Macan T

 

Do you have one?

 

I have a 2023 Macan S and have driven the Macan T and Base Macan several times over the year as loaners and my wife drives an Audi Q5 which has the same engine as the base Macan. For driving around town in a urban area the Base/T is fine option but I really think that if you are doing highway driving that is when you really notice the difference if you are trying to take over another car to pass. The Base/T is considerably better gas milage but if you are looking at a Porsche I am assuming the price of gas is. It a big decider.

 

I’m really trying to understand why anyone thinks the Macan base is not capable of passing another car on the highway, how fast must the car you’re trying to pass be going ? I cruise at 75-80 on our interstate and have never had an issue passing another vehicle. Now if that vehicle was doing 90-100 then that would be a problem for the base……..but when would that ever happen. Give the Base a break, it’s a fully capable highway vehicle.

 

I had an 18' GTS but i went with T this time because the macan is mostly my fancy asian soccer dad car. I really do miss the power and growl of the GTS but it is satisfied every time i get into my 986S or 991 GTS. After a year owning the T (one of the first allocations in NY area) I have come to accept that it's still a great daily driver and still feels so much better than my friend's Q5 or a CRV

 

The 18 car and todays Macan ate different . I had both . The new GTS is a sweet SUV . Its after than the former Gen turbo and dead even with the Turbo PP yet is mapped and has suspension set to GTS level dynamics . The 18 car in contrast had a great engine sound but was slow in comparison . It is still faster than a T though . Yet the 18 car is dated . That middle AC vent sucked !! I think Porsche read my posts !! They changed it !

 

I just want to comment I went from a 17 Macan GTS PTV air suspension, to Sport Turismo with air, RWS, and just picked up a base without Air suspension. I didn't realize it rides bouncy in wavy crappy roads like my GLB35 and my GRC. Personally regreted not getting burmester on the GTS and now regret not having the air suspension. Your wife would enjoy the better ride.

If i were to spec a T for my wife i'd get. Base cloth seats( never tried but i loved the cloth on GT3 touring) I do not know if driver memory seats is still standrad but if only one driver who cares. Base wheels since bespoke. Maybe free color panel depending on color of car and i like aluminum trim better since doesnt' scratch.

Payable option i would suggest
1. air suspension ( so much better ride)
2. thicker glass to make more quiet for wife
3. Bose at least or radio doesn't annoy.
4. Lane change assist since SUV
5. Depending on where you live maybe park camera

Macan's LKA with cruise is crappy. The toyota is better and keeping the car between the lanes. This LKA feels like it's a decade old from 2017 and never updated?

Off topic but the Cayenne during the Porsche test drive track event the Cayenne drove very well like the macan. Perhaps the magic was in the PDCC, PASM air, and RWS? Too much $$ to make feel like a Macan T.

 

We definitely got the Bose option. Not sure why a vehicle at this level doesn’t come with Bose as standard. The upgrade should be something epic.

 

I have just ordered a Macan T for myself, here is my configuration : Macan T

I have originally wanted to buy an S, but was underwhelmed after a test drive. The handling on twisty roads was not as sharp as I wanted, even though I loved the power and engine sound.

Then I test drove the T and it handled much better on B roads, and was sufficient for short motorway trips. It doesn’t have the V6 sound and instant power, but it feels much nimbler going around the bends.

I also drove the GTS for a few days and I fell head over heels in love with it.
Sadly it’s over my budget right now. It’s the complete package and I hope I will own it some time in the future, it’s simply fantastic.

 

I also drove the GTS for a few days and I fell head over heels in love with it.

I watched a review of a car the other day with a person narrating was a woman who said that she felt so in love with the car. She was ready to give up a kidney to have it. She went on to explain how much it cost to have this car. It is an emotional tug-of-war no doubt.

 

Get the S, the best choice when using all season tires. The GTS is the best choice when using summer tires.

 

Oh wow. That was clear!
Why you get the T then if you know it's that shitty?
I mean, if you already think this way, why you ask us? 🥲

Anyway, maybe posting your Porsche Code helps to discuss your decision
here is mine for inspiration: www.porsche-code.com/PRBQNB39

 

 

The Macan base is our daily driver and hauler. 260 German horses is enough.

When I want to play boy racer, I drive my 993.

 

Wow what a build.

