Wife needs new car BMW X3 30i vs Porsche Macan

[pbonsalb]

I’d much rather have the B58 than the trouble prone 4 cylinder.

[dailym340i]

Originally Posted by Condorll

Based on the issues I am hearing on the new 2024 X5 you made a good choice to stick with the current proven X3 model. I am going to look for a CPO 2022-2023 X3 for my wife to compare against the Macan.

Lease rates on the X3 are super low at the moment. I will likely buy this car out at the end of lease based on how it does for the next couple of years. I would have preferred the M40i model but she doesn’t care for the additional power. Have my M340i for fun time.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by Condorll

When my wife found out the 4cyl engine in the Macan was a VW engine she said no way she will drive it, the X3 is her choice now. Hopefully I can get her to agree to a X3 40i instead of the 30i so I can have some fun with it too!

The 6-cylinder Macan engine is a VW engine. And an Audi and a Bentley engine. It’s immaterial and the way of the world.

RR uses ZF transmissions. So do Ram trucks. Does the Ram have a Rolls Royce transmission? Does the Roller have a Chrysler transmission?

[noemon]

Originally Posted by chassis

The 6-cylinder Macan engine is a VW engine. And an Audi and a Bentley engine. It’s immaterial and the way of the world.

RR uses ZF transmissions. So do Ram trucks. Does the Ram have a Rolls Royce transmission? Does the Roller have a Chrysler transmission?

Does the Ferrari have a Rover 25 air-con unit?

Something like that, according to Mat Armstrong(a youtuber) rebuilding it. It was quite silly as parts are shared across plenty of manufacturers even without them belonging in the same group as is the case of Porsche, VW, Audi, Lamborghini, Skoda, Seat, etcetera.

The list is endless.

Condorll

Mate, I would have retorted with: it's a Lambo engine too.

[MADBMWX5MC]

Never had a Macan, test drove one when I was hunting for a small size SUV, but settled on a 2019 X3 M40i...which I traded in 2023 for the X5M. The Macan just didn't hit the spot for me.

[/ / / M3]

X3 (but wait for the 2025 model if you're not in a rush).

The Macan is kind of a sh!t car for the money that they are charging. It has been in production for over 10 years and is based on an even older car - the first generation Q5, which came out in 2008.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Condorll

When my wife found out the 4cyl engine in the Macan was a VW engine she said no way she will drive it, the X3 is her choice now. Hopefully I can get her to agree to a X3 40i instead of the 30i so I can have some fun with it too!

Get on your knees and beg for the M40i version! 😂

[Pheonix]

Great Discussion and thank you for all the inputs (especially from those with real life experiences).
I did some researches and really dig the X3! Especially the X3 M40i (it has the same Acceleration of the E90x M3🤣?). We. Get the wife to test drive one and hopefully she will love it.

[Pheonix]

Great Discussion and thank you for all the inputs (especially from those with real life experiences).
I did some researches and really dig the X3! Especially the X3 M40i (it has the same Acceleration of the E90x M3��?). Will get the wife to test drive one and hopefully she will love it.

[S EyeLand]

BMW is a terrible brand. Get the Porshe no questions asked.

[tturedraider]

I would choose the X3. As you mention it has HUD and that is a very nice thing to have. I recently drove a V6 Macan S and I was surprised how disappointed I was with the powertrain. I’m not sure if it was the PDK or turbo lag, but the power delivery had a substantial lag. The difference in the experience when I got back into my 340i was dramatic. It made me appreciate the inline six and the ZF even more than I already did.

I do agree, however, with the car rags’ assessment that the Macan is a great driving and handling vehicle. I would say in that regard it is better than the X3, but I have to qualify that by saying the X3 is a very close second. With the exception of Porsche I do believe BMW produces the best driving and handling SUVs of any automaker. I’m not an SUV guy, but a BMW SUV is the only one I would drive if I had to do that.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by S EyeLand

BMW is a terrible brand. Get the Porshe no questions asked.

[Mavus]

Macan is larger lifted GTI really nothing special and those prices hell no. X3 I6 is the way to go even pre owned if possible.

[Shaw]

I would go for the new Macan electric…its something else.
Oddly enough same price as an iX.

