One week after 6 years in Tesla Model S to Taycan Turbo

[or1]

Wait. I thought PID only monitors speed, so it can vary speed depending on your driving and road topography. There is no lane control in PID. ALK does the lane controls. for something similar to Tesla EAP. You'll need PID, ACC and ALK.

Tesla EAP and AutoPilot is way better than PID (if we just group the 3 autonomous options together). One thing I hate about the Porsche setup, even with any assistance turned off. I can be driving, and suddenly car decelerates on its own and ask me to take over steering. When it's a perfectly clear road and plenty of gap between car ahead. freak drivers out who are behind me. There are certain spots where it does this consistently, I wonder if it's the environment confusing the system or if there's a geo-fencing (GPS data) that's causing this.


-ThinkMac-

I skipped PID and ALK, but my understanding of them is as yours. And I had a 2015 Model S for six years. I agree that Tesla AutoPilot is "better" in the sense that it is made to do more for the driver. I am not so sure it actually does that better. I found I had to be extremely alert when engaging AutoPilot, to the extent that it stressed me more than doing all the driving (except possibly ACC) myself. (You see why I skipped PID and ALK.) But much has happened to AutoPilot since my versions, so...

Since I don't have PID, I dont experience these phantom brakings. But I do look at what the Taycan thinks is the speed limit. It reads road signs quite well, but then it seemingly looks into some database that is supposed to give it the speed limit at the present location, but it is very often totally off. Can this match the phantom braking behaviour?

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[anonymouse]

The one thing I dislike the most is that Porsche ADAS disengages silently, with the only indicator being the small steering wheel icon on the dash or HUD.

Yes! This would be so simple to fix with a software update. As would the other main missing feature, PIN-to-drive. Far more useful (because someone stealing your keys can’t have the car) than the tracker etc.

 

[Amelio]

The the two days with my loaner 4s the only phantom braking I experienced was slowing me back down to posted speeds which I wish it didn’t do. Sometimes I like to cruise a little faster to keep up with flow on fast highways, but PID is pretty good, much better than I thought. It really took the hassle out of stop and go that’s for sure.

 

[whitex]

- Road holding is just superb and you soon realise what you miss in the S

Absolutely! Go drive a Model S now, you will realize the difference is even greater than you remember.

- Acceleration from zero is a bit peculiar and will take some getting used to. The S just zooms forward. The Taycan does a massive gear change and gives you an unnecessary kick a second after you hit the accelerator. I'm learning to squeeze the accelerator more slowly.

Drive in Sport mode or higher, the Taycan will keep it in 1st gear under ~55mph. The shift up is decently smooth. However, if you drive in Normal, Taycan will keep it in 2nd unless you floor it, which generated the unpleasant gear shift (especially for someone who came from a Tesla which does not have gears).

- Acceleration once moving is a clear win for the Taycan - there is a sense of real power there all the time

Plaid has noticeably more power, even on a highway, as long as it's in a straight line.

- Actually we have become rather fond of the fake sports sound, which at first I thought was silly. It does add quite a lot to that visceral acceleration feeling

Have it (came with a package I speced), tried it, don't like it, never use it. Very much a personal preference.

- OK, I see that some more experienced posters here rather like the fisheye reversing camera. I think it is very weird, but I'm sure I will figure it out eventually - if I don't bump the car first

I still don't like it, even though I finally learned how it works. Not useful parking closer than 12" from anything, also objects taller than 6" are so exaggerated that even 12"+ away it looks on the camera like you're going to hit something (the projected trajectory is over the obstacle) even though you have plenty of room (which you can see in the side mirror).

- Fabulous seats (with the 14-way "option")

I prefer the 18-way for me, but it's a personal preference. Nice thing is, Taycan has all the different options available.

- Surprisingly quiet vs regular S (although I've not tried the new S with noise cancellation)

Different Model S'es I've driven had different noise levels. I've owned 4 and drove a bunch more loaners over the last decade. Taycan definitely is quiet, though for me personally this makes the whine of the rear transmission in first gear around 50mph real annoying (even more so with back seats down).

