Porsche Macan

[stevod]

Technomad said:

Every time I visit London, I'm startled by the number of feckin' huge SUVs on the streets there, surely the epitomy of aspiration and perception over actual need?

I took this snap of a typical street scene in Fulham a little while ago... says it all... white is obviously a practical choice of colour for this type of vehicle too:

[Carmo99]

Ranger 6 said:

Technomad said:

...I currently have a diesel X5 40d which, whilst certainly no sports car (nor would I drive it as such), is very good to drive, surprisingly agile and will disappear up the road like a rabid weasel when the whim strikes. It is however rather unsmall so, for someone whose slightly reluctant need is for an SUV, and preferably one that is good over long distances AND twisty roads in all weathers, I'm really looking forward to the Macan. My deposit goes in this week.

You get it

I did try the X5 but found it too big and the X3 was much more agile on the Scottish single track roads and with the same 3.0d it's surprised a few.

I'd like to be able to stick an LOI on my dealers desk but I just want to make sure that the boot space isn't too small and back seat space is big enough for two teenagers (well one at the mo and another who will be while we have it). The Evoque was just a bit too small on both counts as well as not having a powerful diesel engine.

So I am not alone. You have just persuaded me to order one. Only question is petrol or diesel.

[David W.]

stevod said:

I took this snap of a typical street scene in Fulham a little while ago... says it all... white is obviously a practical choice of colour for this type of vehicle too:

It proves 4x4 drives can park at least.
dw

[jackal]

stevod said:

Technomad said:

Every time I visit London, I'm startled by the number of feckin' huge SUVs on the streets there, surely the epitomy of aspiration and perception over actual need?

I took this snap of a typical street scene in Fulham a little while ago... says it all... white is obviously a practical choice of colour for this type of vehicle too:

Ha ha ... Brilliant

London and SUVs rule. Looks like one of the roads off fulham palace road ?

[ORD]

That photo is so depressing. Fulham is known for its severe weather...

[Luke.]

ORD said:

That photo is so depressing. Fulham is known for its severe weather...

I think the most depressing thing about it is the poxy little houses worth £1.5m plus..

[anonymous-user]

ORD said:

I think this class of vehicle is almost completely pointless - it's not a proper 4*4 and it has minimal (if any) advantages and lots of disadvantages relative to an estate car.

Except for very wealthy people, wouldnt we be better served by getting a cheap SUV or estate for the family and spending the extra money on a better sports car for the weekend, etc?

I'm on order for the Macan and would have bought one two years ago but had to buy a platform equivalent in a Tiguan Escape instead.

I live in London and I have a Tiguan partly because I live in London. It's a really practical car as there are so many speed humps which I'd ground the 987 or 981 on so I leave them in specialised storage out of London and have the Tiguan for the city and frequent countryside trips. We don't have kids but do have a dog and in-laws and it's pretty good for accommodating all when required, parking is easier in London too, you don't have to pass up on spaces that you might not fit into in something bigger.

I have the Escape model which has an 'upturned nose' and yeah, it's a soft roader by definition but I've taken it off road in some conditions which I thought would see me getting out a spade but it did really well. Surprised me and I come from having driven Toyota Land Cruisers and Hilux all over Africa so have an idea of expectations as 4x4's capabilities go.

I'm not saying that you can't do this in other cars, I did it in the MKVI GTI I had before but the format of the Tiguan is much easier for throwing dogs in the boot or taking stuff to the dump and so on. I drive it more than the 'toys' because it's always outside the front door and it's the do all car but it would be great to have a bit more performance and better handling although I'm realistic about what can be achieved. That's what appeals to me about the Macan. Hopefully a better blend versus a lot of compromise.

If you criticise the credentials of the car, you just need to try a Cayenne on the off road course at Silverstone as I'm assuming they're going to have a similar competence. I would never have thought the Cayenne would have handled that course as well as it did.

[Helicopter123]

[/quote]

I'm on order for the Macan and would have bought one two years ago but had to buy a platform equivalent in a Tiguan Escape instead.


[/quote]

I thought the Macan was on the same platform as the Q5?

Tiguan is from the class below, ie, Q3?

[ORD]

Will the Macan definitely have PDK rather than tiptronic?

Is tiptronic very different in terms of feel? I have only ever driven fairly old autos and PDK is completely different from those.

[Jembob]

Consensus seems to think Tiptronic. I've been on the Porsche Macan list for 18 months now and excited about the launch - plan was that this would be the main family car and I'd stay in a 2 seater. But.. Translating the Macan vs Q5 magazine article it seems that the Porsche is more the size of the Evoque than the q5 in terms of rear space for passengers and luggage despite sharing the same wheelbase as the Q5. Big bugbear for me is kiddie feet kicking driver or passengers seats due to lack of legroom. It was never going to be Cayenne or X5 size but seems to have dropped down past the X3/Q5 group, which seriously compromises it as a main car IMHO. Much as I love Porsche I'm worried it's not going to work for us - 3 weeks to find out..... Anyone else worried??

Edited by Jembob on Saturday 2nd November 11:29

[red_slr]

ORD said:

Will the Macan definitely have PDK rather than tiptronic?

Is tiptronic very different in terms of feel? I have only ever driven fairly old autos and PDK is completely different from those.

No one (that I have spoken too) knows for sure.
The 8 speed ZF would be nice, and Audi do use that gearbox in the SQ5 due to torque restrictions on their S-Tronic.

I guess we will find out for sure in a couple of weeks!

