23 Macan S vs GTS

Here's the direct comp between the Macan S vs GTS for 2023 from the official Porsche website - bore, stroke, displacement are all identical

@Hellraizer1987

I want to add something. It’s an afterthought . In the first and second generation, Porsche offered the turbo. It was a more comfort oriented power car. The Macan S still out sold it

If the person shared your view of wanting a car which could be a cruiser call Rosa could rip that choice was given, and often denied by the S buyer. In fact, if one missed the turbo, and wanted to make a soft version GTS he could do it. Porsche offers the raised suspension as a free option. He could buy full leather. He’s not forced by race tex . He could buy all the comfort amenities. He’s not required to buy the black wheels. He can buy any one of the same wheels the was available on the turbo. Notice how most GTS buyers don’t do that, and that might be part of the reason why Porsche discontinued the turbo. What the former GTS buyers wanted was the power so in this third generation they were given that.

That brings up the interesting perspective on price. Previous generation turbo vehicles are priced between 90 and $100,000 which is exactly where the GTS is priced. In contrast the Macan S is priced in the upper 70s to upper 80s which is much higher than the previous generations.
It just makes the GTS the comparable bargain.

yrralis1 said:

@Hellraizer1987

I want to add something. It’s an afterthought . In the first and second generation, Porsche offered the turbo. It was a more comfort oriented power car. The Macan S still out sold it

If the person shared your view of wanting a car which could be a cruiser call Rosa could rip that choice was given, and often denied by the S buyer. In fact, if one missed the turbo, and wanted to make a soft version GTS he could do it. Porsche offers the raised suspension as a free option. He could buy full leather. He’s not forced by race tex . He could buy all the comfort amenities. He’s not required to buy the black wheels. He can buy any one of the same wheels the was available on the turbo. Notice how most GTS buyers don’t do that, and that might be part of the reason why Porsche discontinued the turbo. What the former GTS buyers wanted was the power so in this third generation they were given that.

That brings up the interesting perspective on price. Previous generation turbo vehicles are priced between 90 and $100,000 which is exactly where the GTS is priced. In contrast the Macan S is priced in the upper 70s to upper 80s which is much higher than the previous generations.
It just makes the GTS the comparable bargain.

Click to expand...

The 'value' of anything will always be subjective, otherwise we'd have absolutes and just all buy the same thing. Performance holds more weight for you (relative to other considerations) so I get where you're coming from. If you care to know, the two reasons why I got my Macan S are:

1) Relative importance of performance (vs comfort) on the margin: I appreciate the additional power the S's 2.9L v6 offers over the Base model's I4 BUT that marginal benefit decreases greatly for ME when I look at the GTS vs the S

• Yes, I know there are other differences between the GTS and S including options that can bridge certain performance / comfort gaps (as well as non-optionable features like throttle mapping available only on the GTS)
• Ultimately, these things mattered less to me with the S and I was more interested in putting my money in creature comfort options

2) So then you ask "well if you prioritize comfort, why not just get a [Cayenne / Base Macan]?"

• Because it's not a binary decision: sure, I could've gotten a Base Cayenne / Base Macan if my ONLY consideration was comfort. But I never said I don't care about performance at all - the two are not mutually exclusive
• The convo also becomes completely different with the Cayenne example since now we're talking about a completely different platform with other subjective considerations such as size / aesthetics / etc.

woohoohoo22 said:

The 'value' of anything will always be subjective, otherwise we'd have absolutes and just all buy the same thing. Performance holds more weight for you (relative to other considerations) so I get where you're coming from. If you care to know, the two reasons why I got my Macan S are:

1) Relative importance of performance (vs comfort) on the margin: I appreciate the additional power the S's 2.9L v6 offers over the Base model's I4 BUT that marginal benefit decreases greatly for ME when I look at the GTS vs the S

• Yes, I know there are other differences between the GTS and S including options that can bridge certain performance / comfort gaps (as well as non-optionable features like throttle mapping available only on the GTS)
• Ultimately, these things mattered less to me with the S and I was more interested in putting my money in creature comfort options

2) So then you ask "well if you prioritize comfort, why not just get a [Cayenne / Base Macan]?"

• Because it's not a binary decision: sure, I could've gotten a Base Cayenne / Base Macan if my ONLY consideration was comfort. But I never said I don't care about performance at all - the two are not mutually exclusive
• The convo also becomes completely different with the Cayenne example since now we're talking about a completely different platform with other subjective considerations such as size / aesthetics / etc.

Click to expand...

What’s important to me you have wrong so I will answer it for you. What’s most important to me that I have a 911. The Macan is my wife’s car.

Performance is even more important to Porsche. It’s the very reason that you pay more for your Macan S than a BMW, Audi, or any other competitor. Porsche built its entire foundation out of motor sport. It is Porsches strength. It’s for that reason that I feel the greatest value is the play into that strength.

All those technological gadgets and creature comforts can be found in a Honda. In fact, the technology is better in so many competitors that I can’t even write a list. What they don’t have is the refinement and capability found in the Porsche.

I will never understand the Macan S buyer. I have said that for the last eight years. You want more power than the base put a little more no thank you. The same creature comforts can be put in a GTS . A raised suspension and full leather with silver wheels can usually be placed on a GTS, making it a softer and more comfortable vehicle.

A different platform, size, and aesthetics is not what I was comparing. What I was comparing the definition of being a cruiser, and sticking to the main difference of price. How many Macan S buyers come to this forum claiming they’re going to get a “ Cobb tune“ or a “ pedal commander” along with a lowering module to feel like it’s a GTS? How many of the discussions about the two models. Focus on price.

For eight years, I have called it as BS. It is a person using every justifiable reason except the one that says that the 8- 15k price gap tapped him out .