Porsche 718 Boxster | Chris Harris Drives | Top Gear 

Hi All, as an owner of a manual 2017, 718 Porsche 2.0 and previous owner of a 2010 Boxster S I can tell you all categorically the 718 is just miles miles better. I like you all watched all the you tube videos and read the reviews on the 718 and very nearly ruled it out in favour of a last gen flat 6 because of the so called lack of sound. The fact is it sounds just amazing and blows the old gen cars sideways for handling and speed and still very much gives you that magic adrenalin feeling. You tube just cannot capture the sound and emotion and yes compared to an Avendator it is quiet. I have never commented on any video or posted anything on a forum ever however hope this helps someone get their dream car as Porsche really has smashed it!

That settles it. I'm cancelling my 718 order and going back to the McLaren P1.

Hilarious take on the turbo. It took me two test drives a week apart to overcome the confusion and sort out all it’s brilliance. 18 GTS here 👍

For those of you complaining about this car having 4-cylinders, Europe is putting higher taxes and penalties on cars with higher emissions and fuel consumption. Porsche is doing what they can to preserve the sports car experience, all the while changing with the times. We should be thankful they are thinking along these lines.

I have one, and I absolutely love it. I have driven it along the BC coast and it’s amazing. Chris is awesome. But anyone here who says that this vehicle is garbage, go to Porsche dealership and drive it, you will fall in love.

Being the owner of a last year GTS I think you are spot on. The fact that one can drive the GTS or the GT4 at 40-50 km/h (24-31 mph) and make a down shift and the sound it makes just gives you a big smile

Huh. This Chris Harris guy is actually pretty great.

Thank you Mr Porsche, you made my "old" NA flat 6 classic right now

The Great Chris Harris!!...Damn I wish Harris could do both TG, & new videos on "Chris Harris on cars.. C.H, brother you are easily the best in the business, & have been for years now. Anybody who says otherwise is simply kidding themselves

Silver exterior, red leather interior = Timeless

Own it, love it. Sounds great. Sure a 6cyl sounds different but so does an 8cyl. To each his own. It's a drivers car and honestly better than a 911.

I like Chris Harris On Cars and Chris Harris Drives more than regular Top Gear because I feel like he's talking to me like a fellow car enthusiast. He's not dumbing it down for a broader audience, he's giving his complete unfiltered reaction.

Chris Harris is arguably the best automotive journalist on the planet, and certainly one of the most entertaining. We all wish to have the driving skills he has. Hi, I'm nobody, I have a 718 Boxster(base, 300 horsepower). ,manual transmission(couldn't do it any other way, it's a Porsche, shut up then). I had the old('14) Cayman S with the beautiful-sounding flat six and loved it. And--this 718 is fantastic! Light, agile, fast, fun, and it has major attitude. Begs to be driven hard. Pure joy in the driver's seat. Just sayin'.

Of course I'm gonna ask, where can I find the music playing in the background of the video?

"Just not as good as the one you could afford last year!" That's the best comment of the review Chris! ;-)

was so close to get a 718 but ended up with 981 GTS and man I'm pleased with my decision

Finally a Chris Harris video without thousand cut scenes, more this please!

981 video Chris sliding around turns and nice sounds winding out the gears. 781 driving around town like a guy who’s disappointed after banging a super model.

I had a hard time deciding between a 2015 and 2019 gts. Test drove both, both had around 20,000 km”s and price was almost identical. The performance in the 2019 was better, yet i decided on the 2015 as i dont race the car, just take the car for a Sunday drive, do afew cars and coffee with the boys and in the end, the difference in sound cant be ignored. I think buying a car like the boxster gts is an emotional one and the 2015 gives you a far more emotional experience, hence that is the one i bought. It is my second car and i plan to keep the car for ten plus years, unless a good 2016 low milage spyder comes along 😀

hey Chris, where can I get such a perfect green flat cap? I´m desperately seeking for a similar one ;o) and great vid, btw!

Driving this car on that road. Gotta be one of the luckiest guys on earth

The Cayman 718 is brilliant!! All this talk about noise is complete and utter nonsense. Try driving a flat 6 in town..it’s far too noisy, your neighbours will hate you. This car is quiet(ish), luxurious and goes like the wind. I’ve had both. This new engine is fantastic and will put a huge smile on your face. Looks amazing, feels amazing, sounds amazing.

Only video today not about the Ford GT. Good job TopGear. :D

Ok, get it. More importantly: anyone knows the location where this was filmed? Really looking forward to do some open top driving there myself!

Hi, I have a question! Does the 718 with 300hp ( not the s) makes povs when you downshift? I have one I and really don't hear them!

Love the background music in this one....I guess it had to be good since the car music disappoints

Chris has come a long way in the last 7 years. He looks so young in this video!

