-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Meet Ron Burgundy
- Thread starter MR_Y
- Start date
MR_Y
Well-known member
I was preparing a detailed write up to explain the logic behind this acquisition but it ended up being too long winded. Here is the short story...
Basically, I wanted a daily driver that would cope well with the daily grind (6am and 6pm commute, mix of gravel and rough tar roads, highway driving), be fuel efficient and keep me entertained. The fuel efficient requirement knocked a few cars off the list, with diesel being the fuel of choice. The gravel and rough road requirement kept the list down to SUVs and cross overs. Refer part of my gravel commute below that can become a nightmare when it rains:
So, diesel performance compact SUVs were the name of the game. BMW X3 M40d or 30d were top choices. Unfortunately, those cars felt like SUVs - large cars that steered and handled accordingly. I wanted a diesel SUV that felt more like a hot hatch, nimble and fun to drive. This is where the 1st gen Macan S Diesel stepped in.
Sure, it lacks the firepower of the M40d and even the newer spec 30d, but it has the edge on driver involvement and is a smaller car and lower to the ground (185mm) than a proper SUV (210m+). The Macan is really just a grown up hatchback, or cross over. Even though it has limited ground clearance compared to a proper SUV, it can still cover the terrain on my daily commute. For my trail runs and other outdoor activities on weekends, my wife's X3 20d or my EcoSport have the obvious advantage with better ground clearance.
On road performance of the Macan S Diesel is respectable. Outright acceleration is never going to blow your hair back like the M40d, but tackling a twisty road will entertain you more than any other normal SUV or cross over of similar price. The Macan does have rear biased AWD, which is different from the Audi Q5 3.0TDI on which it is based which is FWD AWD biased. In fact, there is a screen where you can see which axle the torque is going to.
Make no mistake, the Macan is not a pure Porsche. It is a VW/Audi product that has been tweaked to be a better performing car. Yes, it is a bastardised product but still punches hard in most categories. It is no proper family car (the rear space is not as good as an X3 and the boot is small) but it is a driver's car that can be used every day in real world SA road conditions (something 911s and Caymans struggle to do, unless it is a Dakar 911).
The mid range torque on this car makes daily driving effortless and fuel consumption is excellent (averaging 7.5 l per 100km). The car is so good at the daily driver role that it has relegated my EcoSport to a mainly weekend activity car.
The tyres are plump 235/60 18s at the front and 255/55 18s at the rear. An inflatable standard fit spare wheel adds peace of mind too. The ride is excellent on this generous rubber (being interestingly of Hankook origin, though Porsche OEM approved) and includes PASM adaptive damping. However, on washboard gravel surfaces, my X3 20d still has the edge - even though the X3 has larger 19 inch rims on runflats, BMW SA have set up the standard suspension to cope well with SA gravel and it shows in how composed the standard X3 feels vs the slightly skittish Macan on rougher gravel.
On tar, the Macan is in another league. It feels great pushing it along and you can clearly feel that its suspension is biased more towards road than offroad driving. There is an air suspension option that, according to the motoring press, does transform the Macan to a proper gravel road monster.
For my needs, the Macan S Diesel, with 34,000km on it, is perfect. For less than the price of a new X1 18d, I have car that is the perfect all rounder.
Yes, I did have a bad experience with Porsche in the past and I expect the PDK box to have issues as the mileage increases, as is the case with all dual clutch transmissions. Porsche have offered an extended 2 year/150,000km plan to allay some of those concerns. As is usual, the plan can be extended to 12 years/150,000km from first registration date.
More pictures to follow after a road trip. But first the obligatory full frontal VPS and ceramic coating.
Life changes, needs change and cars change too. For now, this meets my needs. Yes, I don't keep cars long but I have a feeling that this may be kept a bit longer, as long as it behaves itself.
As Chris Harris said regarding changing cars: "It’s impossible to second guess the future. So seize the day and live in the moment."
