Porsche Boxster 718 S - We need to talk 

Porsche have replaced the howl with the growl in the 718. I am enjoying my 718 Cayman S more and more. Amazing machine

I've got to say I agree with you on every point. No, the new engine doesn't sound as good as the old engine, but the new car is better to drive in every objective way.

I own a 718 Cayman S, it's such a good car. Well said Sir!

Completely agree with your review; my 2018 718 base is fantastic to drive, to look at, and to experience.

So nice to see a review of this car with an honest look at what it is - rather than what it's not - and why it's so appealing in its own right.

As the 911 always was - the Boxster/Cayman are today the daily-drivers par excellence. No unnecessary noise, not too stiff suspension, lots of room inside for average Joe - a great choice for non-hard core racers. Love both.

I’ve owned both versions of this car and I can say, without question, the 2.5 718 is easily the best version. Much punchier to drive, you don’t notice any turbo lag really and with an aftermarket exhaust it’s FANTASTIC to daily drive. The 2.5 also still has those lovely pops and crackles when you lift off at high revs. Forgot what the ‘experts’ say, frankly I think they are all copying each other’s script anyway. The 2.5 718 is FANTASTIC!!

Excellent video Roger. I feel no one should be commenting on the 718 until they've actually driven it. Particularly, the 2.5L S versions of these vehicles.

Roger just keep making Porsche videos and I'll keep watching them. Makes my life better)

Wow Roger. What a video. You just had me on the Porsche website configurating my 718! Great stuff mate, would love to try one

Outstanding 718 video! 2018 718 GTS here and yeah definitely a 4 cylinder turbo enthusiast.

One of the best reviews on the 718.

Hi Roger! Love your Porsche reviews! So well done and you give such fabulous insight into not just the car itself but also the history and thinking that went on behind it! Love the drone footage to it really makes the videos pop! Anyway just wanted to say hello and look forward to all your future videos! And I think I'm becoming a Porschephile too! All the Best!

I love the way your videos tell a story, your film production is brilliant

Well said Roger. Thanks for making and posting this video.

Had one when my Cayman 981 was at the dealers. Hated that rough engine and the noise it made, plus it was thirstier than my 2.7 six!

Flat six was refined when not thrashing it (as 6+ cylinders always are) and 4000rpm+ was like a special treat when conditions allowed. You can keep your artificial crackles and pops on the overrun that make it sound like the fueling and ignition has gone to pot. If I had the income for a 718 then fuel costs wouldn't be a concern. Its Porsche marketing trying to lure the public to buy a 6 cylinder 911 which has a bigger profit margin.

So very well spoken... You Sir Roger are a brilliant example of how it’s done 👍🏻

Well said Roger. My 718 GTS has an extraordinary range of skills..

I really like your descriptions of the car's characteristics. They seem passionate and make you videos more unique!

Excellent video Roger, I own a 718S Boxster and love everything about it

Another great review Roger, nice to meet you at cars and coffee a couple of weeks back. Cheers Peter

Great review Rodger the technology just gets better with every new model

Great review - thanks! I have to laugh at those who criticize the new engine. Are you kidding me? Porsche are giving us a “Boxster Turbo” for the price of a base car. I’m old enough to remember the awe created by Porsche turbo cars. 911/944 turbos... Thank you Porsche.

Hi Roger, thanks for the review and it drove a big part of my decision to get a 718! I had switched from a bmw 325 e93 convertible which I drove for 10 years. Thanks again and look forward to seeing more videos [:

Nice review. Good to hear less complaining and more reviewing! As you say most of the complainers don't even drive or own one. The new 718 GTS with Cup 2 tires out performs the 981 GT4 which comes standard with Cup 2s, and the 718 GTS has the same Nuremberg time at 7'40" on standard tires! The platform is impressive to say the least.

Another fantastic video My Friend. All a pleasure to watch. Have a great weekend.

