Porsche Macan Diesel Ownership Experiences / Buying Advice

[mat205125]

Morning all,

As per above basically. Looking to hear anyone's personal experiences of the car, and what their highs and lows were during their time with the vehicle.

Looking to consider one in place of my current BMW X5, and whilst appreciating that the Porsche is a smaller car, it's hopefully still a comfortable and competent machine for daily usage.

Be really interesting to hear what people's running costs were like, from the perspective of economy, servicing, tyre life etc, and if anyone had one and used for towing, that'd be really valuable.

Look forward to benefiting from you knowledge.

[anonymous-user]

Unless you are doing lots of motorway miles you should google Porsche Macan dpf problems..

They really don't like short trips.

[Koln-RS]

I had a Macan DS and it was excellent.

No issues whatsoever and one of the nicest mid-size SUVs you can buy. Tyres were all still good after 20k mls, 35-40+ mpg, one service a year with adblue top up. Make sure you get the sports exhaust.

I may get another when they reintroduce the new Diesel

[m88ony]

ours is on 39K miles. Used as a daily. Never missed a beat. Been a fantastic car.

[smudger911]

Have you considered a petrol?
I see diesel's being taxed out of this world in the next few years....

[mat205125]

Koln-RS said:

I had a Macan DS and it was excellent.

No issues whatsoever and one of the nicest mid-size SUVs you can buy. Tyres were all still good after 20k mls, 35-40+ mpg, one service a year with adblue top up. Make sure you get the sports exhaust.

I may get another when they reintroduce the new Diesel

smudger911 said:

Have you considered a petrol?
I see diesel's being taxed out of this world in the next few years....

Thanks for the valuable feedback. Great to hear that the tyre life and mpg are sensible. I've been doing 15k miles per year in my X5, and only needed 2 sets of tyres over the 5 years so far.

I'd ideally prefer a petrol version, if I could convince myself that the mog could nudge towards 30mpg on a leisurely daily commute ..... modern diesels, with all the filters and recirculation witchcraft is just far too complicated for my liking, however for large and heavy vehicles, and doing large mileages, the costs of the petrol variant don't sit well in this tax hungry country.

[Geneve]

I've owned a high spec (inc PTS) Diesel S, since 2016, alongside proper 'sporting' Porsches.

We've always had a premium SUV for family/lifestyle stuff (and a Defender for serious 'off-road'), and I've been delighted with the Macan. Can't really fault it and, like my previous Cayenne D, will probably keep it for 6years/60k mls. So far, one service, no faults, 37 mpg.

I actually prefer diesels for day-to-day use. The performance and mid-range power delivery, economy, even the sound under acceleration. And, IMO, any future legislation or tax changes will apply equally to petrol and diesel.

Spec is quite important, and I would personally recommend Air, PASM, Panoramic, PSE, PDLS, Sports Seats, etc

[Griffgrog]

I’ve had 3, two of which I’ve used for regular towing of my Caterham to circuits in the UK and Europe. All have been diesels. I did consider petrol - and my current one was delivered right as the Macan Diesels were pulled in February this year.

I think that the Diesel is the best engine for the car, especially as a tow car when the characteristics really suit towing. It’s a great tow car.

I have specked mine quite highly too. I really think having Air Suspension gives the car a much better ride. My first two had the biggest wheels, but I think it’s better to have the smaller ones and sacrifice the looks for a more insulated experience.

I’m not convinced the sports seat are any better than the standard ones, but I do like having the electric memory ones as they reset to the right position as soon as you unlock the car with the fob.

I’ve also got adaptive cruise, which is great for towing.

On a run, getting over 40mpg is easy if you stick to 70mph. I can even get over 30 towing if I’m steady.

And when you want to press on, it really is a very impressive sports car.

[Cheib]

smudger911 said:

Have you considered a petrol?
I see diesel's being taxed out of this world in the next few years....

Very hard for it to be taxed to ludicrous levels because of the amount of commercial vehicles that use it. Much more likely that diesels either get specific rises in Vehicle Tax or Congestion Charging...and possibly more targeted to older diesels.