Random pictures:
3.0 V6 TDI kicks out 180kw/580Nm. For SA market, this car has no stop/start and no DPF. Same engine as the last 3.0TDI VW Amarok, but with a PDK/DSG not a Tiptronic auto.
Whenever I buy a used car, checking all wheels/tyres at TWT is a must. No issues found. Balancing and alignment perfect. Tyre wear is even. About 50% tread remaining. Tyres are Hankook Ventus S1 Evo, Porsche approved. Interestingly, Nexen is also a Porsche approved OEM supplier. I will see how the Hankooks treat me next year.
Some pictures at the dealership
Basically, I wanted a daily driver that would cope well with the daily grind (6am and 6pm commute, mix of gravel and rough tar roads, highway driving), be fuel efficient and keep me entertained. The fuel efficient requirement knocked a few cars off the list, with diesel being the fuel of choice. The gravel and rough road requirement kept the list down to SUVs and cross overs. Refer part of my gravel commute below that can become a nightmare when it rains:
So, diesel performance compact SUVs were the name of the game. BMW X3 M40d or 30d were top choices. Unfortunately, those cars felt like SUVs - large cars that steered and handled accordingly. I wanted a diesel SUV that felt more like a hot hatch, nimble and fun to drive. This is where the 1st gen Macan S Diesel stepped in.
Sure, it lacks the firepower of the M40d and even the newer spec 30d, but it has the edge on driver involvement and is a smaller car and lower to the ground (185mm) than a proper SUV (210m+). The Macan is really just a grown up hatchback, or cross over. Even though it has limited ground clearance compared to a proper SUV, it can still cover the terrain on my daily commute. For my trail runs and other outdoor activities on weekends, my wife's X3 20d or my EcoSport have the obvious advantage with better ground clearance.
On road performance of the Macan S Diesel is respectable. Outright acceleration is never going to blow your hair back like the M40d, but tackling a twisty road will entertain you more than any other normal SUV or cross over of similar price. The Macan does have rear biased AWD, which is different from the Audi Q5 3.0TDI on which it is based which is FWD AWD biased. In fact, there is a screen where you can see which axle the torque is going to.
Make no mistake, the Macan is not a pure Porsche. It is a VW/Audi product that has been tweaked to be a better performing car. Yes, it is a bastardised product but still punches hard in most categories. It is no proper family car (the rear space is not as good as an X3 and the boot is small) but it is a driver's car that can be used every day in real world SA road conditions (something 911s and Caymans struggle to do, unless it is a Dakar 911).
The mid range torque on this car makes daily driving effortless and fuel consumption is excellent (averaging 7.5 l per 100km). The car is so good at the daily driver role that it has relegated my EcoSport to a mainly weekend activity car.
The tyres are plump 235/60 18s at the front and 255/55 18s at the rear. An inflatable standard fit spare wheel adds peace of mind too. The ride is excellent on this generous rubber (being interestingly of Hankook origin, though Porsche OEM approved) and includes PASM adaptive damping. However, on washboard gravel surfaces, my X3 20d still has the edge - even though the X3 has larger 19 inch rims on runflats, BMW SA have set up the standard suspension to cope well with SA gravel and it shows in how composed the standard X3 feels vs the slightly skittish Macan on rougher gravel.
On tar, the Macan is in another league. It feels great pushing it along and you can clearly feel that its suspension is biased more towards road than offroad driving. There is an air suspension option that, according to the motoring press, does transform the Macan to a proper gravel road monster.
For my needs, the Macan S Diesel, with 34,000km on it, is perfect. For less than the price of a new X1 18d, I have car that is the perfect all rounder.
Yes, I did have a bad experience with Porsche in the past and I expect the PDK box to have issues as the mileage increases, as is the case with all dual clutch transmissions. Porsche have offered an extended 2 year/150,000km plan to allay some of those concerns. As is usual, the plan can be extended to 12 years/150,000km from first registration date.
More pictures to follow after a road trip. But first the obligatory full frontal VPS and ceramic coating.