Originally Posted by Condorll

Yes she has car fever this spring. Wants to trade in her 2017 Acura RDX (V6 290hp 0-60 6 seconds) for a CPO 2022-23 X3 30i or CPO 2022-23 Macan (base 4cyl). She doesn't like the X3 40i, too hot to handle for her, so we are staying with the 4 cyl turbo engines. We test drove both yesterday and found the BMW engine smoother, faster and more responsive? BMW also has HUD which the Macan doesn't. Love the Macan cockpit though, seating position feels like a sports car, not an SAV like the X3.

Anyone have any comments, experience with comparing these two cars with the base 4 cyl engines? Hard for us to judge on a 15 minute test drive, but leaning towards the BMW X3 even though I would love to have a Porsche in the garage next to my 2023 X5!

All comments appreciated!

[Llarry]

As usual on the internet OP's responses are all over the map:
-- Get the X3. Porsche is crap.
-- Get the Porsche. BMW is crap.

I think you are on the right track, though -- if you can convince your wife to stretch a little to the X3 M40i you should be golden.

[jb008]

Little late to the discussion, but did she try the X1? It has pretty similar 0-60 times to what you described, and the U11 has more ground clearance than the previous generation X1s (and way more than the Macan). It also is a little narrower if you need to worry about parking space, but has equal or better headroom and legroom to the X3. It's a rebadged Mini from what I understand, but I've got 5,xxx miles on my '23 X1 and am pretty happy with the purchase.

[rbhjr01462]

I have a Macan Base and an X3 (recently acquired G01, traded in F25). So, I've spent a lot of time in each under different situations and conditions, years and 25-40K miles in each. I should also state that I am in my upper 50's so 0-60 in 3sec or less is not that important to me.

Macan drivetrain seems a bit more responsive than the X3's. Macan handling is definitely more agile/responsive. Macan just feels more "nimble" than X3.

Both have great cabin ergonomics, interior fit and finish in the Macan and X3 seems comparable. Slight edge to Macan since I find the seats in Macan to be a bit more comfortable (to me) than the F25/G01 seats.

Exterior is subjective, both are sharp looking cars - the G01 more so than the F25 and the Macan has that distinctive Porsche DNA in its styling. Panel fit, paint finish, etc seem to be similar - don't think one is much better than the other.

X3 cabin is more spacious, as others have noted if you have baby car seats or travel with people in rear, they will be more comfortable in the X3.
I do find in the Macan you sit more 'into' the cabin -more like sitting in a sports car. In the X3 you are more sitting up - which my wife and daughter prefer to have that more 'commanding position' view of the road and taller glass of the side windows.

The Macan is not as much of an Audi as some here claim -sure a lot of the underpinning are Q5, but if you drive a Macan and Q5 (which I have) there is a big difference between the two vehicles.

If you do not do any work on cars yourself and rely on dealership to change oil and other minor services it will cost more for the Macan; oil change and some minor inspections was quoted over $450 IIRC - but if your are a DIYer and can do most of those basics, parts on FCP are pretty similar for Macan and X3.

As much as I like the X3, if someone made me choose, I would go with the Macan. However, if you have a family then the X3 is really more practical and a great choice too.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I’d much rather have the B58 than the trouble prone 4 cylinder.

Not sure what this means. We’ve had a 2018 X3 30i for over 6 years and added a 2022 X3 30i almost 3 years ago. About 70k miles total on both and no issues other than regular maintenance. I’ve also owned the B58 in both an F30 340i and G30 540i for total of 70k miles and no issues. While I prefer the B58 inline 6, the B48 inline 4 is a very good and reliable engine. Would never refer to it as trouble prone….it’s anything but.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

Not sure what this means. We’ve had a 2018 X3 30i for over 6 years and added a 2022 X3 30i almost 3 years ago. About 70k miles total on both and no issues other than regular maintenance. I’ve also owned the B58 in both an F30 340i and G30 540i for total of 70k miles and no issues. While I prefer the B58 inline 6, the B48 inline 4 is a very good and reliable engine. Would never refer to it as trouble prone….it’s anything but.

Your assessment is correct. I’m not sure what he was smoking when he referred to the B46/48 as being trouble prone.

[pbonsalb]

Sorry, I was thinking N20. But if you prefer 4 cylinders to 6, enjoy the slow life.