practicalities shared by many, ... my only hope is that it isn't too big. It's a car for narrow country lanes or lakeland passes on high-days and driven in a thoughtful way, many others sharing these environments may be pleased at their comparative silence ?
The sound of a well run racing engine is fabulous in context, but it can also be a rather selfish pursuit in the wrong context.
AP rides an electric KTM trails bike ... he understands the power of silence ... and moderate range anxiety might be a minor offset to the growing environmental anxiety.
Dear Porsche,
Please make it small, powerful and very very efficient ?
And tell my OPC to sell me one ??
Particularly in the Boxster one of the most lovely experiences is wafting along on a warm evening watching the stars "come out" ... and a quiet electric drive would be quite a good fit with this. Shouting isn't always the best way ...
For many these cars are also not used for really long distance cruising ... families, luggage, dogs are practicalities shared by many, ... my only hope is that it isn't too big. It's a car for narrow country lanes or lakeland passes on high-days and driven in a thoughtful way, many others sharing these environments may be pleased at their comparative silence ?
The sound of a well run racing engine is fabulous in context, but it can also be a rather selfish pursuit in the wrong context.
AP rides an electric KTM trails bike ... he understands the power of silence ... and moderate range anxiety might be a minor offset to the growing environmental anxiety.
Dear Porsche,
Please make it small, powerful and very very efficient ?
And tell my OPC to sell me one ??
ChrisW. said:
I can see another view to this ...
Particularly in the Boxster one of the most lovely experiences is wafting along on a warm evening watching the stars "come out" ... and a quiet electric drive would be quite a good fit with this. Shouting isn't always the best way ...
For many these cars are also not used for really long distance cruising ... families, luggage, dogs are practicalities shared by many, ... my only hope is that it isn't too big. It's a car for narrow country lanes or lakeland passes on high-days and driven in a thoughtful way, many others sharing these environments may be pleased at their comparative silence ?
The sound of a well run racing engine is fabulous in context, but it can also be a rather selfish pursuit in the wrong context.
AP rides an electric KTM trails bike ... he understands the power of silence ... and moderate range anxiety might be a minor offset to the growing environmental anxiety.
Dear Porsche,
Please make it small, powerful and very very efficient ?
And tell my OPC to sell me one ??
Ah, see, now I was applying coupe logic to a convertible, and when you word it like that the Boxster variant makes some sense.Particularly in the Boxster one of the most lovely experiences is wafting along on a warm evening watching the stars "come out" ... and a quiet electric drive would be quite a good fit with this. Shouting isn't always the best way ...
For many these cars are also not used for really long distance cruising ... families, luggage, dogs are practicalities shared by many, ... my only hope is that it isn't too big. It's a car for narrow country lanes or lakeland passes on high-days and driven in a thoughtful way, many others sharing these environments may be pleased at their comparative silence ?
The sound of a well run racing engine is fabulous in context, but it can also be a rather selfish pursuit in the wrong context.
AP rides an electric KTM trails bike ... he understands the power of silence ... and moderate range anxiety might be a minor offset to the growing environmental anxiety.
Dear Porsche,
Please make it small, powerful and very very efficient ?
And tell my OPC to sell me one ??
Megaflow said:
Ah, see, now I was applying coupe logic to a convertible, and when you word it like that the Boxster variant makes some sense.
I have a convertible Boxster GTS and the noise it makes is its soul. When driven conservatively, not in sport mode, it’s very quiet. You can hear the birds and other country sounds just fine, or when parked up gazing at the stars it’s totally quiet as the engine is off anyway.
I’m sure the new car will be a dynamic drive. I’d actually be concerned about how rapid and stealthy it will be, I wonder how fast it will ‘feel’ with no sound track, will it catch the driver out, or indeed other road users as it rounds country corners with no aural warning…..
The push back on the original 4 cylinder 718 was so intense Porsche dropped the 4.0 six cylinder back in it to lift the sales and reputation of the car. What they going to do if everyone says ‘no thanks’ to electric?
I’m sure it will be efficient. But will it captivate?
Twinfan said:
I'm not convinced that much of the car driving enthusiast world wants an electric sports car.
I wouldn't want a car that dictates my route for me based on charge points and if they are working or not.Probably ok if you never travel more than 100 miles in any given direction from home and would rather not make any noise in the process.
EVs have their place, town cars to ferry kids to schools, shopping etc but not to enjoy a drive.
Turnpike1 said:
Two questions, weight and range will presumably determine it's success.
Oddly enough despite the 'perceived' backlash Porsche actually sold more four cylinder 718s than 981s.
Wonder how many EVs they will shift.
yes but 981's were only built from 2012 to 2016 where as the 718 has been going for 7 years already Oddly enough despite the 'perceived' backlash Porsche actually sold more four cylinder 718s than 981s.
Wonder how many EVs they will shift.
cseven said:
Turnpike1 said:
Two questions, weight and range will presumably determine it's success.
Oddly enough despite the 'perceived' backlash Porsche actually sold more four cylinder 718s than 981s.
Wonder how many EVs they will shift.
yes but 981's were only built from 2012 to 2016 where as the 718 has been going for 7 years already Oddly enough despite the 'perceived' backlash Porsche actually sold more four cylinder 718s than 981s.
Wonder how many EVs they will shift.
this was from Carthrottle re Europe and the US:
Let’s hit the numbers, first in the US where things have arguably gone worst. From 7292 cars across the Cayman and Boxster 981 ranges in 2014, the total dropped to 6663 in 2015, that line’s last full year on sale and traditionally a slow one. In the overlap year, 2016, the figure was already lower again – 6260 cars. Alarm bells would have been sounding in Stuttgart. Boom: 2017 comes and goes, leaving a figure of only 5087 718s shifted.
