David R drives a Porsche Taycan 93.4kWh 2022

This is David’s first electric car, he’s owned his Porsche Taycan 1-2 years and drives under 5,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 60,000-70,000 miles and he achieves 240 miles on average, from an 80% charge. Optional extras for David’s base Taycan rear wheel drive single motor are: panoramic roof, painted side skirts & 20″ turbo wheels.

Why did you choose the Porsche Taycan?

I have owned Porsches for 32 years. My last two Porsches being a Gen 2 997 911 and then a Macan Turbo. I always fancied the Taycan for its looks and the fact it drives like a 911 without the road noise/road surface issues. Not as refined as the Macan Turbo in terms of the luxurious interior finish, but such an engaging ride and plenty of power when required; it is definitely the “king” in my book.

I purchased the Taycan through a Porsche dealership, so it came with new tyres, new service, 2-year warranty, which is a “must have” when buying a second-hand Porsche. All recalls had been done without any dramas. Like all Porsches, the service interval is every two years, so it was competitively priced alongside the likes of JLR, Audi, BMW etc.

Positives 

Styling is its best feature, the best of all the EVs currently on sale, IMHO. Not a straight line in sight, just so curvaceous, it’s a 911 on stilts. It always brings a smile to my face whenever I drive it. Yes, it’s big, but so relaxing to drive and easy to manoeuvre, even into tight parking spaces.

Negatives 

None so far relating to its reliability. Probably the only downside is its ability to attract kerbs to the wheels! It’s so easy to scratch the 20″ rims, but you do end up being extra careful when parking, so that’s not a bad thing.

Compared to when you first bought the car, does your battery still charge at the same rate & do you still get the same range?

I bought my car with 57,000 miles on the clock, so at less than four years old, not a question I can answer. However, some 5,000 miles on, my battery hasn’t shown any degradation regarding charging or range. I haven’t noticed any dip in performance, but I drive quite conservatively considering it is built for speed and flexibility. Because I use the Taycan infrequently, I only charge to 50% and then up to either 80% or 100%, depending on where I am travelling to.

Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?

Porsche Communication Management (PCM) crashing due to buffering issues. Dealer rectified with software update.

What are the standout technological features of the car?

The ability to scroll through features easily, it’s simple to navigate and make changes. Also, the ability to switch regen on/off or auto regen via a button is really useful. Planning journeys and charge point stops is readily available. The navigation system regularly updates via over-the-air (OTA) services. I have signed up for Porsche Connect, which is a subscription service that allows me to change/monitor settings via a mobile app. Very useful when wanting to apply pre-conditioning before setting off, for example.

Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about your Porsche Taycan

Driveability, it feels so safe and well-mannered.

What electric car(s) are you interested in next and why?

Apart from obviously the Taycan or Macan, I think that the Toyota C-HR+ would make a creditable switch if down-sizing.

Home charging unit

Andersen – it has a seven year warranty as well. Had some issues with protocol communicating with Porsche Taycan but always fixed remotely by updated app. I cannot fault Andersen’s customer support.

Electricity supplier & tariff

Octopus EV tariff – 00:30am to 05:30am, I think it is about 9p/kWh (prices subject to change).

Please itemise where you’re saving money (or not) owning & running a Porsche Taycan

Last year based on 3,000 miles, my electricity cost less than £95. The equivalent petrol costs would have been in excess of £700. I’ve not had to change tyres or consumables yet. Tax at £200, so similar to a Macan Turbo .