VIDEO: Has Porsche Hit An Emotional HOME RUN With The Macan? Would-Be Buyers Sound Off

VIDEO: Has Porsche Hit An Emotional HOME RUN With The Macan? Would-Be Buyers Sound Off
Though our very own 001 is on the ground in Germany getting his first taste of Porsche's latest all-new vehicle, the Macan, I stumbled across a pretty revealing video of would-be buyers. As seen in the previous thread with the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, a U.K.-based publication put consumers in the room with the Macan to see what it was that they liked and didn't like.

In a world where jaded car enthusiasts are giving us the lowdown on the latest products, this is the best way to keep informed on the good and bad a vehicle brings to the table. These consumers have nothing to lose — like press junkets.

A couple of things that stood out to me:

1) More than one individual noted that the Macan is an emotional vehicle. Though, to me, it looks like a sleeker and scaled down Cayenne, the Macan appears to be really connecting with the market.

2) This isn't a shocker. The backseat is tight on legroom. After sitting in a Macan at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) it was clear to me that the backseat is really meant for young adults and children. I wouldn't think about putting a six footer back there unless my significant other who's 5'1 was occupying the seat in front of them.

**For the FULL details, check out the clip below!




cidflekkencidflekken - 2/21/2014 2:55:30 AM
+3 Boost
It's really hard to get past (and to rationalize) such a large price tag for this vehicle.


PUGPROUDPUGPROUD - 2/21/2014 8:08:55 AM
+1 Boost
Ditto. Porsche charges because it can but too high. Drop it 1 inch lower, put a targa top on it, don't raise the price and put me at the top of the list ! Until then I'll pass.


MattDarringerMattDarringer - 2/21/2014 8:55:42 AM
+4 Boost
In side profile it betrays the fact that it's a restyled Audi. If it were $15K less expensive then it would be relevant, but as is it is just a car for people who have money but no taste or common sense.


quizzquizz - 2/21/2014 2:07:17 PM
+1 Boost
"taste or common sense" does not apply to any sporty SUV - which of these uber SUVs make any sense: AMG ML, X5M, X6M, AMG GL? Lambo is about to release their SUV later this year, and Ferrari has their FF.

Porsche is specifically targeting that audience shopping for the AMG/M experience in a smaller SUV package, which makes more sense to me than a sporty SUV the size of a GL.


irishmikeirishmike - 2/21/2014 9:41:36 AM
+1 Boost
I agree. I see some of these going to enthusiasts, but most will be purchased by the rich who have to have the "latest".


GermanNutGermanNut - 2/21/2014 11:51:50 AM
+2 Boost
Agreed that Porsche priced the Macan way too high. Given that the Macan S's MSRP is $49,900, that means you won't be able to get a well-equipped Macan S with things such as a navigation system, heated seats and rear-view camera for less than $56K.

That is way above how much a comparable Audi Q5 or BMW X3 would cost.


quizzquizz - 2/21/2014 2:18:12 PM
+1 Boost
I don't believe the Q5 can be compared to the Macan S. The Macan S does 0-60 in 5.2 seconds, which is identical to the SQ5, and both are priced similarly (SQ5 $52,700). So for similar pricing, it's just a matter of preference whether you want the SQ5 or Macan S.

This article compares the standard Q5 to the Macan S, and the S is clearly the better car in all respects (other than price):
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20131008/CARNEWS/131009813




TauronB2GTauronB2G - 2/21/2014 2:14:48 PM
+1 Boost
Wtf is an emotional home run???
Macan is 15% too expensive. This means they are going to move Cayenne upmarket and f it up.
T


Agent00RAgent00R - 2/21/2014 5:12:10 PM
+2 Boost
@Tauron

"An emotional home run" is my way of saying they've made would-be buyers feel something so that they overlook practical considerations, like does it have nice room in the back seat and is the boot big enough.

Instead they're focusing on quality of leather and styling.

The Macan is making people FEEL things and not worry about specs and price, you see?


TauronB2GTauronB2G - 2/21/2014 5:37:37 PM
+1 Boost
It was more of a rhetorical question. But since you mentioned it anyone considering a 50-75k purchase is considering price. Additionally with the Cayenne being so close in power, price and size. It would take more than emotion to make the Macan purchase make sense.
T


Agent00RAgent00R - 2/21/2014 7:58:27 PM
+1 Boost
@Tauron

It's all relative. I am sure a lot of folks won't be bothered by the MSRP but I am sure there will be MORE people DYING to put one in their driveway even if it means a refrigerator full of lettuce.

I see what you're saying, I just think buyers — as indicated in this video — will be swooning over little details Porsche executes on and will not factor in certain practical elements that a normal car buyer would think about, price included.


GermanNutGermanNut - 2/21/2014 2:46:30 PM
+1 Boost
Obviously the Macan S is better than the standard Audi Q5. It's not an even comparison.


Agent00RAgent00R - 2/21/2014 5:09:56 PM
+1 Boost
For all of you folks saying it's priced too high: there's only one way to know for sure, when it debuts and if the market adopts/doesn't adopt.

Until then, it's pure speculation.

Not one individual mentioned price.


mini22mini22 - 2/21/2014 6:34:36 PM
+1 Boost
Look-You can't really argue that Porsche understands the marketplace.I think they will sell everyone they can build. For those that want to wait there will be a 4 cylinder Macan coming probably next yr. Let's hope it comes with the steering wheel as standard.


GermanNutGermanNut - 2/22/2014 2:21:39 PM
+1 Boost
The question is really if the Macan S is worth the premium over its rivals. I'm sure the Macan will sell very well, but it's price is definitely going to be something that prevents it from stealing more customers from the Audi Q5 or BMW X3.

In this segment price is most definitely a deciding factor and the price difference can easily be $10K between the Macan S and the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 when optioned the same, which is a 15-20% premium for cars in the $50-60K range. That $10K premium is a large enough difference that it will prevent people from getting the Macan.

While Audi does offer the SQ5, which is the sportier version of the Q5, the SQ5 is not targeted as an SUV for the masses. Porsche, on the other hand, is marketing the Macan as it's everyday model intended for all buyers looking to shop in the compact SUV class.

The Macan's base and optioned prices are both too high. The market will make that be known as Porsche fails to attract more of the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 customers it had hoped for. The $10k premium in this segment will be the deciding factor.
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