About Porsche

My spouse and I know many people who drive Porsches and have had quite a few opportunities to test drive at dealerships, so I think we’ve driven more Porsches than the average person. Still, we obviously haven’t driven every model, so there’s a lot we don’t know or understand about Porsche.

Among the many comments we receive from Porsche owners on the blog, it’s always enlightening to read things like, “Ah, so that’s how this model or year of Porsche is.” Also, it’s truly wonderful that information gathered from owners all over Japan, who use their Porsches daily and drive on various roads, comes together here on the blog.

With that in mind, I imagine many readers here are considering buying a Porsche, so I wanted to compile some recent comments as a helpful reference. I hope you find them enjoyable and useful.

Voices from Porsche Owners

Comparing the 911 (991 early) and 981 Boxster

I drive a 981 Boxster S with a left-hand manual, and my father owns a 991.1 S, which I often get to drive, so I’d like to share a comparison between the Boxster and the 911.

Both cars have 20-inch wheels, PASM, steel brakes, and PS4S tires, so under almost identical conditions, the 911 feels stiffer in terms of simple jolts from the road.(Though the way it settles afterward makes it hardly noticeable.)

Also, the 911’s ride comfort changed significantly depending on the tires. Initially, it had certified Pzero tires, then switched to non-certified PS4S (due to size availability), and now it runs certified PS4S with a larger rear size. The switch from non-certified to certified PS4S made the ride shockingly stiffer.

According to a dealer mechanic, Porsche’s certified tires have higher case rigidity to withstand rear axle loads, which likely makes the ride firmer. Incidentally, when comparing the 911 with Pzero tires to the Boxster, the Boxster actually feels stiffer.(Hamaboku-san)

Impressions of the 970 Panamera from 718 and 911 Owners

Recently, I borrowed a 970 as a dealer loaner and drove it on mountain roads at night—my first time in a Panamera. I don’t know the exact condition since it was a loaner, but it had 55,000 km, Sport Chrono was off, no PASM, and it had shift buttons instead of paddles. Acceleration was ample, and according to my wife, “unlike the 991.2 Carrera, full throttle isn’t scary.”

When starting slowly, there’s a moment where it feels like torque is lacking and it almost stalls, so I’m experimenting with throttle control. The PDK manual shifting is slower than expected, making it unsuitable for winding roads. Especially during sudden downshifts, even if you anticipate the delay and shift before the revs drop, it sometimes doesn’t shift, which is disappointing. The button sounds are also somewhat noisy.

It’s better to leave shifting to the automatic and focus on throttle control. The ride comfort is sufficient, but I had set my expectations a bit too high beforehand. Personally, if it’s without PASM, I think the broken-in 718 Cayman felt better.(PorscheDreamer-san)

970 Panamera Late Model Owner’s Thoughts on PASM

I drive a 970 late model (2014) 3.6L Sport Chrono with PASM and 18-inch wheels. Honestly, up to around 40,000 km it felt sluggish, but after that it became incredibly nimble. Now at 55,000 km, it’s very comfortable.

I only occasionally run it on circuits, and while I don’t push absolute speeds, the current throttle response is excellent. Since the front is lighter than other grades, the balance feels very good.(Maybe I just got a good engine)

In my opinion, comparing with and without PASM, the non-PASM feels just a bit firmer than the Sport mode. I usually cruise on the highway in Comfort and drive in Sport mode daily, but for long trips, I think PASM is preferable. Still, non-PASM or a fixed setting between Sport and Sport+ is quite comfortable.

The Cayman without PASM was seriously stiff, but that’s not the case here, so I hope this helps.(Tomo-san)

970 Panamera PHEV and PASM

Regarding the ride comfort of the 970’s PASM, it can be set in three stages: Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus. On the highway, setting it to Sport clearly makes the ride firmer and you can feel the difference, but it’s still a good ride.

Today, I tried setting Sport mode on regular roads at 40–50 km/h, but at this speed range, unlike on the highway, I didn’t notice much difference. My 970 is a PHEV, so the battery weight might have some effect, but regardless of PASM setting, the ride comfort is more than adequate. I don’t think you need to worry if your car doesn’t have PASM as an option.(Ishi-san)

970 Panamera SE Hybrid vs. Cayenne (9YA) Hybrid

I recently test drove the Cayenne (Coupe) PHEV, and unlike when I previously test drove the Cayenne and thought, “I might switch from the Panamera,” this time I found myself thinking, “I still prefer the Panamera.”

The test drive was at a different dealer, and the route was crowded and included narrow roads, so it might not have been ideal to fully appreciate the car’s appeal. Still, the initial launch felt noticeably more agile and powerful than the 970, so I think the motor has improved a lot. I want to test drive again under better conditions.(Ishi-san)

Thoughts on the 718 Cayman from an Owner

I drove a base model 718 Cayman (MT) without PASM or Sport Chrono until a year ago. The suspension was never too stiff from the start, but I remember it becoming more supple after 20,000 km. I ran 19-inch summer tires without issue.

