Service experience today, combustion Macan comparison

[JonoNZ]

I dropped by Macan Turbo (late November 2024 build) off at my Porsche Centre for a few things to be looked at today:
- rear left child lock malfunction requiring replacement
- adjust the wipers that occasionally hit the right hand (drivers side) A-pillar when in use
- software update campaign
- HUD had stopped working completely a few weeks ago

All items were resolved except one, the big software update took about 2 hours to apply to my car. No idea why others report 6+ hrs or days to apply it, but my experience was not that. Unfortunately the HUD could not be revived and the control unit is not responding so my service centre has contacted Porsche Germany for next steps.

My loan car was a 2024 Macan combustion with 5,000km on it. Driving these two vehicles back-to-back was interesting to say the least. Overall impressions, I can't see anything in the old Macan that comes close to the new electric H2 Macan -- they are worlds apart in driving enjoyment, ergonomics, and quality. Admittedly the loaner had a pretty uninspiring drivetrain (4-cylinder 2.0T 265PS) that was utterly lacking in character in my opinion. My Turbo is also highly spec'ed. The interior fit and finish, technology and comfort have moved forward in leaps and bounds in this generation. I can't imagine scenario where someone would choose the combustion car over the electric other than price.

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[daveo4EV]

this is my feeling - EV drive trains are vastly better than the majority (or even super majority) of ICE drvie trains.

 

[JonoNZ]

this is my feeling - EV drive trains are vastly better than the majority (or even super majority) of ICE drvie trains.

Exactly, there are some very special combustion cars out there, but they are extreme minority, the vast majority have nothing special about them at all and even a low-end electric car can outclass them.

 

[PrudentOcean]

Let’s be honest, most EV drivetrains are also uninspiring. Their party trick is lots of torque from standstill, but there are also other aspects that people look in a performance car. And what handicaps EVs the most is their weight and the effect on handling.

I hope to see those issues largely disappear as technology improves, but for now I can still see cases to be made for both (depending on the need).

 

[SteveInKirkland]

Let’s be honest, most EV drivetrains are also uninspiring. Their party trick is lots of torque from standstill, but there are also other aspects that people look in a performance car. And what handicaps EVs the most is their weight and the effect on handling.

I hope to see those issues largely disappear as technology improves, but for now I can still see cases to be made for both (depending on the need).

Do you think energy density in Porsche EVs will double in more or less than 5 years?

Would a halving of battery weight be enough to improve the weight problems in driving dynamics? 75% reduction? How much does active ride help?

I'm wondering how much things would have to change to motivate me to buy another Macan with lighter battery or Active Ride to improve on the current one. But I'm just engaging in s*** talk (useless speculation ... and I'm fine with it).

 

[fubar.droid]

I dropped by Macan Turbo (late November 2024 build) off at my Porsche Centre for a few things to be looked at today:
- rear left child lock malfunction requiring replacement
- adjust the wipers that occasionally hit the right hand (drivers side) A-pillar when in use
- software update campaign
- HUD had stopped working completely a few weeks ago

All items were resolved except one, the big software update took about 2 hours to apply to my car. No idea why others report 6+ hrs or days to apply it, but my experience was not that. Unfortunately the HUD could not be revived and the control unit is not responding so my service centre has contacted Porsche Germany for next steps.

My loan car was a 2024 Macan combustion with 5,000km on it. Driving these two vehicles back-to-back was interesting to say the least. Overall impressions, I can't see anything in the old Macan that comes close to the new electric H2 Macan -- they are worlds apart in driving enjoyment, ergonomics, and quality. Admittedly the loaner had a pretty uninspiring drivetrain (4-cylinder 2.0T 265PS) that was utterly lacking in character in my opinion. My Turbo is also highly spec'ed. The interior fit and finish, technology and comfort have moved forward in leaps and bounds in this generation. I can't imagine scenario where someone would choose the combustion car over the electric other than price.

That was my exact experience as well, granted I have a 4 but even that has more power than I want so I can't imagine the difference with a Turbo. I believe my loaner was a 2024 base Macan but the interior felt gaudy and lacked the polish. Driving it felt no different than any other plain compact SUV, granted a little more power but the biggest turn off is just the slow reaction of the engine.

 

[PrudentOcean]

Do you think energy density in Porsche EVs will double in more or less than 5 years?

