Porsche Macan

Is the Porsche Macan early, mid, or late? | What I think when I drive an early Macan Turbo

It was a while ago,A friend of mine bought a used Macan Turbo in the last model year.The unit is in very good condition and has air suspension and sport exhaust.

We have reported on the early Macan Turbo several times in the past, but this time we would like to report again and summarize the differences from the mid-term and late-term models.

Early model Macan Turbo

The Macan model has a long model history and has undergone minor changes twice so far.

Currently, theThe new cars sold are so-called "late model", the models with the tail lamps connected on both sides are "mid model", and the models with the tail lamps not connected are "early model".They say.

The Macan Turbo is an early model, with a V6 turbo that produces 400ps and 550Nm of torque. Although the car weighs close to 2 tons, its bodywork is truly a "Porsche.

When I sat in the driver's seat for the first time in a while and started the engine, I was awakened by the sound of the exhaust, which was not as loud as the GTS. This is the kind of performance that only a previous-generation Macan can deliver.

With a little over 26,000km, the car is just getting used to all the moving parts, and the PDK control is very smooth. The ride quality is also very good.The ride quality is unique to the air suspension of the previous Macan Turbo, and while moist, the steering response, weight, response, and tire ground feel are all excellent.

Long ago,My brother's previous Macan Turbo.to rent,I remember that when I drove on the highway for the first time, my tongue was wagging at its high speed stability and behavior on high speed corners.

Although legally impossible, I thought that all the curves on Japanese highways could be taken at over 180 km/h in a relaxed manner. I thought that I could make all the curves on the Japanese expressway at over 180km/h in a relaxed manner.

The suspension is as superb as ever. This is the foot of a Porsche. Every time my wife also rides in the previous year's Macan,Yes! Kore-kore!"He speaks excitedly. That's the level you can tell within a few dozen meters of starting to run.

By the way.The mid and late legs are a bit lighter in feel overall, a bit more so in the mid-term than in the early-term, and in the late-term than in the mid-term.At best, it is high quality, NVH is well controlled, and the feel and information transmitted to the steering wheel is filtered to some extent. Therefore, you can feel the quality of an Audi or Mercedes.

Therefore, it is the best choice when viewed as a sport SUV that can be comfortably moved around town.

In the previous fiscal year, "theWhat is it about Porsche sports cars?I was just saying, "I'm sorry,If you have any complaints, go somewhere else."It even feels as if it is saying, "I'm not a SUV, I'm a sports car. It is a car with a clear assertion and concept, and one can clearly sense the design intent of making it not as an SUV but as a sports car.

Incidentally, although I have no experience with it, I hear that even the bare-bones Macan of the previous model year is a sports car and a lot of fun to drive. Although it has less power, the feeling seems to be the same.

Handling, engine, sound, PDK

When the air suspension button is pressed and the vehicle is driven in sport mode with the ride height lowered, it is just like a sports car. The center of gravity becomes much lower, and the stability and behavior in the corners are unlike that of an SUV.

By the way, when I write this, "Does it run like a Cayman or 911? Then you should be happy if you buy a Macan.The 911 and Cayman are exceptional.

However, the feeling is that of a Porsche itself.

The reaction force to the steering, the buildup to the reaction at the beginning of the cut, and the feeling of the tires on the ground are clearly different from the feeling of other manufacturers.Ashiyu EssesThe way the car rushes up the steep uphill of the "GTS" is really similar to the 991 Carrera 4GTS that I own, and it almost makes you think that it is a Carrera 4. It is so good that it almost gives the illusion that it is a Carrera 4.

The only differences are numerical ones, such as the difference in cornering speed and acceleration, and they are as close as possible in the areas of feeling that cannot be expressed numerically.

Air suspension is recommended.
The third button from the top on the left side can be determined if it is the air suspension button.

And then...The biggest difference among the earlier, mid-term, and later periods is the control of the PDK.The PDK of the previous model feels almost the same as the 991 and 981 series. In the case of this particular car, it does not have the Sport Chrono package, so it can only be used up to the Sport mode, but even so, the sound of shifting gears when shifting is wonderful.

Downshifting is firm and clear with a blipping sound, and upshifting while pressing down deeply on the accelerator pedal is very sporty with a "bong! Shifting up while pressing down deeply on the accelerator pedal is very sporty with a "bong!

A previous 718GTS owner test drove an early Macan Turbo and said, "It's a whole lot sportier than the 718 PDK.I was impressed by what was said.

As a side note, the Sport Chrono package of this era is more flamboyant in Sport Plus mode than in Sport mode. The opposite is true for the current 718 and 992, where the Sport mode is the most flamboyant in terms of presentation.So if this Macan had the Sport Chrono package and ran in Sport Plus, I think it would have been an even flashier gearshift.

The engine and exhaust sounds are also pleasant and unique to this era. Although a little quieter than the previous year's GTS, when the sport exhaust is turned on, the exhaust sound is so heroic that it would be unthinkable in a normal SUV!

The engine power is also perfect, with 400 hp, so there is no sense of frustration. It is fast enough.And the engine has a very good rev feeling.The engine is not set up like the mid- and late-period engines, which turn easily and suppress the explosion and vibration well.

As a result, the engine has a rougher turning circle by comparison. The extension to high rpm and the speed at which the needle on the tachometer rises are distinctly different from the sporty version of a typical SUV's utility engine.

It makes me want to put the PDK in manual mode and maintain 4000-5000 rpm and lightly flow through the winding roads. The owner riding next to me said, "It's not so easy to turn it around that much, is it?They said, "This is the right way to drive a Porsche.

The engine is not so fragile that it will break down at this level, and the car is originally designed to run at high RPM on the Autobahn. If you drive in higher gears and under 2000 RPM, there is no need to have a Porsche, and in fact, it will only accumulate sludge, which is not good for the engine.

As I have said many times in my blog, the engine will clearly be in better shape if you give it a certain amount of revving.

Mid/late period from early period, early period from mid/late period

If you have read this far, you will probably think that the Macan is a good first semester.

However, this is not always the case, which is the difficult part of choosing a car.
For someone like me, who likes long-distance touring and enjoys driving around on pleasant roads in the mountains alone, Macan is the first term.So, personally, I like the first semester the best.

However, those who mainly shop or commute around town in urban areas such as Tokyo, and those who do not drive in manual mode with high revs, will find the later model more comfortable and feel that it is a well-made car.

Also, if the wife drives the car most of the time, the later model would be a better choice.The PDK gearshift is sophisticated and does not make the driver aware of the gearshift. The previous year's version is rather sporty, but since the direction is the opposite, it is more secure and reliable for city driving and daily use, and I think many people prefer this version.

As for the mid-term, it is best to recognize it as having a feeling somewhere between the first-term and the mid-term. Of course, the flavor varies greatly depending on the grade and optional equipment, so it is difficult to make a general statement, but in general, it is somewhere in between the two.

In summary, the following is a summary of the following. (This is just an overall impression based on comparative theory. Details vary with each grade)

If you want a sporty Macan anyway, this is the previous term. It is suitable for those who drive a car to enjoy winding roads and driving.
The mid-term for those who want a Macan that they can drive comfortably without worrying, while also enjoying additional comfort and quality.

And the late model is more about ease of driving and comfort than sound and sportiness. For those who want a Macan they can drive around town without worrying about anything, the later model is better.

It has been announced that the next Macan will be an EV.The Macan you can buy now should be the last gasoline-powered Macan.
I hope you will use this article to clarify your own objectives and preferences and meet the best Macan to be your partner.