Turbo-fours are the future

Porsche Purists cried foul when the new Boxster replacement traded its hallmark six-cylinder engines for turbo fours. The 718 Cayman even followed suit. Does this mean even Porsche isn’t immune to the ever increasing environmental times?

The standard 2-liter turbo pumps out a hearty 300hp and can get you to 60mph in under 5 seconds (4.9 seconds to be exact) and the optional Cayman S trim gets a 2.5-liter turbo pumping out an additional 50hp and is 0.5 seconds quicker. The premium between the two however is pretty hard to justify considering that the Cayman S isn’t that much quicker to 60mph. Don’t let horsepower figures and numbers fool you, the Cayman S is a beast when it comes to swift acceleration and while it may not have the charm that the six-cylinders of the previous generation had; we certainly appreciate the torque at low revs which helps give it that punch at low revs so it feels a lot easier to live with as a daily commuter car.

Driving the Cayman isn’t like any other sports car we’ve driven. The steering feedback is from the gods and the chassis was tuned by them as well. You can option for an adaptive suspension which is a pretty pricey option to begin with, however the tradeoff if that you’ll have a more forgiving ride comfort and when you are feeling the spirit of the drive, you can slip it into sport mode and dance through the corners with such finesse and pose. When you’re not driving like a complete hooligan, the Cayman S is one refined sports car with very little wind and road noise to complain of. The engine has a very contagious exhaust note, especially in sport mode which means that’s about all the noise you’ll hear. And if you complain about that, we’re convinced you didn’t want a sports car at all.

One of the downsides of having a Porsche is everyone knows you’re driving a Porsche. This is due to the fact that Porsche has the most recognizable designs on the road and pretty much stands out everywhere it is. Drivers around us were expecting us to flog it everywhere we went, rev the engine and of course gawk at us at every turn and while sitting at traffic lights. The only other vehicle that could rival the Porsche in the attention department and that’s the Smart Fortwo and that’s mainly due to the its freakishly small size and oddball design.

The interior of the Cayman is what you’d expect from a Porsche. The plastics used are top-notch and feel classy to the touch. The infotainment screen is much easier to navigate through and there’s far less button clutter like in previous Porsches. What we like the most however is the driving position which is spot on good and visibility all-round is borderline excellent. The hatchback-like boot opens versatility up while the boot in the front opens up extra cargo holding versatility if you need it.

Our tester car came fitted with nearly $43k worth of optional kit. The notable features are Burmester Premium Audio system, Full-LED headlights, 14-way leather seats and a navigation system. We were shocked that Porsche Passive Entry wasn’t even standard as well as heated seats. The Cayman S starts at $68k and should at least have half the features on the options list standard.

You buy a Porsche because it’s the easiest sports car to live with. It holds its residuals well and won’t break the bank when it comes to running costs. However, you’ll have to be compensated somewhere because the simple fact remains, you’ll have to pay an arm and a leg for one. We’ll put it simply like this. The Cayman S is one of those cars you don’t want to go to your grave without have ever owning. Sell the house. Risk everything in Vegas or ask your great Auntie for and advance in your in heritance. Do whatever it takes because this is one vehicle worth every single penny.

Likes: The new turbo four-cylinders are quicker and easier to live with, plus running costs are actually much lower than you’d think. It’s classier inside and such an amazing sports car to have.

Dislikes: Porsche is stingy on standard kit.

Our pick: We’ve driven the 718 Boxster with the entry 2-liter turbo engine and while it is great, we’d certainly get the 2.5 turbo engine in our Cayman S. On paper it’s only slightly quicker, but in reality they feel much different.

Pathological gets to drive a Porsche for the day

The Boxster is no more and the 718 Boxster is its replacement. Does this mean radical change? Well it does come with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that has many purists crying foul. It may be the most controversial Porsche yet.

The 718 comes with two engine options. The Boxster comes with a  2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that pumps out 300hp while the top of the range Boxster S comes with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder pumping out 350hp. We were only able to test drive the Boxster trim and well we found it to be fantastic. It may not have that rev happy six-cylinder of the old Boxster, but the turbo four really does sound good under heavy acceleration. You can choose between a slick seven-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed auto gearbox. Our tester car came with the auto gearbox and it is one fine transmission if we say so ourselves. Steering feedback is communicative and the overall driving experience is one we will never forget. We had the opportunity to drive it with the top down and well that just increased our liking to this vehicle, the open air driving experience is contagious and it really does hold its own well. The only problem with the 718 Boxster is that everyone everywhere wants to look at you and even at the gas station when we had to fill up, we were asked which Porsche is it and what engine is under the bonnet? This certianly isn't the vehicle for anyone who is shy when it comes to attention.

