Best Of

@andres3 - I think Porsche designs and builds the “Turbo” model 1st and then reverse engineers the S and base models vehicles. BMW on the other hand seems like they build the “30i & M40i” variants 1st, then add the high performance bits to make the full blown ///M car.

I'll again reference Throttle House host Thomas Holland; to paraphrase, he commented that driving the W205 C43 felt like a special occasion while the M340i only felt like a 330i with more horsepower.

The Slate Blue targa in the 3rd picture, next to the awning. Looks exactly like my '84.

That's the one I was going to pick out of the mix, great color. Similar to but not quite the color of Bill Lumbergh's 911SC:

Has BMW lost its grip? It used to be the other way around.

I agree, Andre.... the guides are absolutely the issue with any timing chain setup. They add them so that the block can be more compact and it helps keep the system quieter on startup, but they cannot help but wear with time, and when they do, it is nothing but problems. Even if chains were as long or longer than present, without the guides, they would almost always last well beyond the rest of the car. The only issue is that they would take up far more space due to making a straight shot from the crank to the cams, and they would also need to be much tighter, which would require more robust bearings at all points.

@andres3 - I think Porsche designs and builds the “Turbo” model 1st and then reverse engineers the S and base models vehicles. BMW on the other hand seems like they build the “30i & M40i” variants 1st, then add the high performance bits to make the full blown ///M car.

@andres3 said:
You can't get rid of me that easy just by changing the name of the forum thread title to part 2.

Anyway, good to see some familiar names.

After about 10 months with the X3 M40i, which has a delicious powertrain, it just wasn't quite me, and I recently traded the plain white Bimmer for a '18 Macan Turbo in Beautiful Blue with Beige interior. The top of the interior is black, including alcantara headliner, which isn't as nice of a combo as brown/beige on Porsche's, but the deal was right. Oddly optioned: Has Stainless Steel look skid plates front and rear that go GREAT with the blue, aluminum roof rails, 21" wheels, LED headlights are highlights (not common upgrade back in '18 on these), but then on the flip side of the coin no panoramic moonroof (this I don't mind as I have tons of headroom now), but no air ride, no ride height adj, no exhaust valve button for sweet sounds, no Chrono, no air conditioned seats.

Of major note is the higher mile '21 BMW was modern in everyway, and I drove it, but not a lot as my commute has diminished a lot, so traded at 71K miles. A dealership in Escondido, CA is trying to make $4,900 on the trade as we speak.

The Macan Turbo is the last model year of the big 3.6 twin turbo V6 7-speed PDK combo. It's effortless, and while rated with 18 or 19 more horses than the BMW, that's not the reason for the switch.

Main upgrades are interior comfort, interior quality, seat comfort/fit/ergonomics, a good 2 notch upgrade on handling (no air ride or ride height adjustment in mine ), and surprisingly, a good 2 notch upgrade on suspension comfort, even in sport or sport plus damper setting (sport plus even slightly outperforming BMW ride quality). Porsche has some magic going on in the suspension engineering that they can extract both more performance, flatter turning during hard cornering, yet still soak up bad roads even with BIG 21" wheels and tires. It probably helps that the BMW's staggered fitment of tires used 265's in the back, and the Macan uses those up front, while having 285 meats on the rear. The Turbo successfully makes a crossover that handles as well as a sport sedan; just with a higher seating position and larger tires/wheels. Even the new sedans coming out today don't have much of a weight advantage (2025 Audi S5 shows a lot of promise and improvement except for that weight stat).. Accept no substitutes; I'm happy.

Oh yeah, while 3 years older than the BMW, the Macan I nabbed was a garage queen. Super clean like-new and with only 18,xxx miles on it.

And the Porsche fits my personality and tastes for more quality better than the BMW being an Audi guy. I'm not an Audi guy because I like the name or rings, I just tend to like what they do with their cars (usually - less lately). Porsche fits the bill where Audi has been faltering in recent models.

And people saying it's an Audi underneath doesn't bother me at all. The Q5 is an excellent chassis and vehicle. It's just a vehicle in search of potentially better engines and transmissions, and Porsche has done that with the Macan. I don't mind the sometimes low speed clunkiness of the PDK. Trophy Soccer Mom Wives may have been the demographic when new at $85k-$110K new, but now enthusiasts that need a bit of room in a vehicle should take a close look at these; you can get them at reasonable prices now if your OK with some older tech.

BMW's collision/parking sensors worked better and were less annoying (less sensitive and don't go off as long when your not moving anymore). BMW's parking overhead and rear view cams are better, clearer, more resolution, and more precise. BMW made way more exhaust noise. BMW also let in more wind and other noise though. BMW seemed like a 1,000 pieces put together (Not poorly) in USA, the Macan makes all parts and pieces feel like they are all welded together in Germany to exist as one 4,400 lb. piece.

Congrats on the Macan Turbo punch! The stainless trim on the dark blue looks great. There is also a private Porsche owners chat with @breld , @kyfdx , and @tifighter that you can join for a monthly subscription fee.

@xwesx, you’re probably the best person to answer this:

Just so happens that I was at a shopping center today and an old geezer was backing into a parking spot next to me (I think it took him at least 4 tries). I sat in my car until he was in just to make sure he didn’t hit my car, he didn’t. Anyway, when I returned to my car I saw that it was an Outback and it was so old (no rust, must have lived in Florida) that it didn’t have the CUV look of the Outback’s today. It looked liked a typical 4 door sedan. Obviously an old generation. How old would you say that car is?

jmonroe