Range Rover L405 to Macan GTS/Turbo - anyone ?
Discussion
I have a low mileage MY2018 Range Rover fullsize V8 SC that I enjoy immensely. It's a pleasant place to spend time and it makes driving a relaxing and luxurious experience instead of chore. I didn't understood the fascination with big Range Rovers until I owned one, and as soon as I got my first L405 it clicked, but I’ve noticed that many RR owners, myself included, have a hard time explaining why. There is some sort of 'it' factor that prevails beyond logic, even when presented with the inevitable LR reliability frustrations!
All of that said, I don't need a vehicle as large as the L405 and the latest (Gen III) Macan GTS 2.9L V6 Turbo has caught my attention. Have any Range Rover owners (L405 or L494) moved to a Macan, and if so do you have any regrets or advice? The Macan has numerous advantages over the RR but I am worried that I will miss the relaxing way the big machine glides along, the commanding view of the road and the 'it' factor. I am a life-long petrol head and have an M2 Competition (manual of course) for spirited excursions and track days. Stay with the Queen's chariot or move to the much sharper Macan?
All of that said, I don't need a vehicle as large as the L405 and the latest (Gen III) Macan GTS 2.9L V6 Turbo has caught my attention. Have any Range Rover owners (L405 or L494) moved to a Macan, and if so do you have any regrets or advice? The Macan has numerous advantages over the RR but I am worried that I will miss the relaxing way the big machine glides along, the commanding view of the road and the 'it' factor. I am a life-long petrol head and have an M2 Competition (manual of course) for spirited excursions and track days. Stay with the Queen's chariot or move to the much sharper Macan?
Not quite the same but I have a Discovery 4, owned from new. I bought a Macan with a view to then sell the D4. After 6 months, it was the Macan that went and the D4 is still on my drive.
The reason was that the D4 does exactly what I expect it to do - big, comfortable and (relatively) luxurious.
For me, the Macan felt like it didn’t know what it was - a 4x4? Not really. A sports car? Not really. Load lugger? Too small. I felt like It was trying to fill too many roles and excelling at none.
Maybe my expectations were wrong as plenty of people love the Macan, but I just couldn’t gel with it.
The reason was that the D4 does exactly what I expect it to do - big, comfortable and (relatively) luxurious.
For me, the Macan felt like it didn’t know what it was - a 4x4? Not really. A sports car? Not really. Load lugger? Too small. I felt like It was trying to fill too many roles and excelling at none.
Maybe my expectations were wrong as plenty of people love the Macan, but I just couldn’t gel with it.
I also have an L405 V8 SC, and had an M2C (and M5C and a million other variations on the theme e.g. AMGs etc) at one point. We looked at a Macan turbo as a car for the missus, great but entirely redundant next to the FFRR and the other cars.
I think what I'm trying to say is: Macan turbo is a great car, if you need a single small family fast 4x4. But it will never live up to a 525 FFRR or a dedicated toy. Its a fancy Q5.
If you can find a lightly used SVA Velar, that is a phenomenal car, though it also doesn't have the same feel as a full fat.
Tl;Dr keep the FFRR, otherwise you will regret it.
I think what I'm trying to say is: Macan turbo is a great car, if you need a single small family fast 4x4. But it will never live up to a 525 FFRR or a dedicated toy. Its a fancy Q5.
If you can find a lightly used SVA Velar, that is a phenomenal car, though it also doesn't have the same feel as a full fat.
Tl;Dr keep the FFRR, otherwise you will regret it.
cayman-black said:
Just IMO, the RR is sublime, the Macan is a hideous ugly small overpriced Porsche for the fans.
It appears you like the Cayman but not the Macan! Fair points from the other posters that the Macan is a jack of all trades, master of none, still someone it manages to impress beyond what the specifications would suggest, in terms of driver involvement, comfort and overall competence.
Saying farewell to my big Range Rover would be emotional.