Awsome overview Roger and awsome car .....718 is grrrrrrrrr8

Amazing how this car is beginning to get a real following as people begin to understand its character and poise, particularly after such initial resistance. Porsche just so good like that. Thought l may need to go back to an NA version at times but now having owned mine for over 5 years l really just don’t want to. It’s such a different car to the NA versions and one l have become very fond of. I can’t put my finger on just one thing, but l know it has something to do with how it all just works so well together as a package.

Awesome production, thanks🤘🤘🤘

Nice video. Most previous gen owner's don't rate the sound at all (you've heard it all before), so good to see a fresh, different take on the car.

I'd love to walk into that Porsche Centre and go for a drive in those cars just like you do rodger

I own a 718 Boxster, owned a 981 Boxster previously, I prefer the 718, it has newer tech, handles better, and has more grunt, even at low RPMs. Only negative as you highlighted is the engine sound.

Interesting perspective. Thanks

gota love these RB vids no one else does it like this

I don't usually like cloth drop tops, but that one looks great! I'd definitely buy one.

The Boxster is such an amazing value for a new car

Oh dear now you’ve done it Roger & well done you ( awaiting incoming !!). It really is everything you say & probably more. I’ve been researching the new 718 since I first saw the launch, there’s no doubt the flat 6 has & still is an iconic piece of motoring history but the times they are a changing & Porsche has to look to the future as do all vehicle manufacturers whilst abiding by the ever increasing emissions regulations. Wonderful review and excellent photographic editing & what a stunning example of a 718 with its nod to the past. Brilliant job sir 👍🏻.

Thank you Roger! Your review is a breath of fresh air. Tired of the whining over the lack of proper “sound“. And, as you properly stated, you only get that howling flat six sound when it’s wound out anyway which you have to do because of the relative lack of torque at lower RPMs.

Superb video, Roger, thanks, love your style. Car looks great with those wheels too - 20inch Carrera Classic rims? How firm was the ride with those?

Smashed it mate. Great edit, you get better with each new vid. You know what's coming though.... 'the 4 banger sounds like a bloody Subaru !' '6 pot was so much better' 'what do you know...the four pot turbo is shit !' etc All from people that have probably never driven either ! I have and I honestly think the 350bhp S is night and day better the the S it replaced !

Mr Bailey, it appears that you are attracting some heavyweight subscribers, I was sure though that the Donald would have more than 35 subscribers of his own! Great review again, you just need to get your hands on a nice spec 992!

Nicely done!

Roger another very well made video, and I agree with what you say about turbo engines 💯

The curse of loving sports cars, means that I’m always tempted by shiny new things. It was in October last year that I ordered a 718 Cayman GTS, shortly after it was announced. While I waited for the car, it got a bit tiring to read / watch review after review of the 718 bemoaning the change to a 4-cylinder engine. I very nearly cancelled my order at one point, as it wore me down a bit. Delivery took a little longer than expected due to my decision to switch to a PDK late in the pre-build period - I’d originally ordered a manual, but ultimately it didn’t seem right to spend £70k+ on a manual car. Consequently, the car arrived a little after the very first cars, in mid-March of this year. To help fund this car I traded in my 2014 981 Boxster S, a car that I loved probably more than any car that had preceded it. Plenty fast enough for road driving, a cracking engine and practical too. It fitted into my life perfectly. So here I am, 5 months into 718 Cayman GTS ownership and I’ve come to a rather sudden realisation that despite the car’s obvious areas of improvement over the 981, I do not want to live with it anymore. Nothing revelatory here, but I can make no emotional connection with the droning 4-cylinder engine. It has little personality at normal driving speeds and just leaves me cold. At the upper reaches of the rev range, there’s a hint of something interesting, but by then you are travelling at licence-losing speeds. The pops and bangs from the exhaust seem particularly lame compared to the AK-47 sounds that came out of the 981, and certainly no better than those from a modern hot hatch. Something else I dislike about this engine / gearbox combination is how the car almost struggles with revs at low speeds, so that you can feel the whole engine behind you shuddering as it bogs down. Porsche seem to have tuned the PDK to be like this, because a 718 Boxster S I drove also did it. It’s solved with a twist of the mode selector to ‘Sport’, but I don’t always want to do this from a cold start. Very unbecoming of a Porsche, I think. So, apologies for jumping on the 718 engine-hating bandwagon. I admire everything else about the car. Its ability to hurl you down a British B-road is staggering, but because of its engine, I could never love it. For me a Porsche sports car needs to be a car you love. At least I gave one a go, even if it has cost me over £10k in depreciation in just a few months. I was prepared to leave Porsche ownership after this, however my OPC salesman has found me the perfect car: a 981 Boxster GTS with very low mileage. I didn’t hesitate to buy it. Having owned a 981 Boxster S with most of the GTS’s options, I know exactly what I am getting this time and am looking forward to getting my Porsche driving mojo back.