It got worse. After a brief and small resurgence with 5276 units sold in the region in 2018, 2019 has seen it dive to just 3880. In Europe the figures peaked in 2016, when both old and new models were on sale, at 9770 cars across both models. Since then the numbers have dropped to 8438, 8202 and most recently 7100 or so – this last figure is estimated as we don’t have figures for December 2019 yet, but it represents a drop to about 650 cars less than the combined Boxster/Cayman figures for the 981’s final full year in 2015.
Wonder if the figures for the 718 were bolstered by emerging markets (china hence the flat 4 2.0 option)?
Let’s hit the numbers, first in the US where things have arguably gone worst. From 7292 cars across the Cayman and Boxster 981 ranges in 2014, the total dropped to 6663 in 2015, that line’s last full year on sale and traditionally a slow one. In the overlap year, 2016, the figure was already lower again – 6260 cars. Alarm bells would have been sounding in Stuttgart. Boom: 2017 comes and goes, leaving a figure of only 5087 718s shifted.
It got worse. After a brief and small resurgence with 5276 units sold in the region in 2018, 2019 has seen it dive to just 3880. In Europe the figures peaked in 2016, when both old and new models were on sale, at 9770 cars across both models. Since then the numbers have dropped to 8438, 8202 and most recently 7100 or so – this last figure is estimated as we don’t have figures for December 2019 yet, but it represents a drop to about 650 cars less than the combined Boxster/Cayman figures for the 981’s final full year in 2015.
Wonder if the figures for the 718 were bolstered by emerging markets (china hence the flat 4 2.0 option)?
The received wisdom appears to be that electric cars shouldn't have any form of synthetic sound, but the biggest complaint also appears to be that they lack soul due to the abscence of... sound.
I would be quite happy for the 211 to provide a "full internal aural assault"
of my choice. It would need to be matched to a suitably able speaker system, no weedy facsimilies, I want the full sound with a few options.
Want the classic Flat 6 howl? certainly Sir, have a penchant for the exquisite mechanical symphony of the BRM V16? No problem. All at the touch of a (real) button. You could even programme in a couple of dips in the management system to emulate a speedy change of gears.
Name of the new Boxster/Cayman? The Porsche 211 as that is likely to be its range.
Hopefully Porsche pull this off. If anyone can make an engaging eSportster then it's them. In a world of eCars we need something that is enjoyable to drive, and currently that doesn't exist.
I would be quite happy for the 211 to provide a "full internal aural assault"
of my choice. It would need to be matched to a suitably able speaker system, no weedy facsimilies, I want the full sound with a few options. Want the classic Flat 6 howl? certainly Sir, have a penchant for the exquisite mechanical symphony of the BRM V16? No problem. All at the touch of a (real) button. You could even programme in a couple of dips in the management system to emulate a speedy change of gears.
Name of the new Boxster/Cayman? The Porsche 211 as that is likely to be its range.
Hopefully Porsche pull this off. If anyone can make an engaging eSportster then it's them. In a world of eCars we need something that is enjoyable to drive, and currently that doesn't exist.
ChrisW. said:
AP rides an electric KTM trails bike ... he understands the power of silence ... and moderate range anxiety might be a minor offset to the growing environmental anxiety.
I think that's quite different. Off road bikes, either two stroke or four stroke, make a right racket in the wrong place - quite often picturesque countryside. I can totally understand switching to electric there to keep the locals and other trails users happy. Range isn't going to be too much of a concern either.On a road with lorries, petrol cars etc that make noise anyway no-one complains if a car makes a reasonable amount of noise as it's expected.
M11rph said:
I would be quite happy for the 211 to provide a "full internal aural assault" of my choice. It would need to be matched to a suitably able speaker system, no weedy facsimilies, I want the full sound with a few options.
sorry but that sounds awful of my choice. It would need to be matched to a suitably able speaker system, no weedy facsimilies, I want the full sound with a few options. Twinfan said:
My prediction? They'll be expensive and fall out of favour quickly after the initial hype. I'm not convinced that much of the car driving enthusiast world wants an electric sports car.
thing is, ICE is being phased out, so it's not like they can go back to petrol engines if electric doesn't work outunless some other tech comes out of nowhere it looks like it's either electric or hang on to what we have while it works
we might not like it, but younger gens will grow up without the noise so won't miss it, or at the very least will get used to not having it
Remember a lot of people buy them as they’re nice posers cars and they aren’t that interested in driving but might enjoy the occasional spirited drive, plus might want a convertible.
I put myself in that Catagory and will look at these to replace my TT convertible when the time comes
I put myself in that Catagory and will look at these to replace my TT convertible when the time comes
Nickbrapp said:
Remember a lot of people buy them as they’re nice posers cars and they aren’t that interested in driving but might enjoy the occasional spirited drive, plus might want a convertible.
I put myself in that Catagory and will look at these to replace my TT convertible when the time comes
Nick won’t be going brapp brapp then though….. I put myself in that Catagory and will look at these to replace my TT convertible when the time comes
JasonSteel said:
thing is, ICE is being phased out, so it's not like they can go back to petrol engines if electric doesn't work out
unless some other tech comes out of nowhere it looks like it's either electric or hang on to what we have while it works
we might not like it, but younger gens will grow up without the noise so won't miss it, or at the very least will get used to not having it
I think once people realise EVs aren't the answer for a lot of people e.g. the plenty of people who live in places incompatible with charging the car at home the legislation will have to change. Especially if the supply of electricity doesn't increase substantially either.unless some other tech comes out of nowhere it looks like it's either electric or hang on to what we have while it works
we might not like it, but younger gens will grow up without the noise so won't miss it, or at the very least will get used to not having it
Porsche have hedged their bets on alternative fuel, and I think this may start to get some traction in the not-too-distant future.
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