E368 said:
It appears you like the Cayman but not the Macan!
Fair points from the other posters that the Macan is a jack of all trades, master of none, still someone it manages to impress beyond what the specifications would suggest, in terms of driver involvement, comfort and overall competence.
Saying farewell to my big Range Rover would be emotional.
Lol, I did have a Cayman but they are nothing special either imo.Fair points from the other posters that the Macan is a jack of all trades, master of none, still someone it manages to impress beyond what the specifications would suggest, in terms of driver involvement, comfort and overall competence.
Saying farewell to my big Range Rover would be emotional.
I am waiting for the Macan lovers to chime in with some support!
I can see the argument that the Macan has a less clear identity or purpose than the big L405, however in my mind a Macan GTS or Turbo is really more like Porsche's RS4 Avant, featuring a slightly higher seating position but arguably more dynamic driving sensations thanks to the Porsche DNA. Sure the basic underpinnings can be compared to an Audi Q5 but these days engineers can work a lot of magic from the same canvas - go drive a 991.1 Carrera and a 991.2 GT2 RS back to back - they are almost on different planets.
I can see the argument that the Macan has a less clear identity or purpose than the big L405, however in my mind a Macan GTS or Turbo is really more like Porsche's RS4 Avant, featuring a slightly higher seating position but arguably more dynamic driving sensations thanks to the Porsche DNA. Sure the basic underpinnings can be compared to an Audi Q5 but these days engineers can work a lot of magic from the same canvas - go drive a 991.1 Carrera and a 991.2 GT2 RS back to back - they are almost on different planets.
I think the proof is in the pudding, and if you haven’t already, you should get a test drive in one. Even if it has to be an older model, it’ll give you a good idea if you’ll miss the RR.
I’ve just bought a 2018 Macan GTS, but don’t have extensive experience of sports cars or other luxury SUVs, so don’t feel qualified to completely answer your questions. For reference, I also test drove an F-Pace S and an X3 M40i at the same time, and Macan felt a lot more special than either of those. Haven’t experienced a Range Rover, but see it as something I would move onto when I’m in a position to own something smaller and sporty along side it, whereas in my current position I need a single car to cover lots of bases.
As far as the car goes, I absolutely love it, and it has that dual character of relative luxury when driving normally and a bit of a beast when you want some fun, but it almost certainly doesn’t do the luxury bit as well as the RR probably does.
I’ve just bought a 2018 Macan GTS, but don’t have extensive experience of sports cars or other luxury SUVs, so don’t feel qualified to completely answer your questions. For reference, I also test drove an F-Pace S and an X3 M40i at the same time, and Macan felt a lot more special than either of those. Haven’t experienced a Range Rover, but see it as something I would move onto when I’m in a position to own something smaller and sporty along side it, whereas in my current position I need a single car to cover lots of bases.
As far as the car goes, I absolutely love it, and it has that dual character of relative luxury when driving normally and a bit of a beast when you want some fun, but it almost certainly doesn’t do the luxury bit as well as the RR probably does.
E368 said:
I have a low mileage MY2018 Range Rover fullsize V8 SC that I enjoy immensely. It's a pleasant place to spend time and it makes driving a relaxing and luxurious experience instead of chore. I didn't understood the fascination with big Range Rovers until I owned one, and as soon as I got my first L405 it clicked, but I’ve noticed that many RR owners, myself included, have a hard time explaining why. There is some sort of 'it' factor that prevails beyond logic, even when presented with the inevitable LR reliability frustrations!
All of that said, I don't need a vehicle as large as the L405 and the latest (Gen III) Macan GTS 2.9L V6 Turbo has caught my attention. Have any Range Rover owners (L405 or L494) moved to a Macan, and if so do you have any regrets or advice? The Macan has numerous advantages over the RR but I am worried that I will miss the relaxing way the big machine glides along, the commanding view of the road and the 'it' factor. I am a life-long petrol head and have an M2 Competition (manual of course) for spirited excursions and track days. Stay with the Queen's chariot or move to the much sharper Macan?
