RE: Audi SQ5 vs Porsche Macan Diesel: Blood Bros

[raiderfan]

Granfondo said:

Were the cars the same price, or was the Porsche much dearer when you specced them up?

I went a bit crazy with the SQ5 spec, so they each ended up at about £53k. You get a shed-load more stuff on the Audi for that money than the Macan, though.

And in response to the bloke who asked why people "piss away" money on buying new cars...I like new stuff. And it's my money. You don't need to understand why I do it anymore than I need to understand why it bothers you so much.

Of course I was influenced by the looks: I thing the SQ5 looks the dog's. But as for thinking they're fashionable, you must be having a laugh: German 4x4s are the absolute antithesis of cool. There are few cars out there more likely to generate derision and disdain. But they are seriously impressive to own. And this one is as fast as f*ck. It's a very, very good family car, so I bought it. Hope that helps with your angst.

[mrclav]

ORD said:

gigglebug said:

ORD said:

The new vs used debate should be at the forefront of anyone's mind with these kind of cars. We are told over and over by their fans that they are just very practical, do-it-all cars. If so, why piss thousands down the drain each year by buying brand new? I think the answer is that they are bought largely for fashion and show off reasons.

I don't understand the criticism of people wanting to spend their money on brand new cars if they want to, why should this be a concern? Someone's got to do it haven't they? And are you suggest that you personally have never bought anything without considering it's aesthetics or whether you consider it "Fashionable"? Of course people buy cars for what they look like it's a very big factor for most when narrowing down their options.

It looks the same when a year old.

Your point/argument is so illogical. If no-one one bought cars new, when would you get to enjoy one secondhand? Someone has to "piss thousands down the drain" if you don't want to have to take the biggest hit!

And so what if someone wants to purchase a car (or anything else come to that) to be fashionable or to show off? Why are you getting your knickers in a twist over what someone else is buying/driving/doing?!?

[gigglebug]

ORD said:

It looks the same when a year old.

But it'll be second hand not new. It'll still look the same in 15 years time as well, I don't get your point?? Are you suggesting that no-one should buy new cars? How would that work??

[gigglebug]

ORD said:

M@1975 said:

I don't doubt that on paper the time to 60 is achievable and I'm sure if you get the boys from Audi to show you they will prove it. Real world, not so sure but I really don't see that its a relevant conversation anyway.
Every time I see a Macan/Q3/Q5/Evoque etc. they are by and large driven by a very nice middle class lady with kids in the back of it and invariably barrelling down the middle of the road as they have no clue how wide their car is.
Personally I have little interest in these types of things however, I have plenty of friends who will read this with some relish as they are in the market for something they can buy for the Mrs to drive and these will fit the bill nicely.
For every person on here buying and using one in anger (there are clearly a few) I would imagine there are another 10 who have one on the drive and have only sat being the wheel a handful of times in comparison to their other halves..

Take my car park for example, off the top of my head in my department of 25 I can list the following: X3, X5, X5M, Q5, Q4, Q3, Rangey Sport, Rangey, iX35, Sportage, Kuga, Quashqai. Not one of them driven by a guy. The target market for the SUV in the UK is clearly not male.

Largely true, I expect. I don't understand the fascination with a high driving position. All I get from sitting up high is the feeling that I am nowhere near the road and am not properly in control.

I think nervous drivers feel safer in big, high vehicles, which is fine for them but a bit a shame for everyone else. I would rather nervous drivers stay in small, light vehicles that are less able to do damage when they are crashed.

Another example of ORD's logic just for reference. So just because he doesn't "get" something why on earth should anyone else and women are all nervous drivers and should be kept in as small as cars as possible where they can cause the least amount of damage, I mean why should they get to choose what they like when someone else can do it for them??

[ORD]

gigglebug said:

Another example of ORD's logic just for reference. So just because he doesn't "get" something why on earth should anyone else and women are all nervous drivers and should be kept in as small as cars as possible where they can cause the least amount of damage, I mean why should they get to choose what they like when someone else can do it for them??

What on Earth are you on about?!

I have never seen such preciousness as on this thread. So unbelievably defensive!

Buying a new car is great! Fill your boots! Of course I'm not telling anyone what to do. We're all grown ups.

I could have guessed that the kind of men who like SUVs would be this easily upset.

[gigglebug]

ORD said:

I could have guessed that the kind of men who like SUVs would be this easily upset.

You summed up in a sentance

[ORD]

gigglebug said:

You summed up in a sentance

More ad hominem. You must have the worst sense of humour on the planet, mate! It's not personal that I think SUVs aren't very sensible.

[Wills2]

raiderfan said:

And this one is as fast as f*ck.

Not really.

