Every day, my spouse and I read all the comments we receive on the blog, and we’re always touched by everyone’s passion for cars. It’s heartwarming and educational, and we truly enjoy it.

So today, after a while, I’d like to share some of the comments we’ve received from readers.

Voices of Porsche Owners

Porsche Boxster / Cayman

【1】Regarding heating, my impression is that the 987 Boxster S warms up within 4 to 5 minutes, and if you turn it to max, it gets so hot it feels like you might get a mild burn. On the other hand, the 718 Boxster S seems to take about 7 to 8 minutes. I wonder if the air conditioning system or engine displacement affects this.

As for the limited visibility, especially on my 718, the mesh wind diffuser makes rear visibility hopeless… Also, compared to BMWs or Mercedes, there are many disappointing things like the creaking of the passenger seatbelt, interior rattles, and buzzing noises when playing audio…

But I keep telling myself and others that Porsche is a high-performance car. Even with those drawbacks, I still think it’s the best car☆彡(Yoshikichi-san)

【2】My Boxster also doesn’t blow warm air until about 15 minutes after starting in winter. I thought, “Is the heater broken?” but then I learned it holds 23 liters of coolant and understood why (laughs).

My previous car, an ALPINA B3 (3.3L inline-6), had 8 liters of coolant, which was already a lot for its displacement, so MR/RR cars are fundamentally different in design from FF/FR cars.

However, I heard that the 991 GT3, which probably holds 30 liters of coolant, heats up faster than the 981 GTS with 25 liters, which surprised me. Maybe the car’s character makes the water and coolant temperature rise quickly.(wata-san)

【3】About the Boxster’s rear visibility, on my Cayman 987 LHD, the right rear diagonal view is hopeless, and the small window is useless. But for the 911 996 GT3 and 964 Carrera 2, the right rear diagonal visibility is excellent—I really think the 911 is wonderful.
I’ve never owned a Boxster, so I’m not sure, but just sharing a bit of my opinion.(Principal Sensei-san)

【4】I used to own a Cayman GTS, so when I switched to a Boxster GTS, I was shocked by how poor the visibility was (＞人＜;). The area behind the passenger seat is truly hopeless.
In heavy rain, you can’t see anything, so merging feels like a gamble (sweat).

Also, my Boxster GTS has a sports chassis lowered by 10mm, which looks great, but the ride quality at low speeds is incredibly harsh!

It’s so rough it resonates through your stomach, or rather your insides… It gets better at higher speeds, but when I have a passenger, I’m very careful. Also, my heater warms up quickly^^ I wonder why?(taramangts-san)

【5】My basic 718 doesn’t have PASM. Compared to the dealer’s test drive of a basic 718 with PASM, it’s clear that the higher the speed, the more stable the car feels with PASM.

However, when driving on gravel, cobblestones, or crossing tram tracks with bumps, PASM’s control has limits, and the ride smoothness and road feedback feel somewhat compromised.

So for grand tourers like the 911, Panamera, Cayenne, Macan (and maybe Taycan?), which perfectly balance sportiness and luxury (comfort), PASM is a must.

For pure sports cars like the 718, which sacrifice comfort for performance, PASM is essential if you do high-speed sports driving (circuit, winding roads, long highway runs).

But I feel without PASM, the lightness and agility at low to mid speeds (city driving) are better. The standard suspension is supple enough, and the lack of electronic intervention helps. So if you just want to feel sporty in daily use (daily sports), PASM isn’t necessary.

Whether you need options like PASM, Sport Chrono, Sport Exhaust, PTV, or Sports Chassis depends on how much you want to enhance driving performance.(Naiya-san)

【6】My 981 Boxster Spyder only comes with a sports chassis, so that’s the spec by default. It’s stiff but doesn’t have unpleasant jolts, and compared to my previous roadster, the Abarth 124 Spider, I find the ride comfortable even in town.

