New to Porsche - dithering between S & GTS

[Deleted User 4436]

They are pretty much the same car with a few extra options, most of which I don’t actually want. The performance difference is negligible, they look identical but one costs a lot more for the sake of 2 extra letters, some bragging rights and suspension that is probably unusable on most British roads. Don’t forget the 2022 S has the same engine as the 2021 GTS. If you want a sports car you should probably buy a sports car rather than an SUV.

[sd1985]

Both incredible cars.

If you are happy with the spec of that S you have configured then I’d go for the S.

I chose the GTS personally, but I wanted a lot of the spec that comes standard or is cheaper with the GTS (I.e. air suspension, black trim accents, black RS wheels, tinted led tailight etc), so it made sense to make the jump up.

But if you are happy with that lightly optioned S then go for that.

Unless money is not a concern, then id go for the better car… GTS

Depends on what your definition of the better car is and your priorities in using a car. Some of the reviews think the "S" is the pick f the "Gen 3" range

My definition is the sportiest drive, the fastest, the one with better spec (PSCB brakes, sports exhaust, more horses, tinted lights as standard) and the one with the GTS badge

So if money was not an issue, would you choose the S over the GTS?

The better value deal might be the S (depending on the spec you want). That’s why it’s the pick of the bunch - not because it’s the better car. I think this much is obvious to me anyway.

[sd1985]

They are pretty much the same car with a few extra options, most of which I don’t actually want. The performance difference is negligible, they look identical but one costs a lot more for the sake of 2 extra letters, some bragging rights and suspension that is probably unusable on most British roads. Don’t forget the 2022 S has the same engine as the 2021 GTS. If you want a sports car you should probably buy a sports car rather than an SUV.

Yes and no

If you want a luxury SUV then I wouldn’t go for a macan in the first place! The macan for me is in a niche of itself. It’s a performance SUV, it doesn’t need 349hp on the S - it’s added for the Porsche performance factor. If you want a sports car get a 911, a cayman etc. But like me, if you want a practical, family and travel friendly sports performance car get a macan!

Lots of conjecture as well in your comments - you don’t know if the performance difference is the same, nor do you know that the suspension will be bad on UK roads. The reviews ive seen and heard (except one) actually state the opposite.

S is a great amazing car (I’ve owned one before) but the GTS is there for a reason for those that want to spend a little more money and get the better car. Might not be £10k better but it’s still a higher spec car for a reason.

It’s like when I bought my q5 a few years back, it was a great car but the sq5 was superior in many ways.

[PorscheMack]

The answer to your question falls into two camps:
1. Those who have ordered an S will say the S is the one to go for.
2. Likewise for GTS buyers.

Ask yourself this. If money/cost wasn't in the mix which model would you choose? The answer is likely to be the GTS because you perceive that it's the better car whether it is or not.

Don't expect any answers to convince you either way as they are all right in the senders opinion. Good luck and the sooner you get your deposit down on the GTS the better

[PorscheMack]

They are pretty much the same car with a few extra options, most of which I don’t actually want. The performance difference is negligible, they look identical but one costs a lot more for the sake of 2 extra letters, some bragging rights and suspension that is probably unusable on most British roads. Don’t forget the 2022 S has the same engine as the 2021 GTS. If you want a sports car you should probably buy a sports car rather than an SUV.

Yes and no

If you want a luxury SUV then I wouldn’t go for a macan in the first place! The macan for me is in a niche of itself. It’s a performance SUV, it doesn’t need 349hp on the S - it’s added for the Porsche performance factor. If you want a sports car get a 911, a cayman etc. But like me, if you want a practical, family and travel friendly sports performance car get a macan!

Lots of conjecture as well in your comments - you don’t know if the performance difference is the same, nor do you know that the suspension will be bad on UK roads. The reviews ive seen and heard (except one) actually state the opposite.

S is a great amazing car (I’ve owned one before) but the GTS is there for a reason for those that want to spend a little more money and get the better car. Might not be £10k better but it’s still a higher spec car for a reason.

It’s like when I bought my q5 a few years back, it was a great car but the sq5 was superior in many ways.

I felt exactly the same way when I moved from a Q5 to a SQ5. Think there was a greater difference between them powerwise but the point still stands. Strangely from certain angles I see the SQ5 in the GTS. I actually missed the SQ5 but I felt the need to move from Diesel to Petrol driven cars so I hope to experience the same emotions with the GTS.

[Deleted User 4436]

They are pretty much the same car with a few extra options, most of which I don’t actually want. The performance difference is negligible, they look identical but one costs a lot more for the sake of 2 extra letters, some bragging rights and suspension that is probably unusable on most British roads. Don’t forget the 2022 S has the same engine as the 2021 GTS. If you want a sports car you should probably buy a sports car rather than an SUV.

Yes and no

If you want a luxury SUV then I wouldn’t go for a macan in the first place! The macan for me is in a niche of itself. It’s a performance SUV, it doesn’t need 349hp on the S - it’s added for the Porsche performance factor. If you want a sports car get a 911, a cayman etc. But like me, if you want a practical, family and travel friendly sports performance car get a macan!

Lots of conjecture as well in your comments - you don’t know if the performance difference is the same, nor do you know that the suspension will be bad on UK roads. The reviews ive seen and heard (except one) actually state the opposite.

S is a great amazing car (I’ve owned one before) but the GTS is there for a reason for those that want to spend a little more money and get the better car. Might not be £10k better but it’s still a higher spec car for a reason.

