Macan S - what Spec?

[Beggarall]

I am looking for advice. I am considering changing my Cayenne and having been lent a Macan S when my car was in for service am considering buying one. However, I am bewildered by the number of options and packages and am also spoilt for choice- the Porsche website lists over 100 approved vehicles. I am looking for a diesel but I think there have been some problems with owners of diesels using them for short trips and the filters getting clogged - which is maybe why there are such a lot of them available. My questions. Air vs Spring suspension? Wheel size. Sunroof (I think most have this). PSM (?standard). PCM - lots of connectivity options. Sound system - is Bose worth it? Park assist, sensors and cameras. Xenon headlamp - some are called "black" and have washers! Must have at least 14 point seat adjustment. Heated seats (front and back?) All kinds of leather and bodywork options which I don't understand. Spare wheels? Chrono packages? Other trim options...Have I missed anything? Your help appreciated. Thanks

[Koln-RS]

It's a dilemma for sure.

The Macan is a premium SUV and class leader. You could keep things simple and the price low, but there are a lot of tempting boxes to tick and you can elevate it to a luxury SUV, at a price. And, if you are intending to keep it long term and do quite a few miles, then why not have the nice toys and driving enhancements.

Some people say that the options are worthless at resale, but I gather that has changed and certain options increase appeal and value. And, are you buying it to use and enjoy, or to sell?

IIRC the desirable options are Air, 20" Spyder wheels, extra leather, heated seats, Bose, parking sensors, headlamp upgrades, sports seats, PCM/phone upgrades, cruise, internal and external trim upgrades, some like the big sunroof........whether you go Diesel or Petrol is personal preference, both have their pros & cons. If your pockets are deep, go for PTS (special paint colour) - Macans are popular, and it would stand out from everyone elses.

[Beggarall]

Koln-RS said:

It's a dilemma for sure.

The Macan is a premium SUV and class leader. You could keep things simple and the price low, but there are a lot of tempting boxes to tick and you can elevate it to a luxury SUV, at a price. And, if you are intending to keep it long term and do quite a few miles, then why not have the nice toys and driving enhancements.

Some people say that the options are worthless at resale, but I gather that has changed and certain options increase appeal and value. And, are you buying it to use and enjoy, or to sell?

IIRC the desirable options are Air, 20" Spyder wheels, extra leather, heated seats, Bose, parking sensors, headlamp upgrades, sports seats, PCM/phone upgrades, cruise, internal and external trim upgrades, some like the big sunroof........whether you go Diesel or Petrol is personal preference, both have their pros & cons. If your pockets are deep, go for PTS (special paint colour) - Macans are popular, and it would stand out from everyone elses.

Thanks for your quick reply. Do people think the Air suspension is worth it - and has it proved to be reliable? There are a lot of "nearly new" cars available but it is difficult to choose between them.

[gr8jon]

Have you tried a GTS? Better spec for the money and some extra power for free!

[Cheib]

Beggarall said:

Thanks for your quick reply. Do people think the Air suspension is worth it - and has it proved to be reliable? There are a lot of "nearly new" cars available but it is difficult to choose between them.

Don't have a Macan but I do have a Cayenne. I am guessing the same applies on the suspension.

My OPC advised me that the car on steel PASM is slightly less floaty than the Air PASM car. In short they think it's a better drive on steel. I'd agree with that having driven both extensively. People will tell you Air is an absolute necessity with the biggest wheels for ride quality but I am not convinced on that.

We actually ordered a Cayenne with the Air suspension because of the ability to raise/lower the car but we needed that because we had issues with our previous X5 in accessing underground garages when taking the car on ski holidays (roof box fitted).

Oh and the Cayenne's at the PEC they use on the track have the steel PASM...

[bompey]

I'm on my 2nd macan (1st was a Turbo, 2nd a GTS) and I think they're great cars. Petrol S is the rarest, followed by turbo, GTS, and there's loads of diesels. As with all Porsches the basic spec is well, basic, so the minimum extras needed are bigger wheels (at least 20s), Xenon lights, extra leather, heated seats, sat nav. The general consensus is that the bigger the wheels the more you need air suspension, but both of mine have had steel suspensions and 20s and I've been happy with it.

