Macan dilema

[DodgyGeezer]

well after starting off looking at a Merc GLC we, somehow, got round to looking at Macans (smaller, a little more luxurious and a chunk more agile/nimble whatever) and Mrs DG is rather sold on the idea. Myself, never really cared about Porsche or the 'cachet' of a badge so Merc/Porsche/BMW/whatever isn't really of interest - what is of interest is how the car looks/feels (and for an SUV the Macan is quite inoffensive/reasonably good looking).


Here is our dilema...

We're at the point of test-driving various ones (drove a 2.0 one on saturday but the spec, and colour, just didn't work for us) and are awaiting a drive in a 73 base Macan with a huge options list in Papaya similar miles to below for 60

or

a 24 plate Macan S with, just about, every conceivable extra thrown at it ( https://finder.porsche.com/gb/en-GB/details/porsch... )

or

place a factory order base missing most of the toys (just the essentials for us) for the difference between the above 2


The extra performance of the S isn't really an issue (the 2.0 was more than adequate) but my understanding is that there's also not much of a difference in mpgs so I'm happy either way there. We don't really 'do' dull colours these days so black/silver/white/putty are all off the menu. The essentials for us are:
- memory seats
- surround/360 Camera
- blind-spot monitor
- pano sunroof

followed by the nice to haves
- 75 litre tank
- light interior

all of which bring you in to about 62 if on a factory order. Part of me is edging towards the S, just love the colour and spec - just not sure if half the spec would be wasted on us...

Edited by DodgyGeezer on Wednesday 7th August 14:57

[Peterpetrole]

Personally (and I maybe in a minority here) I think the air suspension is the other must have option.

That S has got a lot of toys and seems good value, although Bournemouth... salty air.... etc.

[Terminator X]

Factory order will be EV though?

TX.

[DodgyGeezer]

Peterpetrole said:

Personally (and I maybe in a minority here) I think the air suspension is the other must have option.

That S has got a lot of toys and seems good value, although Bournemouth... salty air.... etc.

Sea air is a potential issue - but then a car could spend it's whole life on the coast and end up for sale in High Wycombe (as an example). With a, nearly, new car it'll (hopefully!!) not be an issue.

WRT air - I have heard others mention that as a wothwhile option and both the ones we are looking at have that

Terminator X said:

Factory order will be EV though?

TX.

nope - factory order for ICE (in the UK) is availble until July '25

[cayman-black]

That blue one with Air is very nice , I wouldnt buy the 2.0

[DodgyGeezer]

Oh well that dilemma didn't last long the Miami blue has already gone

[CapScarlet]

DodgyGeezer said:

well after starting off looking at a Merc GLC we, somehow, got round to looking at Macans (smaller, a little more luxurious and a chunk more agile/nimble whatever) and Mrs DG is rather sold on the idea. Myself, never really cared about Porsche or the 'cachet' of a badge so Merc/Porsche/BMW/whatever isn't really of interest - what is of interest is how the car looks/feels (and for an SUV the Macan is quite inoffensive/reasonably good looking).


Here is our dilema...

We're at the point of test-driving various ones (drove a 2.0 one on saturday but the spec, and colour, just didn't work for us) and are awaiting a drive in a 73 base Macan with a huge options list in Papaya similar miles to below for 60

or

a 24 plate Macan S with, just about, every conceivable extra thrown at it ( https://finder.porsche.com/gb/en-GB/details/porsch... )

or

place a factory order base missing most of the toys (just the essentials for us) for the difference between the above 2


The extra performance of the S isn't really an issue (the 2.0 was more than adequate) but my understanding is that there's also not much of a difference in mpgs so I'm happy either way there. We don't really 'do' dull colours these days so black/silver/white/putty are all off the menu. The essentials for us are:
- memory seats
- surround/360 Camera
- blind-spot monitor
- pano sunroof

followed by the nice to haves
- 75 litre tank
- light interior

all of which bring you in to about 62 if on a factory order. Part of me is edging towards the S, just love the colour and spec - just not sure if half the spec would be wasted on us...

Edited by DodgyGeezer on Wednesday 7th August 14:57

Brother had an "S", 23-24 mpg when driven moderately.

My SQ5 (admitedly a diesel) does 42-45 and is almost as quick

[SkinnyPete]

I really would avoid the 2.0, it’s a lagging gutless engine and really not fit for purpose.

[crisp packet]

Maybe get the right one with the right spec then a very well done wrap? You can have any colour you like, shouldn't damage the paintwork (and will protect it if anything), change the colour if you get bored in a few years and then take it off before selling. Maybe £1k cost. Just a thought.

[DodgyGeezer]

crisp packet said:

Maybe get the right one with the right spec then a very well done wrap? You can have any colour you like, shouldn't damage the paintwork (and will protect it if anything), change the colour if you get bored in a few years and then take it off before selling. Maybe £1k cost. Just a thought.

I'd be lying if I said that the thought hadn't occured to me - I'd also be lying if I said that I'd looked at the ££ differential betwixt 'unpopular' colours and vibrant ones (I always suspect, since the shiny suited man tells me so, that black/white & silver give highest resale)

[MR2 Steve]

A family member was going to order a 2.0. When you look at the extra spec on an S vs the additional cost it was a no brainer to order the S. was about £4K extra at the time
I think.