Almost bought a nicely optioned 2017 Boxster S with 7k miles for $59k....missed out on it when someone scooped it up from under my nose. Kept looking and found a 2013 Boxster S time capsule with (albeit different but likely) more suitable options, nicer wheels, Brombacher exhaust, a rare color combo and only 4,000 miles! Picked it up for $49k. Very happy with the decision. Sure, others can argue that the newer 718 is an overall better car but I don't feel like we're missing out with the 981. A 718 S with a tune would be a considerably faster but not necessarily a better overall Porsche experience. The 718 IS evolution but with less soul. The driving experience/sound with the 981 is simply incredible. Adding the Brombacher tune and filters to get a bit more power and I'm sure this nearly new 981 will be more than satisfying for many years to come.

What was that music background for?! We want to ear the engine!

Which one is better corvette c8 vs boxster?

Cool video. Where is that Road?

I wonder who has upgraded from 981 to 982

So will the previous Boxter go up in value now? ^^ That car has a special place in my heart, someday in my garage.

It sounds better in person...

Anyone know exactly where this was filmed?

I just reviewed a Boxster S on my channel. Great car, I want one and I own a 993 Turbo

The smaller. motor may also mitigate the snap oversteer which you may experience if you turn off the stability control. Sounds like a vaccuum cleaner though.

Chris, I'm overjoyed that Top Gear is still allowing you to post reviews in your own Chris Harris On Cars format, despite them being less palatable for the kind of audience that is typically drawn to Top Gear. That was not a dig on TG or its fandom at all though; while the series never got on much with me, I understand and appreciate that it found a way to make a car show that both motoring enthusiasts and *non-enthusiasts* can and still do enjoy! Your style is all its own, and your critiques might as well be gospel - I mean, besides your less than stellar opinion of the MX-5 ;) I'm happy to have watched you rise to become a household name over the past few years, and I hope the Top Gear gig works out long term for ya.

Does anyone know where to find the music used in this?

Thankyou Topgear for still allowing Chris Harris to do reviews even when the main shows off the air. Hes the best out there atm!!

For me, a big concern would be the throttle response. A Porsche is more about the feel than the outright performance. I wonder if Porsche is now doing what BMW did back in ~2010, giving up the precision and feel for 'more powah' and efficiency.

Anyone know where this was filmed? Gorgeous

What to pick? Boxter S or Mercedes SLC 43 AMG?

I almost didn't purchase my 2018 718 Boxster GTS because of all the people doing the sound test. This 718 is my replacement for my 2006 Caymans S. The dealership that I purchased the 718 from also had a 2014 Cayman S. So I test drove them back to back. Yes the CS sounded great but the generation difference was definitely noticeable. I loved the steering feel in the 718, the 981 felt muted and the 718 felt spicy. Neither had the feel of the 987, but the 718 was more predictable and felt more agile in the steering department. Then there's the engine issue. Twice in 2017 I rented a 718 boxster, once for my bday and I still had my 987 at the time. I loved it. Including the engine and the PDK. The 2.0 with PDK felt great and to me at full bore, it sounds great too. Way faster than my 987 6speed. The 981 was great too, but this 718 GTS is absolute excellence. Better than all of my previous Porsche, I had a 987.1 S, a 1985 911 Carerra Coupe and a 1991 911 Coupe. The 718 is way better than any of those cars. I LOVE THE 2.5!

said "i wouldn't get involved" HAHAH

Love your video Chris Harris!! The best car journalist in the world.

Spot-on with the engine description.

I’m soooo glad I bought the 981 then. Between 3-4,000 rpm theirs huge pops and crackles. 4-5,000 it’s a angry pot of boiling water. After 5,000 it sounds like a dragon snarling. He isn’t wrong about how “it makes 9 different sounds depending on the rev range” on the flat 6. And if you want to check it out I have videos on my channel. (Shameless plug). :( lol Great review though!

Buy the 981 Boxster GTS or the Spyder. I'll go with the Boxster Spyder

Chris carried on about the sound, justified but didn’t make for good viewing as he took it a bit far. Correct, the 718 is a whole new level to the previous gen, would recommend an exhaust to replace that factory one however as that exhaust was built for the prev gen 6, theres superb sound there just waiting to be unleashed. It’s similar to an STI (which l’ve always liked sound wise ) but much deeper & throatier. I own, track, tour and club my Boxster S & have zero complaints. Other drivers at the track do comment on how good it sounds & with good reason. It also now has the performance to match the Porsche badge. Perfect.

Chris, you are one of my favorite reviewers. I hope you can get over the change in sound since it is such a spectacular car. That’s life, nothing stays the same. And, it is better in every other way.

I enjoy how Porsche listened and said "Alright! We get it! Have your flat 6 back!"

Looking to replace my E89 Z4 35is by a Boxter. But reading this, I'm not so sure anymore. Nice review though and lovely scenery.