Great video Roger 👍 I’m less about engine note (even though a great exhaust note stirs the soul) and more about what the overall package offers. A modern Porsche is such a complete package.

Great review. I have a 718 Boxster. It was a very first custom ordered 718 in Orange County (Southern California). I put deposit for it 3.5 months before production started. Love the car, but regret for not getting Boxster S. Not because of the extra 50 HP, but because of the better brakes. I hate the sound of this 4-cylinder engine (which performs extremely well) and seriously considering getting a 911 Carrera because of that even though mid engine car handles significantly better.

Hi Roger another great video...Very well thought out thanks

If they don’t like it, it’s only cause they can’t buy it

I have the 992 Carrera S Cab Manual in the same colors, love them both! Nice review.

Roger, would love to see a review from you on the 718 Cayman T. Tempted by one compared to the new Supra I’ve reserved. 👍

Sounds like a 6 cylinder. How did they do it?

Roger, lovely production and presentation from my neck of the woods. Am considering a Boxster when I'm bored with my 2016 Panamera, can't afford the current model, and since I've never driven the previous model Boxster, am certain a 718 will do me fine. In the Macan range, (I had an 'S' a few years ago) the revised 2ltr engine has many critics, any chance of one your great reviews? It could be the 'sensible' choice for me.

Beautifully said. I totally agree!

Roger i love car too . New to your channel got you thanks for the video.

Now that the 718 has been out for a number of years, are there any reliability issues that can be traced to the turbo? I am stuck between buying a 981 or a 718 that I expect to have for many years. Thank you in advance for your feedback!

Well, but is it REALLY the best "by a country mile"? The upcoming Z4 M430i with a straight 6 and 50/50 weight distribution is looking like it'll give it a run for its money. That car looks like it's going to compete head to head with the Boxster S but at below Boxster pricing (considering comparable options such as power seats, dual zone heating, etc.). I'm in this market for a 1/1/2020 purchase and it's going to be a hard decision given the price difference.

great car and the 4 cyl engine keeps weight down, skilful video Roger kudos

Having had the 718 Boxster S, I can't think of anything I would change. It's a Porsche so every bit is quality. The looks (IMO) beats other Porsche's line-up. The sound is a bit subjective isn't it? There are plenty of super sports cars out there that sound much louder and meaner. But that's not for everyone. I like the subtleness of this and with the sports exhaust option, I can have a meaner sound but not attract too much attention. straight lining then there are more faster sport cars out there. But for the streets and highways, it is more than enough for any type of driving.

great summary, time will show that these cars are indeed excellent

Another great video Roger, how do you think it compares as an every day driver to your beloved 911? Also, is the next video going to be the 992? PS. I saw your video on the RS Turbo, I had one of those too, "leach like grip" and the one car I will forever lament. Born and bred on Fords.

Great Review- thank you for video-ing my thoughts exactly! Best bang for buck, easy to love power... no stories.

Well made video ! It's a beautiful boxster and even better. Don't care about the lesser sound compared to the flat six.

Love the colors of that car....Ps wish I could post or send a pic of my boxster

G’day Roger, love the Boxter (porcherphyle...ha ha ha) 718 does look good (lucky you mate) great video Thank You 👍🏻

3.2L flat six? My 2015 981 Cayman S has a 3.4L. Is the 3.4L a US spec?

