"Torque Affair" (torqueaffair)
07/14/2016 at 07:34 • Filed to: porsche
3
16|
"Torque Affair" (torqueaffair)
07/14/2016 at 07:34 • Filed to: porsche | 3
| 16 |
There’s not much I like about SUVs. They’re big, bulky, boring looking and equally as boring to drive. Unless you’re talking about the Jeep Cherokee SRT8 in which case, the SRT8 is awesome.
And now, I’ve found another one that I like in addition to the SRT8-the 2016 Porsche Macan S. I mean, look at it. It’s just gorgeous.
With signature Porsche headlights and the hood emblem, you won’t mistake this vehicle for anything other than a Porsche. The front end is bold and aggressive and the rear end has my favorite quad exhaust look, complete with wide rear tires. I never “ooh” or “aah” over SUVs, but with this one I do.
And it’s just the right size too. Not too big, not too small. Whereas the Cayenne is a bit too hefty for my taste, the Macan is perfectly proportioned.
The Macan undoubtedly has impressive looks but what took me by surprise was the excellent driving experience. I would never have expected to step into this oversized hatchback and actually have fun driving it.
Behind The Wheel
You know how sometimes you just know things? Like when you find the right pair of shoes, the right job, or how you just know that the new guy at work is a
jerk
from hell? You can feel it in your gut. With the Macan, before you even start driving, you know that it will be good.
As soon as you get into the driver’s seat, you quickly realize that the Macan was built for the auto enthusiast. Ergonomics are great. The seating position is great. The steering wheel feels great. Everything is great.
And sure enough, as soon as I started driving it, the Macan immediately rewarded me by being way more agile and nimble than I would’ve thought. I had no qualms about throwing this relatively large vehicle around and experienced minimal body roll, given its size and elevation off the ground. The Macan never once lost its balance or gave me any indication that I was going to flip over and die by taking a hard turn.
And I took many U-turns in the Macan in order to get some good camera shots; it was extremely surefooted every single time. Don’t let all my U-turns go to waste-watch the video.
I could’ve used more power in the Macan S, but I would probably say that with just about any car. Always need more power. 340 hp/lb-ft torque isn’t bad but 400 hp is better suited for the Macan, which you can get in the Turbo model. But even with 340 hp, I enjoyed myself in the Macan S. The delivery of the power was smooth with good acceleration and the fast-shifting PDK transmission helped maximize every bit of horsepower that the Macan was capable of generating.
Luxury
The interior of the Macan was nicely done. The ride was comfortable and it was super quiet inside the cabin. There were the usual goodies and gizmos along with a bunch of fake buttons. I imagine enabling any of those buttons would cost you tens of thousands of dollars meaning that instead of paying $60K for the Macan, you could walk out with a Macan costing you more than a hundred grand .
Anytime I go from a non-German vehicle to a German one, everything feels solid and heavy–in a good way. The doors on the Macan may seem small but they are actually quite heavy and require some muscle to operate.
The seats are heavy too. As I pulled the levers to put the rear seats down, trying to explore how much room there was in the back, the seats just plummeted downwards. My puny muscles were unable to slow down the fall.
The Annoying Thing
There was one thing that I found annoying in the otherwise fabulous Macan. The headrest. The Macan front seat headrests will always be grazing your head in some fashion. Just like the mosquito that never leaves you alone, the headrest will continue to remind you of its existence.
It’s like that annoying pimple or the voice in your head that won’t go away. No matter what you try to do with your head, the headrest will get in there and cop a feel whenever possible.
What About Practicality?
The Macan might look relatively big and spacious from the outside, but once you get in, there isn’t a whole lot of room. Especially in the back, where it’s quite cramped.
Even though you could potentially fit three people in the back, the person sitting in the middle would be way more aggravated than being in the middle seat in an airplane being squeezed in by a couple of 400 lb giants who have completely taken over both armrests. A federal law should be enacted that allows an airplane middle seat passenger to have access to at least one armrest at all times.
Folding down the rears seats could give you a bit more space to fit in a year’s worth of peanuts from Costco, however you will be disappointed that you don’t have enough room to fit the screaming deal you just found at Best Buy–a $200 55-inch TV. But don’t worry–purchasing a Macan might just mean that you don’t have money to buy anything else anyway.