- Very minimal under-trunk storage

Yea, also narrower trunk space, but not a deal breaker for me.

- Lack of PIN-to-drive is a major miss by Porsche. I really want the reassurance that if someone steals my key they can't have my car! And it would be so simple to implement it.

Never used it on any Teslas I drove, so not an issue for me. How much would you be willing to pay extra for such a feature?

- Otherwise really quite surprised at how good the Taycan's software is

It has its quirks, sometimes very obvious nobody designed the user experience (e.g. charging UI) other times not as user friendly as Tesla (e.g. missing hill-hold-release by pressing the brake again). You will likely notice more as you drive more. The negative compared to Tesla is that OTA updates which fix bugs are not that frequent. Then again, it also means new bugs don't get added frequently either.

 

[mlambert890]

Some great points all around. As a former Model S owner as well (2020 Performance), and current Model Y owner, I'll add some selected input...

Tesla software is still superior, with the best UX/UI in the business overall, but CarPlay has really grown on me since the addition of router planner integration into Apple Maps, and album art display on the Passenger screen. Both very cool.

All Tesla cars feel "American", if that makes sense. The "minimalist" approach helps that quite a lot, but it's all very very simple, to the point of being "no frills" in many ways, and that shows. Build and materials quality, as well as fit and finish, just aren't there for anyone used to anything German. Most Tesla owners seem to come from no car, old cars, or much lower end cars, so don't care, or simply don't value these things. Taycan is the opposite, and also includes all of the things like ambient lighting, massaging seats, etc that really add up.

ADAS is no comparison. People give FSD a hard time, but today FSD Beta drove us home to Dublin CA from the Oakridge Mall in San Jose. This is not an easy drive, and it actually made it the whole way with no interventions. It's pretty impressive. EAP isn't FSD Beta obviously, but it will absolutely handle all of the highway bits, including lane changes and transitions, following a route. I don't have ACC on my Taycan (I really wish I did), but Porsche isn't even attempting something like this (to be clear no one is). Innodrive is ok as a basic adaptive cruise plus lane centering system, but not as good as Mercedes IMO.

That said, although I'd go so far as to retrofit ACC if I lived in Taiwan or South Korea, where there are a bunch of shops that will do it, I don't miss it all that much given how great the Taycan is to drive. This is where the Model S (including the Plaid) falls short the most. Yes it's a rocket ship, yes it handles and stops better than the detractors imply, but it's all completely numb. Competent, but no real feedback. This isn't really an indictment, I don't think Audi is that much better honestly, but it's not ballpark to Porsche.

 

[mcr21]

I agree, I don’t think the PCM is as bad as people make it out to be …and I’m coming from a Tesla

Everything with the current Tesla lineup screams mass production and appeal, including the display size and UX. Have only driven the Model 3, but it's pleasant enough and actually fairly responsive and fun to drive.

IMO the main difference with Taycan is the feeling of stability, higher quality throughout and as others have noted inspires confidence at higher speeds in particular.

 

[ciaranob]

Some thoughts after a few days and some extensive driving in the Taycan (which I absolutely love so far) coming from a 2018 Tesla Model S:

FORWARDS
- Acceleration from zero is a bit peculiar and will take some getting used to. The S just zooms forward. The Taycan does a massive gear change and gives you an unnecessary kick a second after you hit the accelerator. I'm learning to squeeze the accelerator more slowly.
- Acceleration once moving is a clear win for the Taycan - there is a sense of real power there all the time

Sounds like you are perhaps driving (or at least testing acceleration) in Normal Mode only?

Normal mode kicks in that second gear very shorty after a hard acceleration from standstill and agree, I too find it quite annoying, but in Sport Mode they program the gearshifts to eliminate this annoyance - totally smooth forward acceleration.

 

[anonymouse]

Sounds like you are perhaps driving (or at least testing acceleration) in Normal Mode only?

yes, I have figured that out since writing the original post. it is not immediately obvious to a new owner.

