Hello everyone. This is Mina, the administrator of “Welcome Home, PORSCHE.” This project, Porsche Owners File, was born from readers’ requests to share the genuine voices of various Porsche owners. For the fifth installment, we bring you a purchase, options, and driving review of the “718 Boxster (MT)” from Mr. IshiB.

〘Owner Information〙
・Featured car this time: 718 Boxster (982) MT
・Pen name: IshiB
・Past car history: When living in Tokyo, no car. After returning to hometown:
Used Corolla (when I had no interest in cars) → Used Lexus IS250 (when I started to get interested in cars) → First new car Boxster GTS (981) PDK → Used 718 Boxster (982) MT, Boxster Spyder (981) + FIAT 500c (1.2 MT parallel import). All cars, including the current one, are right-hand drive.
・A word to readers: Porsche is sometimes joked about for its options sales strategy, but even without options, they make wonderful cars.

1) Background to Purchase

– Triggered by a rental car in Okinawa

I originally had no interest in cars, but driving a Boxster rental car in Okinawa on a whim during a trip sparked my passion for cars. Although I had no MT experience since driving school, I agonized over whether to choose MT or PDK for this sports car and ended up timidly choosing the Boxster GTS (981) with PDK.
Looking back, I regret not choosing MT then, which would have saved me money without having to own three Boxsters, but on the other hand, I tell myself I got to experience various Boxsters (laughs).

– PDK is wonderful but a bit dull…

The Boxster GTS (981) was a car I had no complaints about. Regarding PDK, by selecting driving modes like “Normal mode for relaxed driving,” or “Sport or Sport Plus for spirited driving,” you can match your driving to your mood. Also, PDK senses how hard you press the accelerator and downshifts appropriately, delivering the acceleration you expect.

However, after experiencing MT again with my FIAT 500c, which I bought for commuting, the Boxster’s PDK felt almost too perfect and a bit boring.

Drivers used to MT might find PDK’s control refreshing, but for me, having felt the freshness of MT again after a long time, my desire to switch the Boxster to MT grew stronger day by day.

Before I knew it, I was repeatedly searching used cars for “Boxster” and “MT” (laughs), and after discovering a 718 Boxster MT in a test drive video from a well-known imported used car dealer, I decided to switch.

2) Options / Specifications

– A nearly bare 718

The 718 I purchased had almost no options except for the Sport Chrono package. So, I’d like to share my impressions from the perspective of comparing it with the fully optioned 981 GTS I previously owned.

I also enjoy imagining “How could the previous owner buy it so cleanly without options… what kind of person are they?” — one of the pleasures of buying a used car.

① Seats

〘981〙 Fully optioned full leather Adaptive Sport Seats Plus (with seat heating, ventilation, and 18-way electric adjustment)
〘718〙 Standard Alcantara seats

■ Seat heaters are gone
I didn’t have any trouble even with open-top driving in winter. By directing the air conditioning strongly toward my feet, I could keep comfortably warm.

■ Seat ventilation is gone
The 981 Boxster seats were dark leather, which would get very hot quickly when parked under the blazing sun in summer. Turning on ventilation cooled the seats within minutes, making it comfortable.
Personally, I appreciated the ventilation more than the seat heaters. As for the lack of ventilation on the 718, I can’t say since I took delivery in autumn and sold it before experiencing summer.

■ Leather replaced by Alcantara
Leather is slippery, but Alcantara provides moderate friction against clothing, so my bottom didn’t slide around during driving. For leather, deep side bolsters of Sport Seats Plus help prevent sliding, but Alcantara feels sufficient with the standard seat depth.

■ 18-way electric adjustment replaced by 2-way
The 981 had 18 electric adjustment points, but many switches were rarely used. For preventing back pain, I think adjusting the backrest angle and seat position forward/backward is enough.

② Suspension

〘981〙 PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) equipped
〘718〙 No PASM

■ Impressions of losing PASM
I had PASM on the 981 Boxster, but maybe I’m insensitive because I didn’t feel much difference switching PASM on and off. The 718 lacked PASM and had 20-inch wheels, so I worried about a stiff ride, but the ride comfort during test drives and ownership was better than expected, with no unpleasant jolts. If I buy a new 911 or Boxster in the future, I probably won’t choose PASM.

③ Headlights

〘981〙 PDLS (Porsche Dynamic Light System) Plus equipped
〘718〙 No PDLS

■ Impressions of losing PDLS Plus
The 981 had PDLS Plus, which adjusted headlight direction with steering angle and automatically switched high/low beams detecting cars ahead. It was convenient, but I didn’t miss it much on the 718.
Driving at night, the best safety measure is not to drive too fast, and the standard headlights were sufficient.

3) Delivery Process

Since it was a used car, it took just under a month from first viewing and test drive to delivery.

Early September 2017: Order placed
Early October 2017: Delivery

4) Performance Impressions of the 718 Boxster

① Engine

The 4-cylinder turbocharged, downsized 2.0-liter engine is controversial, but initially I had no negative impressions. Compared to the previous 6-cylinder NA, the sound is lower and coarser, but I liked its manly, mischievous character.

