The Macan is quite good.
 

Porsche Macan Turbo tested on track - Is this the new SUV benchmark? - YouTube

I'll be honest i didnt expect it to be quite this good.. very pleased and very impressed.

The reviewer said the 4-wheel drive system is from the Cayenne but I thought I read in Panorama that it was based from the Carerra 4 and that was one reason the Macan has staggered wheels. My son James is in love with the Macan, he will love this video (if he hasn't already found it...)

It looks pretty sharp. I will keep my FJ for now still though as it is my rock solid DD :)

I'm sure that its a great little SUV. But therein lies the problem. I think that it will continue to erode the brand.

At least the "normal" cars they make are still good. Gotta say it looks better than a GLA and much much better than a X1.

Always hear Macan and think of Macadamia nut. :p

I concur..........but I have no logical reason to think this.

I guess I can empathize with how the Porschephile felt when the Mother Company marketed the 914, or when it decided that the front engine, rear transaxle setup of the 924/944/928 was the future of Porsche. Or when the Boxster/Cayman platform was introduced, and they suddenly became aware of the fact that that little sucker could eventually run circles around their time honored swinging pendulum layout, given the same power plant.

Right now, the SUV platform is the most popular, and Porsche is producing a superior example. And they're making a ton of money on it. Enough to keep the "pure" Porsches going.

TO

If they would make a rear wheel drive SUV I would buy it! Like the Macan looks but refuse to pay for 300 lbs I'll never use. Add lightness!:(

"Erode the brand?" What does that mean? Porsche is in business to make money, and evidently they feel that this is a lucrative market. I don't see how they can erode the brand as long as they continue to make Boxsters, Caymans and 911s.

Right, this SUV is eroding the brand. :rolleyes:

Not anymore that some 16 year old driving a Porsche to high school imo... :troll:

Quote:
Originally Posted by thstone
I'm sure that its a great little SUV. But therein lies the problem. I think that it will continue to erode the brand.

Hate to say it, but I agree. What could be done to curb this erosion??? How about a little Motorsport. I would love to see Porsche return to Dakar (even though terrorists have forced the rally to South America) or try the Baja 1000. How about Ken Block in a Macan doing rally cross?

I think they compete in everything they should.... You know the guys at Porsche are perfectionist so they only compete where they know they can win. I love watching Porsches in the euro and now American eundurance championships. No to mention the return to Le Mans prototypes. They are very rich in (successful) Motorsport.

Sounds like a smart guy, most teens with a decent budget waste it on a jeep.:D The SUVs are great, even the diesel ones, I feel that Porsche fans hold the company back with too big of a foot in tradition. Then again I'd personally flip my crap if the next Porsche had its ignition on the right haha.

I can understand a distance to the SUVs but you have to respect the panameras, in my eyes they will sit alongside the other great front engine Porsche sports cars.

I've never quite understood the mission of many of the small SUV models. Are these SUVs, AWD sedans or AWD sedans with sporting intentions?

I ask because what seems to limited in these vehicles is cargo capacity; My RAV4's--first an 07, now a 13--have both had more than 70+ cubic ft. of space with seats down which is great for hauling things like dog crates and other boxy packages. A small package with a lot of utility

The X3, Q5 and now the Macan are under 60 cubic ft. It's not the end of the world for sure, but does limit what you carry in this vehicle. Is this Porsche's answer to the Mazda 3 speed / WRX or something else?

You know the guys at Porsche are perfectionist so they only compete where they know they can win

Agreed. They won Dakar in 1984 in a 953, and then took it again in '86 racing the 959. If they took the Macan off-roading, I'm sure wins would follow. And I can't help but think that would positively affect brand image as Porsche as a sports car company.
FWIW, when Parade was in Charlotte, one of the head honchos from Porsche was a keynote speaker. He talked a bit about the Cayenne and it's impact on the brand, repeating over and over, "Porsche is a sports car company".

It is the Suv look without the suv mpg or price.... mercades gla, bmw x1, and the nissan juke are examples.

I know they have done great in the past, i just feel that rally is something they couldnt step onto the scene with and start winning again... id love to see it myself, but you do have a good point about the macan, all i had in mind were the modern 911s and that was the root of my doubt.

There are a lot of Porsche owners who need more than two seats for a second vehicle. The Cayenne and now the Macan fit that need. The bonus is Porsche builds these vehicles with Porsche DNA. I can remember one review of the Cayenne where the reviewer has a stretch of field behind his house where he reviews SUV's. His comment was that he couldn't believe he had the Cayenne up to 100mph in a field without a problem. There are many other reviews out there that mention the limited body roll and performance of the Cayenne. I currently have a Toyota Tundra that handles my need for extra seats and hauling but I hate driving it now because of the handling, and it handles well, for a truck. I am beginning to think of getting a Cayenne instead of the Tundra and maybe a small trailer for when I need to do some hauling. Instead of diluting the brand, I feel they are enhancing the brand. Imagine a guy who buys a Cayenne or Macan to haul the family around and has never driven a Porsche before. He can only imagine what a 911 or Boxster/Cayman drives like if an SUV can handle that well. Now, if they would only build a truck, that would be perfect:D

Oh, and I think it is awesome that an 18 year old can drive one to school. I wish I could have! Think of all the other kids that will be influenced. Most think a Porsche is out of their reach.:cheers: Oops, 18 year olds can't have a beer, so we will make it root beer!

