Among the many comments we receive from Porsche owners on the blog, it\u2019s always enlightening to read things like, \u201cAh, so that\u2019s how this model or year of Porsche is<\/strong>.\u201d Also, it\u2019s 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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,<\/strong> so I\u2019d like to share a comparison between the Boxster and the 911.<\/p>\n 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.<\/strong>(Though the way it settles afterward makes it hardly noticeable.)<\/span><\/p>\n Also, the 911\u2019s ride comfort changed significantly depending on the tires.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n According to a dealer mechanic, Porsche\u2019s 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.<\/strong>(Hamaboku-san)<\/span><\/p>\n Recently, I borrowed a 970 as a dealer loaner and drove it on mountain roads at night\u2014my first time in a Panamera. I don\u2019t 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, \u201cunlike the 991.2 Carrera, full throttle isn\u2019t scary<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n When starting slowly, there\u2019s a moment where it feels like torque is lacking and it almost stalls, so I\u2019m experimenting with throttle control. The PDK manual shifting is slower than expected, making it unsuitable for winding roads.<\/strong> Especially during sudden downshifts, even if you anticipate the delay and shift before the revs drop, it sometimes doesn\u2019t shift, which is disappointing. The button sounds are also somewhat noisy.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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\u2019s without PASM, I think the broken-in 718 Cayman felt better.(PorscheDreamer-san)<\/span><\/p>\n 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\u2019s very comfortable.<\/strong><\/p>\n I only occasionally run it on circuits, and while I don\u2019t 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)<\/span><\/p>\n In my opinion, comparing with and without PASM, the non-PASM feels just a bit firmer than the Sport mode.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n The Cayman without PASM was seriously stiff, but that\u2019s not the case here, so I hope this helps.(Tomo-san)<\/span><\/p>\n Regarding the ride comfort of the 970\u2019s 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\u2019s still a good ride.<\/p>\n Today, I tried setting Sport mode on regular roads at 40\u201350 km\/h, but at this speed range, unlike on the highway, I didn\u2019t 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.<\/strong> I don\u2019t think you need to worry if your car doesn\u2019t have PASM as an option.(Ishi-san)<\/span><\/p>\n I recently test drove the Cayenne (Coupe) PHEV, and unlike when I previously test drove the Cayenne and thought, \u201cI might switch from the Panamera<\/strong>,\u201d this time I found myself thinking, \u201cI still prefer the Panamera<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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)<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/strong> I ran 19-inch summer tires without issue.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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\u2019t kick in much unless you open the throttle quite a bit, so it\u2019s not effective at low speeds.<\/p>\n On the other hand, highway driving is fun. Acceleration from around 70 km\/h fits perfectly with Japanese highways.(PorscheDreamer-san)<\/span><\/p>\n When I previously owned a 718 Boxster MT, I noticed a big difference between when the turbo was active and when it wasn\u2019t. 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\u2019t come through as much.(Ishi-san)<\/span><\/p>\n 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\u2019s engineers struggled to refine the 718 due to various regulations, and it\u2019s a matter of personal preference, but for me, the 981 releases a lot more adrenaline.(Especially every time I\u2019m in a tunnel)<\/span> Once you get used to the 981, it\u2019s hard to move on. Maybe you never will\u2026(Bricoleur-san)<\/span><\/p>\n Since I had a closed body, I wasn\u2019t very interested in ventilation. Choosing ventilation meant leather seats, and compared to leather + Alcantara seats, the leather alone showed more creasing, which I didn\u2019t like.<\/p>\n Also, since I don\u2019t go to circuits and mainly use the car for \u201ccity driving + occasional spirited runs on mountain roads,\u201d I prioritized ride comfort over the exhaust note and chose PASM.(I chose Sport Chrono for those occasional spirited runs.)<\/span><\/p>\n Regarding the 981 Cayman, if you think \u201cIt\u2019s a Porsche, so the ride must be bad,\u201d you\u2019ll be surprised\u2014it\u2019s better than many sedans, with a \u201csupple yet firm\u201d feel<\/strong> and perfectly comfortable for city driving. I think it\u2019s truly a classic.(Maybe thanks to PASM?)<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/strong> 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)<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s still unclear if the 981 will be the last naturally aspirated entry-level model, but I don\u2019t think anything will surpass its sound. Ferrari\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The sound of Porsche\u2019s flat-six NA engine is something you can calmly enjoy for long periods while driving.<\/strong> Among them, the 981 is top-tier.(Though I\u2019m biased as an owner, haha)<\/span> I hope the 981 becomes like Ferrari\u2019s F355 in terms of status.<\/p>\n I once owned a model with seat ventilation. The 981\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n That means either the sweat on my back dried or the seat cooled down, so it was effective to some extent. However, I\u2019ve rarely seen used 981s with ventilation, so if you\u2019re looking for a 981, you probably don\u2019t need to prioritize this option.<\/strong>(Ishi-san)<\/span><\/p>\n For me, the Spyder\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n I haven\u2019t driven the GTS, so I can\u2019t compare directly, but maybe mileage or individual differences play a role.<\/p>\n A recommended point about the Spyder is that it\u2019s 1 cm higher than the GT4!<\/strong> 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)<\/span><\/p>\n Reading comments and driving various cars ourselves, we deeply feel that \u201ccars aren\u2019t about right or wrong, good or bad\u2014it\u2019s all about personal preference.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n Ride comfort, engine sound, driving feel, design, interior\u2014there\u2019s no single \u201ccorrect\u201d answer. No matter what others say, the happiest thing is to drive a car you personally love.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why, while gathering lots of information, it\u2019s important to actually drive and see how you feel.<\/strong> Going forward, I want to keep trying various cars regardless of manufacturer or model.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"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\u2019ve driven more Porsches than the average person. Still, we obviously haven\u2019t driven every model, so there\u2019s a lot we don\u2019t know or understand about Porsche. Among the many comments we receive from Porsche owners on the blog, it\u2019s always enlightening to read things like, \u201cAh, so that\u2019s...","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":19823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=19809"},"categories":[30,60,24],"tags":[184,186,195,218,219,220,238],"yoast_head":"Voices from Porsche Owners<\/h3>\n
Comparing the 911 (991 early) and 981 Boxster<\/h4>\n
Impressions of the 970 Panamera from 718 and 911 Owners<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_8979.jpg\")
<\/p>\n970 Panamera Late Model Owner\u2019s Thoughts on PASM<\/h4>\n
970 Panamera PHEV and PASM<\/h4>\n
970 Panamera SE Hybrid vs. Cayenne (9YA) Hybrid<\/h4>\n
Thoughts on the 718 Cayman from an Owner<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0298-1-800x533-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAbout the 718 Boxster<\/h4>\n
About the 981 Spyder<\/h4>\n
981 Cayman Owner\u2019s Thoughts on PASM and Timing to Buy<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_6784-1280x960-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n981 Owner\u2019s Thoughts on Engine Sound and Seat Ventilation<\/h4>\n
Sound Quality and Volume of the 981 Spyder<\/h4>\n
Cars Are Subjective\u2014Preferences Vary<\/h3>\n