Used Macan S vs Turbo

[johnb]

I am pretty close to pulling the trigger on a 2016 Macan S. But a 2015 Turbo just came up in my area too. It's the first Turbo I've ever seen for sale around here.

I've driven a good few S and Base Macans. Is the difference really big with the Turbo? Should I check it out? Do they have anything cool as standard that's optional on the other models?

[Tom]

Did you see @kapetajr's sapphire blue thread? The turbo is begging for hot-rodder mods. That could be a good thing or a bad thing I guess if you just want a reliable daily driver SUV (especially for those of us who have a hard time leaving good enough alone). I'm starting to think the turbo would make a nice replacement for my GMC Canyon as a daily driver.

[johnb]

Did you see @kapetajr's sapphire blue thread? The turbo is begging for hot-rodder mods. That could be a good thing or a bad thing I guess if you just want a reliable daily driver SUV (especially for those of us who have a hard time leaving good enough alone). I'm starting to think the turbo would make a nice replacement for my GMC Canyon as a daily driver.

Yeah I have skimmed it...I am definitely going to keep whatever I get stock though! Honestly even with my 944 being totally stock I struggle to keep everything up to date. It's beyond me where people find the time to maintain heavily modified cars.

I started out looking for a base model Macan as a daily driver. They are actually pretty good. Not fast, but they have a nimbleness that the Ss don't have. My issue with them is really just that they tend to be so basic in other ways. The higher end models tend to have better options, besides the power.

[Tom]

Did you see @kapetajr's sapphire blue thread? The turbo is begging for hot-rodder mods. That could be a good thing or a bad thing I guess if you just want a reliable daily driver SUV (especially for those of us who have a hard time leaving good enough alone). I'm starting to think the turbo would make a nice replacement for my GMC Canyon as a daily driver.

Yeah I have skimmed it...I am definitely going to keep whatever I get stock though! Honestly even with my 944 being totally stock I struggle to keep everything up to date. It's beyond me where people find the time to maintain heavily modified cars.

I started out looking for a base model Macan as a daily driver. They are actually pretty good. Not fast, but they have a nimbleness that the Ss don't have. My issue with them is really just that they tend to be so basic in other ways. The higher end models tend to have better options, besides the power.

I hear you on the hot-rods. It's actually ringing in my ears after yesterday's gas leak. In any event, when I take my 992 in for servicing, I often get a base Macan as a loaner. To your point, they are 'fine' but not super inspiring. A friend of mine has a Macan S with a well-appointed brown leather interior, and it's a night and day difference. It feels like a luxury car inside and drives like a beast with ~350hp. I'm sure the turbo was better still, but with a sample size of 1, the Macan S I drove was more than plenty from every angle. Porsche killed the capital T Turbo in 2022, but with every model sporting turbochargers and the GTS putting out 434hp from a twin-turbo V6, that seems more about marketing than anything else... Between those two cars, I'd take the one with fewer miles and/or whichever one you can get a better deal on.

[Hawk]

I am pretty close to pulling the trigger on a 2016 Macan S. But a 2015 Turbo just came up in my area too. It's the first Turbo I've ever seen for sale around here.

I've driven a good few S and Base Macans. Is the difference really big with the Turbo? Should I check it out? Do they have anything cool as standard that's optional on the other models?

We had a 2017 Macan S which we traded in against our 2021 Cayenne GTS. And, our son has a 2018 Macan Turbo which I have driven quite a bit when we travel North. Let me simply say that both my wife and I LOVE the Macan's. They are nimble, quick, comfortable and just the right size for us. The only real difference between the S and Turbo is the power. Otherwise they have the same amenities, interior look, feel (we both opted for the 18 way seats), and options.

As you have experienced the difference between the base Macan and the S when you step up to the Turbo there is yet again a significant difference (in power only) above the S. If that is what you are looking for I would recommend taking a test drive in the Turbo. As I said, otherwise they are basically identical.

[kapetajr]

Thanks for the mention @Tom

@johnb Get whatever fits your budget. If price is the same get the Turbo right now(pending PPI). I test drove 4 S's, 3 GTS's, 1 base(sport edition with evryoption inculding sport exhaust, air), 1 turbo. All at the same dealer & all on the same roads.

