OV9

The Porsche dealership sent me an invite to drive the Taycan (or other car of my choice) and have afternoon tea so I took the opportunity to fill my face and drive a car I’ve not previously tried. I’ve looked at the Taycan plenty of times but wasn’t ready to have an EV. Now we have an EV maybe it’s time?



It was the Sport Turismo on the right in Gentian Blue (dull colour), some useful options such as adaptive cruise, 18-way seats and air suspension. It’s the basic 4 model I believe, so the lowest power but still over 400bhp from memory.

The seats are a faff - so much adjustment and for some reason it was too close to the wheel and too high for even me to get in. I slammed the seat and that is how anyone should drive one; it’s a low car and that’s the way to sit in it.

At first I found the steering a bit heavy and it pulled to the left a little - turned out someone had kerbed it badly earlier in the day. But once I got used to it, it drove beautifully. It’s far closer to a 911 than an Audi S6 though much heavier and longer than a 911. It felt wider than the Audi but it was also very easy to place because the wings are visible and the steering is great. Visibility for pulling out of T-junctions is annoying due to the size and location of the A pillars though.

The ride is sublime, incredibly good. It does have a fair bit of road roar and interior noise, and I am not certain if it was caused by the car but I had tinnitus while driving it - possibly some sort of high pitched coil whine? But overall it’s pretty refined. It also feels very like a normal car to drive, not like an EV particularly. It does feel heavy though.

While I’m not persuaded to buy one, if I did I’d want the air suspension, some more colour on the interior, and a faster one. It wasn’t slow but if you want a Porsche EV you want it to be properly fast. 4S as a minimum with 570bhp I think. It’s not as if more power would spoil the car because the accelerator pedal has a lovely linear action and is long enough to be able to modulate very easily.

My abiding feeling is that it made me want a 911. It isn’t spacious enough really to replace my Audi, particularly in the boot. The range is not really good enough - I had a 40 minute drive and did around 30 miles, using 10% of the remaining range. So I’m probably not ready for this EV. Much of what I loved about it, I’d get from a 992 only more so.

Another couple of reflections after posting this:

- I don’t think the facelift Taycan front end is nearly as attractive as the original. It looks like a GTAified version with the distinguishing features removed.

- Cars now are becoming so close to being perfect that there’s less and less to put you off.

Jobbo wrote: Wed Aug 20, 2025 6:46 pm I don’t think the facelift Taycan front end is nearly as attractive as the original. It looks like a GTAified version with the distinguishing features removed.

Both the Macan and Taycan have been restyled to look like they have just emerged from the cinema into bright sunlight.

If I ever do find a replacement for the 550, it will have air suspension for sure.

I don’t miss the air suspension that was on my Allroads - other than the ability to raise it up to go off road in it. I think the Taycan with steel springs still rides really well. Would very much want to compare them back to back if I were speccing a new one.

Coincidentally there’s now a Black Edition version of the Taycan which comes with many of the things I would spec included as standard. Still £110k with a few options for a 4S Sport Turismo. Depreciation would be pretty disastrous and more than wipe out the tax saving in the first year.

Jobbo wrote: Thu Aug 21, 2025 6:28 am Depreciation would be pretty disastrous and more than wipe out the tax saving in the first year.

I was thinking as I was reading, if you're brave enough to buy a used one you'd get a bargain surely?

dan wrote: Thu Aug 21, 2025 8:03 am

Jobbo wrote: Thu Aug 21, 2025 6:28 am Depreciation would be pretty disastrous and more than wipe out the tax saving in the first year.

I was thinking as I was reading, if you're brave enough to buy a used one you'd get a bargain surely?

That's definitely where the value must be. I'm not sure what the tax benefits are on a used one though; most people who do it for the tax saving lease a new one through their business. Will be meeting with the accountant imminently so I will ask him in detail. Theoretical since unless it works out incredibly cheap, it's too big and the range is too limited to be a car to take for a fun drive yet that's probably what it's best at. It's too cramped and the range is too limited to be an everyday car.