 

This is a great review of the Macan T:
TheSmokingTire

 

I just got a CPO T '23. I have had AMGs and others. The T is great. 100mph before you even realize you are going 100mph. Fun around town. Fun in the twisties. tossable. Push it and it just goes, the PDK is mapped perfectly. Is it a beast like the 400hp AMG? no. Is it fast? yes (5.5 to 60, and it will rev freely right up to the limiter with no complaint). Also, with 3k miles i paid $60k for a dealer demo vs $80k sticker new.

I was worried too. No worries now. (from what i researched the T is much different than the base: different suspension, tuning, stiffer roll bars, sits lower, more aggressive software mapping, etc.)

 

The loaner base I had really annnoyed me. The S loaner was slick

 

Four-cylinder cars remind me of my first 1956 Volkswagen, and the image has not changed. If you want a Porsche, get one that at least goes.

 

I just bought a 2018 S. I would ask : do you own another Porsche? What car have you driven you think is fast? I ask because I have Cayman S and am used to that power and want even more. Bottom line do you want a ‘peppy’ SUV or, a ‘holy 💩’ SUV

 

I have a 2014 Cayman S and have had a E36 M3. I wouldn’t say either is fast but boy can they handle. Light, balanced, great steering/brakes. A little more power would be nice like a GT4 or GTS but I am not sure it really needs more power. I think a Holy S SUV will just get her tickets.

 

Bought a new T last year, stiffer steel suspension on purpose and for the options it came with like drive modes, variable damping, sports seats, "boost button" for safer overtaking and full leather option, all at an affordable price. When ordering I was not sure if I would be happy with the car, mainly because of the "bread & butter" VW 4c engine. Actually I was positively surprised how good this '23 engine performs and how well it is integrated with the PDK. Of course there is less power felt from top end 2nd gear onwards, but comparing with an S on the Hockenheimring, jump-starting with launch control subjectively made no difference to my T, actually vice versa. Asked the instructor whether their cars are somehow throttled, he denied (!?). Looking at the gear ratios of both, they are exactly the same and the 2nd gear goes beyond highway speed anyway, so I think the practical power difference is really only important on the German Autobahn, but T handling advantages below are clearly felt as well (having tested S handling on that racetrack, compared to mine on public roads).

 

The base suspension is in fact really softy and not engaging at all. For that there is the T with it’s better suspension!

 

I could not believe the difference between the base loaner and the S loaner.

 

Thanks to all for your time and valuable responses. Apologies for getting info greedy but they keep delaying the timelines so we are caught up in the configurator. PASM? Yes or no

 

PASM is standard on T and S. Did you mean Air Suspension?

 

PASM is a yes.

 

I think so too. It's only $1500 and at worst will get that back at resale

 

I believe PASM is included in the T spec. PASM+A/S is how they describe the upgrade at extra cost.

 

Also depending on location I guess

 

As generic info, since I mentioned gear ratios above...this what I calculated from the tech. spec pdf of the '23 Macan T and added to it (I have a small print card in the car to check sometime, also for top speed):

This is in so far specific for the model T since the top speed in valid for this one and the rev limit for the model S is 6700rpm, but by the rule of three it is easily adapted.

Rem: Older S models used to have a slightly lower rev limit and a longer rear axle gear ratio...the '22 models have the same rev limit of 6800rpm and all the same gear ratios...got that mixed up when trying to verify for the S model...these tech spec pdfs seem to have gone since the introduction of the Macan EV...

 

Hi there.
We just did 1.000km in it, I will give it another 1k km before accelerating hard in sport plus - so no pops and bangs so far 🤷‍♂️
But until now it’s a nice looking and well driving car. It feels really light and nimble. The only things I am regretting not getting is BOSE and Speed Limit Camera. I would not chose the 14-way again, to many options for me to feel really comfortable in it - but the entry is much easier. And I do not feel the benefit of air suspension as much as expected. The Macan T exclusive PASM (-15mm) we had in a loaner was comfy/sporty and good looking enough. We also have a Base loaner at the moment for our Boxster S (broken brake servo) with standard springs (not even PASM) but that actually rides horrible for a Porsche, it floats like a boat!

 

It also got a new home - which we actually could have get an S-upgrade for. 🤷‍♂️😅

 

As I'm about to purchase a macan and contemplating between an S or T, this is a relevant discussion for me. Personally, it comes down to the purpose of the car. I have a 911 for the fun stuff, so I'm thinking a base or T will suffice for tootin' around town.

 

Some like it hard, then Model T (independent of power). In case of a family go for S.
On the other hand, I cannot get my wife out of the T. She loves it, even with sports seats, always the discussion who drives...(but no sports mode please!)
But as Larry pointed out earlier, if you want the real thing then GTS...