We could only drive the Porsche Boxster on the expressway and within the limits of the speed limit. We did get the chance to toss it into some corners and bends and the Boxster really did stick to each bend like glue. It's almost as if the car is riding on rails. Top up or down, wind noise isn't an issue at all and well road noise isn't really much to complain of.

The 718 Roadster only seats two people and well both passengers won't be short changed on space, even with the top up the space is generous. The seats offer plenty of support and adjust ability while the infotainment system is easy to use. We do highly suggest getting used to the various menus as it does get distracting while on the go. But why would anyone want to busy themselves with the infotainment when the real joy is behind the steering wheel? The boot is in the front and the rear and there's plenty of space for a few bags. This isn't a car for those who are looking for hot hatch space, it's a vehicle for those who want to drive and feel the road beneath them. Visibiity is outstanding for a roadster and we have nothing to complain of.

The 718 Boxster we had came equipped with 20-inch alloys, Bi-xenon headlights, Bose audio system, Lane Change Assist and navigation system. While on top of those optional features that were ticked you also get a sport exhaust system, leather package and vehicle launch system. Porsche is very notorious for making features that should be standard optional and charge and arm and leg for them. Our tester car had nearly $22k worth of added features which pushed the price into the sticker shock category, you really do get what you pay for here.

The 718 Boxster seems like a very formidable replacement for the Boxster itself. Steering is very communicative and the turbo engine is very smooth and responsive, we really did enjoy our time with the Boxster and wished that we didn't have to return it.

Likes: The chassis, steering and handling is fantastic! The turbo engine sings in your ears while you're greeted with a top-notch interior.

Dislikes: This isn't a vehicle for someone shy of attention. You won't see a mildly equipped Porsche on dealer lots.

(Part-two) popular car choices among LGBT-Community

Porsche 718 Boxster 
Likes: Fantastic car to drive with handling that's near perfection. It's well balanced and very fast. The interior is top notch in quality.

Dislikes: Porsche is stingy with options and they aren't cheap either. You won't find any Porsche on the dealer lot priced near the MSRP price tag.

Overall: Porsche has an appeal that literally no other car on the road has. Your investments are well protected and it is easy to live with. Your only other option is a Mazda Miata and well the be honest that's literally best way to go if you can't justify the high price of admission Porsche asks for.



Audi A7 
Likes: The exterior and interior are the definition of classy. Boot space is quite generous and versatile thanks to the hatchback opening. Strong range of engines to choose from.

Dislikes: Audi design language really isn't for everyone. It can get expensive quickly.

Overall: Audi really did a good job with the A7. We just wish that Audi did a little more with the exterior styling.



Jeep Grand Cherokee 
Likes: Rugged styling with fully capable off-road abilities. The SRT version is wicked fast and the diesel engine offers the best of both worlds in terms of flexibility and low running costs.

Dislikes: FCA reliability record and quality issues haunts what is actually a great vehicle. You'll have to pay for features that should be standard across the range.



Mazda 6 
Likes: The sole engine is flexible and has low running costs. It's more fun to drive than many of its keen rivals. Interior is beyond what you'd expect and it's roomy/comfortable for the family.

Dislikes: No all-wheel-drive and no upgraded engine option.

Overall: The Mazda 6 is literally the best family sedan money can buy. It's not boring to drive, it's not expensive to run and you can fit five people in with a spacious boot. We just wish that it had a more potent engine for those who may want the extra oomph but don't want to venture else where.



Ford Focus
Likes: There's literally a Focus for everyone. The ST and the RS versions are absolutely insane. Practical hatchback boot space and the interior is roomy for five people. It's fun to drive across the board and priced within reason.

Dislikes: Reliability of the auto gearbox is iffy. Sedan version isn't as eye appealing as the hatchback. Why no wagon?

Overall: We love the Ford Focus even though it isn't as good as the Golf. It does offer plenty for everyone and is an easy car to live with. We highly recommend keeping a close eye on the auto gearbox as it has been known for numerous issues.