Life changes, needs change and cars change too. For now, this meets my needs. Yes, I don't keep cars long but I have a feeling that this may be kept a bit longer, as long as it behaves itself.
As Chris Harris said regarding changing cars: "It’s impossible to second guess the future. So seize the day and live in the moment."
Random pictures:
3.0 V6 TDI kicks out 180kw/580Nm. For SA market, this car has no stop/start and no DPF. Same engine as the last 3.0TDI VW Amarok, but with a PDK/DSG not a Tiptronic auto.
Whenever I buy a used car, checking all wheels/tyres at TWT is a must. No issues found. Balancing and alignment perfect. Tyre wear is even. About 50% tread remaining. Tyres are Hankook Ventus S1 Evo, Porsche approved. Interestingly, Nexen is also a Porsche approved OEM supplier. I will see how the Hankooks treat me next year.
Some pictures at the dealership
Last edited:
///M Individual
Well-known member
Brilliant vehicle and excellent write up as usual bud!
I like the colour combo. Would prefer bigger wheels but for your commute the current ones and profile definitely suit your needs.
Being a diesel fan I would love to own an E2 Cayenne S V8 Diesel some day but this V6 must be really awesome too!
I like the colour combo. Would prefer bigger wheels but for your commute the current ones and profile definitely suit your needs.
Being a diesel fan I would love to own an E2 Cayenne S V8 Diesel some day but this V6 must be really awesome too!
Congrats!
Greats choice and reasoning for the decision.
Its some times what i wish for my X3 - was more sedan like handling, so the Macan delivers exactly that.
That colour displays gloss beautifully.
Would be great if you could remap it to extract the full potential of that engine, while still retaining the extended warranty/service plan.
Many Happy miles (if you keep long enough 😊 )
Greats choice and reasoning for the decision.
Its some times what i wish for my X3 - was more sedan like handling, so the Macan delivers exactly that.
That colour displays gloss beautifully.
Would be great if you could remap it to extract the full potential of that engine, while still retaining the extended warranty/service plan.
Many Happy miles (if you keep long enough 😊 )
MR_Y
Well-known member
Thanks man.
I drove a V8 Diesel Cayenne sometime ago. A real monster.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Thanks man.
I realised long ago that cars are not always rational purchases. At least this is one is somewhat rational (fuel consumption being one good reason).
On the remap. This car does not have a DPF or stop/start (apparently, SA market MY2017 were specced like these), so it makes software modding a bit easier compared to the same year Cayenne which has a DPF. I am making good friends with the workshop manager and will see what can be allowed within reason
Now you talking! That VAG 3.0 TDI engine is one of the best sounding diesel engines there is, so without the dpf in stock form, it must sound amazing already.Thanks man.
I realised long ago that cars are not always rational purchases. At least this is one is somewhat rational (fuel consumption being one good reason).
On the remap. This car does not have a DPF or stop/start (apparently, SA market MY2017 were specced like these), so it makes software modding a bit easier compared to the same year Cayenne which has a DPF. I am making good friends with the workshop manager and will see what can be allowed within reason
That consumption is fantastic especially if you compare it your X3, which already is very good, and its a 2.0D
Keep us updated on your experience with this great machine.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update
With the X3 handling the long distance holiday duties and the EcoSport doing the runabout duties, the Macan has been quietly resting for a few weeks. It will become my daily driver when work starts and will tackle the occasional weekend fun drive.
I took it out for a fun drive to Magaliesburg recently to stretch its legs and here are some observations:
- The adaptive dampers in Comfort mode tend to make the car bounce a bit when it hits a sudden bump. It seems that the Comfort setting overcompensates the damping after it encounters a bump. Comfort works best on roads that have a consistent surface texture/grade. Switching to Sport damping makes the car feel slightly firmer, but the bounce feeling is not there since the damping has a tighter range in this mode, and this makes the car handle bumps better.
