New Evoque...different steering...less feel?

They are having a few problems with the Macans though. In Australia there are reports about engine check lights coming on with new cars less than 1000k's allegedly.
http://www.macanownersclub.co.uk/forum/t...w=off.html

http://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-macan...-else.html

Let's hope hope the fella on the Renlist forum above doesn't have to go through what you had to with JLR Andy! What happened to you was despicable to put it mildly.

I guess this just further illustrates the point (as is being reported daily) that all, or at least most, car manufacturers are having issues. From the reports, it particularly concerns electronic technology that, no matter the make, is just not reliable. In Australia, there are many reports to motoring authorities where consumers are being forced to sign non disclosure agreements if they want their new car repaired or replaced (not that I've heard one ever being replaced here).

Macan test drive for 2hrs today...v interesting.
My TD180 Evoque Ingenium engine and gearbox, holds its own surprisingly well in torquey responsiveness against the silky V6 in the Macan, until you are really pressing on when the Macan surges. The Evoque's coherent interior design also competes well against the quirky Porsche quality interior.
But then it is the Macan chassis that is in the different league, planted, compliant but taut, encouraging you to press on in every corner, but so comfy on the bumpy tracks. This was with the full works, PASM, air suspension, but no torque vectoring.
To give the Evoque it's proper dues, the grip has improved significantly as the miles on the Goodyears have reached 600, but still way not as intuitive and corner-friendly as the MY12...
To get a spec anywhere close to the £47k HSE Dynamic you need £55k for the Macan...so it's back again for the wife to see and try...and the 6mth waiting list....much thinking needed.

I'm pleased you had the test drive, and it sounds as though you quite enjoyed it. I must say, from my perspective, you didn't feel the same about the Macan. I think you've been very generous to the Evoque. I had the 180 Ingenium, which I felt was underpowered in every way to the Macan, it didn't hold it's own at all in my opinion.

You can knock a couple of grand off that Macan spec straight away. You don't need Torque Vectoring, unless you'll be using it on the track, and the Air Suspension I feel is a little OTT, you wouldn't feel that much more benefit than the PASM system to justify the extra cash, but I'd have it in a flash if I hadn't spent the money on Sport Chrono.

Did you try Sport & Sport Plus modes?..........Sport Plus is getting into rocket ship territory.

Whatever you decide, good luck and thanks for the review.

Hi Andy, yes tried all the chassis settings, left it in Sport mostly, the demonstrator had the sports exhaust too but that did not seem to do a lot. I thought you could feel the weight of the V6 up front and it needs to be at 2000 revs before torque hits but then it flies. And it is so well planted all the time.
Trying to match the Evoque leather etc piles on the pounds in the Macan of course.
Just being given the keys for 2 hrs around the B roads of Aberdeenshire in the pristine Carrara White Macan was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but the drive home in the Evoque was not quite as disappointing as I feared it would be.
What colour Macan have you gone for?

Hi Ric,

I've gone standard white (easier to keep clean where we are) and Beige Luxor interior. Not everyone's cup of tea though it must be said.

I compromised on the interior to buy a couple of toy's. The only leather inside is the 14 way seats option. Instead of partial or full leather, I added PASM, rev. camera, GPS, xenon PDLS, 14 way seats, servotronic (power steering+), spare wheel...............and the best toy of all, Sport Chrono + a couple of free options including the larger capacity 75ltr fuel tank.

The interior is similar to the 911 and the steering wheel from the 918, no need for leather in my mind...........Having a test drive in a 911 Tuesday, I'll let you know how that goes.

Here is my Macan build: http://www.porsche-code.com/PHN752J4

Cheers
Andy

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JLR in the Uk have the business very well set up, but in France there's a way to go yet. As an example, 4 weeks after placing my order with Porsche France I received my invitation to attend the Porsche Experience Centre at Le Mans. I'll be taught how to push the Macan to it's limit, then drive another Porsche of my choice, a guided tour of the Le Mans motor museum, breakfast and lunch and a cocktail at close.

JLR France and their dealership invited me to bugger all!.............I'm not having a dig, just the way it is in France.

Cheers

In my test configuration costing I went for Carrara White with black rails, pano roof and black innards with a tad more leather, Macan Turbo 19s and the fancy compass ...but sport chrono looks tasty!

Will update posts as things develop..

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My configuration otherwise same as yours Andy...

Forget the compass dial, better having a flat top to the dash as there is a compass available in the infotainment if you need one.

The Sports Chrono doesn't make the car any faster 0-62, well 0.2 of a second , but it gives you the impression you're in a full blooded sports car. So for less than an English grand, you get a different aspect to the car with the press of a button......Great fun on the backroads, especially if you turn off stability control, and a clock/lap timer on the dash instead of a compass.

I'll leave it there as it's not right to discuss at length another brand on this forum........My apologies everyone.

I'd love to hear what you decide though Ric.

Have a good weekend mate!

Ricvifarho, You have your private messaging disabled, so I'll reply here;

I had to look up the meaning, but I will do!..........If they'd put a V6 in my Evoque, built it properly and offered me some semblance of customer service, I'd never have considered the Macan.........Now, I'm glad I did.

The Ingenium is just JLR's version of the Ford 2.2 burner.........A missed opportunity in my book.

Macan is an impressive machine, but the Macan Turbo has a starting price of over £62500, even the base model is over £43500 before any options like Leather, Nav, Sound! So the car needs to be in a different league and market.

You could buy 2 Evoques for the Macan Turbo, in your Duster analogy Andy...

And if the Evoque had a V6 Turbo, and better materials and a more on-road chassis, you'd be paying circa £60000 anyway...

From stories I've heard I doubt customer services will be any different, Certainly in the UK.

What's more important is what's changed in the Evoque to make it seem a less decent drive to Ric!? I have a 2012 and it is a great drive and excellent car and was £15000 less than the base Macan!

The 2 for 1 doesn't quite apply. My point was based on Diesel for Diesel.

As you said Phil, the car needs to be in a different league.......The press think it is + It's a Porsche, hence the premium, and the start price is most probably higher partly due to the reworked Audi V6 3.0d lump, instead of a 4 pot 2.0d as in the Evoque.

I see a standard Macan at a dealership when in the UK recently. Even without cow everywhere the interior is stunning.

Basically, like most things in life, you get what you pay for.........That is if you don't count the Evoque palmed off onto me.

I'm hoping Ric gets some answers too......Perhaps an email to Speth. He may have better luck than I did.

Cheers