Macan SD or GTS
Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 4:05 pm
Macan SD or GTS
Ever since I took delivery of my Macan SD in March 2017,
I wondered – would a GTS have been a better road car for me.
Yesterday with an Ex F1 driver- Porsche instructor, I had a chance to do a back to back test under exactly the same conditions each time, and the results surprised me.
Using my Silverstone Porsche experience track freebie I picked August thinking it would give me a lovely sunny day, but instead it rained all day which as it happened ended up being a good thing, because it demonstrated how fantastic the Macan and its 4 wheel drive is in slippy conditions.
First I drove the GTS for two hours learning all the various tracks/corners etc.
Was amazed how it corners/slides/stops, and kept up with all the other Porsches on the track. The instructor did say the 4X4 Macan was the best/safest car to be in on the track under these conditions. Quite stunning even right on the limit/sliding the chassis is amazing. I was blown away.
The howl of the GTS petrol engine with crackling exhaust, and the long power delivery right up to the red line, is something the Diesel does not offer.
I then jumped into a Macan SD and drove it over the same track areas for a further hour.
I was shocked this SD handled amazingly well /if not the same as the GTS, I thought.
The instructor did say he felt there was not a huge difference in how the two cars handle in these conditions... We did several acceleration test (0-60mph) the diesel pulls very well but we felt looses time as its reduced rev range means several gear changes are needed where as the GTS does not need to do this, thus gaining time.
But my biggest surprise was the diesel power delivery on the track , could not believe how well it performed. Well that put to rest my previous thoughts about the Diesel being slow
I then jumped into a Cayenne as they said the Macan was not suitable to go on the extreme off road course. Having already just done a Land Rover off road test, I was very impressed with the Cayenne, it did most off road things with ease, and all I can say be careful Land Rover.
OK, accepted we did not do any timed sections and the SD does not have the GTS Porsche engine noise/power, but I think the SD is not a million miles away as I had previously thought.
I am glad I had a chance to do this test as I have I came away much happier with my SD, surprised how well it performs which for day to day road use now ticks all my boxes.
These are just my personal thoughts of my day out, which I thought might be of interest to other SD drivers.
Ever since I took delivery of my Macan SD in March 2017,
I wondered – would a GTS have been a better road car for me.
Yesterday with an Ex F1 driver- Porsche instructor, I had a chance to do a back to back test under exactly the same conditions each time, and the results surprised me.
Using my Silverstone Porsche experience track freebie I picked August thinking it would give me a lovely sunny day, but instead it rained all day which as it happened ended up being a good thing, because it demonstrated how fantastic the Macan and its 4 wheel drive is in slippy conditions.
First I drove the GTS for two hours learning all the various tracks/corners etc.
Was amazed how it corners/slides/stops, and kept up with all the other Porsches on the track. The instructor did say the 4X4 Macan was the best/safest car to be in on the track under these conditions. Quite stunning even right on the limit/sliding the chassis is amazing. I was blown away.
The howl of the GTS petrol engine with crackling exhaust, and the long power delivery right up to the red line, is something the Diesel does not offer.
I then jumped into a Macan SD and drove it over the same track areas for a further hour.
I was shocked this SD handled amazingly well /if not the same as the GTS, I thought.
The instructor did say he felt there was not a huge difference in how the two cars handle in these conditions... We did several acceleration test (0-60mph) the diesel pulls very well but we felt looses time as its reduced rev range means several gear changes are needed where as the GTS does not need to do this, thus gaining time.
But my biggest surprise was the diesel power delivery on the track , could not believe how well it performed. Well that put to rest my previous thoughts about the Diesel being slow
I then jumped into a Cayenne as they said the Macan was not suitable to go on the extreme off road course. Having already just done a Land Rover off road test, I was very impressed with the Cayenne, it did most off road things with ease, and all I can say be careful Land Rover.
OK, accepted we did not do any timed sections and the SD does not have the GTS Porsche engine noise/power, but I think the SD is not a million miles away as I had previously thought.
I am glad I had a chance to do this test as I have I came away much happier with my SD, surprised how well it performs which for day to day road use now ticks all my boxes.
These are just my personal thoughts of my day out, which I thought might be of interest to other SD drivers.