 

[alexz]

Apart from driving dynamics, the first difference I felt between these cars was in noise.
The Tesla is quieter below 60 mph, on a perfectly smooth road. The damping is more flexible, and you hear much less transmission noise. But at the slightest flaw in the road, the Taycan's damping filters out much better (the Tesla seems to lose grip over every bump).
It is especially on the highway that the soundproofing of the Taycan stands out; I no longer realized how omnipresent the noise of the wind was in my Tesla...

 

[BoilerG]

Apart from driving dynamics, the first difference I felt between these cars was in noise.
The Tesla is quieter below 60 mph, on a perfectly smooth road. The damping is more flexible, and you hear much less transmission noise. But at the slightest flaw in the road, the Taycan's damping filters out much better (the Tesla seems to lose grip over every bump).
It is especially on the highway that the soundproofing of the Taycan stands out; I no longer realized how omnipresent the noise of the wind was in my Tesla...

Interesting perspective. There was never a moment while driving my Taycan that I thought my Tesla was quieter. Now that I’m 3 months in on the switch, the Taycan is superior in EVERY way except for 0-60 and charging software. As I’ve gotten used to the Taycan UI, the voice control is better, the features are better, Carplay is better, and the HUD is better. Tesla makes you click a lot with their single screen giant iPad to find what you want. There are some marginal features better on the Tesla (like auto garage door opener, better integrated streaming) but Carplay >>> than the built in features for me. The Taycan has been the closest thing to a perfect car for me. It’s 95% the performance of a 911 Turbo (both on and off the track), but smoother and more luxurious than any other luxury brand I’ve driven. It also has ample trunk space and back seat space. And if space is your deciding factor, there are a lot of other options out there.

 

[Eric]

I know there are a lot of comparisons, but wanted to share my week 1 thoughts because I know lots of Tesla drivers are eyeing the Taycan.

Here’s what stands out (on the non driving/performance stuff)
1. The Model S is a great looking car. The Taycan is in a different category of style and design.
2. The MS never felt solid. The way the car feels when you shut the door, hit a bump in the road, or drive down the highway - it always felt a bit thin and cheap. The Taycan feels SOLID. You feel the quality. You see the quality. I never felt like I was driving a luxury car with the MS. One close of the door in the Taycan and you know it’s in a completely different league.
3. A lot of people give the Tesla software an edge. I’m not so sure the gap is that big. Wireless Apple Carplay is incredible - the latest PCM is fast and smooth - the customization of the various screens is awesome. Sure, there are things the Tesla is slicker with (like handling podcasts), but the Porsche has a HUD, the passenger screen, and the haptic feedback are really useful as well. It is actually easier to use at times because I’m not reaching across a 17in screen to do things. I was expecting laggy software from what I read, but everything has been smooth and super responsive.
4. The 18 way seats fit like a glove. I would feel fatigue in the Tesla seats (I’m 6’2” with long legs). These seats contour in every possible way and it’s incredibly comfortable.
5. The space inside and in the trunk is a little smaller, but it’s not an issue. I attribute this to the Tesla being a hatchback, but leg room/etc was pretty comparable. Rear seat head room is a little smaller so long drives with tall adults may be uncomfortable.
6. The ability to customize these cars gives each one uniqueness. Tesla has like 5 colors and two wheel types so nearly all cars look alike. Boring.
7. The one thing that Tesla is clearly better on is the charging software. The Porsche charger and software are not intuitive. Like, why make up a term like Direct Charging? The language is confusing (IE charge as fast as possible to a minimum charge of X). In the Tesla, they made it super simple to slide the charge level in car or at a charger.

Driving:
1. The Tesla can accelerate, but it doesn’t inspire confidence. And it handles like a boat with a horrible turning radius/feel. I curbed the rear wheels a couple of times (and I’m super careful). The Taycan feels like an extension of my hand. I feel in absolute control on every corner, every turn, and I still don’t know the limits. This is an engineering marvel with driving dynamics. Driving enthusiast's understand that handling is more important than a 0-60 launch. So, I may not beat a Model S Plaid in a 0-60 shootout, but the Porsche is more exhilarating to drive.
2. I had the FSD with Tesla. It’s no where near ready for prime time so I won’t even review that. It’s actually dangerous that it’s out there being marketed as FSD. The Enhanced Autopilot was really good on the highways. Innodrive isn’t quite as good as EAP, but in my limited testing, it does a good enough job.