However, my wife isn’t a fan of the bucket seats and sports chassis, and she jokingly says, “Are you discriminating between the driver’s and passenger’s seats?” because our opinions differ so much (laughs). I admired the comfort of PASM but after reading the article, I’m proud of my setup (laughs).
The 981’s ride is irreplaceable, and I truly agree that the 911 should be an addition to the garage, not a replacement. (ds124-san)

Air-Cooled Porsche 911

【7】As my husband says, the 964 really gives you a strong sense of control. I recall the 930 felt even more connected. The amount of information you get from the road surface is truly astonishing.

Back then, I bought a 5-year-old one for 4.5 million yen, which is unbelievably affordable now. I learned to focus on steering input, especially when going over 160 km/h and feeling the front wheels lose grip, or when almost flying off ruts in heavy rain…

Before, I had reckless accidents due to ignorance, but after the 964, none. The Porsche really “tells me, ‘You can’t go any further, can you control it?’” and I’ve grown because of that. I resonate so much with my husband’s words that I apologize for this long, rambling comment (sweat).(nave-san)

【8】I’m also one of the 964 Carrera 2 owners. My daughter was born in 1991, so I bought a ’91 model as a commemorative car. It’s been about 30 years now. Every time I drive it, I think, “What a truly great car!”

Unfortunately, it’s currently deregistered temporarily, and I start the engine only every 2 or 3 weeks, but I keep it polished. The oil leak from the engine has worsened, so it’s in this state now. I plan to overhaul it and bring it back next year.
Currently, I commute in a 970 SE Hybrid. I also own a 987, but it’s in the shop due to issues. When will it come back? Owning foreign cars means dealing with this. I dream of having both cars restored and enjoying a fun Porsche life.(JUNNAMA-san)

【9】Clutch heaviness ranking: 993 → Cayman (981) → GT3 (991); clutch ease of engagement: Cayman → GT3 → 993. The 993 sometimes doesn’t engage smoothly for some reason. The bite point is hard to find…

The GT3 clutch is so light that after switching from it to a 993 or Alpina, the first few stop-and-gos or shifts feel awkward because my left foot isn’t adjusted to the pedal’s resistance. Especially bad when switching to Alpina (laughs).

Personally, I wish the GT3 clutch pedal had a bit more resistance for perfection. (^｡^;)(Wooper-san)

【10】Having wrecked two 964s, my rainy drives in a 964 were terrible. The first time in a Carrera 2, on a wet circuit straight, the rear slid out of control and I crashed hard into a concrete fence on the left, total loss.

The second time in a Carrera RS, on a rainy highway going about 120 km/h in the left lane overtaking a convoy of large trucks, a sudden wind pressure change from the trucks caused the rear to slide uncontrollably. I hit the left fence, bounced to the right fence, then was rear-ended by a sedan and totaled again.

I’m convinced that even on straight roads, throttle on/off and wind pressure can affect the car, and once the behavior destabilizes, it’s uncontrollable. Of course, wet conditions made it worse.

It’s a car that’s very difficult to control rear behavior, even on wide, good surfaces like circuits, and in rain it spins easily.
On downhill mountain roads, the rear slides even more, and I’ve had many scary moments.

Braking hard into downhill corners means you can’t stop, so you can’t turn. Forcing the turn causes the rear to slide out and spin violently. I’ve prayed to God that no oncoming cars come as I drift into the opposite lane to make the turn safely—this happened more than once. It’s a very dangerous car.

But if I ever get back into a 911, I’d choose the mechanical feel of the 964 over newer models.
I want a 964 RS. (Though I’ve wrecked precious ones.)(Hajimemashite-san)

Porsche 911 Series

【11】Recently, a 911 Carrera 4 GTS came to our home! The interior and exterior design, engine sound, cockpit atmosphere… I’m really glad I insisted on the 911, and especially the naturally aspirated Carrera 4 GTS.

It exceeded my expectations. As you said, the engine sound somehow makes your heart race. Truly a wonderful car.(Manma-san)

【12】I felt, “Has the 991.2 come this far? Can it evolve any further?” But this model change clearly showed even a novice like me, who can’t tell much difference between air-cooled or MR/RR, that it’s evolved!
Porsche is amazing.

