RE: Porsche Macan GTS: Driven

RE: Porsche Macan GTS: Driven

Saturday 21st November 2015

Porsche Macan GTS: Driven

The familiar GTS tweaks find their way to the Macan, with familiar results too



Tacked onto the launch of the turbo 911 Carreras recently was the Porsche Macan GTS. Yes, we were surprised too. The most significant update to the 911 in nearly 20 years rather takes the attention away from the small SUV with a few (mainly cosmetic) upgrades. But there it was, new and shiny and ready to drive on the best roads Tenerife has to offer. Which, as it turns out, are really rather good.

Macan is the last model to get the GTS treatment
Macan is the last model to get the GTS treatment
Moreover, there was plenty of time to experience the Macan because, well, everyone kept hold of a 911 as soon as they had one. Funny that. Fear not if you have missed the vital GTS changes, because not only are they pretty minor but also damn near identical to the other GTS variants in the Porsche line up. Those being Boxster, Cayman, 911 and Panamera. And Cayenne. That being said they are often the best non GT variants and customers are keen too - they account for 15 per cent of sales even on the Panamera and Cayenne.

So it's 15mm lower on some natty RS Spyder wheels (20-inch diameter, which the Macan's body manages to dwarf), more of the outside is painted in black and more of the inside is Alcantara. Simples.

With a little less power than the Turbo the GTS feels slightly less fast. The revelations continue. But with 360hp it still feels suitably rapid, the bark from the sports exhaust rallying the driver along nicely until its constant overrun cackle makes you turn it off. The bi-turbo V6 is a very good engine though, willing and eager right through to the redline and well paired to the seven-speed PDK.

Good fun on empty Tenerife roads
Good fun on empty Tenerife roads
The Macan's freakish agility, the way it can make so much weight move so swiftly, is enhanced in the GTS with that 15mm suspension drop. It never feels truly light but, like those incredibly fast rugby players, there's a sense of awe at seeing something so big move at such a pace. You will laugh but on the tight and twisty roads of Tenerife early in the morning the GTS is perversely good fun. Our car is fitted with PCCB - carbon ceramics brakes on an SUV like this! - and very quickly a rhythm becomes established of standing on those brakes as late as possible, jumping on the throttle pretty soon after and marvelling at how it grips. There's no understeer, no drama, just what appears limitless poise and purchase. It's quite a party trick. Very late on there's some push from the front but on dry roads the GTS just clings and clings. It may not be the most involving process but it's laudable nonetheless. Then you check the tyres, clocking a 265-section Michelin Latitude Sport 3 on the front and 295 at the back and it starts to make more sense...

But it's not all good news. As discovered in the UK, a succession of bumps can throw the body rigidity into light, a worrying degree of flex apparent as the cracks appear in the facade. Typically it rides quite nicely but the Macan can not entirely hide the compromises inherent in its development. There still isn't really enough space for a family SUV either.

Plenty of Alcantara in here
Plenty of Alcantara in here
Elsewhere though the familiar Macan traits are evident. The driving position is great, aiding that impression that you're driving a bigger hatch rather than a Q5-dervied SUV. Everything feels of a very high quality and - to these eyes at least - the GTS add-ons give the Macan some additional aggression that work well with its brutish appearance. Or maybe it was the Tenerife sunshine.

So it's business as usual for this latest Porsche GTS then, the options many are after added as standard to make a very accomplished car that little more desirable. But doesn't it seem rather a shame that this is desirable to the car buying public? Not that long ago a small Porsche could have been a saloon but such is the continued domination of the SUV and crossover that Stuttgart has felt the need to join in. All Macan praise has to be qualified with 'for what it is' - a near 2,000kg 4x4 - which seems a bit ridiculous. Whatever chassis modifications or huge tyres are used, a big and heavy car will never truly behave like a smaller and lighter one. It's disappointing that Porsche has to work almost with one hand behind its back to cater for market demand. Something in the mould of the Jaguar XE with these engines would surely be excellent, but it would likely prove less popular. Anyway, ideological rant over; the Macan GTS remains a very good car for, um, what it is and will no doubt prove exceptionally popular with paying customers. The priority, let's not forget. Fingers crossed it continues to make enough cash for this manual GT3 to be viable...


PORSCHE MACAN GTS
Engine:
2,997cc, bi-turbo V6
Transmission: 7-speed PDK, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 360@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 369@1,650-4,000rpm
0-62mph: 5.2 seconds (5.0 seconds with optional Sport Chrono Package)
Top speed: 159mph
Weight: 1,895kg (Unladen DIN spec)
MPG: 30.7- 32.1 (NEDC claimed combined depending on tyres fitted)
CO2: 207-215g/km (Depending on tyres fitted)
Price: £55,188







Author
Discussion

griffgrog

Original Poster:

705 posts

245 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
This is going to be nice, but I wish they'd also do a GTS Diesel.

ORD

18,086 posts

126 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
Get out! Maybe with a 1.9d for the most mpgs, too. Heaven help us.

smilo996

2,755 posts

169 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
It shows how uninterested most people are in the reality of what they are purchasing.
It is a Q5 RS if badged as an Audi which most of the range actually is.