[mat205125]

Griffgrog said:

I’ve had 3, two of which I’ve used for regular towing of my Caterham to circuits in the UK and Europe. All have been diesels. I did consider petrol - and my current one was delivered right as the Macan Diesels were pulled in February this year.

I think that the Diesel is the best engine for the car, especially as a tow car when the characteristics really suit towing. It’s a great tow car.

I have specked mine quite highly too. I really think having Air Suspension gives the car a much better ride. My first two had the biggest wheels, but I think it’s better to have the smaller ones and sacrifice the looks for a more insulated experience.

I’m not convinced the sports seat are any better than the standard ones, but I do like having the electric memory ones as they reset to the right position as soon as you unlock the car with the fob.

I’ve also got adaptive cruise, which is great for towing.

On a run, getting over 40mpg is easy if you stick to 70mph. I can even get over 30 towing if I’m steady.

And when you want to press on, it really is a very impressive sports car.

Thanks for that. Exactly the kind of personal experience insight I'm looking for ...... Staggered that you've got through 3 of them in the handful of years they've been about. Were you leasing them?

[Robbo66]

Wife had Diesel S, 2 years in. In retrospect, we should have got petrol as she’s only doing 5k a year max, short runs, and the DPF is a real PITA. Porsche apparently, lowered the threshold so warning lights too frequent.
So , low mileage town pootling go petrol, otherwise diesel IMV.

[5to1]

mat205125 said:

Griffgrog said:

I’ve had 3, two of which I’ve used for regular towing of my Caterham to circuits in the UK and Europe. All have been diesels. I did consider petrol - and my current one was delivered right as the Macan Diesels were pulled in February this year.

I think that the Diesel is the best engine for the car, especially as a tow car when the characteristics really suit towing. It’s a great tow car.

I have specked mine quite highly too. I really think having Air Suspension gives the car a much better ride. My first two had the biggest wheels, but I think it’s better to have the smaller ones and sacrifice the looks for a more insulated experience.

I’m not convinced the sports seat are any better than the standard ones, but I do like having the electric memory ones as they reset to the right position as soon as you unlock the car with the fob.

I’ve also got adaptive cruise, which is great for towing.

On a run, getting over 40mpg is easy if you stick to 70mph. I can even get over 30 towing if I’m steady.

And when you want to press on, it really is a very impressive sports car.

Thanks for that. Exactly the kind of personal experience insight I'm looking for ...... Staggered that you've got through 3 of them in the handful of years they've been about. Were you leasing them?

People that got in early had the opportunity to swap out for very little loss. So in many cases the first one will have been 6-12 months whilst the next one was coming. If you were lucky enough to get two earlyish slots, you could easily have swapped out twice in that first year to 18 months before residuals started to hit normality.

Aside from the financial incentive, early cars youre often restricted on options. For example I've put another order in so I can get HUD on my Cayenne.

NB: Not saying thats the case with the previous poster, but in general why you'll see people have had 2 or 3 in a very short time.

[Pjj]

my points for whatever they are worth

The Macan is an awesome all round car...

Have an older X5 as my utility vehicle, tow car, alpine trip car for a number of years and think they are superb and have kept for towing

I decided to go for an upgrade earlier this year and ended up with a long mileage macan turbo 2014 plate

Was v impressed with the torque on the diesel but live in London and too worried where diesels are heading

The turbo just keeps growing on me, it is quite a weapon

You will be well aware but there is less space in a Macan would cross check that won't be an issue, it is sort of why I prefer it as a regular driver since the dimensions are that bit smaller but wanted to highlight the difference

[mat205125]

Pjj said:

my points for whatever they are worth

The Macan is an awesome all round car...

Have an older X5 as my utility vehicle, tow car, alpine trip car for a number of years and think they are superb and have kept for towing

I decided to go for an upgrade earlier this year and ended up with a long mileage macan turbo 2014 plate

Was v impressed with the torque on the diesel but live in London and too worried where diesels are heading

The turbo just keeps growing on me, it is quite a weapon

You will be well aware but there is less space in a Macan would cross check that won't be an issue, it is sort of why I prefer it as a regular driver since the dimensions are that bit smaller but wanted to highlight the difference

Great feedback, and really valuable comparison against the X5.

