WHY I LOVE MY VEHICLE: 2021 Porsche Macan GTS

Mayuran Yogarajah never considered a Porsche. Up until 2008 he was driving a Cadillac, but a friend was convinced he would enjoy the German brand for its great engineering, handling, and reputation.

Yogarajah didn’t think much of the recommendation, but he instantly fell in love with the brand when he tried out six different Porsches at the Porsche Experience at Toronto Motorsports Park.

The Mississauga-based executive was the proud owner of a Porsche Cayman S but felt conflicted when his mother shared her concern that she didn’t find his sports coupé comfortable; it was too low to the ground and wasn’t easy to get into or out of. Yogarajah then made a switch, picking up a 2021 Porsche Macan GTS from Pfaff Porsche in August.

Here, Yogarajah tells us what he loves most about his vehicle.

"When I spoke to the folks at the dealership, they said ‘If you want something that's like what you have in your Cayman S, then we recommend trying out the GTS because it's much sportier, it's a little bit beefier,’ and they were right,” Yogarajah said. “When I tried it out, it was like a rocket. It drives very well.

“I have the GTS model, so it's still very sporty, very agile, very nimble and performs like a sports car. You forget you're driving an SUV. I got the Sports Chrono Package, which is a huge, huge thing for me. It gives you that little extra bit of performance, not only in terms of how it accelerates and handles, but also the engine noise – when it's in normal mode, versus sport mode, versus sport plus – it’s very noticeable in the sport exhaust system which sounds incredible. That was a big seller for me.”

Then there was the vehicle’s esthetics.

“It just seems like a lot of thought has gone into every little feature on the car: How it should look and feel. I'm an engineer, and I can really appreciate German engineering in that sense. It just has such a presence when you look at it. It's gorgeous.

“It's hard to look away from the car — it's just so beautiful! The interior has a [Carmine] red finish, and the red on black is a great contrast to have. You’ve got all these buttons in there, it just feels like you’re sitting in a cockpit.”



While the power of Yogarajah’s new ride was comparable to his previous vehicle, there was one big difference: The Cayman was rear-wheel drive, while his Macan GTS is all-wheel drive. For Yogarajah, this meant that he was now in possession of an all-year vehicle.

Although he’s mainly driving the car for recreation purposes – everything from running errands to grocery shopping — Yogarajah foresees enjoying the commute to his downtown office when work-from-home ends.

“I'll have to commute at least once a week,” Yogarajah said. “And the nature of my job is I do a lot of networking. So, when the winter hits, I'm not worried about driving in the snow to go to events, restaurants, and venues. It’ll be great because I'll be able to drive in in the wintertime.”

This article was edited for space and clarity. Want to be featured in Why I Love My Vehicle? email us at wheels@thestar.ca.

Renée S. Suen is a Toronto-based lifestyle writer/photographer and a freelance contributor for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @rssuen

A CLOSER LOOK: 2021 Porsche Macan GTS Premium Plus Package and Sport Chrono Package

THREE BRIEFS:

PREMIUM PLUS PACKAGE AND SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE

Adding the Premium Plus Package option to his Macan GTS, Yogarajah’s car has features such as 14-way power front seats with ventilation, a BOSE surround sound system, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, a surround view camera system, lane change assist, tinted LED headlights and a panoramic roof.

“But the Sports Chrono Package was the one feature that I really wanted,” said Yogarajah, “because the loaner or rental Macans didn’t always have it, which means you don't get the Sport Plus which was a big thing for me.” The latter adds the Sport Plus button on the center console, which adds a sportier driving mode and launch control.

ALL SEASON

“I don’t think the Cayman is best to drive in the winter, and many were surprised I did,” said Yogarajah of his previous ride that was rear-wheel drive. “But this one I'll have no problems driving during the winter. I won’t have any performance issues and end up being stuck in the snow or anything like that, it'll handle just fine because it's all-wheel drive.”

LED TAIL LAMPS

“The LED headlights and tail lamps are stunning. They completely redid the back and it just looks tremendous,” said Yogarajah of the sportier design found in the Macan GTS with the Chrono Sport Package. Those details include Porsche’s new trademark LED light bar-infused 3D tail lamps, but also darkened lenses, and high-gloss black accents on the body.

STANDING

A big fan of Porsche, Mayuran Yogarajah drove a Cayman S before switching to the 2021 Porsche Macan GTS that’s stocked with both the Premium Plus Package and Sport Chrono Package.

INTERIOR

Won over by the Macan GTS’s interior (and exterior) esthetics, Yogarajah agrees that the inside looks and feels like you’re sitting in a cockpit.

BACK

The redesigned rear of the Macan GTS features Porsche’s new trademark LED light bar-infused three-dimensional tail lamps and other sleek features.