Can we call ours 718 now?

[thstone]

What is the point of the 718 moniker if they are keeping the Boxster name?

If its to avoid confusion and reinforce that concept that the 718 is the Boxster, then why isn't the new 911 called "981.2 Carrera 911"? Some how 911 buyers can figure it out but not Boxster buyers?

[Porsche9]

Originally Posted by thstone

What is the point of the 718 moniker if they are keeping the Boxster name?

If its to avoid confusion and reinforce that concept that the 718 is the Boxster, then why isn't the new 911 called "981.2 Carrera 911"? Some how 911 buyers can figure it out but not Boxster buyers?

No, no it's "Porsche 991.2 Carrera 911 Turbo Targa". This is what needs to be on the back of the car.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Porsche9

No, no it's "Porsche 991.2 Carrera 911 Turbo Targa". This is what needs to be on the back of the car.

Haha! You're absolutely right! (what a mess Porsche has created)

[Pirate50]

I don't like the front end as much as the older Boxsters, however, I think the rear end looks like a better, more modern evolution of the 986 rear than the 981. Pause the video at the point you are directly behind the Seal Gray 718 and you will see it better. I have to admit that i still like it very much but wish they would drop the Boxster name. Never cared for it too much.

[Sassmatt72]

So my Subaru EJ 2.5L conversion (heart transplant) is a 4 cyl,...

So I'm asking can I call it a 718???

Lovin the drive either way.

[Retroman1969]

Originally Posted by Pirate50

I don't like the front end as much as the older Boxsters, however, I think the rear end looks like a better, more modern evolution of the 986 rear than the 981. Pause the video at the point you are directly behind the Seal Gray 718 and you will see it better. I have to admit that i still like it very much but wish they would drop the Boxster name. Never cared for it too much.

This is my sentiments exactly.
Pirate said it better than I did.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Pirate50

I have to admit that i still like it very much but wish they would drop the Boxster name. Never cared for it too much.

The whole giving Porsche's "names" is nothing more than marketing crap.
The other German luxury brands wisely avoided it.
And Porsche have been really inconsistent about it to boot. The 911 got a redundant name, but the other step children did not.
That is until the Boxster came along but that was really only to hype up a new model but in a way that would strip it of its race history, which pre-dated that of the 911, so as not to upstage the flag ship.
So Porsche had to give it an all new identity to have it appear as an upstart.
And then they went fully redundant by giving the coupe version of the Boxster a different name even though it was just a variant! The Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera Coupe are still both Carreras but the Cayman and Boxster are discussed as if they are different models... Which is exactly what Porsche wanted because they intended to market the Cayman as a stepping stone car to upsell the buyer into the more profitable Carrera.
It's all clever marketing.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

The whole giving Porsche's "names" is nothing more than marketing crap.
The other German luxury brands wisely avoided it.
And Porsche have been really inconsistent about it to boot. The 911 got a redundant name, but the other step children did not.
That is until the Boxster came along but that was really only to hype up a new model but in a way that would strip it of its race history, which pre-dated that of the 911, so as not to upstage the flag ship.
So Porsche had to give it an all new identity to have it appear as an upstart.
And then they went fully redundant by giving the coupe version of the Boxster a different name even though it was just a variant! The Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera Coupe are still both Carreras but the Cayman and Boxster are discussed as if they are different models... Which is exactly what Porsche wanted because they intended to market the Cayman as a stepping stone car to upsell the buyer into the more profitable Carrera.
It's all clever marketing.

Numbering, labeling, badging, coding, is mostly used internally to track and maintain the evolution (read visions) of the products, PL. Don't be shy to ask your P senior officer about it. Not much all meant for 'clever' marketing reasons.

Something tells me that if they want to re-badge their icon 911 to 912X tomorrow morning and say this 912 flies they bloody well can. Guess what, the consumer will still buy.

Don't get too offended by these sort of these mate

[cfos]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Don't be shy to ask your P senior officer about it. Not much all meant for 'clever' marketing reasons.

... I don't think he has one. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if he's never visited a dealership. Not-that-there-is-anything-wrong-with-that.

IIRC, he bought his car used and would likely do so again (should there be a Spyder available, at the price, miles, options/lack of options, etc., that he is willing to spend) for the simple reason that "new" cars are poor investments, much like homes. I think he would also go to an independent for the PPI, but that is just a guess based on the venom I hear when he describes the company, the company's decisions, and dealerships. Maybe I'm wrong. But, I don't think so.

To be honest, I think the real question to ask is whether that 718 Boxster (I really love this name as I type it) owner would really care what the Spyder sounds like in the canyon. From what the current performance states on the Porsche website, the pdk 718S, with Sport Chrono Plus has better acceleration that the spyder (4.0 to 4.3 - as reported by Car and Driver when reviewing the Spyder).

Now, I don't know if these numbers mean anything, nor do I claim to know the performance of a 718 other than 0-whatever mph, and I'm sure that arguments may be had that the Spyder driver is surely a better driver because the Spyder is a "better" car, but... were it me(?) I wouldn't care about the noise behind me. But that's me. I usually go to the dealer and either build the car or may buy off the lot if there is something that interests me. Not sure heritage really factors into it or who won whatever race in 1973, but I'm sure I'm closer to the person buying the 718 than PL is, so, there you are. This buyer makes choices on what he likes, wants, affords, blah blah blah. Sure, there are people with better homes, faster cars, etc., but I don't live my life comparing myself to them, constantly. If I see a nice(r) car than I have, well good for them. Hope they are happy too.

Also, the canyons I roll in (generally) are one lane. Not sure if this is a common feature of canyon roads elsewhere, but I really haven't seen too many cars roll up to me and then peel out, unless they were looking to pass multiple cars as their life is far more busy and important than mine appears to be. Edit: Alternatively, I think many of the Le-Vel MLM people with their branded/wrapped cars that are oh so common in the MLM world I live in... would do that regardless of what there car is.

For the record, I didn't listen to the video. I did look at the pictures, though, so I am internet-certified to have a credible opinion about a car that isn't available.

[lkchris]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

And then they went fully redundant by giving the coupe version of the Boxster a different name even though it was just a variant!

Couldn't very well have remnants of "roadster" in the name for a coupe.

Cayman makes the Cayenne folks feel good.

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by thstone

What is the point of the 718 moniker if they are keeping the Boxster name?

If its to avoid confusion and reinforce that concept that the 718 is the Boxster, then why isn't the new 911 called "981.2 Carrera 911"? Some how 911 buyers can figure it out but not Boxster buyers?

Two reasons why it's called 718.

One. so they can say heritage in the same sentence as 4 cylinder

Two. So they can charge more for the convertible as its now the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman same as 911 Cabriolet and 911 Carrera.

Not bad marketing at all, but it's odd to retrofit a number to a model that already exists without killing off the Boxster name.

[Perfectlap]

Interesting...it wasn't until this thread that I really compared the 986 headlights to the 718.
Pretty easy to see where the kidney bean headlight inspiration came from..... it wasn't the
VW beetle aka Typ 1 headlights like was the case with the 911, 356 and 550.
Note the headlights blended into the signature fenders instead of being screwed on like light bulbs.


Gallery or Tasteful Porsches with the Engine in the Correct Place:

718


Yours truly


550


356A#1 (aka the original Boxster: mid engine, 4 cylinder two buckets roadster)