Macan S or Cayenne
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 42
Likes: 14
From: Anacortes, WA
I live 60 miles north of Seattle in a small town. Moved here from LA and just love living here. Just far enough from Seattle that it's a fun drive to go there for events of our choosing. I would not worry too much about depreciation on a new car. It's part of the experience. I too have only bought new cars (never as expensive as this Cayenne) as I like to know the history and treatment of my cars. My X-5 is 20 years old and doing fine. Who cares about appreciation after 20 years of service!
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 42
Likes: 14
From: Anacortes, WA
Here is a listing of the best and worst depreciating BRANDS. Note the study is for the same 5 year window you are talking about.
This should give you some encouragement about buying a new car...
Top 10 Lowest- and Highest-Depreciating Car Brands - iSeeCars Study
Lowest-Depreciating Highest-Depreciating
Rank Brand Average 5-Year Depreciation Brand Average 5-Year Depreciation
1 Toyota 42.1% Maserati 69.0%
2 Porsche 45.7% Volvo 66.4%
3 Chevrolet 46.3% BMW 66.1%
4 Jeep 48.0% Audi 64.6%
5 Dodge 48.4% Lincoln 63.6%
6 Subaru 48.5% INFINITI 63.3%
7 Honda 48.5% Mercedes-Benz 61.9%
8 Tesla 48.6% Land Rover 61.4%
9 GMC 48.9% Cadillac 61.3%
10 Ram 49.3% Buick 61.2%
Overall Average: 49.1%
This should give you some encouragement about buying a new car...
Top 10 Lowest- and Highest-Depreciating Car Brands - iSeeCars Study
Lowest-Depreciating Highest-Depreciating
Rank Brand Average 5-Year Depreciation Brand Average 5-Year Depreciation
1 Toyota 42.1% Maserati 69.0%
2 Porsche 45.7% Volvo 66.4%
3 Chevrolet 46.3% BMW 66.1%
4 Jeep 48.0% Audi 64.6%
5 Dodge 48.4% Lincoln 63.6%
6 Subaru 48.5% INFINITI 63.3%
7 Honda 48.5% Mercedes-Benz 61.9%
8 Tesla 48.6% Land Rover 61.4%
9 GMC 48.9% Cadillac 61.3%
10 Ram 49.3% Buick 61.2%
Overall Average: 49.1%
Last edited by MitchFindlay; Apr 14, 2021 at 07:42 PM.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 691
Likes: 430
From: Chicago, IL
Put 8K miles on a ‘20 Macan GTS, now 2K miles into a ‘21 Cayenne GTS...Although the Macan is lighter and somewhat more athletic, It’s Capabilities are rarely ever utilized in day-to-day driving. The Cayenne’s combination of space and pace Is nothing short of remarkable; nothing this big should drive this well. Even though I’m usually driving alone to and from work in the Cayenne, I’m still happy to have the extra space for golf clubs, Costco runs and kids gear on the weekends. For me, the Cayenne is a keeper; haven’t been this happy with a daily driver in a long time.
Have you driven the base Macan? The engine is fairly punchy and if cost is a consideration, is a great deal at $50K for a dealer demo with a couple thousand miles.
Have you driven the base Macan? The engine is fairly punchy and if cost is a consideration, is a great deal at $50K for a dealer demo with a couple thousand miles.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 50
Likes: 4
Thanks for your reply. I did not get a chance to test drive yet. My budget is limited , 70k would be great and can strecth to 80k. I won't consider a used car. Sounds like Cayenne is more for daily use
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 203
Likes: 121
From: Blowing Rock, NC
Both cars are fantastic. Go to a dealership and try them for yourself. Sit in them both and see what you think of the size. Drive them both and see how they feel. At the end of the day, your experience with them will mean more than anything you read here and you'll know which one you prefer.
Based on your various comments, I suspect that what you REALLY want is the Macan with the upgraded electronics. Go drive them and you'll know for sure if that's true. (Hopefully you'll prefer the Cayenne, in which case your answer is easy). My advice is worth exactly what you are paying for it, but if you prefer the Macan and really value the updated electronics, then I would suggest that you look one last time for a temporary solution that would get you through the next 6 months so you could get exactly that. If I were in your position, I'd try really hard to be creative and attempt to find a way to make that an option so as not to feel like I had settled. Would you consider a 3-4 year old used car for 6 months so it wouldn't depreciate much over that time and could then be used as a trade-in towards your updated Macan? Because while I know you are eager to buy your first new car, it would totally suck to spend that much and then spent the next 5 years feeling like you didn't get what you really wanted.
And finally, electric cars will take over, but it won't happen over night. I'm actually in the middle of trading in my Tesla for a Cayenne. While I love electric and they make great commuter cars, the infrastructure isn't yet ready for them to be effective for longer trips. Electric won't cause current ICE car values to fall off a cliff. I believe you can take that concern off your list.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
Based on your various comments, I suspect that what you REALLY want is the Macan with the upgraded electronics. Go drive them and you'll know for sure if that's true. (Hopefully you'll prefer the Cayenne, in which case your answer is easy). My advice is worth exactly what you are paying for it, but if you prefer the Macan and really value the updated electronics, then I would suggest that you look one last time for a temporary solution that would get you through the next 6 months so you could get exactly that. If I were in your position, I'd try really hard to be creative and attempt to find a way to make that an option so as not to feel like I had settled. Would you consider a 3-4 year old used car for 6 months so it wouldn't depreciate much over that time and could then be used as a trade-in towards your updated Macan? Because while I know you are eager to buy your first new car, it would totally suck to spend that much and then spent the next 5 years feeling like you didn't get what you really wanted.
