What Macan years/options?

[hcoles]

I'm helping a buddy select a Macan. That seems to be the car he wants to replace his Cayman S. He wants room and 4WD for ski trips.
The Macan seems to have a large option list. What years/options are recommended or not recommended? A brief web search found some negative reports on the durability of the transfer case. Nothing else jumped out in terms of watch out for this or that. Is the 4WD full time and what "modes" does it have? E.g. low range, locking/snow/sand/mud?

Thanks for any info./comments.

[Eric at Pelican Parts]

The Macan isn't that great for long trips if you're stuffing 4 adults in there. It's bearable, but it won't be the best. If more space is needed, and he's adamant about sticking with a Porsche, the Cayenne will be a better fit.

I haven't driven mines in snow yet, but the AWD system is rear biased, and the GTS has the most rear bias of the bunch. I have no terrain modes, but I have an offroad button. This button raises the car and shifts the initial torque so that the front and rear are pretty close... but still rear biased. You'll notice more engine braking

No matter what your buddy gets, PTV is probably going to be one option he's going to check off. And PSE, unless he's going to put another exhaust on. Sports Chrono is a must to me as well

[MRM]

I can't help you with most of your questions but I do have a good friend who has a newer one and he shopped for a long time before he bought the one he has. He says that the GTS is the engine to get. It's half way between the regular S and the Turbo. He said the base models weren't too lively but the GTS was exactly what you wanted with a car like that. He did end up with a Turbo because he couldn't find a GTS within his parameters. He says the turbo Macon is almost as fast as a 911 turbo, which is great but unnecessary. According to Car & Driver, the turbo does 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, so my friend may be on to something.

[GH85Carrera]

A year ago my wife picked out and we ordered a 2017 Macan. She loves it. It is the base model and and plenty peppy for normal driving. It will get up and go and merge onto the interstate with great ease. The 0-60 is in the mid 6 second range. About like my 85 911.

She just got back from a road trip to Missouri with her mom and aunt. Both of them are in their 80s. They both enjoyed the ride. It was just a 3.5 hour trip each way.

She loves getting 27 MPG (yea really) and loves the vehicle. We have not driven in in the snow and ice and have little desire to ever need to.

[Eric at Pelican Parts]

Wow, I wish I got that mileage in my Macan! The highest I've gotten is 23, but I typically I get 15-18 MPG mixed.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by hcoles

I'm helping a buddy select a Macan. That seems to be the car he wants to replace his Cayman S. He wants room and 4WD for ski trips.
Thanks for any info./comments.

Not aware of bad years... I can tell you the 2.0T is "fine" but not peppy enough. The S is "OK" but somehow (we were X-shopping these and test drove everything) feels slower and less special than an SQ5, which surprised me (the Audi having rear bucket seats, *really* cool diamond pattern alcantara seats and TFT dash all for way less $). The GTS is cool...
If he can get a turbo or a GTS, he should because even the S is OK but not "OMG this is fast"... I have not driven the turbo but I hear it's cool..

Or get the new SQ5 - I never thought I'd say that but we drove them back to back and it blew me away...

The macan's AWD all the time AFAIK, aside from these test drives, I also got many loaners from the dealer over the past 2 years when my 911 was in for service. I particularly like that it's RWD biased according the AWD readout which shows you where power goes real time and my butt-o-meter. It feels it, and that's the nicest thing about it overall, feels more 911-ish than other trucks, agile, and calls the front wheels for help when needed... It's good driver, feels like a tall RWD GTI...

Overall, for the $ though, as much as I root for Porsche, it's IMO overpriced and a tad small to carry anything other than kids and small luggage... In that price range , my $, I'd get the Audi (same chassis, more stuff for the $)

PS: Unrelated but we ended up with a Q7 3.0T, seven seater, metric crapton of trunk room... Despite me pushing for Macan/cayenne ;-)