Make no mistake - Tesla changed the industry with the Model S and did a lot of remarkable things. I have a lot of respect for what they’ve accomplished. But Porsche has created the best performance electric car in the world. It’s 95% the performance of a 911 Turbo on a track but a luxurious daily driver. I LOVE this car. I enjoyed my Tesla. But I look for reasons to drive with the Taycan.

Right on I have a 4S and it drives like on rails in all conditions.I also have driven the Tesla S and as you say there is no comparison in terms of quality and driver experience.If you have to choose between the real wheel drive Taycan and the Tesla S you would be a fool to buy the Tesla which are roughly the same price

 

[magnitude]

the Taycan is superior in EVERY way except for 0-60 and charging software. As I’ve gotten used to the Taycan UI, the voice control is better, the features are better, Carplay is better, and the HUD is better.

Yeah, the PCM gets a lot of hate. But from the apart from the egregious issues that need to be fixed (mostly the hard crashes or UI crawling down to a halt, requiring reset), I'm actually very happy with the UI concept, ergonomics, and functionality of it.

 

[alexz]

Interesting perspective. There was never a moment while driving my Taycan that I thought my Tesla was quieter. Now that I’m 3 months in on the switch, the Taycan is superior in EVERY way except for 0-60 and charging software.

The measurements confirm it : noise at 50 mph is 64.8 dB for Taycan 4S , 64.6 for Tesla P and 62.2 for the new Plaid.
Regarding performances, after testing the Plaid, it is especially above 60 mph that Tesla is significantly faster.
And trunk space and back seat space are much smaller than Model S.

I quickly understood the strengths of the Taycan, which is why I took a GTS.
But I remain objective: a Plaid is cheaper and is superior on most measurable criteria...

 

[BoilerG]

The measurements confirm it : noise at 50 mph is 64.8 dB for Taycan 4S , 64.6 for Tesla P and 62.2 for the new Plaid.
Regarding performances, after testing the Plaid, it is especially above 60 mph that Tesla is significantly faster.
And trunk space and back seat space are much smaller than Model S.

I quickly understood the strengths of the Taycan, which is why I took a GTS.
But I remain objective: a Plaid is cheaper and is superior on most measurable criteria...

Is this with the thermally sealed glass? Which wheels and tires on each? Having driven a Tesla Model S 75 for six years, my Taycan is much quieter. I’ve been on calls and most people are amazed I’m in the car. In my Tesla I got lots of complaints that they couldn’t hear me clearly (Carplay is possibly a factor here). My Tesla felt flimsy. The Porsche feels solid. And on the highway it’s not even close.

 

[whitex]

The measurements confirm it : noise at 50 mph is 64.8 dB for Taycan 4S , 64.6 for Tesla P and 62.2 for the new Plaid.
Regarding performances, after testing the Plaid, it is especially above 60 mph that Tesla is significantly faster.
And trunk space and back seat space are much smaller than Model S.

I quickly understood the strengths of the Taycan, which is why I took a GTS.
But I remain objective: a Plaid is cheaper and is superior on most measurable criteria...

My Taycan with noise insulated glass has significantly road noise than my 2015 Model S, especially 65mph+. The 2018 Model S my wife had last was somewhat quieter than the 2015, but I never drove it enough to compare against the Taycan without measuring it. Test drove the Plaid, but never had a change to take it over 65mph. The Model S road noise came from the front doors/windows. I tried to have Tesla fix it, and they never could. I tried adding more insulation inside the doors and around windows, still a lot of noise. On long road trips with higher speed limits I just stuck a towel onto each door like this (I dug up this picture I took from a road trip where speed limits were 80mph, so I could show the service center what seems to reduce the road noise the car was about a year old then):

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