718 GTS is now here... Why did we buy this lovely car?

718 GTS Commentary

718 is all about enjoyment and involvement. Love the fact it’s a manual gearbox. Closer to the driving experience…that’s what it is all about.

Why do people miss a manual box?

It’s a back to basics sports car……. focused on the thrill of driving. I would say it hits the sweet spot of performance sports cars at the moment in the UK.

o Right amount of useable power under the curve……over usable (4,500) of real torque band

o  Right size….the same as a 1970’s 911.

o Mid-engine balance is really excellent especially with the four point engine mounts at mid-ships.

o Controls are weighted, perfectly.

o You can use all the performance on tap with a very strong torque curve from 1,900 to 5,500 rpm, with max power at 6,500 rpm topping out at around 7,500 rpm on the rev limiter.

o You can feel the torque vectoring working with the limited slip diff on hard cornering providing enhanced steering precision and increased driving stability, resulting in heightened vehicle dynamics.

o Works the chassis and the suspension so hard and effortless (inherited from the GT4 Gen 1 with the 3.8 litre engine and delivers same lb ft @ 309 in manual form – or another 9 lb ft in PDK).

o Steers beautifully, turn-in and precision into corners enables the car to be driven fast and accurately.

o Has enormous grip….yet you can really lean on it.

o Exhaust note in Sport Mode with the burble on the overrun, is very moorish.

Porsche understand what drivers want, in fact this car it’s a match for the 981 GT4 on speed and lap times, both doing the Ring at a time of 7min 40 sec, I suspect if the GTS had Michelin Pilots, fitted, it would out-run an 981 GT4. That’s only 15 seconds slower than 991 GT3 Gen1…..

Back to the manual over a PDK, fundamentally a manual gearbox heightens your awareness and interaction with every facet of the car and adds a distinct layer of tactility that can amplify your sense of speed…. especially when performed at speed.  For example, try changing from 5th to 6th as easy as a paddle change at slow speed. Now, try making that same shift at 6,500 rpm (Max Power) and at 135mph….taking one hand off the steering wheel as it magnifies the forces to control the car. You feel engaged and really enjoying controlling those forces the car creates that you have to manage to keep the car safely on the road. 

We all love the 2nd to 3rd gear dash, it’s not really possible to have favourite PDK gear change is it? The GTS is built specifically not to care about lap times at the Ring. (It is surprisingly quick), 0-60mph times, or Launch Control. 

Putting this into perspective, only 15 years ago a car breaking 8 minutes around the Ring was the best you could get. [i.e 996/911 GT3 Gen 2 did 7:54 in 2003 which was a 9 second improvement over the 996/911 GT3 Gen 1 from 1999]. I have read one article that said as quick as a Ferrari F40 [Clarkson’s bestest ever car]………How speed has evolved since in the last thirty years.

Indeed, the 718 GTS is nearly a whole minute faster than my first 986 Boxster S around the Nordschleife. The time for that car was 8:32 in 2000, so at least a minute faster than my original 2.5 litre 986. That’s an overall improvement of at least 13% ……talk about velocity improvement. At the same rate of progress in 20 years time the equivalent car will be going around the ring in 6:47 that’s the lap time of the current generation 991 GT2RS. Seems impossible……

It’s a car that’s made for us. It’s a really fun drive…. it’s a driver’s car that you can exploit to the max.