Hello - Looking to buy

[Col Lamb]

We need a PASM specific thread that we can just point to as this has been done to death over the years.

To PASM or not to PASM that is the question?

It totally depends upon what ride comfort you want and just how well you want the Macan to handle.

Wheel size has a very marked effect on both ride and handling and with and without PASM.

Best to try a whole range of Macans of various wheel sizes and suspension setups to decide what is best for your needs.

By far the best riding Macan that I have driven was a 2.0 with Air and on 18” wheels, superbly comfortable ride but more body roll when driven with gusto through the corners.

By far the worst ride quality was an S with no PASM and 21” wheels, a hard ride, the whole car moved around on uneven surfaces, in the corners far more body roll than a Macan with PASM.

A good compromise is with PASM and 19/20” wheels, a smooth comfortable ride and very good handling, for an SUV.

21” and PASM will give a slightly firmer ride, better slightly better handling than the 19/20” wheeled Macan but with a bit more tyre noise.

There is no way on the planet that a PASMless Macan will ride and handle as well as a Macan with PASM, it is physically impossible for a conventional sprung and damped car to ride and handle as well as one with active suspension.

You do your research, take the test drives and then tick the box.

[Kleynie]

The problem is finding one locally with 21" wheels and no PASM to try, they don't exist!

[Paul]

The PASM debate will run and run (indeed, Col has just started his own new thread on it) but the original concept (whichever the manufacturer,) was to improve handling when the car is driven in a more agressive manner, the active dampers keeping the car on a more even plane, reducing roll along with pitch and dive. Any “comfort” benefits are secondary.

[Wing Commander]

So are we saying that PASM should be specified if 21" wheels are fitted? I am well used to M Sport suspension and my current 535d has 21" wheels with passive dampers.
I have driven a standard diesel Macan without PASM and 18" wheels, it rode very well indeed.

This forum is obsessed with having PASM, it certainly wasnt as bad as an m sport/run flat, drove fine without.

It is not the forum that is obsessed with PASM. Just certain contributors.

A number of forum members have had Macans without PASM and been perfectly happy. If I recall correctly, one member (Mark?) is on his 3rd PASM-less Macan with large wheels.

[pmg]

So are we saying that PASM should be specified if 21" wheels are fitted? I am well used to M Sport suspension and my current 535d has 21" wheels with passive dampers.
I have driven a standard diesel Macan without PASM and 18" wheels, it rode very well indeed.

This forum is obsessed with having PASM, it certainly wasnt as bad as an m sport/run flat, drove fine without.

It is not the forum that is obsessed with PASM. Just certain contributors.

A number of forum members have had Macans without PASM and been perfectly happy. If I recall correctly, one member (Mark?) is on his 3rd PASM-less Macan with large wheels.

Some individuals in the population have also bought BMW's with 19 inch wheels runflats and Msport suspension with a ride like a plank running on on roller skates!!

[Bigboyrolo]

The problem is finding one locally with 21" wheels and no PASM to try, they don't exist!

Why restrict yourself to 'local'? I went over 400 miles to buy my Panamera, sight unseen. Most OPC's will deliver nationwide. Any wheel size can be changed by the dealer or yourself if that's what you want, keep the originals for winter tyres perhaps.
FWIW, Macan No1 (an SD) had just PASM on 19's, Macan No2 (an S) had Air on 19's. We preferred the S with Air.

[Kleynie]

Im not restricting myself to buying local, but I'm not travelling hours just for a test drive. Currently chasing a Macan SD in York when I'm in London, but it has 20's and PASM, so pretty safe.

[RickZ]

I live in Lincoln, the closest OPC to me is in Nottingham, the Macan I was interested in was in Wolverhampton so for a fully refundable deposit Nottingham arranged to get the Macan to them for me to test drive and I ended up buying it....

[happy days]

I once bought a BMW Z3 from Milton Keynes. Not so easy for me to pop in for a test drive, but I had an old uni pal who lived close by and worked for VW. I asked him to call in and give it the once over, and on his recommendation, I bought it without seeing it. No regrets. I flew in, was collected at the airport and my first spin in it was over the Welsh mountains to Holyhead for the Dublin ferry. Nice!

[Panthera]

I once bought a BMW Z3 from Milton Keynes. Not so easy for me to pop in for a test drive, but I had an old uni pal who lived close by and worked for VW. I asked him to call in and give it the once over, and on his recommendation, I bought it without seeing it. No regrets. I flew in, was collected at the airport and my first spin in it was over the Welsh mountains to Holyhead for the Dublin ferry. Nice!

Bought my wife's TT Roadster from Cambridge Audi (400+ miles from home) on the back of the details on Autotrader, a chat with the sales guy and the video he kindly filmed for me. No worries, with a no-quibble 30 days money-back guarantee and a year's warranty. Lovely drive to my folks in the North East and a better drive to catch the Cairnryan ferry back home