RoseyPSU
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Matt
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2021
- Threads
- 8
- Messages
- 170
- Reaction score
- 408
- Location
- Pennsylvania
- Vehicles
- Taycan Turbo S, Aston Martin Vantage
- Thread starter
- #1
My 2020 TTS is currently at the dealership where they are working to diagnose a charging issue (it starts and stops charging somewhat intermittently and randomly when plugged in at home) and the loaner they gave me is a 2022 RWD Taycan . My TTS is my daily driver that I've had for over a year and about 13,000 miles and this is the first time I've driven the base Taycan, so I thought I would share my impressions. TLDR: I'm really impressed with the base Taycan and it's performance.
The loaner is a 2022 in Neptune Blue with 21" Taycan Exclusive Design wheels and Performance Battery Plus. MSRP, as you can see below, is $107,280.
By comparison, the MSRP on my TTS was $208,230.
My first thought when they handed me the keys to the loaner was that I was going to be disappointed to be "stuck" with it for a few days. I'm not at all. The two biggest differences are obviously performance and quality of materials. Everyone knows by just reading numbers that the TTS is twice as fast 0-60, which is huge. But in real world driving, I was really impressed with the base Taycan's quickness. Power is delivered immediately and it's quicker than almost all other cars you'll encounter on a daily basis. Braking with the standard brakes vs. ceramic is a non-issue in day to day driving and handling is great. Of course, this is daily driving, not on a track or bombing through twisties. In daily driving, the insane power of the TTS is mostly unusable and the base Taycan has more than enough.
I did get to try out launch control in the base Taycan and I can say this: my wife didn't even look up from online shopping on her cell phone in the base Taycan whereas launching the TTS with her in the passenger seat usually results in a icy stare, colorful language shouted in my direction, and occasional physical violence. Launching a TTS is an event every time. In the base Taycan, it's somewhat pointless.
Performance aside, the biggest difference for me is the quality of the interior, which is where you spend all of your time anyway. The standard interior felt "cheap" to me. Having the standard interior confirmed that in any future build I'd go with the Olea Club leather and the Paldao trim, both of which I currently have and both of which make the car feel far more luxurious. I also think that the Panoramic Roof adds to the higher end feel, but I know that's a topic of much debate here on the forum. I was surprised by the quality of the Bose vs. the Burmester. I'm not sure I'd spec the Burmester again if trying to keep costs down (but is buying a TTS keeping costs down?). The 8-way seats are awful compared to the 18-way seats, and the lack of the sport-chrono package is maddening. Having to press 4 buttons every time I get in as compared to a single twist of a dial is making me crazy after only 3 days.
Most of the other differences are cosmetic and a matter of personal choice. I prefer Gentian Blue over Neptune Blue. I prefer the Mission E wheels, especially painted in Satin Platinum over the Taycan Exclusive Wheels. I love my giant yellow brake calipers. The carbon fiber bits on the TTS are cool but not a deal-breaker for me. I prefer 2 rear seats vs. 3, as the middle seat in the rear seems pretty useless for an adult, and I would not spec the 4-zone climate control again.
All in all, I would of course take a TTS over a base Taycan, and if money is no object so should you, but I'm not sure it's worth $100,000 more. That's a HUGE, HUGE difference and the base Taycan is damn good. Just wanted to share my thoughts, especially for those that may be out there with a base Taycan but pining for a different model. No matter which Taycan model you drive consider yourself lucky, it's a great vehicle.
The loaner is a 2022 in Neptune Blue with 21" Taycan Exclusive Design wheels and Performance Battery Plus. MSRP, as you can see below, is $107,280.
By comparison, the MSRP on my TTS was $208,230.
My first thought when they handed me the keys to the loaner was that I was going to be disappointed to be "stuck" with it for a few days. I'm not at all. The two biggest differences are obviously performance and quality of materials. Everyone knows by just reading numbers that the TTS is twice as fast 0-60, which is huge. But in real world driving, I was really impressed with the base Taycan's quickness. Power is delivered immediately and it's quicker than almost all other cars you'll encounter on a daily basis. Braking with the standard brakes vs. ceramic is a non-issue in day to day driving and handling is great. Of course, this is daily driving, not on a track or bombing through twisties. In daily driving, the insane power of the TTS is mostly unusable and the base Taycan has more than enough.
I did get to try out launch control in the base Taycan and I can say this: my wife didn't even look up from online shopping on her cell phone in the base Taycan whereas launching the TTS with her in the passenger seat usually results in a icy stare, colorful language shouted in my direction, and occasional physical violence. Launching a TTS is an event every time. In the base Taycan, it's somewhat pointless.
Performance aside, the biggest difference for me is the quality of the interior, which is where you spend all of your time anyway. The standard interior felt "cheap" to me. Having the standard interior confirmed that in any future build I'd go with the Olea Club leather and the Paldao trim, both of which I currently have and both of which make the car feel far more luxurious. I also think that the Panoramic Roof adds to the higher end feel, but I know that's a topic of much debate here on the forum. I was surprised by the quality of the Bose vs. the Burmester. I'm not sure I'd spec the Burmester again if trying to keep costs down (but is buying a TTS keeping costs down?). The 8-way seats are awful compared to the 18-way seats, and the lack of the sport-chrono package is maddening. Having to press 4 buttons every time I get in as compared to a single twist of a dial is making me crazy after only 3 days.
Most of the other differences are cosmetic and a matter of personal choice. I prefer Gentian Blue over Neptune Blue. I prefer the Mission E wheels, especially painted in Satin Platinum over the Taycan Exclusive Wheels. I love my giant yellow brake calipers. The carbon fiber bits on the TTS are cool but not a deal-breaker for me. I prefer 2 rear seats vs. 3, as the middle seat in the rear seems pretty useless for an adult, and I would not spec the 4-zone climate control again.
All in all, I would of course take a TTS over a base Taycan, and if money is no object so should you, but I'm not sure it's worth $100,000 more. That's a HUGE, HUGE difference and the base Taycan is damn good. Just wanted to share my thoughts, especially for those that may be out there with a base Taycan but pining for a different model. No matter which Taycan model you drive consider yourself lucky, it's a great vehicle.