It’s like when I bought my q5 a few years back, it was a great car but the sq5 was superior in many ways.

the S is 385bhp. Your figures are for the outgoing model. we do know the performance, certainly the 0-60 difference, it’s 0.3 seconds. This has been published by Porsche. so we know the S is slightly quicker than the outgoing GTS. All the reviews i have seen say the GTS suspension is very firm. Not great when there are potholes every 100 yards.

so based on your comments is the gen 2 GTS still a “better car” than the gen 3 S, despite having the same engine but marginally less performance? If performance is your benchmark then the Gen 3 S is better than a gen 2 GTS, right?

Apart from the suspension ( which can be specced on the S if you really want to wait ) and a marginal performance hike that most owners will hardly ever exploit, they are exactly the same car. Porsche sales really know how to exploit the power of 2 little letters.

[Deleted User 4436]

The answer to your question falls into two camps:
1. Those who have ordered an S will say the S is the one to go for.
2. Likewise for GTS buyers.

Ask yourself this. If money/cost wasn't in the mix which model would you choose? The answer is likely to be the GTS because you perceive that it's the better car whether it is or not.

Don't expect any answers to convince you either way as they are all right in the senders opinion. Good luck and the sooner you get your deposit down on the GTS the better

this is completely right. Pretty sure you’ll have made your own mind up and are just after validation. Not a complaint, we’ve all done it else we wouldn’t have posted our build specs on this forum. Only right answer is drive both and see if the Porsche marketing works on you as it has on others ( kidding ). See which one gives you “the fizz” as James May would say,

Must say this whole, my Porsche is better than your Porsche thing is one of the main reasons I’ve hated the brand for so many years.

[sd1985]

They are pretty much the same car with a few extra options, most of which I don’t actually want. The performance difference is negligible, they look identical but one costs a lot more for the sake of 2 extra letters, some bragging rights and suspension that is probably unusable on most British roads. Don’t forget the 2022 S has the same engine as the 2021 GTS. If you want a sports car you should probably buy a sports car rather than an SUV.

Yes and no

If you want a luxury SUV then I wouldn’t go for a macan in the first place! The macan for me is in a niche of itself. It’s a performance SUV, it doesn’t need 349hp on the S - it’s added for the Porsche performance factor. If you want a sports car get a 911, a cayman etc. But like me, if you want a practical, family and travel friendly sports performance car get a macan!

Lots of conjecture as well in your comments - you don’t know if the performance difference is the same, nor do you know that the suspension will be bad on UK roads. The reviews ive seen and heard (except one) actually state the opposite.

S is a great amazing car (I’ve owned one before) but the GTS is there for a reason for those that want to spend a little more money and get the better car. Might not be £10k better but it’s still a higher spec car for a reason.

It’s like when I bought my q5 a few years back, it was a great car but the sq5 was superior in many ways.

the S is 385bhp. Your figures are for the outgoing model. we do know the performance, certainly the 0-60 difference, it’s 0.3 seconds. This has been published by Porsche. so we know the S is slightly quicker than the outgoing GTS. All the reviews i have seen say the GTS suspension is very firm. Not great when there are potholes every 100 yards.

so based on your comments is the gen 2 GTS still a “better car” than the gen 3 S, despite having the same engine but marginally less performance? If performance is your benchmark then the Gen 3 S is better than a gen 2 GTS, right?

Apart from the suspension ( which can be specced on the S if you really want to wait ) and a marginal performance hike that most owners will hardly ever exploit, they are exactly the same car. Porsche sales really know how to exploit the power of 2 little letters.

0.3 seconds is still better, no?

I’ve looked at many reviews and the comments around the suspension are mixed but many state that it’s great in comfort mode, for example:

“Standard adjustable air suspension helps the Macan remain capable both as a luxuriously comfortable commuter and an agile canyon carver” source: motor trend

Or

“ Speaking of stiffer suspension settings, it's fair to wonder whether the Macan GTS goes too far in this area, compromising comfort in the pursuit of chassis performance that buyers will likely never exploit. Thankfully, it doesn't…..” source: car and driver

I went as far as contacting one reviewer who drove a GTS from one of the reviews (cheeky I know) and he commented that the sports suspension handled the rougher roads very well. So on that basis I’m happy and that’s good enough for me - for a performance SUV in any case like I said I wouldn’t buy a macan if luxury and comfort was my number 1 priority.

My benchmark for better is pretty simple (faster car, higher spec). For example, standard sports exhaust, PSCB brakes, additional horses etc.

Comparing old generation models (gen 2 GTS) to new generation models (gen 3 S) makes little to no sense for a number of reasons and doesn’t fit with my logic at all. So can’t comment on that comparison as it makes no sense to me.

They might be similar cars, but they are not the same. Whether you think the GTS is worth £10k more or not over the S is kind of irrelevant , my point stands that one car is better than the other.

Sounds like you are saying that if you were offered both cars for free, you’d take the S over the GTS. Makes no sense…scratching my head

[SAC1]

They are all Macans and they are all marvellous. Porsche's best selling vehicle for a good reason.

Coming from an SD and after 3 years of faultless quality and service, I was going to order an S. But then the GTS was released and to me it was a no brainer. 15 months on and absolutely no regrets. The GTS has always been that little bit sharper handling and keeps its value better.

As to the latest S being faster than the last GTS that is extremely doubtful. Road testers invariably see quicker acceleration figures than the official Porsche ones anyway.

Whatever floats your boat then.

[Deleted User 4436]

Have zero desire for sports exhaust or PSCB brakes, so yes if offered both for free but had to live with them for the next 4-5 years I’d take an S over a GTS.

To me the GTS thing smacks of the XR3i, but for more money. Only difference is an XR3i looked different to a standard Escort, whereas a GTS looks exactly the same as an S, except for those 2 letters on the back that seem extremely valuable to some. Its your money, so spend it however you want, or however Porsche marketing people want you to.