I don't think we'll see the energy density double within the next five years.

And if/when that happens, I'm sure that the manufacturers aren't going to cut the battery size in half, they will want to improve range somewhat in order to match the typical range of ICE cars and help people get over their range anxiety, which is still a thing. So they will strike a balance between improved range and reduced battery size/weight.

 

[Wivenhoe]

I wonder if battery manufacturers are expanding their R & D into battery technology to somehow reduce the dependency on Chinese ‘heavy metals’ and tariffs ?

 

[W1NGE]

I dropped by Macan Turbo (late November 2024 build) off at my Porsche Centre for a few things to be looked at today:
- rear left child lock malfunction requiring replacement
- adjust the wipers that occasionally hit the right hand (drivers side) A-pillar when in use
- software update campaign
- HUD had stopped working completely a few weeks ago

All items were resolved except one, the big software update took about 2 hours to apply to my car. No idea why others report 6+ hrs or days to apply it, but my experience was not that. Unfortunately the HUD could not be revived and the control unit is not responding so my service centre has contacted Porsche Germany for next steps.

My loan car was a 2024 Macan combustion with 5,000km on it. Driving these two vehicles back-to-back was interesting to say the least. Overall impressions, I can't see anything in the old Macan that comes close to the new electric H2 Macan -- they are worlds apart in driving enjoyment, ergonomics, and quality. Admittedly the loaner had a pretty uninspiring drivetrain (4-cylinder 2.0T 265PS) that was utterly lacking in character in my opinion. My Turbo is also highly spec'ed. The interior fit and finish, technology and comfort have moved forward in leaps and bounds in this generation. I can't imagine scenario where someone would choose the combustion car over the electric other than price.

Macan GTS would be a better aligned comparison for performance.

All ICE Macans are mature and typically have zero issues compared to the EV where many of the features (assistance) are shared.

ICE Macan isn't going away and there are strong rumours of a u-turn on ceasing prodution totally.

Why wife's Macan T gets 500 miles of range - almost double that of the EV (in UK) - and so for many that's another reason to opt for ICE.

The disrupter would be the Macan EV body on an ICE or hybrid platform.

 

[JonoNZ]

Macan GTS would be a better aligned comparison for performance.

All ICE Macans are mature and typically have zero issues compared to the EV where many of the features (assistance) are shared.

ICE Macan isn't going away and there are strong rumours of a u-turn on ceasing prodution totally.

Why wife's Macan T gets 500 miles of range - almost double that of the EV (in UK) - and so for many that's another reason to opt for ICE.

The disrupter would be the Macan EV body on an ICE or hybrid platform.

Not happening, sorry.

 

[SteveInKirkland]

I wonder if battery manufacturers are expanding their R & D into battery technology to somehow reduce the dependency on Chinese ‘heavy metals’ and tariffs ?

Northvolt (the batteries slated for the Boxster and Cayman EVs) was a European attempt to reduce reliance on Chinese batteries. And Northvolt went bankrupt. There are efforts in both North America and Europe to reduce reliance on Chinese batteries, but ... going about as well as might be expected for this type of catch up initiative.

 

[PrudentOcean]

But I would argue the reason for the bankruptcy was economic rather than technological. The cost of materials and especially labor is far lower for Chinese companies. Add to that state subsidies intended to crush non-Chinese competition and it becomes virtually impossible for domestic companies to compete.

 

[Fun TC Driving]

My Macan EV service experience at Porsche of Beaverton was excellent. While it took a while due to almost all of its software needing updating (VR28.11/WSD0 & ASA and more), it is performing superbly now.

We had a 2025 Cayenne loaner (just 2,500 miles on it when we got it), yet as to enjoyment and precision levels, we far enjoy our Macan more.

 

[SteveInKirkland]

But I would argue the reason for the bankruptcy was economic rather than technological. The cost of materials and especially labor is far lower for Chinese companies. Add to that state subsidies intended to crush non-Chinese competition and it becomes virtually impossible for domestic companies to compete.

I don't know enough about what actually happened, but (to me) it looks like a typical startup that had aggressive goals, failed to meet them, and will get recapitalized with new management and new investors. Possibly organized into another company to get the customers rolling.

Porsche selected Northvolt because they believed the technology could deliver on the Porsche driving experience. That's a non-trivial set of requirements and clearly there was something there.

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