A better performer that's lost its soul. I'll keep my GTS in carmine. Only thing I personally like is the updated head unit on the new boxster.

think I will hang on to my old 02 Boxster S with the flat 6 and manual 6 speed.......

My favorite car in NFS Porsche 2000

we could be happy that the entire 718 range is not 4 pots becuase the gt4 and spyder will have six bangers. but for now buy an 981 gts. and the 911 still has six cylinders

IMO not that most people would do it, but you can put aftermarket mufflers on the 718 to "recapture" a strong throaty noise; if that is your complaint. That is easy correction for an otherwise brilliant 718. But to me I don't buy a sports car for the noise it makes and that 718 is planted. With a tune you are over 400bhp easy.

2:17 the case of the missing hat 😹

hi everybody I think the new top gear crew is as good as the old one but I want to see more mind blowing challenges like the old top gear did.

It's a great car! Picked mine up a couple of months ago and made a vlog on it. :)

Is there room for a supercharger under the hood?

Does anyone know where this review was filmed?

Surprised he didn't mention why Porsche went the 4 cyl route, it was purely to get the emissions down. The 6 cyl wouldn't get down enough, so I read.

IDk why everyone always comments on the presenter as opposed to the subject. Any case, I agree with Harris. I'd take the 981 six over the 718 four any day.

i liked the fellow at Motor Trend riding in his Porsche with the noise cancelling head phone. Were does this nonsense about wanting to hear engine noise come from?

Man i would love to see a Boxter or Cayman with the new gt3 engine. It could be a mighty monster of a car. just imagine a Cayman with 500 ps. It would be awesome.

I was waiting for the but , inert he calls it 😂 I wonder if Porsche ever thought they would be called that

what road is this?

Wow ! Finest and most intelligent way of destroying the 718 I have seen, so far ! So, does this mean, Chris Harris is now not only banned by Ferrari, but also Porsche ?

What locations are u in?

where is this filmed?

Which is that place ?

Nice, any idea what this jacket is?

I was torn, in this video, between giving it a thumbs up or a thumbs down. One one hand, I LOVE Chris Harris. I love the way he describes the experience, the words, the little intonations, his hand gestures, his tones. If I wasnt watching, I would still not only understand but almost feel like I was there. Its why I watch his videos. He just gets how to describe the experience in a way that makes you feel like you are there with him. Now, the reason why I almost gave it a thumbs down. It has nothing to do with his review of the Boxster or with the Boxster itself. It has to do with the music. More to the point, how loud it is. Or more accurately, that it almost felt like someone was attempting to drown him out with the music without actually drowning him out. I dont mind some background music, it helps with giving the narrator help. This felt like someone was trying to get us to watch the video, listen to the music and make you forget that Chris was there. Some one should slap the audio guy in post production. Chris has made me laugh, smile and gringe more than almost anyone else.

The thing is... Comparatively to the old boxster, this one is more of a legacy car. The original 718 had a 4 cylinder engine and that's what they tried to recreate.

What place is this?

Don't sleep! MORE VIDEOS CHRIS HARRIS!

What color is it??

Porsche is gradually preparing us for all-electric monotony.

Have one and love it

The entire video he's praising the car baring the throttle response lagging a tiny bit. Then goes on to say the car is worse because it doesn't make the same noise it used to? It looks fantastic, better than any Boxter before it. Drives brilliantly but it's worse? The same could be said with the Cayman I suppose, which is ridiculous that the noise a car makes, means it's either a good or bad car.

Good drive location. Where is it?

Background song at 0:03. Thanks!

Imagine a porche/subaru collab? The 718 STi😂

The brutal direct honesty is refreshing. I won't even bother test driving a 718. But where do I go from my 981CS then?

These 4 cylinder Boxster / Cayman versions are tanking in the marketplace. Porsche shows these cars are off almost 40% in sales compared to last year.

which location is it? I wanna drive there.

why the music is so loud?

Great review. Really tragic what's happened with turbos and sports cars recently. Put a turbo on a 1.1 school run & supermarket special. Don't put one in a Boxster! Silly Porsche.

really? his only argument is about noise?????!!!

Amazing roads ! does anybody know where it was shot ? Wales, Scotland.........

You said it was fast several times, if it’s fast who cares about how many cylinders it has. Porsche has always used smaller motors compared to American sports cars etc.

Oh my God! the Top Gear downvoters have grown up, no more automatic dislikes when a video is posted. I'm so proud of you guys. Oh shit, they are still in the comments section crying about the Clarkson.

Just me or is the background music... In the foreground?

I also think it doesn't look as nice as the former car, it doesn't look bad, but if it was at least pretti-er, then that would've helped it's case. And lighter, it needs to be lighter, didn't turbocharging add something like 30-50kgs?

Chris Harris is the only thing I really like about the new top gear

"Needed this fix."

Honest review

Why is the music so loud and persistent? I can barely hear Chris's commentary around 4:20 on and all the while talking about the noise from the engine, I hear music.