72 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 3 1 JULY 2019
hen it was launched
in 2014, a few miles of
sinewy curves and
high-speed straights
were all most seasoned drivers
needed to understand that Porsche’s
DNA had been successfully
transplanted into the company’s
new, mid-size SUV.
Today, the classifieds are heavy
with used Macans. New, the range
opened at £43,000 for the Macan
3.0 V6 S, but today you can bag an
early one with 48,000 miles and full
Porsche history for £31,000. It’s not a
hu ge s av i n g a s u s e d c a r s go but t h at ’s
because the Macan is no ordinary
u s e d c a r. I f it w e r e p o c k e t mone y,
there’d be a problem.
Fr om ne w, mo s t Ma c a n s
were specced to their
roofs with optional
equipment. Extras
worth having
include the
panoramic sunroof,
Bose sound system
and air suspension.
Another is the
Sports Chrono
with its Sport Plus
mode for an even
sportier feel.
Because sipping a latté while
fantasising about the latest 911 is
all part of the ownership experience,
many Macans have been serviced
on the dot by Porsche dealers.
I f t h at a s p e c t of ow n i n g a u s e d
Macan fills you with dread, there
are expert Porsche specialists who
serve poorer coffee but charge less
for the privilege. If you do desert
t he of f ic i a l ne t w ork , m a k e s u r e
the independent you use is a
r e c og n i s e d one , t o pr ot e c t t he
r e s a le v a lue of y ou r c a r.
The 3.0 S, which is powered by
a bi-turbo V6 producing 335bhp
and is the sweetest model, was joined
at launch by the 3.0 S Diesel with
254bhp and a whopping 405lb ft
torque. A 2015/15-reg with 65,000
miles and full Porsche service history
i s ju s t £26,99 0. I f y ou’r e on a bud ge t ,
you cover a lot of miles or you tow
a b oat (it s br a k e d l i m it i s 2 4 0 0k g)
at weekends, buy it.
Next up, the GTS is a kind ofhalf-way house ’twixt S and Turbo,
w it h 3 5 5bhp a nd mo s t of t he Tu rb o
trimmings bar the price. Trouble is,
it may leave you pining for the
Turbo and with a 42,000-mile
2016-reg costing £44,000, it’s not
much cheaper, either. No, if it’s
performance you want, it has to
be the 394bhp 3.6-litre
Turbo (from £40,000
for a 50,000-mile
2014 reg).
At the other
extreme, the orphan
in the Macan
range ought to
be the humble
four-cylinder 2.0,
also launched in
- However, it
still manages to put out
233bhp for 0-62mph in
6.9sec, and most examples come
laden with extras. A 2015-reg with
50,000 miles is £31,800. The engine
w e nt t o 2 4 8bhp i n 2 016 (w e fou nda 2016-reg with 20,000 miles for
£34,000). If for you it’s all about the
badge, the 2.0 litre makes sense.
And then in 2018 the range was
facelifted, the suspension revised,
the diesel dropped and the
2.0-litre petrol re-engineered
to produce 242bhp. New, the
Macan is still the sharpest SUV in
its class but as a used car you can
add great value, too.
Savings from new are small, but that’s for good reason, says John Evans
Ride hits the marks on the road, and even off-road if ‘Terrain level’ is selected
W
PORSCHE MACAN
SKODA FABIA 1.0 MPI S 5DR
£842 deposit, £140 per month, 48 months,
8000 miles per year
The cheapest car here betrays its status with hard
interior plastics and a less than sophisticated ride. But
it’s remarkable value being good to drive, spacious and
practical. Skoda ranks high on customer service, too.
VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1.0 TSI 95 SE 5DR
£1123 deposit, £187 per month, 48 months,
8000 miles per year
Agile but comfortable, spacious, well equipped, refined
- if the Fiesta excels as a driver’s car the Polo is the
great all-rounder, the supermini that ticks more boxes
for more people. Only the noisy diesels spoil the fun.
FORD FIESTA 1.1 ZETEC 5DR
£1037 deposit, £173 per month, 48 months,
8000 miles per year
Look no further for driving pleasure. The Fiesta is
uncommonly good in this respect. The 1.1-litre isn’t
as nippy as the 1.0 EcoBoost but precise steering
and handling are ample compensation.
TOP SPEC PICK
MACAN S
As entry-level trims go, S isn’t
half bad with its active all-
wheel drive, PDK seven-speed
dual-clutch transmission,
quad exhausts, Alcantara
upholstery and 7.0in
touchscreen.
AS GOOD AS NEW
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