Popular Post Highland Fling Posted June 9, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted June 9, 2016 After 4 years ownership and 30k miles my superb Meteor Grey CR manual is now for sale at OPC Aberdeen. I hope the new owner derives as much pleasure from it as I have done over the last 4 summers. It may come as a surprise to fellow CR owners that I have decided to place an order for a new Graphite Blue metallic 718 Cayman S PDK. I really didn't think I would ever be writing this. Following a short test drive on twisty rural roads in a 718 Boxster S PDK, I was impressed both with the chassis improvements and the upgrading of the latest PDK gearbox. A quicker rack, smaller diameter steering wheel, 6 pot brakes, revised spring and damper settings, and at long last a motorsport intuitive gearstick action in manual PDK mode. Push forward for downshifts, pull back for upshifts. Brilliant! Gearshifts are faster, crisper, and when in Sport + mode throttle blipping is perfect. This is the opinion of a long-time motorsport driver who has been brought up on manual stick shift gearboxes and used to heeling and toeing for the throttle blipping action. Believe me, this new PDK is superb. As for the engine, the 4 pot turbo sounded ok with the PSE on full blare, and the poke is impressive and torque spread across a wide rev range. I'll guess I'll get used to it. On my 718 Cayman S PDK , I have specced the -20mm Sports PASM, 20" Carrera Sport alloys, PVT with locking diff, Sport Chrono Plus with Mode Switch, GT Sport Steering Wheel and PDK selector in Alcantara, Sports Plus seats and Sports Exhaust. Hopefully it should be a passable successor to my CR. Some lucky person will have the delight of owning that fabulous car, and the joy of driving it as it was designed to be driven. Delivery slots for the 718 Cayman S are still awaited from Porsche. Hopefully I shall have my new car before the end of the year. Meantime, I'll await with interest the press reviews of the 718 Cayman S PDK and hope I have made an inspired decision. I'll post my own review in due course. Brian 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caval4r Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 Looked at this one.....colour is lovely and very unusual in my limited experience on the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJMC Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 I get throttle blipping in my 981 2.7 PDK in Sport mode (no Sport Chrono), which is fun, although the manual gear lever shift is the "wrong way round" but then I don't know any different so it's fine for me. Great fun with the gear lever as you say. I do wonder why the cruise lever on the 718 is still push for faster, pull for slower though? On my wife's Audi it's up for faster, down for slower, so who knows (or cares?). "4 pot turbo sounded OK." 6 pot N/A sounds FANTASTIC! My number one favourite thing about my 981. Did you not like it in your R? Are you sure...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Beanoir™ Posted June 9, 2016 Founder Share Posted June 9, 2016 SO the first member to order a 781 then! You could be Cayman-less for a while then, a whole summer without Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twopointnine Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 1 hour ago, DJMC said: .....I do wonder why the cruise lever on the 718 is still push for faster, pull for slower though? On my wife's Audi it's up for faster, down for slower, so who knows (or cares?).. I regularly drive an Audi and a Cayman with cruise control and swapping between the two is a pain as I often end up pressing reset when I want resume or reducespeed when I want to increase speed, and with the Audi control on the left I've been known to flash the headlights when meaning to resume which can appear more aggressive to other drivers than operating the Cayman windscreen washers when meaning to increase speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland Fling Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 I'm certainly hoping my new 718 CS PDK is a worthy successor to my superb CR. I've gone for a "driver's" spec in the hope that it marries well with the chassis tuning developments and power delivery characteristics of the new 4 pot turbo. Meantime, as you say I am currently "Porsche-less". I have my daily driver Abarth 595 Competizione 180 bhp to play with. It's also a turbo 4 pot, albeit only 1346cc but decidedly frisky with it, so I am well practised in driving turbo engines. Should be interesting to see how the 718 CS compares with the sublime normally aspirated flat six. I'll be reporting back with an honest appraisal you can count on that. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcr5784 Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Interesting that you should mention PDK improvements. I certainly noticed that the box was better on the 991.2 I drove - slicker and smoother particularly 1st to 2nd than my 981S - but I didn't think the box on the 718 (non S) I drove was actually any better - perhaps a heavier flywheel is necessary for the 4 which might be responsible. Reversing the levers action in manual and assigning the steering wheel flippers to history was long overdue and very welcome. Pity they didn't get rid of creep as they have on the GT3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKR_77 Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Looking forward to hearing your experience when it arrives, was wondering whether to make the jump into one myself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtbiker Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I had a look at this car at the Aberdeen OPC and it's certainly a lovely spec - caused me to do some significant 'man maths' to go from a Gen 2 base model to my current 'R'. Hope someone buys it and enjoys it, that would be three Rs in Aberdeen if it stays here I think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-P Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Hi Brian -. Really hope you enjoy your new car. What did you do with your spyder alloys in the end? I'm looking for a spare set and I remember that you were thinking of selling yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland Fling Posted September 19, 2016 Author Share Posted September 19, 2016 My Spyder alloys may yet come up for sale. They are fitted with nearly new Michelin Cup 2's. If I get my new car in January 2017, I am arranging a proper test drive of the new CS PDK before the final decision, I'll check to make sure they fit the 718 CS without any problems. My Spyder alloys with Cup 2's may be fitted to my new car for an occasional track day in 2017. They will come up for sale at some point though. Of course I'll post the sale in the Forum. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-P Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Good to know Brian - please do let me know if you are planning on selling them. Mine have just had MPSC2s put on as well but I'd like a second set of wheels to put winters on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland Fling Posted September 19, 2016 Author Share Posted September 19, 2016 That sounds sensible. My silver Spyder alloys will be sold without tyres due to easier packaging. It's just a matter of when.......... Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-P Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 That works for me - just let me know how much you want for them when the time comes - cheers J-P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty718 Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Hi Brian I have also ordered a new 718 from Porsche Aberdeen just wonder how long it was till you got your build date etc Iv still not heard a thing ? Got my email regarding Silverstone experience a couple of weeks ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland Fling Posted September 20, 2016 Author Share Posted September 20, 2016 That's interesting. I visited Porsche Aberdeen today and checked out the new Miami Blue 718 Cayman S in the showroom. Looks fabulous. Big upgrade in cabin quality. I'm next in line for the build slot I was told. Estimated early November. I'll not take delivery until January 2017. I asked about the PEC Cayman Experience at Silverstone, and was told I should hear from them soon. I'll take that opportunity asap. Good to hear you have already had contact from PEC. Brian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trickle Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 SO it's early November, any news? I'm toying with the idea still, haven't been able to get a drive in one yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland Fling Posted November 2, 2016 Author Share Posted November 2, 2016 Had the build slot confirmed for 11th November. Delivery due mid December. Have a weekend test drive of demo 718 Cayman S PDK coming up on Saturday 5th November. I shall be reporting on my initial impressions next week. Coming from 30k miles and 4 years with a CR manual, the new 718 will have a tough act to follow. The new car is for a different purpose in my life compared to the much missed CR manual. Brian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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