Porsche says it’s more economical than its 981 predecessor. Perhaps, if you drive it like a parsimonoius cabbie having a slow day. Drive it like a sports car is intended to be driven and I doubt it’ll sup much less juice than before.
Lighter? Four things must weigh less than six things, right? Indeed, but in fact the 718 is a bit heavier than the old 981 - by 25kg, to be precise.
Oh dear. Perhaps the naysayers are right. It’s not looking like a six at Edgbaston then, is it, this four-cylinder replacement for the car once touted the ‘best reasonably priced sports car in the world’?
Hang on, though, there’s lots more to consider here. Before we get in and drive it, just look at it for a moment. This is a pretty car, don’t you think? Even if the grey of our test car doesn't show it to best effect in the pictures, like the 981, it’s pointy at the front, muscular over the haunches and tapers away to a diminishing tail that’s the perfect full stop to its form.
Yet the subtle changes to the 718, such as the domed front wings, natty lights front and rear and black under-spoiler section at the back, make it better resolved than the 981. It remains compact, too, like Porsche 911s used to be in the air-cooled days. You remember those - the ones we were told we’d never recover from?
Next, open the door and slide yourself in to the seat. This one’s part-cloth; haven’t seen that on a Porsche since a fabulous 944 S2 my friend owned. It's a timely reminder that along with 356s, 912s, 924 Carrera GTs and 968s, Porsche already has a well-trodden four-cylinder legacy.
Play around with the seat for a moment and yes: the perfect driving position. Just like the old car, it’s low and cocooning, with a nice thin wheel to grasp and perfect pedals for heels and toes to dance on.
Start it up. Okay, it sounds like a Beetle at idle. No, not McCartney in his prime singing Hey Jude. More like Ringo warming a rattly 1972 1300 on a frosty morning. Accepted: it doesn’t sound as good.
Clutch down - it’s beautifully weighted and lighter than before. Snick first - the gearbox is deliciously precise, just as before. Move off.
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Yes I hear the bleating about
Yes I hear the bleating about understeer and lack of steering feel but the TTRS is vastly superior to this with a lovely engine noise, 2 small rear seats a la 911.It wil hold 3 people with 3 sets of golf clubs and will take all 4 of my winter tyres on wheels inside with 2 people.You cannot do these things in a Cayman or any 911.Oh, and for the price of said 911 C4S with similar performnace I can buy my wife the RS3 she wants as well.I know, I have one, and am going to [buy the RS3 for the wife-in Catalunya Red]
Mac
Porsche
Negative change Porsche. No