End of an era: Porsche halts 718 orders in UK
We knew it was coming, and now it's official - Porsche Cayman and Boxster can only be bought from existing stock
If you’re anything like us, you probably spend more time than is even remotely justifiable on the Porsche configurator deliberating between options on a dream build. It’s a good website, and the cars are fantastic - very easily done. Now the news we’ve been bracing ourselves for is here: it is officially no longer possible to spec a new factory order 718 in the UK, as Porsche gears up for its replacement model. The one you’ve probably heard a bit about.
It’s certainly a strange and unwelcome sight on the Porsche GB website; we’re used to seeing ‘limited availability’ next to GT models, but never next to the series production four-cylinder and 4.0-litre cars. ‘It is no longer possible to place new factory orders on this model’, says the configurator. ‘Please contact your Porsche Centre to enquire about available models which match your configuration.’ Don’t be surprised if many do, folk only missing what they have when it’s gone and all that. For the UK, deliveries of customer-specified cars will continue into the first half of next year. So there will be 75- and 26-plated Porsche 718s out there, though presumably not many. What an incredible sight they’ll make, too, dedicated petrol-engined sports cars with button-heavy interiors and more than a few manuals among them. Imagine the premium that might be attached to the six-speed cars eventually…
The reverence around the 718 now is some contrast to how it was originally received almost a decade ago. Though the heavy overhaul of the previous 981-generation looked similar to what came before, there were significant changes underneath, including the introduction of turbocharged four-cylinder engines. In place of 2.7 and 3.4-litre flat sixes came 2.0- and 2.5-litre forced induction boxer fours; more powerful, more efficient, torquier and remarkably responsive for turbo engines (especially with the Variable Turbine Geometry in the 2.5), all should have been well. Except, of course, the change didn’t quite go to plan, the smaller engines criticised for a lack of refinement and uninspiring soundtrack. The Boxster and the Cayman still drove as sweetly as ever, but something had definitely been lost in the great cylinder cull.
While another GTS and a 2.0-litre T definitely improved the turbo offering, the point was forced home with the return of the GT4 and Spyder models in 2019, with a new 4.0-litre that revved to eight thousand and sounded much more the ticket. To say nothing of the throttle response. It wasn’t long after the introduction of the 718 GT models that the rumours began to swirl of the 4.0-litre making its way to the rest of the range in one form or another; indeed it was confirmed after just a few months, the 4.0 GTS pair announced in the winter after the GT car’s summer debut.
From a purist perspective, all was forgiven pretty much instantly. There were 262 comments on the PH news story from January 2020; for some idea of the general sentiment, see the third: ‘Whomever in Porsche made this decision has my permission for the law to be changed and to be knighted by the Queen.’ The launch took place the month after, just before the Covid-19 nightmare really took hold, and only heightened the enthusiasm. ‘As far as first impressions on the continent go then, this one’s about as good as it gets’, was the PH verdict, which only really improved with time. In the UK, the 4.0-litre models were more delicate than an M2 and more refined than an Exige, with an engine that offered up the kind of sound an Alpine could only dream of. The Cayman and Boxster were back to their best.
Since then, there’s been a 25th Anniversary Boxster, the GT cars gained a PDK option and, of course, the RS models howled their way into existence with the GT3 powertrain. It’s certainly been some return for the flat sixes in the 718, with 400, 420 or 500hp, but now their time has come, alongside the four-cylinder models. Before you know it, a battery-powered replacement will have replaced them on the configurator…
Given the 718 has never been far from PH headlines since 2016, we'd be remiss not to see what the classifieds have to offer now production is winding up. The first thing to note is that residuals are strong, even on the flat-four cars, with £30k the entry point for 2016 2.5s or later 2.0s. (There are still 981s at more than £30,000, amazingly enough.) Around £35k there are nicely specced Cayman Ts and low mileage examples; more than £40k is still needed for a GTS.
As for a flat six 718, they’re still big bucks, though at least what’s set to come isn’t likely to adversely affect residual values. The most affordable we could find was £57,990 with 40,000 miles. There are 25th Anniversary Boxsters from £65k (or new 2.0-litres, in fact); late, low-mileage 4.0-litre GTSes overlap with the earliest 718 GT4s and Spyders around £70,000. Not exactly suitable for all budgets, sure, though the popularity means plenty of choice, from grey coupes to yellow cabrios with red interiors (yes, really). And they’re just as good as you’ve been hearing for all these years. Never been a better time to see what the fuss is about…
With that in mind Porsche really have to come up with something mind bending within the EV platform, but I'm not sure that is possible given part of the joy of these cars is the nimbleness and the sound track.
Could they do some rework and head towards a mild hybrid in a similar vein to the 992.2 GTS, I'm not sure there's enough space to package it, but the Porsche engineers will figure it out, we can only hope that's an option that is being explored currently.
I just hope that rather like at Mercedes-AMG the turning tide of public opinion forces Porsche to offer an ICE option in the future (likely to be hybrid but hopefully retains some character).
Come on Porsche - it's not too late!!
I just hope that rather like at Mercedes-AMG the turning tide of public opinion forces Porsche to offer an ICE option in the future (likely to be hybrid but hopefully retains some character).
Come on Porsche - it's not too late!!
te.I don't think that the replacements will be anywhere near as emotional an experience.
Shame single/non family people don't buy cars like these, but buy SUVs instead.
There is a wonderful sense of continuity right through the generations. Drive an early car and then jump into a 2025GTS and you will feel at home immediately.
For me the stand out car is the humble 987 Cayman R. Sure it’s not as fast as the 718 generation cars but it’s a better all round package especially once you throw value for money into the equation. The CR has got it all, delightful steering, great engine that rewards being thrashed, great sound esp with sports exhaust, excellent on track once the geometry and brakes are sorted (which goes for them all), hewn from solid build quality (at least mine was!), nimble and precise an absolute joy.
The GT4 in either flavour always had a bit of a compromise that for me did just enough to keep it off top spot. The GT4 RS is a feral beast of a car but for me the on the limit handling shows up the compromises in the rear suspension design, and the awful road manners and NVH relegate it well down the list. I get it that some people will love it and good for them but not for me, the GT3 is a much better more rounded car than a 4RS.
My runner up in my list of favourites is the 718 Spyder. I had 2, a manual and a PDK. Simply the most beautiful car Porsche have designed for decades. Superb with the top down, surely the point of a convertible, with an excellent heater and a really cozy comfortable cabin. I never had a 981 Spyder mainly because it did without the upgraded GT car suspension which the 718 has.
I got an allocation for an SRS but turned it down in the end. Mainly because my perfect spec was not possible on the Porsche configurator and I was still a bit pissed off with Porsche over the marketing BS around GT car allocations. I might try one in a bit once the ubiquity sets in.
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