In SPORT mode, even at similar revs in manual, fuel consumption changed, so I think the fuel map changes. Throttle response improves significantly even at the same gear and revs.

It’s true that acceleration below 20 km/h might be a weak point. Since the car covers 1st to 6th gear for speeds over 250 km/h, the gear ratios are high. Turbo boost doesn’t kick in much unless you open the throttle quite a bit, so it’s not effective at low speeds.

On the other hand, highway driving is fun. Acceleration from around 70 km/h fits perfectly with Japanese highways.(PorscheDreamer-san)

About the 718 Boxster

When I previously owned a 718 Boxster MT, I noticed a big difference between when the turbo was active and when it wasn’t. This gap can be a nice feature on the highway, but in city traffic, you often have to drive at low speeds before the turbo kicks in, which means the true charm of the 718 doesn’t come through as much.(Ishi-san)

About the 981 Spyder

I test drove a 718 Boxster S, but the feeling was so different from the 981 that it hardly felt like the same Porsche. I think Porsche’s engineers struggled to refine the 718 due to various regulations, and it’s a matter of personal preference, but for me, the 981 releases a lot more adrenaline.(Especially every time I’m in a tunnel) Once you get used to the 981, it’s hard to move on. Maybe you never will…(Bricoleur-san)

981 Cayman Owner’s Thoughts on PASM and Timing to Buy

Since I had a closed body, I wasn’t very interested in ventilation. Choosing ventilation meant leather seats, and compared to leather + Alcantara seats, the leather alone showed more creasing, which I didn’t like.

Also, since I don’t go to circuits and mainly use the car for “city driving + occasional spirited runs on mountain roads,” I prioritized ride comfort over the exhaust note and chose PASM.(I chose Sport Chrono for those occasional spirited runs.)

Regarding the 981 Cayman, if you think “It’s a Porsche, so the ride must be bad,” you’ll be surprised—it’s better than many sedans, with a “supple yet firm” feel and perfectly comfortable for city driving. I think it’s truly a classic.(Maybe thanks to PASM?)

Since new 718 GTS 4.0, Spyder, and GT4 models are coming to market, the 981 models will likely drop in price, making now a good time to buy. I plan to keep an eye on the 4.0 GTS PDK info and wait a bit. It would be great to get a 5-year-old 981 GTS PDK for just over 7 million yen all-in.(Former 981 Cayman S PDK owner)

981 Owner’s Thoughts on Engine Sound and Seat Ventilation

It’s still unclear if the 981 will be the last naturally aspirated entry-level model, but I don’t think anything will surpass its sound. Ferrari’s sound is higher-pitched, but personally, I think their exciting noise is best enjoyed when being overtaken rather than listening to it constantly while driving.

The sound of Porsche’s flat-six NA engine is something you can calmly enjoy for long periods while driving. Among them, the 981 is top-tier.(Though I’m biased as an owner, haha) I hope the 981 becomes like Ferrari’s F355 in terms of status.

I once owned a model with seat ventilation. The 981’s ventilation only blows air in, so compared to Lexus-style systems that circulate air, it felt less impactful. But after about 10 minutes of driving, I found myself turning it off.

That means either the sweat on my back dried or the seat cooled down, so it was effective to some extent. However, I’ve rarely seen used 981s with ventilation, so if you’re looking for a 981, you probably don’t need to prioritize this option.(Ishi-san)

Sound Quality and Volume of the 981 Spyder

For me, the Spyder’s crackling on throttle lift-off with the sport exhaust on is quite loud. When driving in the city and easing off the accelerator at intersections, I worry people might think the engine is broken, which makes me feel a bit sorry.

I haven’t driven the GTS, so I can’t compare directly, but maybe mileage or individual differences play a role.

A recommended point about the Spyder is that it’s 1 cm higher than the GT4! That 1 cm makes a big difference when going down slopes at gas stations or car washes. The current 718 Spyder/GT4 have the same low ride height and no front height adjustment, so I imagine the front lip often scrapes.(Kiyopon-san)

Cars Are Subjective—Preferences Vary

Reading comments and driving various cars ourselves, we deeply feel that “cars aren’t about right or wrong, good or bad—it’s all about personal preference.”

Ride comfort, engine sound, driving feel, design, interior—there’s no single “correct” answer. No matter what others say, the happiest thing is to drive a car you personally love.

That’s why, while gathering lots of information, it’s important to actually drive and see how you feel. Going forward, I want to keep trying various cars regardless of manufacturer or model.