I bought the turbo after a highway rip on the test drive.

The 3.6 engine is an absolute monster. If I had to do it again Turbo all the way even if it meant waiting. (Save up to get the turbo)

Do you have the specs on both cars?

Turbos came with more standard options I.e
4 point DRL
Black Alcantara headliner
PASM adjustable suspension on steel springs with tradition fixed suspension. Air was an option on both.
Standard Bixenons on the Turbo
14ways as standard on the Turbo vs 8ways
They can all be upgraded to the same spec and the only difference would be engine side
**above applies to the 2015 -2018 First Gen macans.


Do you have a link to the cars you are considering?

[johnb]

Thanks for the mention @Tom

@johnb Get whatever fits your budget. If price is the same get the Turbo right now(pending PPI). I test drove 4 S's, 3 GTS's, 1 base(sport edition with evryoption inculding sport exhaust, air), 1 turbo. All at the same dealer & all on the same roads.

I bought the turbo after a highway rip on the test drive.

The 3.6 engine is an absolute monster. If I had to do it again Turbo all the way even if it meant waiting. (Save up to get the turbo)

Do you have the specs on both cars?

Turbos came with more standard options I.e
4 point DRL
Black Alcantara headliner
PASM adjustable suspension on steel springs with tradition fixed suspension. Air was an option on both.
Standard Bixenons on the Turbo
14ways as standard on the Turbo vs 8ways
They can all be upgraded to the same spec and the only difference would be engine side
**above applies to the 2015 -2018 First Gen macans.


Do you have a link to the cars you are considering?

They're both within budget. The S is cheaper now, but it started around the same price. All Macans have been coming down a bit in my area over the last few months.

Turbo: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/28d2 ... n=atempest

S: https://www.andymohrvw.com/used-Avon-20 ... e=cars.com

The S is a nice clean car, lower mileage, one owner. I haven't seen the Turbo in person yet.

I did drive one Macan S with 3 suspension modes (not sure which option that is exactly - is that PASM?) and I literally could not tell the difference between the modes, so I'm not too worried about that option.

What are the brakes like on the Turbos? I've been disappointed with the brakes on every version I've driven so far. The S linked above has good life in the brakes, and they're adequate, but not great for the power it has imo.

[kapetajr]

Between those 2 cars? Turbo all the way.
The difference is under $1300. When both were new the difference between was almost $20k.

Only caveat is try the 18way seats in the turbo. Some people find them tight and uncomfortable, but I love them (5'9 225).

PASM is the suspension setting. It's more noticeable when you are going to corners or on a bumpy road.

Here are the options between both cars


Turbo
https://vinanalytics.com/car/WP1AF2A53FLB92304/

Screenshot_20220503-164420_Firefox.jpg (536.66 KiB) Viewed 10129 times

Screenshot_20220503-164413_Firefox.jpg (547.08 KiB) Viewed 10129 times

S
https://vinanalytics.com/car/WP1AB2A59GLB55545/

Screenshot_20220503-163820_Firefox.jpg (648.96 KiB) Viewed 10129 times

Screenshot_20220503-163827_Firefox.jpg (649.49 KiB) Viewed 10129 times

Turbo has better wheels
Gloss black trim
And interior color(not a fan of beige interiors)

Turbo brakes are decent enough. The car definitely needs stronger pads(I'm going to be going with EBC Yellowstuff pads). The Turbo and GTS do have the Biggest front Brakes on all Macan. PCCBs are bigger but good luck finding a Macan with those as an option.

Go drive the turbo.

[Hawk]

My only caution is the mileage on the turbo. Depending on which options you prefer and how much power you desire you can always negotiate the price on the S especially if it was just recently reduced.

[kapetajr]

My only caution is the mileage on the turbo. Depending on which options you prefer and how much power you desire you can always negotiate the price on the S especially if it was just recently reduced.

Good point on the mileage. I bought mine 160xxxkms on it, so it wasn't a concern for me.