Hey Roger. First of all great review. You probably won’t remember because it was a while ago but I messaged you asking If you remember my dad at Porsche On The Prom in Llandudno of 2018 when you had your drone up. I believe he is going to message you too but will you be attending Porsche On The Prom this year? Thanks John

I very much enjoy your Porsche videos. And I heartily agree, the 718 Boxster/Cayman are marvelous automobiles to drive. I did want to share one observation from watching this video however. Your evident attempt at "pixel-blocking" over the digital speed read out seems incomplete if the user can also still read the analog speedometer on the left.

My 2 cars I struggle with is FType v6 and the Boxster. I sold my Boxster for the FTYPE because its epic theater. Both are great. But I have to have V6 and the Porsche is way more expensive that the FTYPE. Great review.

The 6 cylinder engine used to sing and the 4 cylinder engine sounds terrible!

Well said. Plus the turbo works better in the mountains.

ha ha love the horse reference - I get it ! great review Mr B

Hi Roger could you review the new supra and the 4c would love to hear your opinion of those cars

Having driven both, on the roads and at PEC Silverstone the 718 is better in every way... apart from the engine. The steering is a noticeable improvement. But the engine in a sports car is it's soul. And it's not just the noise, the 6 cyl has character, it's more involving managing the torque curve rather than just point and squirt...

I had a 718 GTS, but traded it for the Carrera T. I don’t mind turbocharged engines at all. Love the torque. I just like the sound of the 6 cylinder more. I like hearing the twin turbos spool up and high in the rev range the T gives off the slight sound of a GT car. I was missing that sound in the 718, though if money were no object, I would have kept it. 718 drives great!

You forgot to mention engine won a bunch of awards but again a great video thanks

Since you asked, you're wrong. People who buy a Porsche aren't worried about saving 2 MPG. They are also not going to be happy about giving up the wonderful sounding flat 6 for a lackluster 4 cyl. IF Porsche really wanted to simply increase torque for better acceleration they could have changed the rear differential gearing. It is well documented that the 891 could hit 80+ in second gear, which robbed the car of mechanical torque to the wheels and slowed the car down. Simply changing the rear diff gearing would be good for about 2 tenths of a second 0-60. Another benefit of a "proper" rear gearing is that drivers would be able to use the higher RPMs more frequently, increasing the fun factor along with performance.

Sort of. But the thing is...it's a SPORTS car. Not a commuter. F*** mileage. Pardon my 'French'. Sports cars should...or do...meet a lot of hope and expectations that 'normal' cars do not. The engine is technically very very good. It pulls hard and takes you where you want to be quickly. But it's not the 981 motor. Or even the 987. Those are sports car motors. They sing to you. They romance you. The 718 farts as it pushes you along. It's sad because I do think the 718 chassis is better than the 981. I absolutely love the steering of the 718. It's amazing. But it's lost in a mess of bad noises and disconnected feel for where you are RPM wise. For the record, I write this as a current GT4 owner and former 981 Cayman owner + my wife drives a 981 Boxster S. Clearly I may be biased...but Porsche whiffed on this pitch. Big miss. All that said...very well done video. Thank you for taking the time.

The flat 4cyl (later adopted by Subaru)! is for all intensive purposes a return to Porsche’s origins/roots one could argue. It was the design that launched Porsches winning prowess in races on the world stage...Hell the 919 used a most unconventional V4 mated to a hybrid drive, set the world in fire with its Nordschliefe World record lap time of 5:19 and haven’t seen any complaints from that?

While I am certain it’s a fun car to drive, it’s the engine sound that is the poison pill for me. I was looking forward to upgrading my current Boxster but I can’t get over the Subaru engine sound of 718 and will run mine at high rpm’s and enjoy the wail of the flat 6 in my current one. The flat 6 sound is what makes a Porsche a Porsche. Sometimes I have to wonder if a writer that gets free use of a Porsche can say what they actually think because of the fear of not getting to test any more if they are honest.....

i think you should drive the GT3 RS naturally aspirated 4.0L - that said this is a very good review of the turbo 718

Roger, your production values just get better and better. Are you still a one man band or do you have help to produce your videos?