- The PDK felt a bit jerky earlier on but has improved its low speed shifting after the long drive. Interestingly, there is no coasting function in 7th gear (like other Porsche PDKs) since the car does not have auto stop/start which includes the coasting function at higher speeds. I know that this PDK, like all DSGs, may become problematic over time but the warning signs are easy to pick up and the extended maintenance plan adds some peace of mind. Granted, if anything like my Cayman, it may take 2 months to fix/replace, if an issue arises.
- Sprints off the line aren't something to write home about. The real party trick is the mid-range grunt, coupled with the dynamic chassis on winding country roads. The car grips and goes like a much smaller/lighter car - more like a sporty hatchback than an SUV. It is no X3 M or GLC 63, but it has its own charm.
- Fuel consumption is excellent given the performance on offer. Dipping below 7.0 litres per 100km is no hardship. Bulleting it will get you around 8.0. The car has no DPF (as per SA standard spec). The motor sounds pretty good, even without the sports exhaust fitted. It is a mature 6 cylinder diesel sound. Refinement is excellent - the insulation is so good that the diesel clatter is hardly heard. The downside is that it does not sound exciting when pushing it harder.
Some random pictures below...
The interior quality is excellent and everything is well made and well put together. Comparable more to an X5 than an X3 interior, that is how well made it is.
The control stack in the middle is terrible to use at speed. There are just too many buttons. Even my old Volvos had less buttons (ignoring their phone dialing pad). It will take more time for me to get used to each button's location.
Sat nav is terrible to use and is laggy. Strangely, the traffic function does not work. The traffic receiver should be receiving TMC reports but it does not work in SA for this car. Odd, given that TMC works on old Volvos and most BMWs. I bought a neat aircon vent mount for my phone and just use Google Maps instead.
The car has a HDD that can store your music. Not much use when most people use their phone to stream or have music downloaded in their phone. Sound quality is decent for a base spec audio system. Lacks a subwoofer though.
Driver instrumentation is straight from 981 and 718 Cayman/Boxster. This is the junior Porsche gauge layout. The big boys (911, Cayenne, Panamera) have more guages. But, 3 guages is all you really need.
Fuel economy in traffic is pretty decent
Sound deadening is pretty thick. This is the panel from the boot where the tyre compressor is stored. The car weighs almost 1.9 tonnes...
Porsche, like Volvo, have stopped selling diesel cars worldwide. This is the last hurrah for the dirty fuel from Zuffenhausen...
With the X3 handling the long distance holiday duties and the EcoSport doing the runabout duties, the Macan has been quietly resting for a few weeks. It will become my daily driver when work starts and will tackle the occasional weekend fun drive.
I took it out for a fun drive to Magaliesburg recently to stretch its legs and here are some observations:
- The adaptive dampers in Comfort mode tend to make the car bounce a bit when it hits a sudden bump. It seems that the Comfort setting overcompensates the damping after it encounters a bump. Comfort works best on roads that have a consistent surface texture/grade. Switching to Sport damping makes the car feel slightly firmer, but the bounce feeling is not there since the damping has a tighter range in this mode, and this makes the car handle bumps better.
- The PDK felt a bit jerky earlier on but has improved its low speed shifting after the long drive. Interestingly, there is no coasting function in 7th gear (like other Porsche PDKs) since the car does not have auto stop/start which includes the coasting function at higher speeds. I know that this PDK, like all DSGs, may become problematic over time but the warning signs are easy to pick up and the extended maintenance plan adds some peace of mind. Granted, if anything like my Cayman, it may take 2 months to fix/replace, if an issue arises.
- Sprints off the line aren't something to write home about. The real party trick is the mid-range grunt, coupled with the dynamic chassis on winding country roads. The car grips and goes like a much smaller/lighter car - more like a sporty hatchback than an SUV. It is no X3 M or GLC 63, but it has its own charm.