Walter Rohr is on staff...

Here is a perfect car for another kid in HS. Remember, these are great cars for a young guy/girl to do their own maintenance on. Looks like they did the Blue LED conversion.

2000 Porsche Boxster

2000 Porsche Boxster - $5000 (richardson)


2000 Porsche Boxster odometer: 132000 manual transmission

2000 Porsche Boxster Looks and runs great no dents. Silver/Black 5 speed, 2.7 runs great. New clutch.

Clear blue title in my name. 132,000 Miles.

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Dang mines just a 2.5, paid more for it too.. less miles though. As for the tundra, Cayenne thing.. i know quite a few Cayenne owners and all were privous boxster or 911 owners (or they still have the other pcar) but they need something to bring the family around in too. I know someone with a cayenne GTS and he says it handles just as good as his old 2002 boxster S he used to own.

I find it humorous that people, who buy used cars (often not from the dealer), worry about whether Porsche is "eroding" the brand.

As far as I can tell, the "brand" remains the same -- they are a boutique dealer of high performance vehicles -- most buyers don't buy off the lot, rather they build a car to spec. Somehow, I still fail to see significant effects on the company since introducing the front engine 928, the 914, 924, the 944, the Cayenne, the Panamera, or even the "girly" Boxsters and slightly (?) more masculine Caymens, that most here drive.

Nor have I seen mass exodus from the brand (or from 911s) since the introduction of the Tiptronic, or PDK.

Porsche still seems to continue to sell, while people that may have never been to the dealership worry about abstract concepts, like "brand". This is nothing more than the realization of Nietzsche's concept of "Will to Power". In societies where one's will is subjugated by laws and social norms, the will to power exhibits itself in manifestations of nothingness -- like the idea of "Brand". Reminds me of the "Dude" asking about "leads" on who stole his car:

Leads - YouTube

Honestly, if we are talking about the threat to the "brand" it would be the GT3 fires and recall. Not the introduction of a small SUV *lets be honest, SAV*.

Since we're talking about "brand" -- do all y'all think that Disney is in trouble since the past few movies (Brave, Frozen) haven't been about the importance of having a boyfriend (Little Mermaid)?

Tangled makes up for, and while Hocus Pocus is old, it has quite a lasting effect in the category.. you could make a drinking game out of every time they say virgin in that movie.... then again that is just asking for alcohol poisoning.

Eroding the brand?

It's been erroded. Past tense. More than half of all the Porsches sold are not sports cars. They are in fact luxury sedans and luxury SUVs. They are using the sports car heritage to sell luxury cars.
Today the average Porsche driver is like the average mountain bike owner. They never go near the trails with their bike. It mainly sits nicely pampered in a garage, just like the Porsche.

Not that there's anything wrong with making money on back of racing success. It's what car companies do. But there's no point in saying that yet another non-sports car is going to change what's already been altered signficantly. Now as a luxury brand however, Porsche adding more cars will indeed dilute the perception of exclusivity. Look at Mercedes. They have more cars than Starbucks has warm beverage varities. Today owning a Merc is not nearly as special as it once was.

As for this little SUV. I don't get this concept of making workboots equal parts fancy and fast. People seem just to default to an SUV because that's the trendy thing to do. But now they want their trendy car to be different than all the other mass produced SUVs. Seems like silly herd-following mentality to me. I've lost count of the number of people I know who want an SUV because they claim they need the space even though the back seat is empty 99% of the time. Meanwhile they are less safe in these SUVs than a more nimble, lighter, better braking sedan and these SUVs are a royal pain in the arse to see over or past. Especially at intersections when the SUV behind you decides to pull up next to you and blocks your view of oncoming traffic...because he can't wait. And as an every day cylclist virtually every close call with someone running me off the road or even making contact with me has been a moron texting, shaving, primping in a big SUV that they can't see around.

:rolleyes:

I've never met someone so sure of what everyone thinks and holds to be truths. Except Every republican, of course.

Owning a Merc(ury?) isn't so special as it once was? My, my -- I will await for Merc to issue an apology for letting customers feel less important, successful, and haughty, and be sure to disrespect all Merc(ury and cedes) owners and better educate them on their horrible taste.

So, I guess Nordstroms is off limits, too, because it is no longer a shoe store? Hey, let me know when it's ok to respect someone from Jersey, you know, since Christie's bridge closing fiasco, the Garden State Pkwy, the failed tummy-tape surgery, and the Orange cast of Jersey Shore that has tainted you folks so bad that NJ was kicked out of the Tri-state area.

