Macan diesel - good used buy?
Discussion
Hi, I am thinking of changing my BMW X3 and considering a Macan Diesel.
My X3 is 2013, 3.0 litre and has done 148,000 miles. It’s good to drive and I use it for long weekly commutes, towing a trailer and race car, transporting my wife and dogs, transporting golf stuff or race stuff etc and whatever I replace it with has to perform similar duties.
The X3 has been excellent over the 7 years I have owned it but it is a bit tired now and it’s probably time for a change. I have averaged about 15,000 miles a year in it, including the Covid years. Probably 20,000 miles per year in the non Covid/ working from home years.
I want something that is practical, enjoyable and comfortable to drive over long distances (I currently drive about 3 hours each way on a weekly commute, last year it was 5 hours each way every week for about 4 months etc). The alternatives seem to be: another X3, a Macan and an Audi Q5/SQ5 (I am aware of the shared platform). I rarely need to have passengers in the back and usually run with the back seats down and the rear load area flat for the aforementioned paraphanelia.
I am not bothered about panoramic sunroofs or sports chrono packs; I am bothered about handling, ride comfort, heated seats, air con, ability to tow and rear reversing camera etc
Can anyone give real world experience of using their Macan in a similar way please?
Is it a good used car buy for the sort of use i envisage? Will it take the abuse I give a car over the next 7 years?
Are their any recommended options to look out for.
Many thanks.
My X3 is 2013, 3.0 litre and has done 148,000 miles. It’s good to drive and I use it for long weekly commutes, towing a trailer and race car, transporting my wife and dogs, transporting golf stuff or race stuff etc and whatever I replace it with has to perform similar duties.
The X3 has been excellent over the 7 years I have owned it but it is a bit tired now and it’s probably time for a change. I have averaged about 15,000 miles a year in it, including the Covid years. Probably 20,000 miles per year in the non Covid/ working from home years.
I want something that is practical, enjoyable and comfortable to drive over long distances (I currently drive about 3 hours each way on a weekly commute, last year it was 5 hours each way every week for about 4 months etc). The alternatives seem to be: another X3, a Macan and an Audi Q5/SQ5 (I am aware of the shared platform). I rarely need to have passengers in the back and usually run with the back seats down and the rear load area flat for the aforementioned paraphanelia.
I am not bothered about panoramic sunroofs or sports chrono packs; I am bothered about handling, ride comfort, heated seats, air con, ability to tow and rear reversing camera etc
Can anyone give real world experience of using their Macan in a similar way please?
Is it a good used car buy for the sort of use i envisage? Will it take the abuse I give a car over the next 7 years?
Are their any recommended options to look out for.
Many thanks.
Edited by andy97 on Sunday 31st March 15:50
Ed.Neumann said:
Air suspension is great, makes it super comfy.
Did you run your X3 on run flats or regular tyres? I would say the none air is like an X3 on regular tyres, on air it is like putting the X3 on 16" wheels.
I am however presuming the Macan has been properly looked after. An early car would be nearly 10 years old now, and bushes etc, would not be like they were when new, not saying they would be shot, but would have hardened a bit by now.
That clunking sounds like the PDK gearbox.
They are a bit weird, especially on these and at slower speeds, going into first, or reverse are nothing like a regular auto gearbox.
If the levels are not quite right they can be really noisy and harsh to engage.
My X3 is on run flats.Did you run your X3 on run flats or regular tyres? I would say the none air is like an X3 on regular tyres, on air it is like putting the X3 on 16" wheels.
I am however presuming the Macan has been properly looked after. An early car would be nearly 10 years old now, and bushes etc, would not be like they were when new, not saying they would be shot, but would have hardened a bit by now.
That clunking sounds like the PDK gearbox.
They are a bit weird, especially on these and at slower speeds, going into first, or reverse are nothing like a regular auto gearbox.
If the levels are not quite right they can be really noisy and harsh to engage.
Reading around the transfer box issues it seems a) that changing the transfer box fluid approx every 40k miles is recommended (although I don’t think that Porsche think it’s necessary) and b) that Porsche updated the transfer box casing design at some point to provide a different vent tube that reduces ability of moisture to get in to the box.
Does anyone have any experience of whether changing the fluid is beneficial in reducing the likelihood of transfer box issues and can anyone tell me when the transfer box design changed please, and whether this has alleviated the problem.
Is it a case of “when” not “if” the transfer box fails or is it a relatively rare (but internet high profile) issue?
Thanks
Does anyone have any experience of whether changing the fluid is beneficial in reducing the likelihood of transfer box issues and can anyone tell me when the transfer box design changed please, and whether this has alleviated the problem.
Is it a case of “when” not “if” the transfer box fails or is it a relatively rare (but internet high profile) issue?
Thanks
I have finally been able to talk to the garage owner for the car i am interested in and he tells me it had a new transfer box in Nov 21 at circa 40k miles. Its now done 60k miles.
He thinks it was the slightly updated design.
He also assumes that the 7 year warranty on the box starts again in Nov 21.
He thinks it was the slightly updated design.
He also assumes that the 7 year warranty on the box starts again in Nov 21.
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