If you want a compact SUV (as many people do) then it is self-evident what it is and what it is not so most of the arguments rehearsed above you are fully aware of. As a compact SUV I can imagine that the new Macan GTS is an excellent choice. I'd be interested what makes the latest (2021-) GTS better than the 2019-21 Turbo? The engines specs seem identical but I imagine there is more to it than that.All of that said, I don't need a vehicle as large as the L405 and the latest (Gen III) Macan GTS 2.9L V6 Turbo has caught my attention. Have any Range Rover owners (L405 or L494) moved to a Macan, and if so do you have any regrets or advice? The Macan has numerous advantages over the RR but I am worried that I will miss the relaxing way the big machine glides along, the commanding view of the road and the 'it' factor. I am a life-long petrol head and have an M2 Competition (manual of course) for spirited excursions and track days. Stay with the Queen's chariot or move to the much sharper Macan?
For the 4-door Porsche experience I'd certainly want to test drive a Panamera GTS also-maybe approved used with a couple of years depreciation wrung out of it? IMO it would provide a better contrast to your M2 Competition than the Macan and stepping away from SUVs entirely would avoid direct comparisons to the FFRR. Depends how much you want a change from the FFRR as opposed to genuinely wanting a smaller car than the FFRR which (other than height) the Panamera is not.
An interesting thread. We went from a Merc GLC350d to a Merc GLE400d and there are pros and cons with each of them. The GLC was just about the perfect size(not too big/heavy and not too small) so I can see where a Macan would fit in nicely. Whereas the GLE is arguably too big and heavy in comparison(you really feel the weight under braking/it is a pain in the backside to park etc) and I see the Range Rover being a bit similar to the GLE size and weight wise.
Where the GLE really scores is comfort though(air suspension/7 seats) in comparison to the smaller GLC. So I'd imagine that a Range Rover is a wonderful place to spend loads of miles in complete comfort, whereas the Macan won't be able to compete in that regard as much.
Where the GLE really scores is comfort though(air suspension/7 seats) in comparison to the smaller GLC. So I'd imagine that a Range Rover is a wonderful place to spend loads of miles in complete comfort, whereas the Macan won't be able to compete in that regard as much.
fflump said:
If you want a compact SUV (as many people do) then it is self-evident what it is and what it is not so most of the arguments rehearsed above you are fully aware of. As a compact SUV I can imagine that the new Macan GTS is an excellent choice. I'd be interested what makes the latest (2021-) GTS better than the 2019-21 Turbo? The engines specs seem identical but I imagine there is more to it than that.
For the 4-door Porsche experience I'd certainly want to test drive a Panamera GTS also-maybe approved used with a couple of years depreciation wrung out of it? IMO it would provide a better contrast to your M2 Competition than the Macan and stepping away from SUVs entirely would avoid direct comparisons to the FFRR. Depends how much you want a change from the FFRR as opposed to genuinely wanting a smaller car than the FFRR which (other than height) the Panamera is not.
You really cut through the fog and arrived at the crux of my dilemma ... likely wanting a change from the FFRR more than needing a smaller vehicle. It would be a financially painful experience to trade the FFRR for a MY2023 Macan GTS only to realize I miss the big old girl and need to buy another RR. That said, I rarely hear of high-spec Macan owners who aren't smitten with their vehicle. For the 4-door Porsche experience I'd certainly want to test drive a Panamera GTS also-maybe approved used with a couple of years depreciation wrung out of it? IMO it would provide a better contrast to your M2 Competition than the Macan and stepping away from SUVs entirely would avoid direct comparisons to the FFRR. Depends how much you want a change from the FFRR as opposed to genuinely wanting a smaller car than the FFRR which (other than height) the Panamera is not.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff