I dropped the Macan off for service at the dealer last Monday for the 20k mile oil change and the full (very expensive) 20k service routine.
I chose to go through the dealer and spend the $$$$$ due to discovering a problem with the way right front headlight LED PDLS was operating and due to a speaker distortion/rattle which has been persistent since purchase in June.
I also knew the Michelin Latitude Tour HP tires were almost thoroughly smoked. I wanted to try to rotate them left to right to try to get a few thousand more miles out of them before buying new tires. Of course, the service writer and mechanic recommended replacing all 4 tires. To my surprise, they offered a competitive price, so I went for it.
What I didn't like: they claimed no knowledge of Michelin's mileage warranty and offered no help in getting the new tires prorated for me. And they initially quoted $849!!! for an alignment! When questioned, they came back with $499.
That is exactly 4 times what they charge at the local Mr. Tire, who would probably also prorate the price of the Michelins with no fuss, too. I told them I would get the alignment done elsewhere, on principal alone.
I am still not sure what the malfunction is on the LED/PDLS headlight. I have always been disappointed in the nighttime low beam performance. The running daytime lights always work perfectly and I never had any indication that the right headlight was not otherwise functioning properly. But with the DST time change at the beginning of November, I noticed the r.h. headlight appeared to be out completely when pulling up behind other vehicles in evening traffic. That explained my poor low beam performance. To their credit, Porsche of Silver Spring diagnosed that and the speaker rattle as warranty items, no hassles. Just waiting for the parts to arrive now.
That brings me to the Audi A4 S loaner car they gave me. I was disappointed to not get a Macan or other Porsche as a loaner. The A4 underwhelmed me, thoroughly, at first. It is nice enough, but maybe I am spoiled after six months in my Premium Plus Macan interior? The Macan combines and sleek and modern design while incorporating classic (boring? no, mature) styling in a fairly seamless fashion. The A4 is a bit like a teenager's Playstation, VW, Honda Civic, combined with staid, conservative (old fashioned?) German design. It is not terrible, but it is not great, either. I expect it to make annoying chirps and bleeps and sound notifications like a teenage girl's iPhone. Thankfully, it does not do that.
The A4 2.0T motor is great, and in automatic, is a better driving experience than the Macan in default standard mode. The Macan would be improved if the standard mode was more like the Audi. Aside from being able to go into manual shift mode, that is it with the Audi. It goes well enough, but I have found myself reaching for the nonexistent paddles and searching the center console for the Sport mode button.
The Audi all wheel drive is excellent and the handling is very good, too. I drove it at night on the highway in heavy rain, and I had no trouble at all zooming along at 75 mph, stable, planted, with full confidence and comfort. It is safe and steady where the Macan in Sport mode encourages charging into corners and turning in sharply and getting on the gas hard to rotate the car. The Macan delivers on that encouragement, too. Driving the Macan in Sport is like having a little devil on each shoulder. The Audi is OK, but a bit more, "Cheerio! Steady on! Pip, pip!"
The Audi steers fine, but it makes me miss the lightning fast (comparatively) Macan steering.
The Audi is winning me over, but it was anything but exciting to get behind the wheel, initially.
I guess it is a good thing that I miss my Macan while I wait for headlight assembly to arrive.
www.nps.gov