However because people look no further than the badge then they think they are actually driving a Porsche. Those actually driving Porsche's can be safe in the knowledge that most of their time and effort, turnover and profit now comes from reconfiguring Audi's, some with VW engines within the VW Group.


I WISH

874 posts

199 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
"Fully fledged off roader"? I'd like to see one drive up a damp grassy field with 265 and 295 section rubber!

ORD

18,086 posts

126 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
Complete tosh. You can't have it both ways: either Porsche is simply re-badging Audis or it is actually spending all its time and money on developing SUVs. It can't be both. In fact, neither is true. The overwhelming focus of Porschs is still it's proper cars, but it does spend a lot of time and money making the SUVs as good as it can.

SlimJim16v

5,617 posts

142 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
griffgrog said:
This is going to be nice, but I wish they'd also do a GTS Diesel.
nonobangheadloserroflhurl

Gandahar

9,600 posts

127 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
I'd rather have a bentley and an italy based MX5 that looks like my mum thanks

That covers all bases.


Gandahar

9,600 posts

127 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
I WISH said:
"Fully fledged off roader"? I'd like to see one drive up a damp grassy field with 265 and 295 section rubber!
not even when it's dry probably

The optional extras will probably cost more than a Suzuki Jimny with proper tyres on biggrin

Edited by Gandahar on Thursday 19th November 20:11

mersontheperson

700 posts

164 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
Sorry that this has almost certainly been covered before, but shouldn't they think of a new name for the ''Turbo' model if all the engines are turbos?

E65Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
Why seem so surprised to see carbon ceramic brakes on an suv like this? Why would something so heavy that's supposed to be driven quickly not need carbon ceramic brakes, such as a 911....which is much lighter. Surely, in many respects, it makes more sense?

Scho

2,479 posts

202 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
That colour scheme is so nice it can even make the Macan look good!

richyd

281 posts

226 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
Why so much hate?? I have one of these, along with a GT3 and an aircooled 911 - this is a great family car. It IS big enough for a family of 4 with a small dog, and handles it's duties as such remarkably. My only gripe so far is the cost of fitting a Porsche tow bar!

Living in SE England I don't really want to drive a LR product on the road - they're too wallowy for me and their smaller diesel engines are horrible. The X3 is ugly, the X5 is too big, the Q5 is nondescript and doesn't handle well, the Q7 is a bus. The Cayenne is also too big for us, so the Macan it is, and on-road it is truly remarkable. Porsche have made this car go, and turn, like no other SUV I've driven. For that alone, it should be praised!

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
I guess this is about as good as you're going to get if you want a sensible sized SUV for road use which drives decently only but personally I'd rather have an estate.

E65Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
richyd said:
Why so much hate?? I have one of these, along with a GT3 and an aircooled 911 - this is a great family car. It IS big enough for a family of 4 with a small dog, and handles it's duties as such remarkably. My only gripe so far is the cost of fitting a Porsche tow bar!

Living in SE England I don't really want to drive a LR product on the road - they're too wallowy for me and their smaller diesel engines are horrible. The X3 is ugly, the X5 is too big, the Q5 is nondescript and doesn't handle well, the Q7 is a bus. The Cayenne is also too big for us, so the Macan it is, and on-road it is truly remarkable. Porsche have made this car go, and turn, like no other SUV I've driven. For that alone, it should be praised!
As a family car, what does it do that a decent estate wouldn't?

ORD

18,086 posts

126 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
I have no idea how anyone could describe the Macan as big enough for a family. It's about the size of a Golf inside. It's the opposite of the Tardis.

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
I WISH said:
"Fully fledged off roader"? I'd like to see one drive up a damp grassy field with 265 and 295 section rubber!
Yup, a silly bit of text:

'The driving position is great, aiding that impression that you're driving a bigger hatch rather than a fully-fledged off roader.'

These types of car have nothing to do with off-roading. They are road cars. Either born from the hatchback concept or the estate car depending on size.

We have reached the point in the evolution of this sector that it is absolutely moronic to compare them to off-roaders which although have a similar shape are today a completely different and separate market niche.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
ORD said:
I have no idea how anyone could describe the Macan as big enough for a family. It's about the size of a Golf inside. It's the opposite of the Tardis.
Plenty of families drive Golfs, I suppose.

richyd

281 posts

226 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
E65Ross said:
As a family car, what does it do that a decent estate wouldn't?
It doesn't, but we've done the estate thing and like having the higher ride-height. We do need 4x4 (live on a hill that catches the snow and ice in winter), but my old Audi Avant Qtr dealt with that just as well as the Macan. The Macan is just a really nice car, as a complete package it is excellent.



richyd

281 posts

226 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
ORD said:
I have no idea how anyone could describe the Macan as big enough for a family.
Simple - I drive one, and I have a family, we use this as our family car. Therefore I am qualified to state this opinion.

oldtimer2

728 posts

132 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
It will be interesting to see how it will stack up against the Jaguar F-Pace when it actually turns up (said to be about June next year). The F-Pace spec sheet says that the 3 litre S/C petrol version is good for 0-60 in 5.1 secs and a top speed of 155mph. If they can repeat the job they have done on the XE and new XF, the ride and handling should be OK too.