[Steven944]

My father has been going through a very similar dilemma. The 2.0 is £6,600 cheaper than the 'S' and the only physical spec differences (not just different colour window trim, etc.) I could spot (other than the engine) were that the 'S' has 20" wheels as opposed to 19"s on the base car, and PASM. He also found the performance of the 2.0 pretty adequate.

Edited by Steven944 on Friday 9th August 13:21

[South tdf]

Peterpetrole said:

Personally (and I maybe in a minority here) I think the air suspension is the other must have option.

That S has got a lot of toys and seems good value, although Bournemouth... salty air.... etc.

A car from the South coast is less likely to see salt than most cars across the country as it hardly ever snows down here and the salts hardly blowing in the air unless you are on the seafront.

If you can go for a GTS, we have had 2 in a row and they are superb. As mentioned, Air suspension (standard on GTS) if you are going over 20” wheels, Pan Roof, Cameras, Matrix lights,

[boxxer7]

Peterpetrole said:

Personally (and I maybe in a minority here) I think the air suspension is the other must have option.

That S has got a lot of toys and seems good value, although Bournemouth... salty air.... etc.

Porsche center Bournemouth isn’t really that close to Bournemouth at all it’s in Wimborne (about 20 minutes away by car), car may have spent no time anywhere near the sea shouldn’t be a deal breaker

[DodgyGeezer]

well boring update time... good old test drive in both a highly spec'd base and then a similarly highly spec'd S.

Suprisingly we actually enjoyed them both - yes the 4-pot is more unpleasantly vocal when asked to work a little harder, but no moreso than (for example) Mrs DG's old SLC200. In other words pretty much a non-issue from her POV. The 6-pot is, IMO, a nicer drive... more willing to 'go' but not to the degee that it puts us entirely off the 4.

Most of the toys are the same with PASM, heated seats/steeringwheel; PSC; pano-roof; surround cam; blind-spot cam; adaptive cruise and similar miles. The major differences being:

- 4-pot heated screen; contrasting stitch; bose

and

- 6-pot torque vectoring; burmester; 75l tank; ioniser (also 6 months older)

with a not inconsiderable price differential of £8k in favour of the 4 it is making a choice difficult. Would we regret not getting a 6 which is a (slightly) nicer drive (and I do like the larger fuel tank) or is the 4 better with a decent holiday thrown in and heated screen for those 5 times a year when needed? (#firstworldproblems )

[raspy]

DodgyGeezer said:

well boring update time... good old test drive in both a highly spec'd base and then a similarly highly spec'd S.

Suprisingly we actually enjoyed them both - yes the 4-pot is more unpleasantly vocal when asked to work a little harder, but no moreso than (for example) Mrs DG's old SLC200. In other words pretty much a non-issue from her POV. The 6-pot is, IMO, a nicer drive... more willing to 'go' but not to the degee that it puts us entirely off the 4.

Most of the toys are the same with PASM, heated seats/steeringwheel; PSC; pano-roof; surround cam; blind-spot cam; adaptive cruise and similar miles. The major differences being:

- 4-pot heated screen; contrasting stitch; bose

and

- 6-pot torque vectoring; burmester; 75l tank; ioniser (also 6 months older)

with a not inconsiderable price differential of £8k in favour of the 4 it is making a choice difficult. Would we regret not getting a 6 which is a (slightly) nicer drive (and I do like the larger fuel tank) or is the 4 better with a decent holiday thrown in and heated screen for those 5 times a year when needed? (#firstworldproblems )

Get the 6 pot. You'll have plenty of time to drive electrified 4 pot cars in years to come.

[Smithy99]

V6 all day long, it is a Porsche. Love mine, best car I have ever had.

[DodgyGeezer]

well that moved in a few unexpected directions...

We discounted the 4-pot on the basis that: there were a few (relatively minor) trim issues we weren't happy about and 'FOMO' on the 6-pot. Called the messaged the dealer to advise we weren't going ahead only to be advised they were about to contact us to advise it'd just been sold (credit to them though at no point during the test drive did the whole "... we've got another punter waiting..." schtick ever occur, which is a very pleasant change from a lot of dealers.

We then messaged the guys with the 6-pot only to be advised that they weren't going to budge enough on the price <grrrr> - oh well c'est la vie, one will crop up over the next few months, no real hurry. Set up the usual suspects to message me when the right spec crops up annnnnd just received a phone-call from OPC (6-pot guys) to advise they've moved, just enough, in our direction pricewise sooooo it does look like we'll be striking a deal.

Options-wise it's overspec'd (for us!) with the only options missing being the heated screen - something we've not had on most of our cars so likely not really an issue and auto-dimming mirrors (in my experience these are quite slow witted and so not really something to be missed)

Edited by DodgyGeezer on Wednesday 14th August 18:12

Edited by DodgyGeezer on Wednesday 14th August 18:17

[Dimebars]

So you discounted the 4 pot and are buying a 4 pot? I'm confused

[DodgyGeezer]

Dimebars said:

So you discounted the 4 pot and are buying a 4 pot? I'm confused

Amended to make more sense