Despite the smaller displacement, the turbo provides ample power and acceleration, and right after switching I even thought, “Isn’t it faster than the 981 GTS?”
Turbo lag was barely noticeable, just a slight pause after pressing the accelerator, mainly below 2000 rpm. Above 2000 rpm, I couldn’t detect any turbo lag.

Also, at speeds where I used to ease off the accelerator due to tension and fear in the 981, I felt I could keep pressing the accelerator more confidently in the 718. Perhaps the chassis stability has improved that much.

② Transmission: From PDK to MT

The main reason for switching was to go from PDK to MT. I had heard rumors that Porsche clutches are heavy, but it didn’t bother me much. It took quite some force to engage reverse gear, but I got used to it.
Starting required some care to avoid stalling, and I stalled quite often during the first week after delivery, but stalling wasn’t a big deal because pressing the clutch automatically restarts the engine.

More than that, I just loved the direct feeling of controlling the car.

Shift shocks were my fault for poor rev matching, so I didn’t get frustrated, and using auto-blip in sport mode helped match revs automatically, enabling smooth shifts close to PDK.

I often drove the uphill route in normal mode, enjoying the shift shocks, and the return trip when tired in sport mode to ease the impact on my weary body (though I really wanted to drive relaxed).

③ Handling

Even as an amateur, I felt clear improvements over the 981 GTS. On my familiar mountain road, the first time driving the 718, I still remember thinking, “I can now drive on the rails and hit the intended line even better.”
Neither the 981 GTS nor 718 had the optional PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring), so this must be pure chassis evolution.

④ Fuel Economy

Compared to the 3.4-liter NA 981 GTS, downsized to a 2.0-liter turbo, the difference was minimal—maybe about 1 km/L difference at most.
The 7-speed PDK in the 981 showed big fuel economy differences between highway and mountain roads, but the 6-speed MT 718 showed less difference between highway and mountain driving.
I don’t pay much attention to fuel economy, but I think combined highway and mountain driving averaged about 11 km/L.

⑤ Ride Comfort and Feel

As mentioned in the options section, despite no PASM, standard seats, and 20-inch wheels, the ride was good. It was not too stiff for long distances, and I was fine driving about 500 km in a day on weekends.

⑥ Favorite Points

■ Yellow body and Carrera Classic wheels
Yellow is a color I wouldn’t normally choose new, but owning it, I found it surprisingly elegant and cool, and a color I’d want again. Also, on the highway’s passing lane, it stood out more than white, so I felt other drivers noticed me more and were more willing to yield (laughs).
That said, I never tailgate because I hate stone chips.

■ Carrera Classic design wheels
Another favorite was the wheel design called Carrera Classic. The straight spokes are simple, and I liked how they taper delicately from the rim to the center. If I buy a new car next time, I want Carrera Classic wheels again.

⑦ Resale

When I sold the 718 Boxster MT, I was surprised to hear “PDK models have higher resale value than MT.” I thought MT would be valued higher for rarity, but apparently, since PDK options are priced higher at new car purchase, that affects resale.
Maybe this applies because 718 MT is still available new, and older MTs like pre-981 or 991.1 might be valued differently. It seems MT doesn’t always guarantee better resale depending on the model. Still, I plan to keep choosing MT (laughs).

5) Options I Definitely Want (or Have) When Buying Porsche

For sports cars like the 911 or Boxster, I want to enjoy a nearly bare car with as few options as possible. If anything, just Sport Chrono and a backup camera.

6) Points of Concern

Despite all the praise, I ended up switching cars after about seven months.

① Stress from lack of low-end torque during starts and traffic jams

The 718 Boxster was agile and controllable above 2000 rpm, but the stress of worrying about stalling at starts persisted. Maybe it’s my poor MT skills, but I’ve read reviews saying “the base 718 MT stalls easily,” so I don’t think it’s just me (wishful thinking included, haha).

② Disappointment with 4-cylinder turbo engine and exhaust sound

At first, I liked the 718’s low, coarse 4-cylinder turbo sound. The low tone itself was good, but I gradually felt the lack of tonal change as the revs rose when pressing the accelerator.

I installed a sports exhaust afterward, but it only made the muffler sound a bit deeper, with little noticeable change.

The crackling sound on throttle lift-off was much more subdued than the 981 GTS, and the 718’s sports exhaust was quite disappointing. That’s when I started seriously thinking about switching again.

I don’t intend to reject the 4-cylinder turbo sound entirely. But I realized after selling the 981 GTS that I was chasing the 6-cylinder NA sound that had moved me. Sometimes you only realize what you’ve lost after it’s gone, not just with cars but in life.

7) Overall Impression

Experiencing the high completeness of the nearly option-free 718 Boxster, I truly felt “how serious and trustworthy Porsche’s car-making is.”

Smaller displacement lets you rev the engine more, but 2.0 liters is a bit tough in low rpm for MT. Whether you compensate with MT skill, PDK, or mental strength depends on the driver.
Sound is a matter of taste, but the 718 Boxster is a 100-point car above 2000 rpm.

〘Administrator Mina’s Thoughts〙
Thanks to IshiB’s info, I want a 718 Boxster too (laughs). Our Boxster also has quite a few options on the 981 Boxster GTS (MT as well), but Porsche makes cars that satisfy drivers even in a near-stock state.
There are many motor magazine reviews of the 718, but hearing from actual owners is truly valuable. Thank you, IshiB!