Macan S - disappointed
Discussion
I had my Boxster S 987.2 in for it's annual MOT yesterday. I requested a Macan for a courtesy car as it's on my (OK, very long and ever changing) list of replacements as my next car. My wife wants to downsize (she has a Q5) after her smelly mutt heads off to the park in the sky (hopefully not too long) and this may mean I require a car that will seat 4 adults and occasionally luggage too. I'm not 100% sold of SUV's but the Macan was one I was considering.
When I arrived at the dealership I can see the Macan parked up and waiting for me. I'm delighted that it's a petrol S. It looks the nuts. White, black 21" Sport classic alloys, and once I'm inside I see it's pretty much optioned out. Not a single blank button. I am looking forward to a day with this.
Ok, lets start her up. Oh, where's the exhaust note? A few revs maybe, errrm no, very quiet. Ah, lets hit the PSE button. Nope. Check I've pressed the right button, hmmm, let's try putting it in Sport+, looks like the PSE is on - what a disappointment. Maybe it'll sound better on the move.
Ok, into D and off we go. Awe man, what's going on with the steering. It's light and a bit gloopy. Head onto the dual carriageway and give it some beans. Yes we go faster, but there's no drama, and it doesn't feel as quick as I had hoped. On to some B-roads, excellent handling, PDK in Sport+ is always in the correct gear, and we make some really quick progress. It does go where I point it, but I don't like the steering feel, and the engine is a bit anodyne. More a propulsion device really. It takes me a while to get used to the brakes around town, they bite with such a small pressure on the pedal and I don't make smooth progress.
So where does that leave me. I'm impressed by the looks inside and out. It's beautifully finished (although the gear lever seems much less solid in it's motion than mine) but it's lacking character. Of course I was expecting a different drive than my Boxster, but I was still expecting a Porsche-ness to it. No complaints about how it handles for such a big car, also no complaints about the drivetrain, efficient, whip crack shifts and it does go well.
In my opinion it's gone a bit Audi
and if that's the case I need to go try an SQ5 and see how it compares. Maybe I'm just not an SUV person and will stick to my other ideas of getting a big saloon/estate. I'd be interested to see if the Panamera drives like the Macan.
At the start of the day, I had expected to be asking the dealer how much it would cost me to change my car, at the end of the day I was glad to be back in my 5 year old Boxster ..
When I arrived at the dealership I can see the Macan parked up and waiting for me. I'm delighted that it's a petrol S. It looks the nuts. White, black 21" Sport classic alloys, and once I'm inside I see it's pretty much optioned out. Not a single blank button. I am looking forward to a day with this.
Ok, lets start her up. Oh, where's the exhaust note? A few revs maybe, errrm no, very quiet. Ah, lets hit the PSE button. Nope. Check I've pressed the right button, hmmm, let's try putting it in Sport+, looks like the PSE is on - what a disappointment. Maybe it'll sound better on the move.
Ok, into D and off we go. Awe man, what's going on with the steering. It's light and a bit gloopy. Head onto the dual carriageway and give it some beans. Yes we go faster, but there's no drama, and it doesn't feel as quick as I had hoped. On to some B-roads, excellent handling, PDK in Sport+ is always in the correct gear, and we make some really quick progress. It does go where I point it, but I don't like the steering feel, and the engine is a bit anodyne. More a propulsion device really. It takes me a while to get used to the brakes around town, they bite with such a small pressure on the pedal and I don't make smooth progress.
So where does that leave me. I'm impressed by the looks inside and out. It's beautifully finished (although the gear lever seems much less solid in it's motion than mine) but it's lacking character. Of course I was expecting a different drive than my Boxster, but I was still expecting a Porsche-ness to it. No complaints about how it handles for such a big car, also no complaints about the drivetrain, efficient, whip crack shifts and it does go well.
In my opinion it's gone a bit Audi
and if that's the case I need to go try an SQ5 and see how it compares. Maybe I'm just not an SUV person and will stick to my other ideas of getting a big saloon/estate. I'd be interested to see if the Panamera drives like the Macan.At the start of the day, I had expected to be asking the dealer how much it would cost me to change my car, at the end of the day I was glad to be back in my 5 year old Boxster ..
Avalyn said:
I had my Boxster S 987.2 in for it's annual MOT yesterday. I requested a Macan for a courtesy car as it's on my (OK, very long and ever changing) list of replacements as my next car. My wife wants to downsize (she has a Q5) after her smelly mutt heads off to the park in the sky (hopefully not too long) and this may mean I require a car that will seat 4 adults and occasionally luggage too. I'm not 100% sold of SUV's but the Macan was one I was considering.
When I arrived at the dealership I can see the Macan parked up and waiting for me. I'm delighted that it's a petrol S. It looks the nuts. White, black 21" Sport classic alloys, and once I'm inside I see it's pretty much optioned out. Not a single blank button. I am looking forward to a day with this.
Ok, lets start her up. Oh, where's the exhaust note? A few revs maybe, errrm no, very quiet. Ah, lets hit the PSE button. Nope. Check I've pressed the right button, hmmm, let's try putting it in Sport+, looks like the PSE is on - what a disappointment. Maybe it'll sound better on the move.
Ok, into D and off we go. Awe man, what's going on with the steering. It's light and a bit gloopy. Head onto the dual carriageway and give it some beans. Yes we go faster, but there's no drama, and it doesn't feel as quick as I had hoped. On to some B-roads, excellent handling, PDK in Sport+ is always in the correct gear, and we make some really quick progress. It does go where I point it, but I don't like the steering feel, and the engine is a bit anodyne. More a propulsion device really. It takes me a while to get used to the brakes around town, they bite with such a small pressure on the pedal and I don't make smooth progress.
So where does that leave me. I'm impressed by the looks inside and out. It's beautifully finished (although the gear lever seems much less solid in it's motion than mine) but it's lacking character. Of course I was expecting a different drive than my Boxster, but I was still expecting a Porsche-ness to it. No complaints about how it handles for such a big car, also no complaints about the drivetrain, efficient, whip crack shifts and it does go well.
In my opinion it's gone a bit Audi and if that's the case I need to go try an SQ5 and see how it compares. Maybe I'm just not an SUV person and will stick to my other ideas of getting a big saloon/estate. I'd be interested to see if the Panamera drives like the Macan.
At the start of the day, I had expected to be asking the dealer how much it would cost me to change my car, at the end of the day I was glad to be back in my 5 year old Boxster ..
Bought wifey a Cayenne diesel recently as a daily, she has had many Porsches over the years...she echos your thoughts reference it could be a Merc/Audi/whatever and in fact wants to go back to a Range Rover vogue as the Porsche lacks "specialness"....from my point of view its quiet, stable, goes well and will be reliable.When I arrived at the dealership I can see the Macan parked up and waiting for me. I'm delighted that it's a petrol S. It looks the nuts. White, black 21" Sport classic alloys, and once I'm inside I see it's pretty much optioned out. Not a single blank button. I am looking forward to a day with this.
Ok, lets start her up. Oh, where's the exhaust note? A few revs maybe, errrm no, very quiet. Ah, lets hit the PSE button. Nope. Check I've pressed the right button, hmmm, let's try putting it in Sport+, looks like the PSE is on - what a disappointment. Maybe it'll sound better on the move.
Ok, into D and off we go. Awe man, what's going on with the steering. It's light and a bit gloopy. Head onto the dual carriageway and give it some beans. Yes we go faster, but there's no drama, and it doesn't feel as quick as I had hoped. On to some B-roads, excellent handling, PDK in Sport+ is always in the correct gear, and we make some really quick progress. It does go where I point it, but I don't like the steering feel, and the engine is a bit anodyne. More a propulsion device really. It takes me a while to get used to the brakes around town, they bite with such a small pressure on the pedal and I don't make smooth progress.
So where does that leave me. I'm impressed by the looks inside and out. It's beautifully finished (although the gear lever seems much less solid in it's motion than mine) but it's lacking character. Of course I was expecting a different drive than my Boxster, but I was still expecting a Porsche-ness to it. No complaints about how it handles for such a big car, also no complaints about the drivetrain, efficient, whip crack shifts and it does go well.
In my opinion it's gone a bit Audi
and if that's the case I need to go try an SQ5 and see how it compares. Maybe I'm just not an SUV person and will stick to my other ideas of getting a big saloon/estate. I'd be interested to see if the Panamera drives like the Macan.At the start of the day, I had expected to be asking the dealer how much it would cost me to change my car, at the end of the day I was glad to be back in my 5 year old Boxster ..
Panamera is well worth a drive.
POORCARDEALER said:
Bought wifey a Cayenne diesel recently as a daily, she has had many Porsches over the years...she echos your thoughts reference it could be a Merc/Audi/whatever and in fact wants to go back to a Range Rover vogue as the Porsche lacks "specialness"....from my point of view its quiet, stable, goes well and will be reliable.
Panamera is well worth a drive.
I think that sums it up, quiet, stable, goes well .. that could be almost anything, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, my Dad's Focus 1.5 TDCi is quiet, stable and goes well for a small diesel, and has better steering.Panamera is well worth a drive.
I know it's based on a Q5, and Porsche can't work miracles but you'd think they could have imbued it with a dash of character. If you were in the passenger seat blindfold you'd never guess it was a Porsche.
Maybe it's just me, I like cars that are actually worse lol. I preferred my Subaru STi to my S3 even though in almost every measurable way on paper it's not as 'good' a car :-/
Avalyn said:
POORCARDEALER said:
Bought wifey a Cayenne diesel recently as a daily, she has had many Porsches over the years...she echos your thoughts reference it could be a Merc/Audi/whatever and in fact wants to go back to a Range Rover vogue as the Porsche lacks "specialness"....from my point of view its quiet, stable, goes well and will be reliable.
Panamera is well worth a drive.
I think that sums it up, quiet, stable, goes well .. that could be almost anything, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, my Dad's Focus 1.5 TDCi is quiet, stable and goes well for a small diesel, and has better steering.Panamera is well worth a drive.
I know it's based on a Q5, and Porsche can't work miracles but you'd think they could have imbued it with a dash of character. If you were in the passenger seat blindfold you'd never guess it was a Porsche.
Maybe it's just me, I like cars that are actually worse lol. I preferred my Subaru STi to my S3 even though in almost every measurable way on paper it's not as 'good' a car :-/
EricE said:
Technically the Macan is heavily reworked Q5. It's still the best handling and most agile car in its class
here is the issue, people say it drives like a car (it don't by any means, that's media hype), but it's not a car is a SUV !!! even you stated it's a "car"it may be a good SUV but it's NOT like any car I have driven, the reviews which say it's like a car are s
t !Porsche911R said:
EricE said:
Technically the Macan is heavily reworked Q5. It's still the best handling and most agile car in its class
here is the issue, people say it drives like a car (it don't by any means, that's media hype), but it's not a car is a SUV !!! even you stated it's a "car"it may be a good SUV but it's NOT like any car I have driven, the reviews which say it's like a car are s
t !h and fight.Consequently we go everywhere in the wifes golf R.
So I've ordered a macan turbo, and after driving different macans fairly extensively at the PEC and on road, I'd say the performance macans drive like slightly taller, slightly heavier hot hatches.
They will never be like a sports car, but they're not wallowy old barges either. I tried most premium SUV's whilst deciding on what to drive between now and the kids buggering off, and I found RR's to be big, cumbersome trucks, the new Jag f pace to be competent but zero character, with a downmarket interior, and all the BM, Audis to be as disappointing as I expected.
I found the Macan to be a hoot, as I could chuck it down an a road at bonkers speeds, and still do motorway cruises in quiet comfort. It'll never be a sports car, but in the same way that the wifes R is the best compromise of fun and practicality in the medium hatch segment, I find the macan turbo (or gts) to be the best growing family car compromise. I'll never love it, but then I found the same with audi rs4/6 and bmw M3/5's that I've tried.
Your problem is comparing it to a boxster. We recently drove a 718 Boxster S at Silverstone and it was fantastic. We had a MACAN turbo for 2 years and soon pick up a MACAN GTS, and as a family car it is very good. I cannot think of anything I would rather have as our family car (but we only have 1 child). Around Silverstone PEC the GTS really flew given the size, but the Boxster was in another league. As soon as our teenager is off to Uni we will get a boxster.
We are currently driving a Cayenne diesel due to delays on the GTS and that feels barge like. You shouldnt really compare the Cayenne to the Macan if looking for sportiness.
We are currently driving a Cayenne diesel due to delays on the GTS and that feels barge like. You shouldnt really compare the Cayenne to the Macan if looking for sportiness.
My everyday car is now a V8 Diesel Cayenne as I needed a car big enough to carry 3 kids, 2 adults a dog and luggage. I also go mountain biking so the rugged 4 wheel drive is more than capable for that requirement. I love it. Amazing machine for what I need of it. But I would never class a Cayenne or a Macan as a sport vehicle, not even close to even a hot hatch. They are just the best driving options in that class.
I don't see it as a sports car either its just a safe place to put your own money. In the "need 4 seats and somewhere to put stuff" segment the safest bets are the Macan and the RRS. I personally don't like the image of the RRS so chose the Macan. I also prefer an estate as its easier for me to put my bikes on the roof but £40-50K estate cars haemorrhage cash.
DMC2 said:
But I would never class a Cayenne or a Macan as a sport vehicle, not even close to even a hot hatch. They are just the best driving options in that class.
I thought the new Jaguar F-Pace was the class leader now !to quote Autoexpress
"The Jaguar F-Pace has the measure of its SUV rivals from Audi, BMW and Porsche"
Any way it's market I can never see me buying into.
Porsche911R said:
I thought the new Jaguar F-Pace was the class leader now !
to quote Autoexpress
"The Jaguar F-Pace has the measure of its SUV rivals from Audi, BMW and Porsche"
Any way it's market I can never see me buying into.
You truly are a tool. If you have no interested then fu@k off out of the topic.to quote Autoexpress
"The Jaguar F-Pace has the measure of its SUV rivals from Audi, BMW and Porsche"
Any way it's market I can never see me buying into.
DMC2 said:
You truly are a tool. If you have no interested then fu@k off out of the topic.
why do you do personal attacks from an autoexpress quote ? it's really not on to act this way on public forums !Harsh, but what about the F pace ?
I have Macan's as loans every time my Porkers go in and reviews are very over rated, the Macan act comes 7th in the best SUV with Autoexpress.
Best SUVs and 4x4s in the UK for 2016, and I must say like the OP I was very disappointed when I last drove one.
1. Jaguar F-Pace
2. Volvo XC90
3. Land Rover Discovery Sport
4. Audi Q7
5. Mercedes GLC
6. Kia Sorento
7. Porsche Macan
8. Hyundai Santa Fe
9. Dacia Duster
10. Range Rover Sport
Porsche911R said:
yep it is !
No it isn'tIts classed as a crossover as it has next to zero off road ability, and very limited towing capacity. It can only tow 2 tonnes verses 3.5 tonnes for any range/land rover, x5 etc.
Thats how the Americans class it and they came up with the whole SUV concept.
Drives very differently to an RR or X5, Q7 etc, as they make on road compromises in the name of off road ability, the biggest of which is ride height. A macan is 200mm taller than a golf, yet 200mm lower than a Range rover, x5 etc
Edited by wilkos on Friday 8th July 15:04
not driven a Macan (yet..) but will be in the market shortly for a 'proper car'
For those that have driven both, how do they compare to the Cayenne ?
I've had two of these previously (1st gen & current), so I'd be interested to hear first hand comparisons - and yes, I know the KN is larger...
For those that have driven both, how do they compare to the Cayenne ?
I've had two of these previously (1st gen & current), so I'd be interested to hear first hand comparisons - and yes, I know the KN is larger...
Koln-RS said:
Macan (Diesel S) gets a superb review in the latest Car Magazine - against the RR Sport and Jag F Pace.
My experience for what it is worth.....Macan S diesel, it's an SUV but does drive like a car. Probably the most able vehicle I've driven in terms of its various competencies. But at the same time it's clearly a Porsche.
It's certainly not a Q5.
FJ
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