Killing Bugs Fast With The New Porsche 718 GTS

2 August 2018 Redazione News, Tested

PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN/BOXSTER GTS

KILL BUGS FAST

Words and photos by Alessandro Marrone

I am pretty sure that those involved in Sardinia’s urban planning are driving lunatics. You cannot, in the most remote way, remain calm and responsible to the sight of a perfectly smooth road surface, of such a generous roadway and curves that offer you complete visibility on the opposite lane. But that’s not all, what in fact amazed me more about the 400 and plus kilometers driven with Porsche at the press launch of the new 718 Cayman GTS and 718 Boxster GTS was that crazy climb on some of the most tortuous roads of the entire island , interrupted only by endless straights reminding some sort of Autobahn.

The flight to Cagliari ran fast, a short hour in which I carried on with my homework, leafing through the brochures of the 718 GTS, the first time in which the “little” Porsches receive the GTS treatment after the transition from naturally aspirated 6-cylinder to turbocharged 4 pots. It seems incredible but the classic bar chat that love so much snubbing the new 718 have not yet got tired and we often hear criticism for the simple fact that we’ve lost two cylinders on the way. The real question at which we should instead stick is only one – are these 718 fast or not? The answer is obvious, they are fast, indeed they go pretty fast, especially being the little sisters of the 911, which inevitably had to embrace the turbocharger way as well. We will not be here talking about 6 cylinders or 4 cylinders, it would be like diverting the tracks that instead I am going to bring in the heart of the Sardinian island, where the uncontaminated nature and roads that wink at the immediate loss of the driving license are ready to enhance the driving pleasure of these sisters who share everything except the roof, fixed and rigid for the Cayman, in folding canvas for the Boxster.

The only preamble that is right to grant to the 718s, even if the most loyal readers will remember the gorgeous test we published two years ago with the 718 Boxster S on the fantastic hairpins of the Col de Vence, is that Porsche has not fallen from the chair putting 4 cylinder in a car, in fact they gave life to the myth of the 718 in the glorious past of its illustrious baggage of successes linked to motorsport. The 718 is then returned to refresh a made-up recipe based on lightness, an apparent mechanical simplicity that leverages a latest generation unit, a 4-cylinder turbocharged 2-liter or 2.5-liter boxer, as in the case of the S and our GTS, traction of course at the back, lots of fun and above all the ability to drive regardless of the type of road and especially the type of pace you want to keep, without being afraid of overheating brakes or clutch, because you know, a Porsche is a ‘ weapon that knows no limits.

Finally it’s time to choose the cars for the first part of the test, for which the Porsche team has really exaggerated, offering the opportunity to drive without rush for over 200km to the hotel, obviously taking the classic “longest road”, the one that takes me into the Sardinian heart and makes me climb a mountain road that I never thought I would find on this patch of land, all to be explored. I admit, thanks to a bit ‘of malice I’m always quick to choose what interests to me and so, after a couple of minutes I find myself sitting at the wheel of a 718 Cayman GTS, equipped with PDK and carbon ceramic brakes. The environment is obviously familiar to me, with the necessary differences compared to my 987 10 years older. But some things are damn identical and fortunately, because they are just among the main features that allow me to feel immediately in tune with the new 718 GTS. I turn the key to the left of the steering wheel and exit the airport area, not wasting time and soon found myself on a lonely mission, with the windows wide open and the chassis in Sport + mode. This means that the steering, the dual clutch transmission and the throttle pedal are more responsive, the exhaust opens its valves and accentuates the mumbling 4-cylinder boxer in release and, last but not least, it all enhances the will to go flat-out.

Also thanks to a location specifically designed to put the new baby-Porsche to the test, even before I realize it, I already find myself with traction control turned off, make the fat rear of the Cayman widening coming out from tight bends, while through faster corners I exploit the 20mm shorter suspension, earned with PASM, available in addition to the 10mm less than the GTS offers as standard. Get carried away is a moment, but the friendliness with which the 718 provides its innate precision in curves entry is truly exceptional. There is a very light understeer, which helps to make the car’s behavior more predictable and easy, in case you decide to pound the gas thoroughly and induce the big rear tires to spin, then come back to bite the ‘asphalt the precise moment you intend to straighten and splash towards the next bend. The 718 Cayman GTS and the 718 Boxster GTS satisfy the on road appetite of 365hp (+15 compared to the 718 S) and 430Nm with PDK, or 420 with manual transmission. The maximum torque comes after an almost imperceptible wait for the turbo, but from 1900 revs up at least to 5000/5500 (again depending on the type of gearbox) is a constant boost that surprises not only for the kind of progression, but for the speeds that you can reach within a few meters.