Not really. Tangled was more about "Finn Ryder" changing his attitude and dropping his thieving ways. It was also more akin to the "rescuing the princess" theme, that Disney often showcases. Hocus Pocus was also live action, and thus a different category.

Jersey Shore cast are not from NJ. :rolleyes:

No need for ad hom swipes. You bought a car not an identity, no need to defend it as if it were.

Practice what thy preach - especially with SUV fans and drivers and being "trendy". I means, is it possible that someone may want an SUV because they have kids or are at a different point in their life, or just think a given car is "cool"? And, please spell out, for the non-legally or non-philosophically inclined. Not everyone is enlightened. And you are right - I did buy a car. I didn't buy an identity nor can I quote race histories, times and lap challenges, as others seem to profess in their posts and threads. I also don't profess to know much about what others think, believe, and say - again, unlike others that seem to positively know what everyone else thinks and feels.

Oh brother.omeone says owning a Mercedes isn't as unique as it once was, an opinion nothing more, and you take offense as if it were somehow a critique on the owner rather than the car company itself? Then to top off such thin-skin, you make an attack on an entire state? And you do so by including folks who aren't even from that state? Fail on top of fail.

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Plap, i totally agree about the suvs and suv people.... look at the G-Class.. i would love to own one because it is a beast off road, but now its the concrete jungle that they prowl in. I dont see an issue with Porsche making suvs, as long as they are class leading which they are. I guess our only hope is when these trendy folk buy a macan for the badge, they will see how great it handles and such and they too will catch the Porsche bug. The entry to Porsche performance isnt the boxster, its one of their luxury cars, then you have brand loyalty and come back for one of the sports cars.

Not to mention singling out an entire political party as idiots while he is at.

Huh. I never realized your posts were an opinion (assuming you've owned a Mercedes) -- nothing more, -- and my posts are vitriol mandated and signed by Obama and Jeremy Clarkson (being a BMW owner, I guess my attitude is expected). However, I do apologize regarding the Jersey Shore cast being from Jersey. I really couldn't stomach the show so I never did watch it or do much research on it. I have had, though, the displeasure of being on the toll-every-five-feet Garden State, so, I do not apologize for that comment nor for Christie's (?) and staff's actions.

Having said that, I formally apologize to all those offended by that remark about the Jersey Shore cast being from Jersey, and will immediately write all the owners of the Jets and Giants to rename their teams, since they play in Jersey, and not New York. Oh, and since some good does come from Jersey, I do still listen and like Bon Jovi, Wanted Dead or Alive. That counts for something, right?

People are free to make whatever purchasing choices they wish in buying an SUV or a far safer car. But that doesn't mean those of us who aren't in SUV's aren't free to voice our opinions about their prevalence today. Being in a smaller car, I think we'd all rather get plowed by another small car than a rolling house that takes longer to stop and requires more attention behind the wheel.
For instance I bought my mother a mid-sized sedan a couple of years ago. She wanted a Mini Cooper and while it's a great nimble car, there are far too many accidents occurring in her neighbohrhood, one intersection doesn't have a light and its always littered with broken talights and glass from one accident after another. These tall SUVs block the sightline in trying to traverse these intersections. And a little further away is a stretch of road that is far too long and should at least have rumble srips or a speed bump as people are constantly going 20 mph over the limit in a residential area. Two elderly women were run over and reportedly knocked 30 feet into a driveway where they died.
A small car crossing into that kind of oncoming traffic, half of which are these these large SUV's, is basically toast at 6+mph speeds.

Cfos, you've apologized for ridiculing New Jersey by praising Bon Jovi instead of Springsteen? I've been in NJ all of my life and don't know a single person who has ever purchased any music from Bon Jovi since 1988.
I think it's mostly people from outside of NJ...who had big hair in 1988 and like to reminisce.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Sorry, for the time lapse -- my Wife wanted me to purchase feminine hygiene products and I had to go out.
;)

Anyway, I do like Bruce and think it is great that his son, of all things, has dedicated himself to be a fireman. And so what if i like Bon Jovi? I never had big hair, and didn't recall that being a factor in liking a song. Of course, using the same thoughts, one could say that people here modify their cars cosmetically with bumpers and such... Right? By your analogy (liking Bon Jovi and big hair) makes these people "ricers" right? Unless, your bumper added, what 5 hp?:D or will you please correct me again, using some historical or racing significance to make the difference between some people and ricers?

Almost forgot to reply. I'd be careful about this one, Jake, I hear owning a Merc isn't what it used to be. Maybe it's no longer the "beast" you think it is. Besides, you'd be a horrible driver, by your own omission, if you had one. We only (apparently) deal with absolutes, here.

:o

She may need to share some of those, considering how this threads going id say the whole lot here might need a pack. :D

True, true. They're were from Costco, so we have plenty... And, by the way, I appreciate your efforts on capitalization and even using a comma! *SIGH* My, they grow up so fast...

I've even been dabbling with apostrophes on occasion, a true sight to see.

Being that these are 2, independent, yet related, clauses... I'd suggest you consider add a semicolon from time to time. But, use it sparingly -- until you gain more experience.