I was so so close to getting a Macan S - I'd nailed down my perfect specification, had two test drives of a differently spec'd S (dealer couldn't get the options I wanted to test), and was in the process of booking my appointment for paying deposit/final test drive when I got news of a slot becoming available for the GR86.
Of course, they don't compare. The Macan was perhaps an odd choice along the other cars I was testing (A45S, i30N, RS4, S3), but I couldn't find anything else that did the same blend of sport, luxury and some practicality - I didn't actually want a SUV but it was the best compromise - that it was such a good solution points to just how brilliant these cars are.
If the Cayman had somewhere for the (small) dog to travel comfortably it'd have been the choice. If the 911 had a smaller footprint and was a bit more affordable it'd have been the choice. But they aren't, so the Macan was such a good fit.
But then I got a slot and had a test drive of the Toyota , which I'd previously ruled out due to availability. And my main concerns were all eliminated - there's perfect seats for small dogs in the back, and the ride, while a little bouncy, was extremely comfortable and better over sharp bumps than anything this side of a Macan. Serene travelling however is not its forte! The engine sounds awful, the stereo is rubbish and there's a ton of road noise. Was that worth paying for to get the entertaining steer (and £40k saving...)? For me, yes - I have access to another car that's almost as good for long journeys as the Macan - though if we went to one car for everything then the Macan would probably be the one!
Other random musings:
Servicing wasn't much different in cost between the two - the GRs need for annual servicing and higher than non-GR prices for service plans equalled things out. I am much closer to a toyota dealership though, and the up to 10yrs warranty was added peace of mind for when the suburu engine gives up :p
The GR86 has android auto.. (I'm sure this is coming eventually when the Macan refreshes to the same system as the Macan EV, but then that comes with all the nannying features I don't want to have to keep turning off).
For all the talk of the Macan's handling prowess, at most it seemed to equal that of a very good hatchback in my hands - for an SUV that's of course incredible, and it's entirely possible the Porsche experience would have revealed additional depths, but you can't go on them before you pay your deposit sadly, so at the back of my mind was always the question of why I was I having to get an SUV to get what I wanted when the 'SUV-ness' was actually the thing I wanted the least, if that makes sense?