I'm very tempted to keep my X5 as a workhorse, as it's still a great tool, and nice drive ..... If I leant that way, then the Macan option would be a 911 option realistically.

[aeropilot]

mat205125 said:

Pjj said:

my points for whatever they are worth

The Macan is an awesome all round car...

Have an older X5 as my utility vehicle, tow car, alpine trip car for a number of years and think they are superb and have kept for towing

I decided to go for an upgrade earlier this year and ended up with a long mileage macan turbo 2014 plate

Was v impressed with the torque on the diesel but live in London and too worried where diesels are heading

The turbo just keeps growing on me, it is quite a weapon

You will be well aware but there is less space in a Macan would cross check that won't be an issue, it is sort of why I prefer it as a regular driver since the dimensions are that bit smaller but wanted to highlight the difference

Great feedback, and really valuable comparison against the X5.

I'm very tempted to keep my X5 as a workhorse, as it's still a great tool, and nice drive ..... If I leant that way, then the Macan option would be a 911 option realistically.

This is why I went with the X5 over the Macan........as I took the chance to have a weekend 'toy' again, and the X5 made better sense for all of it's other features.
Had I decided to stay in a one car only scenario when I was looking at the Macan, I definitely would have got a Macan Turbo as replacement for my 135i.

[Pjj]

mat205125 said:

Pjj said:

my points for whatever they are worth

The Macan is an awesome all round car...

Have an older X5 as my utility vehicle, tow car, alpine trip car for a number of years and think they are superb and have kept for towing

I decided to go for an upgrade earlier this year and ended up with a long mileage macan turbo 2014 plate

Was v impressed with the torque on the diesel but live in London and too worried where diesels are heading

The turbo just keeps growing on me, it is quite a weapon

You will be well aware but there is less space in a Macan would cross check that won't be an issue, it is sort of why I prefer it as a regular driver since the dimensions are that bit smaller but wanted to highlight the difference

Great feedback, and really valuable comparison against the X5.

I'm very tempted to keep my X5 as a workhorse, as it's still a great tool, and nice drive ..... If I leant that way, then the Macan option would be a 911 option realistically.

If you are heading that way then one of my other runners is a Cayman R - special car worth a drive as well, superb balance, perhaps doesn't have the presence of the 911 but if fights way above it's weight

[r1flyguy1]

I love my Macan Diesel, yes i dont do the miles to justify a diesel (apparantly) and yes id trade it for a brand new GTS or Turbo but i wont take the hit on this given the governments attempt to slay the diesel so im happy to keep it. Besides i have another porker to play with when i need to.

In 20 months ownership (was a year old 9k on the clock when purchased) ive had 2 new front tyres due to uneven wear concerns, a new gearbox, new front camera (part of ACC) and full steering control replacement, all under warranty. Hasnt knocked my confidence in the product just yet.
Fantastic comfortable vehicle.

[aeropilot]

r1flyguy1 said:

In 20 months ownership (was a year old 9k on the clock when purchased) ive had 2 new front tyres due to uneven wear concerns, a new gearbox, new front camera (part of ACC) and full steering control replacement, all under warranty. Hasnt knocked my confidence in the product just yet.

Yikes.......

Uneven/odd front tyre wear on a Macan is something I've reported before.

[Fish]

We've loved ours and are likely to replace for another. 30k miles and no issues... Just a shame the next one will be petrol..

[Relic]

I had a Diesel S Macan for 6 months and 6000 miles. Bought it after two Diesel S Cayennes. I’ve now gone back to a Cayenne as I did not get on with the Macan. It’s a great handling car and very well designed but my issue was interior space. If you are coming from an X5 beware of this. The Macan is no bigger inside than a Golf which just did not work for me . It’s not very space efficient.