Insulated glass or rear wiper? (First post by a Porsche newbie.)

[Jonny McCann]

I’ve never sat in a Porsche, let alone driven one (so please be kind), but currently have a Macan 4 Electric on order, yet to go into build.

My previous car was a high-spec. Jaguar F-Pace 3.0d, and I’m currently using a Tesla Model Y Long Range until my Macan is delivered.

The big dilemma is the option of either thermally and noise insulated glass or a rear wiper (as the two together are not available on a Macan 4 Electric).

I live in North West England, which has a temperate, damp climate, where roads are salted in the winter when a severe frost is forecast.

My driving is typically on main roads with less than perfect surfaces, and where the speed limit is generally 50 MPH. I also use motorways regularly but seldom drive in cities.

The insulated glass option seems attractive if it really cuts out noise, but I’m not sure if it’s good enough to merit losing the rear wiper. I’d love a quiet cabin (as I had with the Jaguar), but may miss a rear wiper (as I do with the Tesla). I’m not at all concerned at how a rear wiper might affect the aerodynamics or aesthetics of the car.

My Macan order currently includes adaptive air suspension.

Could any contributors to this forum offer any experience-based advice?

Also, is a heated windscreen necessary on an EV? Has anyone any experience of the Macan Electric’s heated windscreen?

Finally, I see that side airbags in the rear compartment are optional on the Macan 4 Electric. Porsche explained that this refers to additional airbags that would need to be deactivated when fitting a child seat in the rear. I don’t expect to have passengers in the rear compartment, let alone children, but would worry that if I don’t opt for all the safety features available, I could be putting my (rare) back seat passengers at risk.

I'd be very grateful for advice or pointers for thins to consider from contributors to MacanEVOwners.

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[tmrqs]

Hi @Jonny McCann, start with these 2 threads, they may answer your question.

- Thread 1
- Thread 2

 

[TomO]

I was in the same spot trying to make the decision. Now that I have mine I can say the car is super quiet with the standard glass. And I really like having the rear wiper. So super happy with my decision to skip the glass upgrade and get the wiper.

 

[Salmonfisher]

I have had a Polestar in UK where wipers are not an option and they are lower and you would expect more spray to be thrown up. Apart from occasionally reversing in heavy rain I have never missed a wiper ( and I was nervous about it) certainly never any issue once moving. My dealer strongly recommends against and claims the turbulence affects range although others have pointed out the configuration only show a small loss.
Anyway I haven’t included one on my 4 on order

 

[bibilon2024]

I had two test drives today: Macan 4 without insulated glass and a Macan Turbo with insulated glass. I drove exactly the same route, and found it hard to hear difference. If speed is below say 40 miles, the car is super quiet. Driving on the motorway with 70mph was noisier than expected, especially as I am used to hear the combination of tyre and motor noise. The sales guy measured the noise level on the motorway and difference between insulated and non-insulated glass was about 2.5 decibels. This is not much and I am happy that I now don't have to ponder for the next few years if I should have delayed my order

 

[Awaz]

@bibilon2024

Good to know.
And what size tyres were they?

 

[Mr_Frenchy]

Thanks for the feedback, very helpful
Did both cars have the same wheels / tires and what were they , 20, 21 or 22" ?

 

[bibilon2024]

@bibilon2024

Good to know.
And what size tyres were they?

21 inches (both)

 

[byebye]

I had two test drives today: Macan 4 without insulated glass and a Macan Turbo with insulated glass. I drove exactly the same route, and found it hard to hear difference. If speed is below say 40 miles, the car is super quiet. Driving on the motorway with 70mph was noisier than expected, especially as I am used to hear the combination of tyre and motor noise. The sales guy measured the noise level on the motorway and difference between insulated and non-insulated glass was about 2.5 decibels. This is not much and I am happy that I now don't have to ponder for the next few years if I should have delayed my order

Actually, that’s a big difference, almost twice as much… (even though your hear/brain doesn’t interpret things like this: you need +10db to get the sensation of twice as much noise.)

 

[Big Grack]

I had the same dilemma and discussed it in detail with the experienced salesman with whom I dealt. Previously had a rear wiper so was nervous without it. Eventually went with the insulated glass (22 inch wheels) and the upgraded sound system. Delighted with result as super quiet car on all surfaces with brilliant sound system. I don’t miss the rear wiper - I think excellent side mirrors and the three flashing amber lights for vehicles about to over (or under) take you mitigate vision differences to some degree. I live in the south of England where the weather is milder than “up North”!
You’ll probably be happy with whatever decision you make…….

 

[srmacan]

Depends what your top priority is. If it is a quiet cabin then the insulated glass does make a difference. Objectively there is 3-4db decibel difference with and without it but then again there is also a subjective element with regards to your perception and sensitivity to noise. Depending on the tyre size you will still hear some tyre noise especially on a coarse surface even with the insulated glass. It is a really quiet cabin on smooth tarmac. Noise levels were +1db on a coarse tarmac compared to my previous EQC and the EQS I test drove. I have the 20" wheels. Rear wiper won't be a huge miss.

 

[dgkhn]

I have the rear wiper. I live in central New Hampshire, USA, and our roads have been brined/salted most of the winter so far. IMHO, road salt is the only reason to need the rear wiper/washer on the Macan (i.e. plain rain is not an issue). I do find it useful with the salt spray and would probably option again for that simple reason. As you may know from experience, a wet salted road can cover the rear glass very quickly while you are driving.

Keep in mind two additional facts:
1. The rear wiper and the required wiper motor housing both impinge on the already narrow rear view. Not so much that I wouldn't option it again necessarily, but a factor against.
2. Allegedly, the insulated glass also impacts cell phone reception. I too find the car to be quiet with the regular glass, though I have no basis for comparison. I have 20" wheels, but still I think the biggest single noise factor at the speeds I drive is tire noise, and I doubt the insulated glass would affect that much.
3. I have no way to tell if the wiper affects efficiency at all, but I don't see how it could be much.

I also have the heated windshield, which seems useful in principal, but since my car is kept in a heated garage, I have not really needed to try it yet this cold and snowy winter. I imagine it would prove useful if I get caught parking out in the cold at some point, but keep in mind, disappointingly, the only way to activate it apparently is by turning on the defroster, which blasts air at the windshield. So, "draft free" not.

 

[prime]

I havent been in a Macan with the insulated glass. Ive driven 3 variations of Turbo and Macan 4 with different wheel sizes 20-22. The 22 inch wheel /tire combo is much noisier on highway, that would likely make a more meaningful difference than the glass option. Wind noise and motor noise are overall very controlled as is.

 

[Awaz]

@Fly4ever has posted this very handy chart Specs & options impact to Macan EV autonomy / range:-

https://www.macanevowners.com/forum/threads/specs-options-impact-to-macan-ev-autonomy-range.17625/

 

[Fun TC Driving]

Re the meter measuring of 2.5 decibels difference (post # 5), the human ear perceives a sound doubling in level when decibels are increased 3 decibels — so 2.5 increase in sound level is a major difference. Of course each of us is physically different, as anre our routes we drive, and perhaps more importantly how much rain where we live..

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