[Mehttugi]

New to forum and posting for the 1st time.

2021 Mahogany Macan 2.0T "Base"
Hybrid IS20
Forge Motorsports IC
Armytrix high flow catted downpipe
Custom APR mufflers
Full Airlift 3H system
Weds Maverick 815F wheels (on the way) OEM Black Shadows will be up for sale when my Weds arrive.

With current Hybrid IS20 setup, dyno'd 316 WHP on mustang dyno, measuring 399 HP at the crank.

Hate it or love it.

 

[Mehttugi]

I’ll bite: Not a fan.

A lot of money spent on performance when a higher trim could have been purchased. Also, I don’t understand why it’s that low. Makes the wheels look like they are broken. There’s a balance to be achieved between eliminating wheel gap and going too far. In my opinion this is too far, even for “show mode”.

Just my opinion since you specifically asked for: Hate or Love it

At the time of purchase in FEB 2022, NO Macan S models were available and I did not want to wait for updated Macan models. Absolutely ZERO in SoCal and I did not want to buy used Macan.
Also, obviously I don't drive my car when its fully aired out. Below is driving ride height.

 

[Mehttugi]

Gotta agree with Sweetness. It’s your money and you do you. And you’re asking for opinions!

But what is the point of spending all this money on upgrades to still be SIGNIFICANTLY underpowered to a new S, especially a GTS? I am guessing you could have spent a little bit more and actually got a performance Macan, which is what you’re wanting.

And it’s far too low. The wheel gap, which is nonexistent, looks wonky.

Now for the good. The color and wheels are sick!

Again, I did not want to buy USED Macan S/GTS and and in FEB 2022, absolutely ZERO S models in SoCal.
Also, I'm getting 316 WHEEL HP measured on Mustang dyno and its 399 HP at the CRANK. So I'm really not under powered. Plenty of HP/TQ thru out all RPM range.

Obviously I can't drive fully aired out.

 

[Mehttugi]

Those are def pretty impressive numbers, especially for the 2.0T. I just think patience would have served you well. Especially since that car is missing the suspension, which is truly the bread and butter of a performance Macan.

Yes, missing the PASM is only gripe... But Macan will not be my only Porsche. Keep the Macan Base for daily and add Panamera 4S Sport Turismo to the garage in few years.

 

[Mehttugi]

Driving height’s perfect! Show mode is not attractive to me at all on a GTI or any car. That being said, a couple people seem to be reading right past your mod list, in terms of details as well as engine output, which is impressive. I do agree to finding it puzzling to do all of this to a new Macan when’s cheaper one out of warranty would seem to have been a suitable platform. I like that color more than I thought I would - maybe I don’t see them well detailed and in the sun often enough.
Who did your tune, APR (hopefully i didn’t miss that) and how do you like? Has it caused any issues for your PDK in terms of shifting quality?

Stertman Motorsport did both ECU and TCU tune. PDK TQ limit raised and shifts are very smooth and downshifts are quicker. ECU tuned for optimal street driving, has good low end TQ, boost holds all the way to redline and AFR under full boost is 11.5~12.5 : 1. If I drive "normal", MPG did not suffer at all.

Answer to everyone's question, IF there was S/GTS model available at the time of purchase, yes, I would have gone with the S/GTS model. Base model was my only choice at the time so I decided to have some modding fun with it because I knew Base model's power output would not satisfy me. With current power output, I am more than happy with it.

My previous WRX Wagon was pushing 360 at the wheels (420 at the crank) and my Golf R was pushing 400 at the wheels.

 

[Mehttugi]

Nice, what is the peak boost level?

26 PSI

 

[Mehttugi]

Just a guess 107 th and Kendall Drive ? Love the color !

Where is Kendall Dr? I'm from SoCal.

 

[Mehttugi]

It looks just like one of the shopping plazas in Miami.

Took the picture on nice sunny day at my work.

 

[Mehttugi]

I like it and probably would have gone a similar route performance-wise had I purchased an older example without a warranty. Nice to surpass "S" power and still have the lighter nose of the 4cyl. Very brave of you to toss out the drivetrain warranty!