They are a friendly bunch on macanownersclub.co.uk so it may be worth trying them.

[Geneve]

From my experience, both the Macan and Cayenne ride and handle better with Air and PASM. There's a greater permutation of settings to suit different driving conditions.

[Beggarall]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have lined up some to try and will let you know how I get on

[Andrew911]

Might also be worth looking at the new Velar? The tec looks class leading.

[neilf]

Andrew911 said:

Might also be worth looking at the new Velar? The tec looks class leading.

Saw one 'in the metal' for the first time yesterday. Looked stunning. However, the price makes a Macan look like good value!

[jasonpaul]

Hi

Buying a GTS sunroof or No??? fixing the spec on Friday still may go for PTS as well.

[langlord]

Jason for me the sunroof is a big plus as it makes the car interior so much lighter - I would defiantly order again.

[kev.RS]

jasonpaul said:

Hi

Buying a GTS sunroof or No??? fixing the spec on Friday still may go for PTS as well.

Pan roof for brighter interior and will get the money back on resale, PTS Riviera blue would look amazing but will probably put the build back by a few months but imho worth it as will be super rare.

[kev.RS]

Beggarall said:

I am looking for advice. I am considering changing my Cayenne and having been lent a Macan S when my car was in for service am considering buying one. However, I am bewildered by the number of options and packages and am also spoilt for choice- the Porsche website lists over 100 approved vehicles. I am looking for a diesel but I think there have been some problems with owners of diesels using them for short trips and the filters getting clogged - which is maybe why there are such a lot of them available. My questions. Air vs Spring suspension? Wheel size. Sunroof (I think most have this). PSM (?standard). PCM - lots of connectivity options. Sound system - is Bose worth it? Park assist, sensors and cameras. Xenon headlamp - some are called "black" and have washers! Must have at least 14 point seat adjustment. Heated seats (front and back?) All kinds of leather and bodywork options which I don't understand. Spare wheels? Chrono packages? Other trim options...Have I missed anything? Your help appreciated. Thanks

I would put 21" turbo wheels, pan roof, pasm ( either one) and full leather first before putting other options like sports exhaust and tarty bits on if you are trying to keep it to a sensible price as they are the strongest things for resale value.

The 3.0 diesel is currently banned from sale in Germany due to emissions and software that changes emissions when under test.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/porsch...

The 2.0t engine is only a few bhp less than the diesel and mpg is slightly lower so might be worth a look as starts off around £2300 cheaper

Would love to see someone who has specced the Acid green contrast stitching

[DaveOrange]

I am on my second Macan. First was the Diesel which was very good but then I ordered a GTS which in my opinion is so much better as a total package.

I have had Pan Roof in both and would not spec one without, particularly if going for a darker interior. As an aside with the darker interior I specced the brushed Aluminium to break things up a bit. I always thought that the Macan was a bit "under wheeled" so opted for 21" Sport Classics but didn't go for Air. I have found the ride to be very good with no issues at all. Surround view is a bit pricey but I would definitely spec again.

When I put my order in PTS wasn't available so I went for Sapphire Blue however I would loved to have had a Riveria Blue one.

Enjoy the car!

[bigboyrolo]

Beggarall said:

I am looking for advice. I am considering changing my Cayenne and having been lent a Macan S when my car was in for service am considering buying one. However, I am bewildered by the number of options and packages and am also spoilt for choice- the Porsche website lists over 100 approved vehicles. I am looking for a diesel but I think there have been some problems with owners of diesels using them for short trips and the filters getting clogged - which is maybe why there are such a lot of them available. My questions. Air vs Spring suspension? Wheel size. Sunroof (I think most have this). PSM (?standard). PCM - lots of connectivity options. Sound system - is Bose worth it? Park assist, sensors and cameras. Xenon headlamp - some are called "black" and have washers! Must have at least 14 point seat adjustment. Heated seats (front and back?) All kinds of leather and bodywork options which I don't understand. Spare wheels? Chrono packages? Other trim options...Have I missed anything? Your help appreciated. Thanks

Its been a while since you posted, so you may well have made up your mind since then, and placed your order. However, as I am on my 2nd Macan, and will order a 3rd in 18 months time, my input fwiw is as follows .............