I’ve seen a few brand new and nearly new Panameras recently. I thought they’d been dropped ages ago in favour of the Taycan, I had no idea they were still making them.

Not only is the Panamera still being made, they launched a completely new one a year or so ago. It shares the Bentley Conti GT platform, so you do get a very solid basis for a fantastic car. Wish it looked as good as a Bentley.

I've finally noticed that the Turbo variants of the facelifted Taycan have a different front bumper which addresses my dissatisfaction with the bland looks of the normal front end. I don't think a car which lists at £135k+ is ever going to be 'cheap' even with tax breaks and discounts. There's a nearly new Cross Turismo Turbo, still VAT qualifying, for £105k at Porsche Nottingham, which still is never going to be 'cheap'. Back to looking at 911s

I really like the look of a Taycan, would love to have a go. Just wish it was either 10% smaller or had better practicality for its size.

Have they ironed out some of the reported reliability issues the early ones had?

The Tourismo version look amazing, although I agree the new lights are a little bland. A pal just bought a second hand one, no idea how old, but it looks the volts.

It does look a lot smaller than an S6 Avant though

The original has grown on me a bit - I've been driving up and down to a course this week and see the same dark blue one every morning and it looks pretty nice although I genuinely have no idea what model it actually is.

What's the RRP on these dare I ask?

Gavin wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2025 10:08 am The Tourismo version look amazing

That. As does the Panamera Turismo.

Ascender wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2025 10:11 am The original has grown on me a bit - I've been driving up and down to a course this week and see the same dark blue one every morning and it looks pretty nice although I genuinely have no idea what model it actually is.

What's the RRP on these dare I ask?

RRP for the estate ones starts at about £89k. It’s not too much to step up to the more powerful versions and get more standard kit, so £110k would be RRP for a decently specced one with 580bhp in launch mode. Turbo starts at £130k but has something like 800bhp and more standard kit again. There is a Turbo S above it

A duck of a lot of money if it loses 50% in a year mind you. I wonder what the incentives are? I’d hope for at least a £20k discount for buying new but I don’t know if that’s achievable.

Gavin wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2025 10:08 am It does look a lot smaller than an S6 Avant though

Bigger outside, smaller inside. Worst of all worlds

MikeHunt wrote: Wed Aug 20, 2025 8:45 pm

Jobbo wrote: Wed Aug 20, 2025 6:46 pm I don’t think the facelift Taycan front end is nearly as attractive as the original. It looks like a GTAified version with the distinguishing features removed.

Both the Macan and Taycan have been restyled to look like they have just emerged from the cinema into bright sunlight.

If I ever do find a replacement for the 550, it will have air suspension for sure.

The XJ6 air suspension was nice but was fully automatic. The only time i felt it working was when it activated when I was sat on the boot lip.

They're impressive but I still think that if you're looking for a 4 seat Porker, you're looking at the wrong company.

Jimmy Choo wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 9:09 am They're impressive but I still think that if you're looking for a 4 seat Porker, you're looking at the wrong company.

Plenty of space in a Cayenne. And I would definitely spec rear seats in a 992. Not because I want to take passengers, it just feels bizarre not to have them.

Jobbo wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 5:52 pm

Jimmy Choo wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 9:09 am They're impressive but I still think that if you're looking for a 4 seat Porker, you're looking at the wrong company.

Plenty of space in a Cayenne. And I would definitely spec rear seats in a 992. Not because I want to take passengers, it just feels bizarre not to have them.

I know what you mean about bizzare not to have them but unless you've got short double amputee friends, they seem a bit "That's where I sling my bag" rather than "would you like a lift".

What's the brown one - Panamera?

JonMad wrote: Fri Aug 29, 2025 10:52 am What's the brown one - Panamera?

Yes, the new shape one. It's a sort of burnt orange in the flesh. Not nasty but I don't think I'd choose it.