I drove Taycan Turbo S....different to my Panamera ST Turbo

[RDMcG]

I have driven a number of the major EZs...a couple of Teslas , The Jag iPace, the awful Mitsu miEV and so on.
However my DDs are generally Porsches., including an Panamera ST Turbo.

So it was time to try the Taycan Turbo S, the top model in the range. Be warned, I have so little interest in connectedness, cars that drive themselves, web services in the vehicle that I do not have any clue as to how the Taycan compares to the other. Even in my Panamera, I tend to use little other than Nav, so this is nothing more than the driving experience. Better people than I am can compare the rest, which I am sure is quite important.


Getting into the car it is very clearly a Porsche and feels like a very slightly smaller Panamera, same seats, similar steering wheel. The all-digital dash in OK, easy to read, not too crowded. Shifter is a tiny version of the 992 electric razor thing just to the right of the steering column..nothing in the centre console. Kinda miss the analogue tach though. Still, its clean. Interesting heating vents are not physically adjustable and look like small disck slots ion larger dark boxes...no grilles. owner how long till stuff accumulates in those.
Roof is a large sheet of glass.

Still. compared to my Panamera, not a massive revolution.





Then...time to drive.

First impressions are immediately very familiar..steering very nicely weighted and precise, excellent brakes and of course very quiet. Roadholding seems almost identical to the Panamera at road speeds and on sharp curves. I miss the rumble of the V8 but to be honest, in sport mode the sound of the Taycan is a pleasant hum that is adjusted to more aggressive modes as the familiar small dial at 5 o'clock below the steering wheel is turned.

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So, it definitely feels like a Porsche. No question.

Long straight empty road. Full stop. Engage launch control in the. most aggressive mode. Foot on Brake and accelerator.

God, it is blisteringly massively fast. Like nothing I have ever tried, and I have tried lots. No smoke, wheelspin,just clinical precision. I wonder what flying an SR71 felt like because it is so quick that the first launch leaves my brain behind....standstill...the 100MPH and feels like the equivalent of second gear in a race car....and yet still a Porsche.

Evidently the Tesla is also very quick indeed and has the advantage of an extensive charging network as well as an established remote upgrade process. I am not familiar as to how the equivalent Porsche world works. Still in terms of roadholding at speed my sense is that the Porsche is definitely better. It is also a lot more expensive and even compared to the Panamera ST Turbo, in Canada it is about 25% more expensive for the top model.

For me, it is very much a real Porsche, and unnervingly rapid, very precise, ultra sure-footed. I am not a fan of EVs for myself actually, and have not owned a pure sedan for decades, but the upcoming Cross Turismo just might be worth a look at some future date. I am not done with ICE yet though.

[MDL111]

Thank you for taking the time to write this. I still haven’t driven one, so your thoughts are highly appreciated.
I will test drive one at some point and add my thoughts (esp regarding autobahn use if I can get enough time behind the wheel)

[Taffy66]

I have a sensibly optioned Taycan 4S ordered for October delivery and really looking forward to it. It'll have Performance plus battery giving it 571PS and reluctantly chosen the 20'' wheels as the 21'' versions lowers the range by 10%..I had a test drive in a 4S a few weeks ago and was amazed how well it drove..It feels like a proper Porsche from a dynamic pov with superb steering, brakes, handling and ride comfort..
I'm 100% convinced that the 4S with the bigger battery and 20'' wheels is the best of the bunch and with 571PS more than enough poke you can realistically use on public roads..Taycan Turbo S is just overkill IMO but a 4S at circa £100k makes much more sense..

[RDMcG]

I expect that your choice will be a much more popular one and seems very well judged. I have no doubt that power will not be an issue !

[Mikebentley]

It is a very nice looking car. That hint of something different whilst still looking similar to your Pan. My good lady is trying to get me to agree to a used Pan as her family bus.

[RDMcG]

Mikebentley said:

It is a very nice looking car. That hint of something different whilst still looking similar to your Pan. My good lady is trying to get me to agree to a used Pan as her family bus.

I have no regrets on the Panamera. Very fast indeed and hugely comfortable. Love the V8 but at some future time electric will show up. For now I think one more RS is next but then it’s all beets off.

[RDMcG]

MDL111 said:

Thank you for taking the time to write this. I still haven’t driven one, so your thoughts are highly appreciated.
I will test drive one at some point and add my thoughts (esp regarding autobahn use if I can get enough time behind the wheel)

. I am interested in real world power consumption. I am sure it will perform brilliantly on the autobahn. Drove my Pana extensively in Germany on some empty Autobahns and 275km/h was a breeze. No doubt the Taycan will get there a whole lot faster.

[bolidemichael]

I came into this forum looking for something like this and I'm glad that it's you that wrote this after enjoying your Panamera collection and touring Europe thread.

One in black grumbled last me in Hampstead the other day, from a standstill as it was at the Spaniard's Inn. I was astounded at the sound and the poise. Looking it up, I discovered that there is an option called Porsche Electric Sports Sound.

[RDMcG]

bolidemichael said:

I came into this forum looking for something like this and I'm glad that it's you that wrote this after enjoying your Panamera collection and touring Europe thread.

One in black grumbled last me in Hampstead the other day, from a standstill as it was at the Spaniard's Inn. I was astounded at the sound and the poise. Looking it up, I discovered that there is an option called Porsche Electric Sports Sound.

yes..of course artificial. They all do it

Yet, as a dedicated ICE fan ( and I will buy at least one more) this was a very engaging car. I always approach EVs negatively as an ICE person and have driven Tesla and Jag and others. This one was staggering.

I would not buy it as the charging network is not there and the technology means it takes too long to charge.

BUT..like having and IBM PC in 1981 it was clear that change was happening. You could laugh at its capability or learn about it. I chose the latter.