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Braking Should Be Much Better. Why Isn't It?

11K views 41 replies 22 participants last post by  ejvette  
#1 ·
Simple question for you physicists.

When I read comparison charts of the Macan against other run of the mill SUV's, the stopping distance of the Macan simply does not shine, does not stand out.

Yet my nonscientific mind thinks it should. Big, honking calipers in the front, painted red on the Turbo which should make it stop even better;), big, wide tires, staggered at that, which few others have, and the stopping distance is, from my poor memory, 130 feet from 60-0. Same as other much less costly SUV's

What gives? I demand to know.
 
#12 ·
The Macan Turbo has 102 feet for 60-0 (which is very good)
The Macan S has 119 feet for 60-0
The braking reviews I've read all tested the Turbo with 21" rims, which means summer tires. So I don't think we have a straight-up comparison between the Turbo and the Macan S brakes.

Once the rotors are of sufficient size to keep brake fade in check, the next limit is the ability of the Anti-lcok Braking System (ABS) to maximize caliper grip. That, in turn, is predominately determined by the tire's grip.
If you want better stopping distances, have a set of summer tires. :)
 
#9 ·
I love my Macan S on every single aspect over my wife's X5 BUT the breaks. I feel way more comfortable breaking the X5 than my Macan.
 
#11 ·
Simple question for you physicists.
The following came from the 2006 Cayman S press release. New 2006 Porsche Cayman Offers Mid-Engine Performance In Sleek, Coupe Architecture

"As with all Porsche vehicles, brakes are a critical component to safe driving, so during vehicle development they are put through rigorous testing. For example, before brakes are approved for production, they must be able to go through 25 consecutive cycles involving full acceleration to top speed, followed by deceleration to 62 mph (100 km/h) without fading."

Try that in your average car and see what happens. And then from Mr. Porsche Porscheophile: Quotations from Chairman Ferry

"he once said something about racing which seemed to explain why Porsches were always more about braking and handling than raw acceleration:

"It is better to enter a turn slow and come out fast," he said, "than to enter a turn fast and come out dead.""



One of the criticisms of the Macan that came early was the brakes. They did not appear adequate, particular the rears. It's a SUV. Compare it to other SUVs. What are the other SUV numbers?

BTW, the PCCB brakes will not stop you quicker (in general). They won't fade as quick. They have less unsprung weight. And you won't have brake dust.

So bottom line? If you want 911 braking, then buy a 911. If you want braking ability that goes with selling 80,000 cars in a year, then you get what Porsche has decided is sufficient for a SUV. Can a Macan accelerate to full speed, panic stop to 62, repeat 25 time without fade? I have no idea but I suspect the answer is no. If you guys do that, please let us know. :)

BTW, 102' is very very good.
 
#13 ·
Braking distance depends on multiple factors, as many have pointed out. Summer tires help big time and there are other factors, such as weather, temperature, tire brand and category, etc.

Macan's brakes are massive compared to most other SUV's so it should stop better, i.e., in shorter distance under the same conditions. However, the braking feel is another matter. At least Macan S brakes don't feel good to me. They are not linear like BMW brakes and they lack the initial bite. But its panic stopping power is astounding if you have experienced it, but most normal braking is different so the feel is important.

Further, Macan's big brakes will fare much better on repeated hard braking/stops, as on a track. Most other SUV brakes will probably just burn up and fail.
 
#14 ·
Inertia is the resistance of any physical object to any change in its state of motion (this includes changes to its speed, direction or state of rest).

So 2T SUV won't brake as good as a 1.4T sport car because physics.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for the Physics lesson. :)
 
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#16 ·
You're welcome :nerd:
 
#25 ·
My brakes are pretty good and I'm never worried about stopping fast. It's the bozo in the rear I'm always worried about. Look at how many rear-enders have been reported including mine. I think our Macan brakes work fine.
 
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#29 ·
I think the brakes are ok, but IIRC, the brakes on my 2009 Q5 were better. But couldn't drive around the corner without the wheels being covered with brake dust.
I agree with you about the bozo's in the rear, I saw 2 rear enders within a mile of each other last night on the FDR/Harlem River Drive - NYC and had to slam on my brakes when a jerk changed lanes in front of me. Had I not been in the extreme wariness mode, he would have hit me.
With all the congestion, distracted drivers, poor drivers, dangerous/careless drivers, narrow lanes and in some stretches poorly defined lane markings, that particular 2-3 miles is a driving nightmare.
 
#27 ·
I worry more about the brakes on my Harley-Davidson than the brakes on my Macan ;)
 
#30 ·
Another reason some (including me) feel the Macan S brakes are less than stellar is because we tend to drive faster in the Macan, even though you don't always realize it.
 
#34 ·
The consensus is that Turbo brakes are better with a better brake feel and a shorter stopping distance.

Larger brakes = Shorter stopping distance <- Physics
 
#35 ·
I'll bite.:)

I'll concede that IF the larger brakes on the Turbo can get the tires into ABS territory a little bit faster than those on the S then they'll stop the car in a shorter distance, although my guess is that it wouldn't give a benefit of more than maybe 3 - 5 ft.

I'll also concede the argument if any reviews show that for equally suspended and tired Turbo and S Macans under similar road conditions, the Turbo beats the S in braking for a full-on stop from 60 or 70mph.

Now, what are those Physics of which you speak?>:D
 
#41 ·
Nah, that's theoretical physics, too abstract for my little brain.
 
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