Petrol or Diesel - Petrol if you are comfortable with about 25 mpg average (I average 23 in the S, 34 in the SD). I will do less than 8k a year so it's no big deal. Add in the political aspects of diesel ownership/the complicated exhaust issues and for me, it would be always be petrol. My SD was £67K new, I paid £57K and sold for £45K and just re-sold by a dealer for £49k - a steal for the car it was. So it's a myth that Porsche's hold their value best.

Colours of body, trim and wheels - it's all personal taste. My SD was Dark Blue/Grey leather, the S is Volcano Grey/ Luxor & Black leather.

Size of wheels - well 21's are for looks really and there's are only 2 designs. The wider tyres cause significant road noise, we drove one and cut the test drive short because it was so bad. The 20's have the same width tyres and I found they produced lower road noise but noticeable, there is more choice of design, again down to personal taste. The 19's are a good compromise, I have 19" classics painted to match the car in VG, 18's are not the best looking, cheap and cheerful probably best with all-season or winters tyres to preserve your bigger wheels and tyres during the winter months. My 18's are off the car gathering dust for just that reason, on the car Dec/Jan/Feb/ March.

Air/PASM or neither - At least PASM but Air is a revelation and great. I had PASM only on Macan No1 (an SD) and it was fine, but Air on current car gives a sublime ride and goes quite firm enough for me. We noticed how poorly a PASM only car dealt with road bumps when we recently had a lift in the back of a Macan.

PCM and Pano roof - of course, poorer resale values without both, but many leave off the Pano roof.

Is Bose worth it? - Yes indeed to me, although basic sound is well spoken about.

Park assist - with rear camera at least, again for resale and ease of parking, I value mine. Surround if you are a nervous parker and might damage wheels (so buy 18's or 19's) it seems prone to minor functionality issues.

Xenons as a minimum, halogens are pants and really a disgraceful basic that Porsche should do away with. The black refers to the inner areas behind the glass, to give more of a stealth look. But really, go for LED's, awesome, comes in black only.

Seats, well either GTS/ basic 8 way but do add driver memory, or better still 14 way so both get full memory and few other bits. I had 18 way on my SD, we found the seat side bolsters too high, we sat on them and squashed them every time we got in and out and they were creasing up in less than a year. At least the front should be heated, rears as well if you want to pamper passengers.

Spare wheel - most don't bother because UK Porsche rescue is good and they carry space-savers to lend you if you call them out, but you may need to follow them to a dealer/tyre supplier so they can have their wheel back off your car. So for £180ish, best to have your own, then sort out your own puncture/new tyre.
I have one because I travel into Europe several times a year.

Sports Chrono - of those that have it, it's more of a novelty, hardly used.

Leather - so many options, I can't explain.

Body bits, the Sport Design full kit changes the front and rear of the car, more is painted, gloss black at the front and different fog lights give a much sleeker look, but at over £3,000. Sport Design mirrors really, to get rid of the matte black plastic bases that do not look good on a premium car.

What have you missed off, well I added the speed limit display which is actually a camera, nothing to do with the sat nav. I left off all other driver aids.

I added the aluminium look fuel cap - it looks good and I see it quite often.

Sport Exhaust - not a cheap option at about £1800, (Standard on a GTS). It does not add power, adds a switch that turns it on/off. Too rumbly for constant use, very good for impressing/disturbing others. I had it on the SD but not on the S. As it turns out, and I didn't know, the exhaust on the S is like a sports exhaust from cold start up, it really raps

I should have added the white (other colours are available) instrument dials, the standard grey background makes them almost invisible, not that it matters really because the digital speed and gear indicator is all you need. It's a shame the instruments aren't permanently illuminated.

Other things like seat belt colours, Alcantara, fancy st wheels are down to personal taste and budget.