- Fuel consumption is excellent given the performance on offer. Dipping below 7.0 litres per 100km is no hardship. Bulleting it will get you around 8.0. The car has no DPF (as per SA standard spec). The motor sounds pretty good, even without the sports exhaust fitted. It is a mature 6 cylinder diesel sound. Refinement is excellent - the insulation is so good that the diesel clatter is hardly heard. The downside is that it does not sound exciting when pushing it harder.
Some random pictures below...
The interior quality is excellent and everything is well made and well put together. Comparable more to an X5 than an X3 interior, that is how well made it is.
The control stack in the middle is terrible to use at speed. There are just too many buttons. Even my old Volvos had less buttons (ignoring their phone dialing pad). It will take more time for me to get used to each button's location.
Sat nav is terrible to use and is laggy. Strangely, the traffic function does not work. The traffic receiver should be receiving TMC reports but it does not work in SA for this car. Odd, given that TMC works on old Volvos and most BMWs. I bought a neat aircon vent mount for my phone and just use Google Maps instead.
The car has a HDD that can store your music. Not much use when most people use their phone to stream or have music downloaded in their phone. Sound quality is decent for a base spec audio system. Lacks a subwoofer though.
Driver instrumentation is straight from 981 and 718 Cayman/Boxster. This is the junior Porsche gauge layout. The big boys (911, Cayenne, Panamera) have more guages. But, 3 guages is all you really need.
Fuel economy in traffic is pretty decent
Sound deadening is pretty thick. This is the panel from the boot where the tyre compressor is stored. The car weighs almost 1.9 tonnes...
Porsche, like Volvo, have stopped selling diesel cars worldwide. This is the last hurrah for the dirty fuel from Zuffenhausen...
Last edited:
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update...
Car is being used as the daily driver driver through pretty horrendous traffic.
PDK no longer feels jerky in traffic, though it holds 1st gear a bit too long when gently pulling away.
My Fuelio log shows consumption at just over 9 litres per 100km for the last tank which is way off from the car computer which is in the 7s. Still need a few more tank-to-tank readings before I can make an accurate comparison.
The engine oil level is just below the halfway mark. When I picked up the car in December, the oil level was already at halfway. I asked the dealership to check this out. As we all know, VAG motors chow oil. The workshop manager advised that the max to min reading on the computer is just 1 litre and advised against topping up, as long as the oil level stays constant over time. The oil service is in Oct 2023 or next 13,000km. For peace of mind, there is a litre of 5W30 Motul oil from Porsche in the boot.
Tyres are still pretty decent - Hankook Ventus that were fitted in 2019. To be honest, I haven't really pushed this car to its limits to test the tyres grip in the extreme. Will await a skidpan event.
I had full frontal VPS applied and full body ceramic coating done too at VPS Midrand. While there, I also asked them to remove the 7 year old 35% smash and grab tint and rather install 20%. Pictures below. The car tends to look better in low light conditions, where the mahogany looks more darker. The pictures below are not as flattering as dusk pictures (which I will take at the next opportunity).
There is a slight rattle that is coming from the driver's instrument binacle. It only comes up occasionally and is starting to bug me. Overseas forums say that the Macan is known for these small rattles that appear and disappear at times. The solution involves stripping the entire dashboard and refastening a loose plastic clip or two. However, some people say that the clip then comes loose again and rattles after a while. Will check this at the next service.
Car is being used as the daily driver driver through pretty horrendous traffic.
PDK no longer feels jerky in traffic, though it holds 1st gear a bit too long when gently pulling away.
My Fuelio log shows consumption at just over 9 litres per 100km for the last tank which is way off from the car computer which is in the 7s. Still need a few more tank-to-tank readings before I can make an accurate comparison.
The engine oil level is just below the halfway mark. When I picked up the car in December, the oil level was already at halfway. I asked the dealership to check this out. As we all know, VAG motors chow oil. The workshop manager advised that the max to min reading on the computer is just 1 litre and advised against topping up, as long as the oil level stays constant over time. The oil service is in Oct 2023 or next 13,000km. For peace of mind, there is a litre of 5W30 Motul oil from Porsche in the boot.