[Granfondo]

ORD said:

gigglebug said:

You summed up in a sentance

More ad hominem. You must have the worst sense of humour on the planet, mate! It's not personal that I think SUVs aren't very sensible.

Different strokes and all that!

What I find strange is people that buy "sports cars" for "the driving experience" then go and spec them with an auto spastic gearbox!

[ORD]

Granfondo said:

Different strokes and all that!

What I find strange is people that buy "sports cars" for "the driving experience" then go and spec them with an auto spastic gearbox!

A mistake, that's for sure Amazing 'box, but still not close to a manual for enjoyment. It is almost good enough that I would recommend it for some cars and usage patterns (contrast an old school auto like the ZF, which is horrid), but it's still not the real deal.

[Granfondo]

ORD said:

Granfondo said:

Different strokes and all that!

What I find strange is people that buy "sports cars" for "the driving experience" then go and spec them with an auto spastic gearbox!

A mistake, that's for sure Amazing 'box, but still not close to a manual for enjoyment. It is almost good enough that I would recommend it for some cars and usage patterns (contrast an old school auto like the ZF, which is horrid), but it's still not the real deal.

I drive a SUV 2.0tdi manual as my workhorse and have a v8 petrol auto for "fun"!

The tdi manual is way way more FUN!!!!

[richyd]

Well as a serial sports car nut, I've gone ahead and bought one for the missus to use as our family car. I drive a 997.2 GT3 and a 993 C2S, have owned various Loti, scoobies, Caterhams etc in the past so see myself as a fully signed up Pheader. However, I cannot understand this SUV-hating attitude from some PH'ers. The closed minds of some on here is stunning. It's 2015, there are many many cars out there in all formats that are still great fun to drive. Geez, I drive a VW Up every day, as I only need it for a 6 mile round trip and driving a Porsche to the station was simply nuts - the Up is a great fun car on the lanes, it corners really well, virtually zero understeer (ok, I've lowered it a tad a fitted wheels spacers) - but would some on here call this a PHer's car..???

So, Macan's, they are not for everyone, but if you have 2 pre-teen kids and want the higher driving position and decent mpg but without handling like a barge, these cars deliver to the brief really well. The Macan Turbo is a total bargain in the Porsche range - it has a far higher standard spec than the S models and goes like a 996 turbo - except its a new car with a 3 yr warranty and can seat 5 kids or 4 adults comfortably. Having said this, we settled for a derv S, as the mpg is just about sensible. However, the performance stats are just half story. If you actually drive one of these cars on british roads, they are amazing. They are small enough for our lanes (unlike a RR Sport, X5 etc) and the added height over a hot hatch or saloon car gives a better view on the motorway and generally makes the wife feel safer when I'm behind the wheel. The suspension is sublime and the speed you can carry through corners totally defies physics. OK, a Golf GTi will deliver 8 tenths of this, but the added security is a big issue for some.

I looked at the SQ5, like it a lot, and almost went for one, but I am convinced the residuals on the Macan will be stronger, a lot stronger, over 4 years - my car finance co agrees. The Alpina would be awesome, I love Alpina's full-stop, but the X3 body shape is something I really, really struggle with.

So it was a Macan for me. We could have saved a few quid and got a 2.0d X3 or Q5 or Tiguan, but where's the fun in that...??

So, for a blat down to the Alps in the winter, I recon this car will be perfect. Ditto trips to my parents or to see friends. A Macan is also small enough for multi-story car parks, so the wife is happy.

Our current family wagon is a Tiguan 2.0 td R-line. This has been a great car, it's also a derv SUV, but the tractor-like engine and very slow auto box have finally worn me down. It's held its value better than any family car or hot hatch over 4 years though, so all-in it's been a brilliant purchase. The Macan delivers to the same brief with a far superior engine and gearbox, and a far better interior. The monthly payments are far less than my 535d bought in 2006 - so whats not to like.

And before anyone mentions the school run - my kids walk to school

[ORD]

richyd said:

Well as a serial sports car nut, I've gone ahead and bought one for the missus to use as our family car. I drive a 997.2 GT3 and a 993 C2S, have owned various Loti, scoobies, Caterhams etc in the past so see myself as a fully signed up Pheader. However, I cannot understand this SUV-hating attitude from some PH'ers. The closed minds of some on here is stunning. It's 2015, there are many many cars out there in all formats that are still great fun to drive. Geez, I drive a VW Up every day, as I only need it for a 6 mile round trip and driving a Porsche to the station was simply nuts - the Up is a great fun car on the lanes, it corners really well, virtually zero understeer (ok, I've lowered it a tad a fitted wheels spacers) - but would some on here call this a PHer's car..???

