About to order. Too Many options, looking for advice

[RainGuy]

All righty. Love the feedback and really appreciate everyone’s time. I was asked to upgrade the configuration and explain the rationale of how i got here… Before I do, the last “chap” from UK mentioned “saving costs” and gave a very responsible sermon on where i could nip and tuck and save $10k or more. I don’t want this to read the wrong way but I talked myself into the P85+ back in 2012 and never regretted it. I may keep this car for just as long as that one so as much as $10k is $10k I want to make the right decision for drive enjoyment. That being said I can’t justify the jump up to the Turbo. The leap in price (in my mind) isn’t justifiable for the small amount of improved performance. I also love green and have seen the color in person this weekend at the dealership. Its a lock.

So here is the updated spec

https://configurator.porsche.com/porsche-code/PS8D7KE1

Added 2+1 seats. Great advice here. Like the soft cushion in the middle for folks sliding over. Like the idea that i might be able to put the middle down to slide something through if need be… (can anyone confirm?)
Added 21 Inch wheels for the ride quality. Have them on the P85+ and push comes to shove i like the look better. Someone also suggested nicer wheels and it didnt take much for me to reconsider.

I kept the PAR vs dropping it and adding Rear Axle Steering / Standard Air Suspension. Would love some real world reasoning here. I am not going to take this to the track or drive the PCH at 80MPH. I have watched the videos for PAR and given the roads here in the New York City area I want that feeling of adjusted stability in real time.. I was driving home tonight and noticed the body lean and bumps on some of these windy roads near by and think this is a great advancement.

I did not add the 4 zone climate control. I mainly drive solo or just me and 1 passenger. I occasionally have golf clubs in the trunk (back seats down) and/or a 3rd passenger but it’s rare. Common enough that i don’t want to get a 911 (to my 16 year old son’s chagrin) but not often enough that i think they need their own weather system back there.

I kept the Matrix lights. Spoke to sales person and he confirmed that while the laws in the USA originally didnt allow Matrix functionality at all, those laws have recently changed and adjustments to US law could come via software which is logical to me. On the fence on this one but i like the idea of this and feel the update will come.

I did not add the crest on the seats. Not 100% sure I love the way it looks in the configuration on the headrests.

I do want to find a way to keep the “black” color for badging on rear bumper but drop the electric on the side of the doors. It doesn’t seem easy to add the black but not have the electric. I’ll talk to them about this.

I would also LOVE more feedback from the Ex Tesla folks out there. I was DEAD SET on getting a Panamera back in 2012 but 1 chat with a 911 owner who got a Model S and then a test drive and i was a convert. I am ready to switch to the Taycan and would love your experiences!!

Thanks everyone!

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[A.Mayor]

All righty. Love the feedback and really appreciate everyone’s time. …

Seems like you’ve got it all figured out, backed by rational reasoning on your specific needs — that’s all that matters.

There’s no need/use to pine for anyone on the forum’s opinions.

I’d say finish your homework and close the deal.

When uncertain, and if the budget or conscience allows: add.

 

[SergeyIndy]

I am not seeing that you selected Rear Axle Steering, unless Active Ride includes it.

Electric badging on the side has been a free option before. Any such badge is easily removed if you do not want it as it is just a stick on, however, there is a proper process on how to remove the badges, that I am not going to go into.

Matrix functionality is actually legal in the US since February 2022; however, Porsche still tells us that Matrix functionality is not available. This has to do with the certification process, that is model/year specific, and very costly to the car maker, so retroactive software update to enable them is highly unlikely. The only way this may be possible is through some third-party back door programming, however, so far Matrix lights have been available on Porsches for a long time, but yet no one has offered to unlock this function in the US. Also, you may think that HD lights are brighter than Standard, that will also not be the case, as brightness is highly regulated as well. Therefore, there is no functional "matrix" benefit to the HD vs. Standard based on data and all you are adding is a very expensive thing to replace, malfunction, and may be source if you ever need to replace them.

 

[lcarron]

Seats are the same other than a cushion instead of a plastic tray, and an extra seatbelt.

Personally I don’t think paying for more Porsche badges is worth it. Everyone knows it’s a Porsche.

I have the crest and I looked at it once. Maybe twice to make sure I have it.
I think it is useless. For the same price you can get the third seat on the rear.

