3rd year review for Macan SD
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:58 am
As I've had my Macan SD for almost three years now I have only logged onto the forum now and then just out of interest. Last year I retired and was considering selling it, but it's too nice a car and I like having a Porsche - so in three weeks I'll be paying off the balloon payment on the PCP and keeping it till something else takes my fancy as the "new" Macan although nice, is just not enough of a change to justify the expenditure of a replacement for the car I currently have. I use it for everyday things like shopping, sticking the dog in the back, and taking rubbish to the tip - yes, it does get used as a normal car rather than a Porsche to be detailed and kept for the weekend, but I have access to other cars and bikes also.
Those of you with eagle eyes will notice I've had the 19" wheels powder coated and the brake callipers professionally painted to add a bit more sportiness to the looks of my original SD:
With the exception of a new transfer box fitted last week in 48hrs at the expense of Porsche it's been a pleasant experience over the past 3 years and nothing has gone wrong at all, it's never missed a beat in three years I've had it.
There is a company called TDI Tuning who make a twin channel module for the turbo and ECU to increase the BHP to around 300bhp (of more if you want it!) - just buy one when you get your car and you will never know the torture of 40 less bhp than the car should have had when it was given to you in the first place. I've had mine fitted since new for 3 years now and it has been perfect, a real pleasure to drive, and with petrol like performance and diesel like fuel consumption to boot. The car has always went back to Porsche for it's services and has now covered just over 40k miles, at no point have they mentioned the box, and it's been left on since day one when I bought the car and had it fitted the same day - I'm not so sure they would have been quiet if I blew up the engine though
I've found the car to be a great all rounder. It's quick, nimble, behaves like no SUV has a right to, yet it can munch the miles in quite comfort very happily and easily. I seldom ever touch the sport button, I just don't need it having the extra bit of oomph I got from TDI Tuning, but I do hit the PASM button from time to time when I don't want to drop speed going through the twisties - well worth the option.
I opted for the 19" Macan design wheels which were a good call for comfort and handling, I wanted them in black and finally just went ahead and got them done - money down the drain for some folk, but I like them and eventually sprung for them, so to me it's money well spent as I'm keeping the car. They have never been kerbed despite feeling the tyres touch on occasion, so not a mark on them in 40,000 miles, and the original tyres are still going strong with around 4mm of tread left - I can barely believe how good they have been, I've never had that from a set of tyres
So it's a bit of a boring write up for year 3. Everything has worked as it should with only the notorious transfer box going. It's just had it's 40k service and been given it's health check which after the transfer box being done was all clear, so I got them to put an MOT on it while it was in. Fuel consumption was around 43mpg when I was working and doing longer distances and using the motorways more, but has now dropped to 39mpg with far less journeys and I've only done 3/4k in the last 12 months as I also bought a motorbike when I retired, so I've clocked up around 3k on that as well. The adblue use is good also, I've only put around 20 litres in 40k, so say 10L every 20k or so, but they did say from the health check it needed topping up which I asked them to leave as I have another 20L in the garage which I though I'd have gone through ages ago but didn't
When in for it's service I asked them not to do the software update for the car as I know it's linked to the Volkswagen diesel scandal, and my car runs perfectly the way it is and I'm happy to leave it well alone, so no more ECU updates for me.
Happy motoring.
James
Those of you with eagle eyes will notice I've had the 19" wheels powder coated and the brake callipers professionally painted to add a bit more sportiness to the looks of my original SD:
With the exception of a new transfer box fitted last week in 48hrs at the expense of Porsche it's been a pleasant experience over the past 3 years and nothing has gone wrong at all, it's never missed a beat in three years I've had it.
There is a company called TDI Tuning who make a twin channel module for the turbo and ECU to increase the BHP to around 300bhp (of more if you want it!) - just buy one when you get your car and you will never know the torture of 40 less bhp than the car should have had when it was given to you in the first place. I've had mine fitted since new for 3 years now and it has been perfect, a real pleasure to drive, and with petrol like performance and diesel like fuel consumption to boot. The car has always went back to Porsche for it's services and has now covered just over 40k miles, at no point have they mentioned the box, and it's been left on since day one when I bought the car and had it fitted the same day - I'm not so sure they would have been quiet if I blew up the engine though
I've found the car to be a great all rounder. It's quick, nimble, behaves like no SUV has a right to, yet it can munch the miles in quite comfort very happily and easily. I seldom ever touch the sport button, I just don't need it having the extra bit of oomph I got from TDI Tuning, but I do hit the PASM button from time to time when I don't want to drop speed going through the twisties - well worth the option.
I opted for the 19" Macan design wheels which were a good call for comfort and handling, I wanted them in black and finally just went ahead and got them done - money down the drain for some folk, but I like them and eventually sprung for them, so to me it's money well spent as I'm keeping the car. They have never been kerbed despite feeling the tyres touch on occasion, so not a mark on them in 40,000 miles, and the original tyres are still going strong with around 4mm of tread left - I can barely believe how good they have been, I've never had that from a set of tyres
So it's a bit of a boring write up for year 3. Everything has worked as it should with only the notorious transfer box going. It's just had it's 40k service and been given it's health check which after the transfer box being done was all clear, so I got them to put an MOT on it while it was in. Fuel consumption was around 43mpg when I was working and doing longer distances and using the motorways more, but has now dropped to 39mpg with far less journeys and I've only done 3/4k in the last 12 months as I also bought a motorbike when I retired, so I've clocked up around 3k on that as well. The adblue use is good also, I've only put around 20 litres in 40k, so say 10L every 20k or so, but they did say from the health check it needed topping up which I asked them to leave as I have another 20L in the garage which I though I'd have gone through ages ago but didn't
When in for it's service I asked them not to do the software update for the car as I know it's linked to the Volkswagen diesel scandal, and my car runs perfectly the way it is and I'm happy to leave it well alone, so no more ECU updates for me.
Happy motoring.
James
and a relection of both my first SD (only kept for just under a year) and my current GTS - although I think my tyres may be close to 3mm now at 2 yrs / 20K