I have the same wheels and its interesting to see them at those various ride heights. They are more of an SUV wheel to me and think a bit of wheel gap fits them better, but post some photos once you have the new wheels on.

I guess the exhaust tips should be pushed in a bit more to be flush with the rear but would like to see a rear photo of your exhaust tips and how they interact with the diffuser.

Any plans for water injection? On some prior projects I have done larger turbo upgrades and for simplicity just added water injection versus a new intercooler. WI on top of the new IC should be super nice in the Summer.

Armytrix exhaust is now off from the car and I'm doing new setup with APR mufflers.

Will post new exhaust/wheel setup next week.

I thought about water/meth 50:50 but not worth it on my setup. If I want more boost at safe levels, I'll probably go E85 setup.

 

[Mehttugi]

My Macan will pass smog. No cats are removed.

 

[Mehttugi]

Back almost 20 years ago, I had trouble with getting my Honda Accord SMOG inspected because of my intake that had a CARB EO sticker. Was able to find a small independent shop who didn't care so long as it passed the sniffer which of course it did. What I've read is that CA has gotten stricter and stricter with the visual inspection.

That is true. What I also heard was even tho I have high flow cat, since its not "OEM", it will not pass visual but will pass the sniffer. Maybe I should weld OEM CAT HEATSHIELD to pass visual.
Or like you said find an independent shop who will only to the sniffer.

 

[Mehttugi]

I like it! Do you have more pics all around?

Once my car is washed, will post few more pictures.

 

[Mehttugi]

Yeah, even back then, inspectors wouldn't put your car on the sniffer if they don't pass you on visual first. That's really why I was wondering if you have more recent experience with your previous cars. I owned a STi when I lived there and did no engine mods to it until I moved out of the state after my Honda experience. I didn't have time to mess with converting everything back and forth annually. Of course there are tricks to visually make the aftermarket parts look OEM. Just wondering how sophisticated inspectors have gotten as they are under more stringent regulation from the state.

My WRX Wagon was sold to a guy in MT so never did smog my wagon after Ver7 motor + 20G turbo upgrade/tune. All my previous cars did not require smog because they were all new.
But "back in the day" , smog shops I went to, did not do the visual, only did the sniffer.

 

[Mehttugi]

They were all still supposed to do a visual. It was just what their eyes saw that varied. LOL! The shop I eventually went do didn't care so long as I wasn't running an open header and had a filter attached to the intake. My silly Honda had a full exhaust with header, high flow cat, and cat back.

So is this why you insisted on buying a new Macan? So you could mod it and not have to worry about SMOG for a few years?

I didn't want my 1st Porsche to be used even if that meant getting the Base model. Only had the car for 1 year and I already put up 20K miles on it, LOL. And yes, if I had to mod it, I would not have to worry about smog for few years.

 

[Mehttugi]

I don’t believe newer cars need SMOG checks until they are 8 years old (something like that). I recently lived there for 12 years and the only SMOG check I had to do was when I first moved to LA and brought my car from out of state. The other 5 cars I owned never needed one. This was in LA county so it could vary in other parts of the state.

Yeah, unless there is change of ownership and etc, newer cars don't need smog.

 

[Mehttugi]

Which IS20 hybrid turbo did you use? I love it. Especially the engine mods. I would take the 4 cylinder with mods over the 6 cylinder with heavier front and known maintenance issues.

I have TurboSystems Hybrid IS20.

 

[Mehttugi]

My new wheels finally arrived.

 

[Mehttugi]

Do you have the dyno plots from you dyno runs? It would be great to see the hp and tq curves. I am considering this upgrade path but I am concerned with losing low end tq for city driving.

I will dig up my dyno sheet and post it tonight.

 

[Mehttugi]

Picture of new wheel setup. Only regret is not getting 21” setup.

I do think Black Shadows match the car better but I wanted something different. I can always get different setup

 

[Mehttugi]

Please post some details/pics about your custom APR exhaust. Any video?

Will post soon.