[anonymous-user]

Helicopter123 said:

I'm on order for the Macan and would have bought one two years ago but had to buy a platform equivalent in a Tiguan Escape instead.

I thought the Macan was on the same platform as the Q5?

Tiguan is from the class below, ie, Q3?

Size wise, it's Tiguan, Q5 and Macan. I've parked next to a Q3 and the Tiguan was noticeably bigger but think they share the same Golf / A3 MQB platform.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 2nd November 13:37

[anonymous-user]

Jembob said:

Consensus seems to think Tiptronic. I've been on the Porsche Macan list for 18 months now and excited about the launch - plan was that this would be the main family car and I'd stay in a 2 seater. But.. Translating the Macan vs Q5 magazine article it seems that the Porsche is more the size of the Evoque than the q5 in terms of rear space for passengers and luggage despite sharing the same wheelbase as the Q5. Big bugbear for me is kiddie feet kicking driver or passengers seats due to lack of legroom. It was never going to be Cayenne or X5 size but seems to have dropped down past the X3/Q5 group, which seriously compromises it as a main car IMHO. Much as I love Porsche I'm worried it's not going to work for us - 3 weeks to find out..... Anyone else worried??

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 2nd November 11:29

If it's Tiptronic, I'm getting my deposit back. If the storage area behind the driver seats is not practical, it'll also kill it for me.

[stevod]

jackal said:

Ha ha ... Brilliant

London and SUVs rule. Looks like one of the roads off fulham palace road ?

Yup there or thereabouts.

S

[red_slr]

"Power is dealt out to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, rather than the Cayenne’s eight-speed Tiptronic auto. So, set aside a few hundred pounds to option the paddleshift-equipped steering wheel, rather than the silly push-me-pull-you PDK buttons."

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Searc...

[J-P]

Mutema said:

Jembob said:

Consensus seems to think Tiptronic. I've been on the Porsche Macan list for 18 months now and excited about the launch - plan was that this would be the main family car and I'd stay in a 2 seater. But.. Translating the Macan vs Q5 magazine article it seems that the Porsche is more the size of the Evoque than the q5 in terms of rear space for passengers and luggage despite sharing the same wheelbase as the Q5. Big bugbear for me is kiddie feet kicking driver or passengers seats due to lack of legroom. It was never going to be Cayenne or X5 size but seems to have dropped down past the X3/Q5 group, which seriously compromises it as a main car IMHO. Much as I love Porsche I'm worried it's not going to work for us - 3 weeks to find out..... Anyone else worried??

Edited by Jembob on Saturday 2nd November 11:29

If it's Tiptronic, I'm getting my deposit back. If the storage area behind the driver seats is not practical, it'll also kill it for me.

It's going to have PDK - it's been pretty widely reported as such. Space should be fine too - see below:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-por...

Edited by J-P on Saturday 2nd November 15:48

[J-P]

ORD said:

I think this class of vehicle is almost completely pointless - it's not a proper 4*4 and it has minimal (if any) advantages and lots of disadvantages relative to an estate car.

From these photos, its clearance looks fairly standard for a road car, for example, so I doubt anyone will take it off road. The suspension and other options that might allow you to do so will be rare.

I expect the turbo to be a bit dangerous, to be honest. It will have enough Porsche punch, balance and rigidity to tempt you into driving fast but will still be a million miles from a sports car when pressed. Despite (or because of) the good engineering, I think it might let go on corners fairly suddenly. If that is right, a lot of Londoners will see the little yellow light on the screen flash a bit when they take it out of town.

Despite all of the above, I would be quite happy to buy a Macan. The problem is that the more powerful versions will be so damn tempting but crazy expensive (given that it will always be the run around for 2 or 3 car households and so the great performance will be useless on most journeys).

Except for very wealthy people, wouldnt we be better served by getting a cheap SUV or estate for the family and spending the extra money on a better sports car for the weekend, etc?

(I dont mean to attack the Macan or criticise its fans - it is obviously going to be very good, and I quite like it. I am trying to think with my head rather than my heart. My heart wants the turbo right now.)

ORD - My Mrs would never have an estate - in her mind they look like hearses, so a practical car, which can be used in any conditions is important to her. She's not interested in having a 4x4 that can't handle well on the road or that can't deal with inclement weather conditions. Macan Turbo would suit her down to the ground (and I'd get a nice car to ferry the kids around at the weekend too!)

Where we live, if it snows, you can't get around (it's pretty hilly) and there are loads of country lanes so size matters too! In London it might make less sense but for us, we'd be able to use it for loads of stuff including ski trips, so ideal really!

[Callughan]

I was told by OPC PDK too, 8 speed tip was ok imo.

Q5/Evoque similar size, have a feeling it's going to be uber popular in London.

[Carl_Docklands]

jackal said:

isuk said:

From Auto Motor und Sport magazine.

WANT !

but then I'd also like a cayenne, and a panny and a 991 GT3RS and a used 2012 Mp4 12c

And the teasers looked so promising, it looks pants.

[Cobnapint]

Callughan said:

I was told by OPC PDK too, 8 speed tip was ok imo

Quite right, nothing wrong with the latest 8 sp tips, they are almost as quick as PDKs these days. They also have better creep characteristics in heavy traffic, don't dither so much at low rpm and are more relaxing.

Had a 997.2 C4S with PDK eighteen months ago but much prefer the slush box in my Cayenne. And to further prove the point I had a new Cayman PDK as a loaner the other day, handled like nothing on earth, but it was a no-no for the gearbox.