Buying fairly new 2nd hand Macan (as I did) is not likely to give you the car spec you really want, after 5 months I ordered a new car and lost money, I should have ordered new in the first place. Join the Macan owners Forum and look around, visit a dealer for some drives and they also have a better version of the configurator.

Good used almost new Macans sell for almost new money, if you do need to borrow, Clydesdale Bank offer the most competitive rates, far better than a dealer can offer.

Finally, if you pay £3,000 and place an order you will get a half day at The Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone where you will be able to drive a Macan like a hooligan and with luck see and try most of the options. If you cancel before 'locking down' your spec, you'll get the £3,000 returned, no questions asked.

Have fun.

[Spindoctor]

Excellent round-up by bigboyrolo, should be a sticky over on the Macan forum!

I'm a week from lockdown, and hopefully no more than 6 weeks from taking delivery of an S.

All I'd add is that a lot of these things are down to personal preference. Seats are a good example, plenty of advocates for all three options. You have to try them and make up your own mind. Same goes for the suspension, interior, Bose, wheels. Pan roof and surround cam are definitely worth having.

Some diesels seem to have DPF issues and a few owners report tech/software issues.

Some GTS owners say there's no point buying an S. Some of the S options are 'free' on the GTS so you may as well take the leap. But if you use the addictive configurator, I'd say it's impossible not to end up spending quite a lot more to get a GTS with the same spec as an S. So again, it's personal preference (and budget).

The strong consensus on the very friendly Macan forum is that whatever version and spec you choose its a wonderful car.

[bigboyrolo]

Spindoctor said:

Excellent round-up by bigboyrolo, should be a sticky over on the Macan forum!

I'm a week from lockdown, and hopefully no more than 6 weeks from taking delivery of an S.

All I'd add is that a lot of these things are down to personal preference. Seats are a good example, plenty of advocates for all three options. You have to try them and make up your own mind. Same goes for the suspension, interior, Bose, wheels. Pan roof and surround cam are definitely worth having.

Some diesels seem to have DPF issues and a few owners report tech/software issues.

Some GTS owners say there's no point buying an S. Some of the S options are 'free' on the GTS so you may as well take the leap. But if you use the addictive configurator, I'd say it's impossible not to end up spending quite a lot more to get a GTS with the same spec as an S. So again, it's personal preference (and budget).

The strong consensus on the very friendly Macan forum is that whatever version and spec you choose its a wonderful car.

Spindoctor - You are of course correct in highlighting the minimal price gap between S and GTS. I tried to stick to a £60k budget but went to £62k, the equivalent GTS would have been only £5k more, affordable but I was impatient. I had a GTS on order but was told late December build date slipped to April plus a 4/5 month wait, and I was not impressed. So I cancelled my order, got my £3k back and did some ringing around. I was offered a cancelled S, ready to spec and a 6/7 week wait, immediate decision and £3k deposit needed, all done within 30 mins. On reflection, very pleased, the S is all I need. We like comfort, quiet cruising and prestige. Occasionally I'll go into hooligan mode (always on my own) and have some fun.
Even the 2ltr will be a good car for some owners whereas the Turbo PP must be awesome.
I'm already thinking about the facelift car in 2018, perhaps a better intrument panel and the more efficient 2.9 V6, we'll know soon enough.
All options are personal, I don't go on crowded UK motorways very often, so radar cruise is not important to me, no lane change assist or lane keep assist - I use my mirrors. I rarely need to park tight to kerbs, so no surround, no heated rear seats - no kids to carry around. Bose though and comfort seats.
I still go on the configurator to see whats about. The only thing I should have had is white dials, the blacked out dark grey really bugs me. They do say, you only get it right at the third attempt, so next time perhaps.
Enjoy your Macan, good to chat to you.

[jasonpaul]

Well went a bit mad with the spec on my Macan GTS colour wise I have gone PTS will be the only one in the UK
Sunroof and some other bits 21inch wheels as well, the dealer is more excited than me about the car.
But I would like a GT car as well hoping he can fill that order as well. I will see them again on Wednesday on this fingers crossed as it will look nice along side my GT8.

[kev.RS]

Oooh what colour did you go for? ( please say riviera blue with lots of dark bits!)