And finally, electric cars will take over, but it won't happen over night. I'm actually in the middle of trading in my Tesla for a Cayenne. While I love electric and they make great commuter cars, the infrastructure isn't yet ready for them to be effective for longer trips. Electric won't cause current ICE car values to fall off a cliff. I believe you can take that concern off your list.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 203
Likes: 121
From: Blowing Rock, NC
I have never been in a car where I felt it was too spacious and I had too much room.
I have also never been in a car that felt too nimble or fit into a parking space too well.
I am buying a Cayenne and it is a good size for me even though I will be in it alone 95% of the time. The ample space feels luxurious to me. Plus I don’t find it to be an overly large vehicle. In fact, the length is slightly less than my current Tesla Model S. If you also add in the real wheel steering, while it still isn’t a sports car, I find it to be plenty nimble. The Cayenne isn’t a large SUV. It just isn’t a tiny SUV (like the Macan is).
Plus for anyone who will own a car for any length of time, flexibility is a good thing. While I might not truly need the extra space now, it is possible that I might need more two years from now. Or I might need to carry something big into work or to meet up with friends once in a blue moon and having the space might be a life saver. With the Cayenne, I have that flexibility. I find it far less likely that I will absolutely need the flexibility to fit into a parking space that will accommodate the Macan but not the Cayenne. So, in my mind, the Cayenne is more likely to be able to handle whatever life brings my way.
The Cayenne just makes more sense right now for me. But as I said previously, they are both great vehicles. Obviously lots of people reach a different conclusion and buy a Macan. They aren’t wrong. They just made their decision based on different circumstances, opinions, and perspectives.
I have also never been in a car that felt too nimble or fit into a parking space too well.
I am buying a Cayenne and it is a good size for me even though I will be in it alone 95% of the time. The ample space feels luxurious to me. Plus I don’t find it to be an overly large vehicle. In fact, the length is slightly less than my current Tesla Model S. If you also add in the real wheel steering, while it still isn’t a sports car, I find it to be plenty nimble. The Cayenne isn’t a large SUV. It just isn’t a tiny SUV (like the Macan is).
Plus for anyone who will own a car for any length of time, flexibility is a good thing. While I might not truly need the extra space now, it is possible that I might need more two years from now. Or I might need to carry something big into work or to meet up with friends once in a blue moon and having the space might be a life saver. With the Cayenne, I have that flexibility. I find it far less likely that I will absolutely need the flexibility to fit into a parking space that will accommodate the Macan but not the Cayenne. So, in my mind, the Cayenne is more likely to be able to handle whatever life brings my way.
The Cayenne just makes more sense right now for me. But as I said previously, they are both great vehicles. Obviously lots of people reach a different conclusion and buy a Macan. They aren’t wrong. They just made their decision based on different circumstances, opinions, and perspectives.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 267
Likes: 48
From: Austin, TX
I'm exactly with John on his comparison between the two vehicles. That's why I ended up with a Cayenne and not a Macan. However, post the same question on a Macan forum and you'll likely get the opposite view. To your question, it is only the wife and me 70% of the time it is only me in the vehicle, but man is it good to have the space when we need it. Taking friends out with us, extended family, loading up the back for trips, etc...
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 440
Likes: 146
I had a 2016 Macan Turbo. Purchased new, but got rid of it as it came out of warranty, since we'd had several issues with it. Went to a 2020 X3MC which is okay, but doesn't thrill me the way the Macan did. I'm about to sign on a new Cayenne GTS. I LOVED my Macan for daily driving, but I it was a bit small for Costco & larger grocery runs. All the gear we hauled to my son's soccer games (chairs, wagon, cooler, etc.) took up the entire cargo area in the Macan. I'm hoping that this Cayenne will will give me the bit of extra room I wanted, but still be a joy to drive. So, if you don't expect to haul much or carry passengers on a regular basis, the Macan will be great. If you want something roomier, you may be happier with a Cayenne.
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Hi guys, I am considering buying the first car in my life. Now I have both Macan S and Cayenne on my list. As a young man without child, Cayenne might be too big and more like a family car. But Macan S did not have the fancy touch AC control, and I am afraid that the new version would have that. (Can’t wait because I need drive to work) Also, I am going to finance the car, will the resale value decrease a lot after EV Macan released? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance!
I want to treat myself by buying a Porsche on my 40th Birthday which is in 2 years. After covid, I am mostly WFH and my Accord is in the garage collecting dust. Pilot is for family use. My plan is to get rid of Accord while getting the Porsche. Should I get a Macan S or Cayanne given both are 5 seaters ?
Last edited by ssktm; Nov 5, 2021 at 05:26 PM.