[TeeJay]

Up until last week I was sure I was buying an EV. I looked at Tesla Y's and Model 3's, Mustang Mach E's, and the VW ID.4. It is virtually impossible to find AWD Tesla Y's for under $60k (or 3's just a little under that number). Plus, there is no EV tax credit for Teslas, and there is no dealership within 3.5 hours from my home in upstate NY. That eliminated that as an option. I liked the Fords, but liked the VW better and reserved a build. $52k loaded, plus a federal $7500 k credit and a State (NY) $2k rebate. Then I test drove a base Macan on Saturday and the EV dream died (for now). I cancelled the VW reservation and put a deposit on the Macan that day. A 2021 base Macan, dealer loaner, fully loaded, with only 4700 miles and the remainder of the 50,000 mile 4 year warranty, plus a 2 year unlimited CPO warranty. All for less than the comparable Model 3. No tax benefits with the Macan but wow, what a drive. I'm picking it up Monday. Our next car will be an EV of some type (when a 2014 BMW dies), but we hope to have the Macan for many years. I tend to hang onto cars I like for a long time (I'm selling a 2002 BMW convertible to my mechanic and replacing it with the Macan). Good luck with your choice.

 

[TeeJay]

I am amused by the armchair critics here who call the Y an appliance compared to the Macan. Clear that many of these critics have never even driven one.

The reality is the Y handles quite nimbly, and the performance model will blow the doors off of any OEM Macan, including the Turbo. Sure, when pushed to the limit, the Macan has better handling, but how many of us push our Macans to the limit, if ever? It’s clear that most of the armchair critics here have no idea what the limit is.

Not saying I’m ready to run out and buy a Y. The ride is just too hard for a non-sports car, and I am not a fan of the minimalist interior or having to go through menus on the display to do things that would be accomplished with a switch on most other cars.

Actually I could live with the body panel fit problems. Not saying they are acceptable, but I know several Tesla owners who were able to get the dealer to make things the way they should have been when the car came off the assembly line.

And I understand that a 300 mile range EV just will not work for some of us. But for many of us, especially those of us who can charge at home with few complications and rarely drive more than 100 miles a day, it’s workable.

There are some delusional forum members who really believe their Macans handle like Porsche sports cars. Yes, the Macan handles great for an SUV, but it ain’t no sports car and never will be, despite what the salesperson at your dealer might’ve told you. Porsche DNA is a fallacy. The Macan has little in common with a 911 or a Boxster or a Cayman, other than the hood ornament, the steering wheel, and the PCM.

Still enjoy driving the Macan, and mine has been relatively trouble free, but after owning a number of Porsche sports cars, I’m very aware of what the Macan is and what it’s not.... an excellent SUV, but no sports car.

Actually, SUV or not, I can honestly say that the Macan handles better than the BMW e-46 3 series convertible with sport suspension and wide tires I drove for 14 years which, while no super car, is clearly a sports car. And I like Teslas a lot although I think the owner is nuts.

 

[TeeJay]

...and my wife initially was all in on a Tesla Y until she saw the minimalist interior, and fell in love with the Macan when she saw it when pulling into the parking lot. Even before she saw and sat in the interior.