But honestly, nothing happened during cornering. No matter how hard I pushed, it just turned normally…(Wooper-san)

【13】Targa is great. I had been reserving a Targa 4 GTS for a long time, but the allocation never came (lol). Truly, the Targa GTS is currently the rarest and least depreciating 911 model.

I thought the GT3 was rare, but they’re produced so much that you see GT3s everywhere. I’ve been telling the dealer I want a Targa for the 992, but it’s tough…(Kurumania-san)

Porsche Test Drives

【14】I read the 718 Cayman review with great interest. When I owned a 718 Boxster MT, I felt there was a big difference between when the turbo was active and when it wasn’t.

At high speeds, that difference adds character in a good way, but in city traffic, you’re often forced to drive at low speeds before the turbo kicks in, which means the 718’s true charm is lost in many situations.(Ishi-san)

【15】Same as me, a 911 (991.2) GT Silver GTS! The GTS is too stiff for everyday city use, isn’t it? I think so too. Uncomfortable lol.

For a car that can be used daily and also sporty, the Carrera S feels like the best balance.

The GT3’s engine is sensual, but the GTS’s isn’t. Still, it’s a lot of fun at the limit. It might be a hard-to-understand type among the Carrera series—like a 35 GTR. When you really push it, it’s a very fun car.

Usually, you’d have another car for daily use. The best all-around balance is definitely the Carrera S.(Kurumania-san)

【16】Regarding the difficulty of stalling the 718 Boxster GTS, I don’t think it’s unique to the GTS but probably due to the displacement difference between the 2.0L base model and the 2.5L S and above.

Sound preferences vary, but I personally like the 981’s sound.

Regarding other comparisons between the 718 (982) and 981, I think the owner’s comments sum it up well. Even non-enthusiasts can tell the difference when driving both. The evolution from 981 to 718 is that significant. I’m excited to see how Porsche will develop the rumored hybrid or EV 718.(Ishi-san)

Nissan Note

【17】I haven’t driven the NISMO, but the normal e-Power’s acceleration feels good. Nissan’s Vice President Hoshino said in an interview that “engineers who truly understand driving fun designed the acceleration curve of e-POWER,” so aside from absolute acceleration, that’s probably true.

Engineer Tamura also said they modeled the acceleration G-force waveform from the GT-R into the real car, so the NISMO S is probably close to that.
It would be fun to compare it with the GT-R sometime.(PorscheDreamer-san)

【18】I’m considering my wife’s next car and want to choose something fun to drive since I’ll be driving it sometimes. After reading the owner’s impressions, I realized, “Oh! The Note is an option too!” and went to the dealer.

I test drove the “NISMO 1200cc gasoline” and “e-POWER standard” models, and the e-POWER was an eye-opener! I’ve experienced Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Tesla before, so I knew EVs’ potential, but the motor drive system, one-pedal concept, and motor control finesse here are simply amazing.

I think you can do decent sporty driving with just pedal work. With NISMO’s suspension, it would be even more fun.(Taka-san)

Porsche 911 GT3

【19】I completely agree about interior noises. I don’t mind, but many users do. I always think Porsche is an expensive car, but not a luxury car.

Yesterday, I took my GT3 out for its first run this year. 90% of the time driving is tough, but those shining moments are thrilling.(Kazu Ougonkyuryo-san)

【20】I always enjoy reading your blog. My mileage reached almost 10,000 km last weekend. I expect it to be around 13,000 km at the one-year inspection at the end of May. I’ll share maintenance info.

I often drive over 500 km in one go but sometimes don’t drive for two months. I’ve had two tire pressure alarms, but both times it was just a loss of 0.3 bar or more. Other than that, I’m very satisfied.(GT3 Touring Package owner with almost the same specs)

Tires / Pilot Sport Cup 2

【21】The 991.1 GT3 also used Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and I think stability at high speeds and corner grip depend on tire wear (tread depth).

Of course, as the tread wears down, performance drops, so I started sweating more at high speeds in the GT3. It was probably time to change tires. Even with the same brand, tire wear can change the ride feel.(Billiken-san)

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Thank you all so much for your always enjoyable comments. These days, it’s not easy to fully enjoy car life, but I hope things settle down soon so we can once again fully enjoy our days with our cars.