Taycan Turbo S owner's review of the 4S

[bootsie]

I bought a Turbo (due later this month) because the price difference over the 3-year term was surprisingly small (£100/month or so). Since it's a company car and I don't intend to keep it more than 3 years I'm only interested in the monthly payments and the residual, so it made it easier to push myself into the Turbo instead of the 4S. If I was buying outright to keep, I'd probably stick with the 4S and lots of nice options. I'm lucky (sort of) in that I was still careful ticking all of the option boxes and then Turbo just happened to have most of the stuff I wanted for "free".
Also, it didn't help that my first electric car drive was in a Tesla Model 3 Performance. When I test-drove the 4S I have to say I was a little underwhelmed. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was going to pull up next to a M3P at some point (since they're everywhere now) and be left standing. I can't spend £100K on a car and have that happen for the sake of £100/month - so hence I'm waiting for my Turbo. I couldn't argue the same for the Turbo S - it's just too big a jump for too little return.

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[daveo4EV]

I don't know about you but when a 6 year old Tesla Model S P100D is beside you at the traffic lights, the boy in me wakes up...
Or a Model 3 Performance for that matter...

Tesla's are super quick - I lost badly to a Model Y in my Taycan Turbo - didn't know we were racing so the "Y" got the jump - and since I wasn't in launch control mode. I only just kept up - but could not gain position…

coming from a Model 3 Performance I just couldn't stomach a slower 0-60 for 3x the price…so I "had" to get the Turbo.

No doubt the 4S is a great car and carries all the major Taycan features, but it goes to show how arbitrary performance points are now in the emerging EV world - the separations are even more artificial marketing choices rather than significant underlying mechanical differences…

that being said - I'm 100% positive I'd be 90% as happy with a 4S as my Turbo and the remaining 10% "loss" in happiness would be compensated for by happiness about more $$$ in the bank....

but we all make our choices - it's hard to go wrong with any of the Taycan's

 

[Skier]

My Turbo is in for service and I have a 4S loaner, which I really appreciate BUT there is a difference. My Turbo is very well optioned. The 4s is quick, comfortable , etc, but the ride isn't as smooth, acceleration no match for turbo, etc. If I had gotten the 4s I would have been extremely satisfied but I'm really glad I went for the Turbo with all the options.

 

[Dee]

...Balance that with how many times you find yourself in those situations and I think you will have your answer.

I'm not sensible, that's my answer.

 

[oalsaker]

The only thing I miss (which is a feature that has nothing to do with the Turbo) is the rear wheel steering. With the feature the turning radius of the Taycan is simply insane for a car of that size. It was a bit shocking to do a normal turn I tend to do and run out of space without it and wondering "what is going on?"

I specced the rear wheel steering because I park in a tight garage. That feature is one of the most beautiful things I have ever had on any car. I had a Toyota Corolla loaner for a while when I waiting for the Taycan and the turning circle on that small car was atrocious. Moving to a Taycan with rear wheel steering was amazing. It feels like the car can turn on a coin.

 

[KensingtonPark]

Buying a Taycan itself tested the limits of sensibility on my part, which is why I didn't get the Turbo or Turbo S. I specified what I thought were all of the important performance features on my 4S (Performance Package, PTV+, Sport Chrono Pkg, PDCC Sport, Rear Steering, InnoDrive) to maximize the dynamics of the car relative to the higher trim levels. This rendered my build expensive (and close to a Turbo), but it makes the dynamic experience complete, even if the acceleration is not.

If I had just a ton of $, I would have just gotten the Turbo S (if for no other reason than to get the better front and rear lower trim!).

 

[wmras]

Thanks epirali - great post.

My experience with the 4S was different. Our Turbo S has literally every functional option plus Olea leather and sound-deadening glass, but almost no alternative design elements. We had a 4S loaner for two days and thought it was like driving a different manufacturer’s car. It was not as graceful in curves, nimble, smooth, or quiet.

