Recently, my beloved Taycan (Taycan 4S Cross Turismo) broke down. Just before the Obon holidays in August, I was charging it at home overnight as usual, but for two consecutive mornings, I found that the car hadn’t charged at all by morning.

Still, since it was running fine, I thought, I’d try a fast charger somewhere else, and if it still acted up, I’d contact the Porsche Center. On the third morning, when I got in and powered it on, a yellow warning appeared on the screen: “Electrical System Fault.”

Then, the car wouldn’t shift into D or R, stuck in N, completely unresponsive and refusing to move.

This was bad. I immediately called the Porsche Center and explained the situation. They decided a tow was necessary, but since it was the Obon holiday period, the pickup was scheduled after the break.

Onboard Charger Identified as the Cause of the Breakdown

After inspection, it turned out the problem was the onboard charger. The part needed replacement, but there was no stock even in Germany, so the repair would take some time.

No stock even in Germany… (；ﾟДﾟ)!

By the way, the onboard charger is like an “AC adapter” built into the car. It converts the alternating current (AC) from household outlets or AC chargers into direct current (DC) to charge the battery.

I learned for the first time through this breakdown that the car carries this converter inside because the battery can’t be charged directly from external AC power.

I had assumed the battery itself was faulty, but it was actually a failure in the conversion and control system. (Honestly, I half-wished the battery itself needed replacement while still under warranty…)

Taycan Returns After Three Weeks

I braced myself for a long wait, but the repair was completed in about three weeks. They provided a loaner car during that time, so it wasn’t too inconvenient.

To be honest, though, since I had the charging system repaired last year as well, I felt a bit frustrated thinking, “I don’t want this to become an annual thing…”

While driving the loaner, I even considered, “Maybe it’s time to switch to a different car.” I browsed car listings, thinking about gasoline cars.

But once you get used to the smooth initial response, ride comfort, and lightning-fast acceleration of an EV, it’s hard to go back. I even daydreamed about a Taycan Turbo GT…

Then, when my Taycan finally returned after three weeks and I drove it again… it was just perfect!

Smooth and seamless, stable, with sharp acceleration. This is it — this is the Taycan! I truly re-experienced its charm.

The Taycan Turbo and Taycan GT are tempting, and I’m sure they’re amazing. But for me right now, this Taycan 4S is just right.

It cruises comfortably, is fast enough, feels natural, and fits my family of five.

Being away from it for three weeks made me appreciate it even more, and I genuinely want to keep driving this car for a long time.

By the way, I bought this Taycan used — a 2023 model — and all the repair costs were fully covered under warranty. What a relief!

Of course, frequent breakdowns are a hassle (especially unrelated to driving performance), but for now, this Taycan remains the best choice for me. When it comes time for the March vehicle inspection next year, I plan to extend the warranty and continue driving it hard and with care.