So, Macan's, they are not for everyone, but if you have 2 pre-teen kids and want the higher driving position and decent mpg but without handling like a barge, these cars deliver to the brief really well. The Macan Turbo is a total bargain in the Porsche range - it has a far higher standard spec than the S models and goes like a 996 turbo - except its a new car with a 3 yr warranty and can seat 5 kids or 4 adults comfortably. Having said this, we settled for a derv S, as the mpg is just about sensible. However, the performance stats are just half story. If you actually drive one of these cars on british roads, they are amazing. They are small enough for our lanes (unlike a RR Sport, X5 etc) and the added height over a hot hatch or saloon car gives a better view on the motorway and generally makes the wife feel safer when I'm behind the wheel. The suspension is sublime and the speed you can carry through corners totally defies physics. OK, a Golf GTi will deliver 8 tenths of this, but the added security is a big issue for some.

I looked at the SQ5, like it a lot, and almost went for one, but I am convinced the residuals on the Macan will be stronger, a lot stronger, over 4 years - my car finance co agrees. The Alpina would be awesome, I love Alpina's full-stop, but the X3 body shape is something I really, really struggle with.

So it was a Macan for me. We could have saved a few quid and got a 2.0d X3 or Q5 or Tiguan, but where's the fun in that...??

So, for a blat down to the Alps in the winter, I recon this car will be perfect. Ditto trips to my parents or to see friends. A Macan is also small enough for multi-story car parks, so the wife is happy.

Our current family wagon is a Tiguan 2.0 td R-line. This has been a great car, it's also a derv SUV, but the tractor-like engine and very slow auto box have finally worn me down. It's held its value better than any family car or hot hatch over 4 years though, so all-in it's been a brilliant purchase. The Macan delivers to the same brief with a far superior engine and gearbox, and a far better interior. The monthly payments are far less than my 535d bought in 2006 - so whats not to like.

And before anyone mentions the school run - my kids walk to school

The part that I struggle with is choosing the diesel. I doubt you'll be cracking 10,000 mile p.a., so a 10-15mpg difference will create a tiny difference in the total cost of ownership. If you are going to spend thousands extra per year to have a Porsche over something more mundane, why then get a diesel engine for the sake of, what, some hundreds of pounds per year in fuel costs? It makes no sense to me.

[EricE]

ORD said:

The part that I struggle with is choosing the diesel. I doubt you'll be cracking 10,000 mile p.a., so a 10-15mpg difference will create a tiny difference in the total cost of ownership. If you are going to spend thousands extra per year to have a Porsche over something more mundane, why then get a diesel engine for the sake of, what, some hundreds of pounds per year in fuel costs? It makes no sense to me.

580 Nm vs 460 Nm.

Hate to admit it but the diesel engines really suit the SUVs. Torque is king when you are pottering around in the city.

[ORD]

EricE said:

580 Nm vs 460 Nm.

Hate to admit it but the diesel engines really suit the SUVs. Torque is king when you are pottering around in the city.

As a downside, they do tend to poison the already poisonous city air, which is a bit selfish for a person who is wealthy enough to run the petrol equivalent.

[richyd]

My wife pays for the fuel - and she's a school teacher earning 3 sheckles a month, so the fuel cost does count for us. We also do rack up the miles for a non-business use car, we average 12k miles per annum.

And anyway, my Up runs on fresh air, so that kinda compensates for our polluting derv SUV... Not sure where the GT3 sits in this equation though

[aeropilot]

Ashok said:

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the obvious third contender here - the BMW Alpina XD3 BiTurbo. I considered both the SQ5 and Macan before deciding on the Alpina and I'm loving every moment of ownership so far. I've had the car almost six months now from new and it's just fabulous (and this from a serial ex-M5 owner). The thing pulls like a train (350hp/700nM/0-60 in under 5secs) and it's a special occasion every time you climb aboard. I love mine and would recommend it over the Audi & Porsche every time.. it's just that special

Love the exclusivity of the Alpina, can't be many of them on UK roads..........

But....it's still a diesel, and price wise it's in the same range as a Macan Turbo, so as much as I prefer the X3 in many ways, the lure of a petrol engine would be too much for me to walk past the Macan. Sure if I was doing 20k+ miles per annum, it would be a different storey.
Now, if only Alpina offered a RHD N55 engined version of the X3 they build for the USA market I'd be all over that like a rash

[scherzkeks]

ORD said:

As a downside, they do tend to poison the already poisonous city air, which is a bit selfish for a person who is wealthy enough to run the petrol equivalent.

Yes, unlike petrols, which actually purify it.

[ORD]

scherzkeks said:

Yes, unlike petrols, which actually purify it.

Or, in other words, if you are going to piss in the sea, you may as well piss in someone's face.

[griffgrog]

Just resurrecting and old thread. Has anyone gone from the diesel to the turbo? I've got a turbo on order and spent some time at the PEC with one last week. Such are the diesels capabilities that it didn't feel that much quicker.