Tyres are still pretty decent - Hankook Ventus that were fitted in 2019. To be honest, I haven't really pushed this car to its limits to test the tyres grip in the extreme. Will await a skidpan event.
I had full frontal VPS applied and full body ceramic coating done too at VPS Midrand. While there, I also asked them to remove the 7 year old 35% smash and grab tint and rather install 20%. Pictures below. The car tends to look better in low light conditions, where the mahogany looks more darker. The pictures below are not as flattering as dusk pictures (which I will take at the next opportunity).
There is a slight rattle that is coming from the driver's instrument binacle. It only comes up occasionally and is starting to bug me. Overseas forums say that the Macan is known for these small rattles that appear and disappear at times. The solution involves stripping the entire dashboard and refastening a loose plastic clip or two. However, some people say that the clip then comes loose again and rattles after a while. Will check this at the next service.
Last edited:
///M Individual
Well-known member
Awesome updates and excellent consumption considering its a V6 SUV.
What an animal it will be with a remap and exhaust 😈
What an animal it will be with a remap and exhaust 😈
MR_Y
Well-known member
Minor update
Computer readout of the engine oil level has dropped 2 bars below halfway in the last few days and is now just above minimum. Was advised to bring the car in to assess next week.
The automatic bootlid closes well enough but sometimes fails to activate the locking latch. I checked that there are no obstructions. It happens a few times s week randomly. A Google search shows that this is a common issue. However, relocking the boot causes it to lock properly.
The sun blind for the panoramic roof makes a squealing noise when closing. I assume it needs adjusting or grease.
My Tracker threw out an SMS message that the car battery is low. Tracker checked the unit and said all looks fine. The car battery seems fine too. I will still ask the dealership to check the battery again soon.
When the car goes in for the oil check, they will assess the other issues as well.
Besides the above, no other concerns. Everything still feels new and the car is solid. The little rattle from the driver binnacle has disappeared since a week ago.
Will post my Fuelio log after a few more readings. The computer is showing a more realistic 9.5 average currently.
Computer readout of the engine oil level has dropped 2 bars below halfway in the last few days and is now just above minimum. Was advised to bring the car in to assess next week.
The automatic bootlid closes well enough but sometimes fails to activate the locking latch. I checked that there are no obstructions. It happens a few times s week randomly. A Google search shows that this is a common issue. However, relocking the boot causes it to lock properly.
The sun blind for the panoramic roof makes a squealing noise when closing. I assume it needs adjusting or grease.
My Tracker threw out an SMS message that the car battery is low. Tracker checked the unit and said all looks fine. The car battery seems fine too. I will still ask the dealership to check the battery again soon.
When the car goes in for the oil check, they will assess the other issues as well.
Besides the above, no other concerns. Everything still feels new and the car is solid. The little rattle from the driver binnacle has disappeared since a week ago.
Will post my Fuelio log after a few more readings. The computer is showing a more realistic 9.5 average currently.
Last edited:
MR_Y
Well-known member
Real fuel consumption average is 9.95 litres per 100km. Computer shows 9.5. Fuelio log below. Actually not too bad given my horrendous daily commute through loadshedding traffic in Midrand to JHB. This also includes a daily offroad drive of about 2kms. For a 3.0 V6 diesel, this consumption is perfectly acceptable. My 1.5 3 cylinder EcoSport averages 9.4 as a comparison and that literally has half the engine size of the Macan.
Will be going to the skidpan event at BMW X drive park on Saturday. Given the high profile rubber (55 and 60 ratio) will be keen to see how this car handles on the tight autocross.
The issues mentioned in previous post have been resolved.
Will be going to the skidpan event at BMW X drive park on Saturday. Given the high profile rubber (55 and 60 ratio) will be keen to see how this car handles on the tight autocross.
The issues mentioned in previous post have been resolved.
Similar threads