Who Would Buy This?
I thought about this for a moment and realized that there is an ideal person for whom the Macan is the right vehicle. That person would be someone a) who can afford it, b) prioritizes his or her need to have an enjoyable driving experience ahead of caving in to the family demands of getting something more practical, like an SUV.
The spouse of the Macan buyer would, of course, balk at the need to own a true sports car or drive something that’s actually fun. “No, you can’t get your 911 – it has no backseat, you idiot!”
The Macan is the perfect car to appease such irritating family members. Porsche has ingeniously designed a vehicle which appears to be practical, but it’s not really since it can barely fit your gym bag. It is a true driver’s car and ready to make anyone who is lucky enough to find themselves in the driver’s seat a happy person.
If you’re in a situation where you have no choice but to buy a “family car” to get your loved one to stop nagging for one second, then the Macan might solve your problems. It is expensive though, especially the Turbo model, but it is totally worth the extra dough. But that’s not a problem. Start saving today–just $5 a day. That way in 50 years you can buy it in cash.
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Slant6
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 07:52 |
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Why not Volvo?
spanfucker retire bitch
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 07:53 |
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This and the F-Pace are the best looking and best driving small-ish crossovers out there.
I’m so jealous everytime I see a Macan on the road, which is basically every morning on my commute. Such an awesome car.
nschaich3
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 07:54 |
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I drove one of these at the porsche experience center, after I drove a 911, and I was really impressed with how well it handled and how fast it was, especially on some of the obstacles. I didn’t have high expectations getting into it from a 911 but it almost is just a taller 911.
Arrivederci
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 08:05 |
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If cost was no object, the top two new SUVs I would shop would be the Range Rover Sport and the Macan Turbo, I think they’re just both the business. Now, if we’re spending my money, I’d be willing to swing $50k on F-Pace. That thing is damn sexy.
Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 08:26 |
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Nice Tiguan, bro.
Aaron M - MasoFiST
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 08:34 |
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The Macan is the only crossover on the market I’d actually consider buying without a stick.
LongbowMkII
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 08:46 |
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If you’re going to buy an SUV buy an SUV.
“It’s useless but it’s fast”
Then why compromise? Just get a GT car.
TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 08:49 |
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“They’re big, bulky, boring looking and equally as boring to drive.”
Clearly you’re doing it wrong then...
Courtesy of fellow Oppo Tim.
http://overland.kinja.com/bugout-hiding-…
To paraphrase Einstein: If you judge an SUV by it’s ability to drive around a race track, it will always be boring.
gawdzillla
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 09:43 |
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the Volvo T90 would like to have a word with you
WiscoProud
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 11:02 |
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Unless you need 4wd (snowy climates, rough roads, etc) there is no reason to buy an SUV over a minivan. I have an SUV, but its our designated "blizzard" vehicle and I like to drive on forest roads.
DynamicWeight
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 12:39 |
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It’s like you reached into my brain, pulled out every automotive pet peeve I have, and shoved them all into one article.
I imagine the prospective buyer for this monstrosity, upon first learning of it’s existence might utter something like “Oh yeah, Porches? Aren’t they fast or something?”
Also, the 911 has a back seat.
Tapas
> Arrivederci
07/14/2016 at 13:12 |
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If money was no object but I’d still have to buy an SUV, I’d get a P(ee)-Face SVR.
Yes. I’ll pay SVR to make me one and call it Pee-Face, illuminated door sills and everything. It can be the sexiest SUV ever, but I’ve never been able to read that name as they want me to.
Aaaron
> Torque Affair
07/14/2016 at 16:25 |
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I’ve actually always been a Porsche guy myself but if I was going to get a luxury SUV it would probably be an X5 M or something like that. The Porsche SUVs are nice but BMW totally beats them performance wise. Interiors on both cars are pretty nice as well.
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Torque Affair
> Slant6
07/14/2016 at 18:41 |
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Good choice as well - but I do love the looks of this one.
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Torque Affair
> gawdzillla
07/14/2016 at 18:42 |
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I’m sure it does!
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Green Mountain Car Guy
> Torque Affair
07/25/2016 at 18:14 |
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I was afforded the chance last week to put a couple hundred miles on a Macan Turbo for an acquaintance. I was not wanting for more power....
It was an awesome drive too.