718 CAYMAN GTS

In this precise moment I’m contributing to the regional bugs disinfestation, but you know better than me, some cars are made to be taken to the limit and Porsches like that a lot. The climb seems to be over and I cannot even see the sea on the horizon anymore, everything that surrounds me is an expanse of green vegetation, crossed by a wide road surface smooth like the cheeks of a newborn. The turbo boxer pushes hard and the PDK proves to be an effective choice to make the most of the power and responsiveness of the 718 GTS. I have a special bond with the Cayman and it is inevitable that inside me end up doing the proper proportions with what I have at home, but despite the absence of the celestial 6-cylinder melody, I can’t complain about the result obtained with the sports exhaust, moreover embellished by a pair of shiny black tailpipes. The GTS package, both for the Cayman and the Boxster, includes a set of black 20-inch Carrera S wheels, black profiles for the front and rear lights, a front spoiler and a more aerodynamic rear bumper. In the interior there is a lot of alcantara, which results into a much more sports focused environment, still able to spoil you with an incredible infotainment system also able to be connected with your smartphone and act as telemetry, showing any parameter imaginable during track day use.

On a mechanical level there are 15 more horses than on a traditional 718 S and about 10Nm extra, which may seem just a few, but after an intensive use, you will realize that this time, the small but numerous changes coming with the GTS, bring even more stunning figures. Something like a 0-100 kph in just 4.1 seconds with PDK (4.6 with manual transmission) and a top speed of 290 per hour. This increase in performance is essentially due to a couple of interventions on the intake and of the turbocharger, optimized to make the GTS sharper, while maintaining its ability to be driven in Comfort mode and without shouting all of its fierce power. Let’s face it, who will ever want to do it though? I certainly do not and in fact, I find myself sinking my right foot on the brake and calling into question all the power of the carbon ceramic system that it’s fitted on the Cayman my hands. It is literally tireless and although I often find myself asking it more than I should, the chassis does not disappoint and places that mythical silhouette exactly where I wanted it. As mentioned, the 7-speed PDK is fast and represents in all respects the fastest way to exterminate thousands of bugs. On roads as curvy as these, it’s easier to use on the limit, allowing you to never take your hands off the wheel and acting on the g’box by stretching your fingers towards the paddles (in my opinion always a couple of centimeters too short) behind the steering. The Sport Response emphasizes the most excited moments and the mechanical self-locking differential helps to increase self-esteem by brushing some tread tattoo on the Sardinian roads.

718 BOXSTER GTS

Getting down from the Cayman and jumping on the Boxster is the ideal way to really realize the differences between the two small GTSs, which after a few days would become pretty much imperceptible. The Boxster that I have here is the opposite of the Cayman that I chose to start and to finish my first contact with the 718 GTS models. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that it allows you the opportunity to drive with some wind in your hair, which immersed in a location like that of the epic roads that branch off from Villasimius to Belvì, increases the pleasure of looking up and feel immersed in this magical area. Then there is a traditional braking system, with 330mm disc at front and 299mm at the back, which absolutely do not regret the fantastic carbon ceramic kit that I have used up a few hours before. Finally, in place of the gears ripping 7-speed PDK, there is a 6-speed manual, which if one half does lose half a second on the 0-100 and 10Nm of maximum torque, amplifies the overall driving involvement.

The impression you get placing the 718 Boxster GTS with manual transmission between the curves of this new mountain path is just like finding yourself in the belly of a snake: close to the ground, you can move and change direction in the blink of an eye without an ounce of uncertainty. The manual ‘box leads to a greater awareness of what you are doing in the driver’s seat, leading you to keep the engine revved when needed and take full advantage of the 2.5 turbo torque curve, or playing with heel-toe when I renew the challenge with some hairpin too inviting to be taken as a serious and boring journalist. The clutch pedal becomes – let me say that – the most interesting option that you absolutely have to evaluate when speccing your new 718. With it you bring home a deeper sense of dynamism than the technological efficiency of the double clutch could ever give. It is precise, much softer than how it was on the 987 and 981 and represents an undisputed pride t the bar, with your Porsche friends.

The sound of the 4-cylinder enters the cockpit in a more insistent manner and although it is not comparable to the 6-cylinder, neither for intensity nor for pure acoustic performance, it does exactly what it was designed to do: amuse. And in a car where the mantra of entertainment is in first place, that’s all we expect. That said, as well as for the Cayman, the Boxster combines new year’s eve performance, the practicality of a two-seater with a large luggage compartment at the front and the classic trunk behind the engine, not to mention that in the Cayman it is also possible to place a couple of extra backpacks, right above the engine compartment. These are aspects that 911 owners solve with two small rear seats, but never like with these 718 GTS, the performance gap between these underdogs and Her Majesty 911 has been cut to the bone. The fact remains that we are talking about important figures, with prices starting at around € 79,400 for the 718 Cayman GTS and about € 81,400 for the 718 Boxster GTS.

After lunch, on the second day, I come back to the Cayman and decide to give a final kiss to it, in order to review what were my first impressions. I drive for another 100km (in total, the test drive has allowed me to cover something like 400km, thanks to the luck of not having a copilot), yet I cannot decide which is the funniest of the two. For going faster and moving your limits (on road, like on track), the PDK certainly becomes the most lethal weapon, but the 6-speed manual makes the driving experience more lively. What leaves no doubt is the extraordinary ability to make an exceptional sports 2-seater with the engine in the middle, a car able to maintain the ability to grind kilometers full comfort and the ideal companion for a road trip that tastes of burnt rubber and incandescent brakes. Sardinia has been wonderful, but at the wheel of these Porsches, it seemed even better.