Roger: Very good video. I really enjoyed watching it. Everything you said is accurate. Here is the problem and this comment is really focused more at Porsche than you: I've already owned a boxster. Yes it was a '98 Boxster. But I sold it years ago and bought a 997 911S cabriolet. I've often thought of what I could do with the equity of that car. Maybe apply it towards a newer, more modern Boxster. But I can't do it. Why? Well, first of all because of the depreciation of the boxster. Second: I'm very nervous about the potential electronics failure of newer cars. How much will the repair cost be when the new electrical designs eventually fail on a 917 boxster or a newer 911? I dare think.... So I think I will stay with my more mechanical 911. Maybe somebody I'll trade up to a Cayman GT4 or a 997 GT3 or Turbo. Or maybe I'll just stick with what I've got... its paid for. Thanks Roger. Gave the video two thumbs up. :-)

Nice vid.

You gave the key point in the video: using it as a daily driver. (Or not... that is the question.) If one prefers to factor in many practical daily driver" type of perspectives and benefits, the 718 is it. Facts Seeking the most entertaining "weekend/sports car" = Porsche experience, the 6 cyl models make sense. Emotions It's kind of ironic in a way, since Porsche over all tends to gets flak for being soulless German precision engineered tools, while the Italians get all the soul credit. But it's relative and on different parts of the scale, sort of. Doesn't the whole 4 or 6 cyl discussion ring a lot of the old water or air cooled debate bells?

Like how you edited the book in this video .

Well put Roger, not sure about the red interior, don't look like the same color as the roof.

Whilst I think Porsche somehow managed to improve the looks (still astonished how..!) I just cannot be sold on that sound. I'm a 981 owner and whilst I appreciate you may not of had your 981 on it's limits very often. I certainly do make the use daily of the b-roads here and couldn't enjoy the 718 sound as much. Nice vid though and lovely spec'd car Porsche .. If ever I took a Boxster, it would be silver and red ;-)

Gotta love Porche.

Great tks but i have read there is a 6 cylinder in the future for the 718 yeah 👍

Wanted to revisit this great thought provoking review, but as EVs and 2 litre turbo options lack the all important passion in equal measure, I can't bring myself to part with my flat 6, actually even admire it all the more for tge unrivalled joy that it brings. Who needs to settle for second best???

brilliant just brilliant

RB great video again. It’s all subjective and opinions. If you love the 981 then keep it, if want a faster, better in every way (apart from the engine sound) and are not fussed BUT still love Porsche’s 718 like I do my 718 GTS then go get one as it’s DNA is brilliant. Loved my drive to London and back yesterday with the cracks and pops 👍

Test drove one at my last service. I’ll stick with my 981 BXS. No way I’ll ever trade my 981 for a 718.

It's a myth that small turbo engines are more efficient than larger naturally aspirated engines. Due to the need to run rich when boosted, they are actually less efficient under real-world driving conditions. I'll not buy another Boxter/Cayman unless it has 6 cylinders, and I believe that I am far from alone in that regard.

Fantastic car I had two 981s before I definitely wouldn’t have another,718 s four cylinder all Day 👍👍👍👍

Drove it. I must admit that I liked the Alfa 4C better. The porsche is more luxurious interior wise. The Alfa just seduces you more and far sexier

Nope engine sound in a sports car is just as important than the rest of it, so it's the six cylinder for me personally, but I wouldn't push my opinion on to others if they don't mind the meaty WRX sound, but I hear the latest 718's sounds better now.

Lovely looking 178 Mr. RB. Silver but... With a red roof!? Hmmm... I was sceptical at first, but then that red roof grew on me. I really like it. :-))... You asked if turbo engines are any good? Again. Hmmm... Let me think for a second. Errrr... Let's see. The 911 Turbo. So yes! Turbo all the way. And Porsche seem to do turbo's better than most, if not all, too. Great video RB about the PB :-))... Your No1 Stalker salutes you sir. PS - Nice hat... Comrade!! :-))...

Dizzy from the fast change of frames.....dude...not need it. Keep it simple