My conclusion was we were feeling and hearing the difference of having PDCC, RAS, PTV+, lighter PCCB discs, summer tires, quieter glass, and thicker leather (deadens more sound). These options plus higher residual value make the Turbo (not S) a smart buy for many, but if the turbos had never existed, I would be ecstatic with the 4S.

 

[epirali]

Thanks epirali - great post.

My experience with the 4S was different. Our Turbo S has literally every functional option plus Olea leather and sound-deadening glass, but almost no alternative design elements. We had a 4S loaner for two days and thought it was like driving a different manufacturer’s car. It was not as graceful in curves, nimble, smooth, or quiet.

My conclusion was we were feeling and hearing the difference of having PDCC, RAS, PTV+, lighter PCCB discs, summer tires, quieter glass, and thicker leather (deadens more sound). These options plus higher residual value make the Turbo (not S) a smart buy for many, but if the turbos had never existed, I would be ecstatic with the 4S.

What a great point, thanks. I should have specified the loaner 4S is NOT a stripper car, but a well optioned one. So your point is a very good clarification. Sorry if I caused some confusion.

 

[daveo4EV]

my opinioni - the base 4S really isn't all that great - and by the time you option a 4S to include what is standard w/Turbo - you're close enough that it's pretty smart to just buy a Turbo.

 

[porsche_coyote]

my opinioni - the base 4S really isn't all that great - and by the time you option a 4S to include what is standard w/Turbo - you're close enough that it's pretty smart to just buy a Turbo.

I think this is how you and I both ended up with Turbos, Dave.

 

[daveo4EV]

@porsche_coyote this how I'm sliding my way into bankruptcy…but with a smile on my face.

 

[DonHoz]

3 weeks into the Turbo. Best car I've ever owned. Never a doubt.

 

[Schlossj]

Want to avoid being defensive but...I drove both the Turbo and a 4S with all the goodies. Unperceivable difference in acceleration except with a stop watch during Launch Control. Kept $30K ($145 vs $175K) in my pocket. Don't need the bragging rights. Still smoke almost everything off the line and beyond (also that's a driver thing usually Happy as a clam...BUT respect those who just want what they want...to each their own brothers and sisters.

 

[RG2020]

Tesla's are super quick - I lost badly to a Model Y in my Taycan Turbo - didn't know we were racing so the "Y" got the jump - and since I wasn't in launch control mode. I only just kept up - but could not gain position…

coming from a Model 3 Performance I just couldn't stomach a slower 0-60 for 3x the price…so I "had" to get the Turbo.

No doubt the 4S is a great car and carries all the major Taycan features, but it goes to show how arbitrary performance points are now in the emerging EV world - the separations are even more artificial marketing choices rather than significant underlying mechanical differences…

that being said - I'm 100% positive I'd be 90% as happy with a 4S as my Turbo and the remaining 10% "loss" in happiness would be compensated for by happiness about more $$$ in the bank....

but we all make our choices - it's hard to go wrong with any of the Taycan's

I partially agree with this, the feeling of getting out accelerated is not good. But I will also remember I’m in a Porsche Taycan and the other driver is not and that counts for a lot. And for me whilst I like going fast, I like doing it in a car I like the look of. I don’t think any Tesla looks nice, so it doesn’t bother me really. I’m quite happy not to have the absolute fastest car, as long as it’s pretty damn quick and as long as I like the look of it.

the Tesla guy could be thinking the same by the way, except he might also be in the quicker car. ??‍

 

[feye]

I have always maintained that the Turbo S (and even the Turbo) is a bit "too much car" for any kind of daily driving.

After driving the Turbo S I would not have purchased it, if if money was totally no objective. To me it felt like a hard core racing machine. I needed a smooth daily driver and the 4S is still plenty...

The only thing I miss (which is a feature that has nothing to do with the Turbo) is the rear wheel steering. With the feature the turning radius of the Taycan is simply insane for a car of that size. It was a bit shocking to do a normal turn I tend to do and run out of space without it and wondering "what is going on?"

Most important option particularly for city driving!

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