 

[RacingDuck]

For the 2+1 seats:

Rear 2+1 Seats
Rear compartment with two individual seats outside left and right and one center seat. Seat backrests fold separately (40:20:40).

And the standard back seats:

Individual comfort rear seats

Comfort rear seats with two seats in single-seat look with a fold-out center armrest and split folding backrest (60:40).

So no difference there compared to Germany, if you want to put some ski, bows or fishing rods through, get the 2+1.

 

[W1NGE]

Standard matrix lights are effectively as per J1 and therefore have the camera based lighting control which will include auto beam. Your dealer should have a stock J1.2 car to test drive.

Some features are disabled for your market (NA) but not auto beam (PDLS+).

 

[Murph7355]

For the 2+1 seats:


And the standard back seats:


So no difference there compared to Germany, if you want to put some ski, bows or fishing rods through, get the 2+1.

That’s actually another big benefit of the 2+1 thinking about it... Split fold options.

The std seats are 60:40.

 

[D00notD00d]

If I didn’t have 2+1 where would the dog sit?

 

[D00notD00d]

Added 21 Inch wheels for the ride quality.


I do want to find a way to keep the “black” color for badging on rear bumper but drop the electric on the side of the doors. It doesn’t seem easy to add the black but not have the electric. I’ll talk to them about this.
I was DEAD SET on getting a Panamera back in 2012 but 1 chat with a 911 owner who got a Model S and then a test drive and i was a convert. I am ready to switch to the Taycan and would love your experiences!!

If it matters to you, 21” wheels will reduce the range by 5-10%. You can mitigate that by picking an aero design (but to my eye the new MissionE wheel is ugly).

A body shop will be able to change the badge colour.

I sold my 911 because it was too special and too impractical for every day use and became a garage queen. I originally wanted a Panamera Hybrid but veered to a Taycan because of the 911 cues in the looks and the nicer interior. If residuals matter to you a Panamera will keep its value much more than a Taycan and is more rare. The latest Panamera Hybrid range is around 50-60 miles. Build quality is better, far fewer recalls.

Hope that all helps.

 

[Longy_UK]

As a Taycan owner I can confirm that if I was spec'ing a $160k Porsche it would be this (with rear seats):

I find it hard to believe the Taycan is still selling for such a high price. A 4s for $160k.....

OP if you're not playing the tax man or getting 25% off list i wouldn't be considering options I'd be considering my choice in general....

 

[BjörnfromHamburg]

The ride comfort coming from the P85+ to the Taycan air-suspension will be like getting of a coal-mine lorry right into the clouds.
Rear-axle steering for urban driving such a comfort booster. It's about 3 ft better turning circle on paper, but worlds apart in practicality out in the wild.

Coming from Tesla, Porsches approach towards electric cars is totally different to Tesla.
But both approaches are very good and have reason.

You mentioned not taking the turbo:
Turbo does not only have better performance but also quite some other goodies, fe pscb.
So maybe you have a second look.

I started of looking for a Taycan 4S CT and went on to a GTS...than Turbo, but finally purchased a Turbo S. ?

Other than that, as stated before: you have a very decent configuration.

 

[subsalsa]

One thing rarely mentioned with rear axle steering is that you get a quicker steering rack (front) too, as the rear axle steering will compensate for overly eager steering responses at higher speeds. Would definitely recommend this if you plan to drive on some windy roads!

 

[silverstar335]

Great spec! Rear axle steering is a must.

 

[GreenHornet]

For the facelifted Taycan they have improved the air suspesion. Having tried both active ride and normal on road and track I would say unless you have really crap roads, problems getting in/out of the car or plan to drive very active just skip the active ride. The air suspension is great. Get the rear axel steer instead.

What ever you do don't drop the ACC. No modern car should be sold without it and it is nice to have when you get stuck in traffic. Innodrive is meh and if you want it later you can get it with feature on demand and test it first.

If you just want the modeldesignation on the back you need to choose " Model Designation on Rear in High Gloss Black " not the option that has electric and logos on the back.

 

[Tooney]

Standard matrix lights are effectively as per J1 and therefore have the camera based lighting control which will include auto beam. Your dealer should have a stock J1.2 car to test drive.

Some features are disabled for your market (NA) but not auto beam (PDLS+).

Do the 2025 Matrix headlights have the feature that causes the light beams to turn to side slightly when the car is turning? I don't see that feature in your list.

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