What did you do in/on/for your Porsche today?

[KS]

You need to drive the 718 for more than just a 'test drive' – I started out being quite ambivalent about it but after 2000 miles, my opinion changed. Not sure it's any noisier than a 987 or 981, though...

[Ashley James]

I’m sure if I was driving it a lot, I wouldn’t be accelerating as hard and the engine would be less obvious, but a friend’s wife traded hers for an older Carrera because the noise irritated her and one of those herberts who reviews on YouTube said he thought it was a bit too much, so I think I’ll pass rather than risk £40K.

I’ve got a Healey and a 356C for noise.

Not sure what to do really, the 987 Boxster is superb and I love it and I think I’ve replaced everything thirteen year olds suffer from, so maybe I should keep it.

[KS]

Easy: buy a good 981 Cayman. Job done!

[Ashley James]

This all started because I fancied a 981 Boxster.

Has to be open top for me.

[yoda]

I did some miles in a 718 recently and liked everything about it apart from the noise. It was a very artificial, boy racer sound that got on my nerves after a while. If they could fix that, it would be lovely. When pushing on, you knew you were driving a turbo as the torque was huge and the top end a bit missing.

I quite fancy a 987, maybe a Spyder if a nice one came up at sensible money.

[Slope330]

..........simples ......its not a 911

[Ashley James]

..........simples ......its not a 911

They’re much bigger and the market is awash with them. Boxsters seem to be much more desirable and difficult to find.

[911hillclimber]

My 987 Gen 2 2.9 Boxster is a great car, really practical for the weekend/week/Euro tours.
Had it 2 years almost now, not spent a penny. (44K miles)

Would really like a 997 Gen 2.

However, the Boxster is not as well build, and in may places as well designed as the 2009 BMW Z4 I had. Z4 build quality was really good.
Ride was absolutely awful, a real turn-off.

I think this is the Boxster's appeal, very useable, fast, economical (!) and not brash or 'show-off'.
Stops me driving my 911 mind...

[23e Heure]

Yesterday I took the green car to Silverstone, where I was booked in for the one day "Precision" driving course at the Porsche Experience Centre.



Mine was the only early car there: it was almost all 997s and 991s, the lowest spec being a 4S, the rest were all Turbos, GT3s, and even one of the new GT2 RS.

I considered this a Good Thing: being totally outclassed by the other cars (in terms of performance, if not style ) meant no point in trying to be competitive, and it let me focus 100% on sharpening up my car control.



We spent the first hour on the low grip circuit, getting tuned in to encouraging the car to lose rear grip and introduce controlled oversteer.
That's something I've been getting the car to do on quiet European country roads, but I've never been able to achieve it in such a controlled and predictable way as this.

We then spent the rest of the day alternating between the two short and twisty test circuits, the full length GP circuit, and the 5 star Porsche hospitality centre.

Although you are allotted a combined maximum of 60mins on the GP circuit, somehow we managed to extend that, and squeezed in about 40 laps on there... Quite a buzz!

90% of the driving you do yourself, the other 10% of the time your instructor takes the wheel to show you what the car is capable of

Oh, and my driving coach for the day is quite handy at the wheel. And kinda famous... RESULT!
78 years old, still super sharp, a wonderful coach, and a true gent with amazing stories to share over lunch and tea...



What a fantastic day, highly recommended. An unparalleled opportunity to test both yourself and your car to the absolute limit... and occasionally beyond

We even managed to dodge the weather: while most of the south of england was suffering heavy rain and gusty winds, somehow it stayed dry all day.

I'm already booked in for the next course in the program, called "Perfomance". That one is a 2 day course, and I already have Richard pencilled in to coach me then too...
He says he has not driven a 914 at speed since practise for the Targa Florio in 1970: I guess I'll take the GT next time then!

[Tosh]

I like the driving boots you got to drive the GT2RS

Looks like a cracking day

[KS]

How cool is that! I saw your Facebook post and was envious then - now I'm plain jealous!

So was yours the 'Precision' course?
https://www.porsche.com/silverstone/en/ ... precision/

[23e Heure]

So was yours the 'Precision' course?
https://www.porsche.com/silverstone/en/ ... precision/

Yup, that's the one. I used my own car for the day, you do get the option to use their modern stuff if you are that way inclined.

The next one I'm booked on is the 2 days Performance course: https://www.porsche.com/silverstone/en/ ... rformance/

[yoda]

Good work James and what a result on the instructor!

I am at the PEC on 19 May - hope I get some of your luck!!

[911hillclimber]

Did you need to prep the green car much to tolerate the day's pressures?
Would love to do a lot on the wet skid pan.
Attwood as an instructor....
Fantastic.

[23e Heure]

Did you need to prep the green car much to tolerate the day's pressures?

It's a 911, so it's always ready to perform! I simply checked oil level and tyre pressures, filled the tank, and rocked up at Silverstone

I did have the geometry done by Steve Winter at Jaz, and got him to set up for fast road / light track use.
But quite honestly that was a while ago now... about 3500 miles of enthusiastic driving ago (including Sicily's poor roads)

Luckily that somewhat 'light' prep was enough:
Richard was very complimentary about the car's handling and set up, which was very pleasing feedback!