Porsche Human Factors Engineering: C-/D+
#1
Porsche Human Factors Engineering: C-/D+
Not a complaint about Porsche engineering in general - their skills in chassis and drivetrain development are deservedly legendary
-no, it's simple things that would be easy to get right that are stubbornly wrong - perhaps because they are seen as unimportant.
Examples: Outward visibility - like many SUVs, especially the "coupe'" styled ones, outside visibility is marginal but a few, mostly cheap and easy changes would offer significant improvement e,g. folding rear headrests instead of the difficult to remove and inconvenient to store pull-outs, Rear view mirror - why the crescent bottomed "semi oval" that cuts off the lower corners of the already small rear hatch window - the traditional rectangle would serve better. Looking forward - age has robbed me of about 4' - I'm a scant 5'8" now and, with the driver's eat at it's highest position, all I see looking forward and down is the lower edge of the windscreen - not even a hint of the hood or nose of the car so I am wholly dependent on the front sensors for parking.How much could it cost to add 2-3" to the seat height adjustment? (mine are the 14-way seats, don't know about the others)
My favorite example - and a trivial one to boot: Porsche conveniently includes a pair of clips on the inside of the glove box door for a pen, tire pressure gauge or whatever - but they are on the right side, a difficult stretch even for an unbelted driver of a LHD car (I have a set of clips and will be adding them to my car) Oh well, at least it is easy for those with RHD examples - NOT SO! in RHD drive cars, the clips are fitted to the LEFT SIDE of the door!
Do the design engineers drive the cars anywhere other than test track?
-no, it's simple things that would be easy to get right that are stubbornly wrong - perhaps because they are seen as unimportant.
Examples: Outward visibility - like many SUVs, especially the "coupe'" styled ones, outside visibility is marginal but a few, mostly cheap and easy changes would offer significant improvement e,g. folding rear headrests instead of the difficult to remove and inconvenient to store pull-outs, Rear view mirror - why the crescent bottomed "semi oval" that cuts off the lower corners of the already small rear hatch window - the traditional rectangle would serve better. Looking forward - age has robbed me of about 4' - I'm a scant 5'8" now and, with the driver's eat at it's highest position, all I see looking forward and down is the lower edge of the windscreen - not even a hint of the hood or nose of the car so I am wholly dependent on the front sensors for parking.How much could it cost to add 2-3" to the seat height adjustment? (mine are the 14-way seats, don't know about the others)
My favorite example - and a trivial one to boot: Porsche conveniently includes a pair of clips on the inside of the glove box door for a pen, tire pressure gauge or whatever - but they are on the right side, a difficult stretch even for an unbelted driver of a LHD car (I have a set of clips and will be adding them to my car) Oh well, at least it is easy for those with RHD examples - NOT SO! in RHD drive cars, the clips are fitted to the LEFT SIDE of the door!
Do the design engineers drive the cars anywhere other than test track?
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steveo17 (09-10-2023)
#4
As you say, those are all pretty trivial annoyances in an otherwise near-perfect car. I do agree that outward/rearward viability is a “C) at best. But I wouldn’t change the interior review mirror to a clunky rectangle. I think that is one area where the stylists deservedly won vs the engineers. I would like a broader view from the outside mirrors though. Just widening them an inch would be a big improvement. With most cars it’s relatively easy to get an uninterrupted rear view that virtually eliminates blind spots with proper placement of the exterior mirrors, but I’ve struggled a little bit with my Macan.
#5
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
We have a triple black, 2018 Macan turbo that is a joy to drive. It's engine and exhaust make all the right sounds. It looks great sitting still and it has many of the classic Porsche curves. Yes, they compromised function for form. I'll take it the way it is as it is a beautiful and highly capable vehicle. None of my Porsches have great visibility. I have picked up various reference points on the cars and move about on the seat to help me park and maneuver in tight places. These annoyances go away as soon as I start driving!
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boyce89976 (09-10-2023)
#6
There are numerous reasons and tradeoffs behind every design decision. You could compile a list of this nature for any consumer product (why are the iPhone volume buttons on the left rather than the right?).
To solve front and rear visibility, the Macan can be fitted with an optional surround view which to my mind is a must-have.
To solve front and rear visibility, the Macan can be fitted with an optional surround view which to my mind is a must-have.
#7
analyst
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
EVERY SINGLE vehicle I’ve owned has “issues” that are impossible to ID during a test drive and only become apparent once long term ownership sets in.
IMO the Macan is the best engineered and constructed vehicle I’ve ever owned.
IMO the Macan is the best engineered and constructed vehicle I’ve ever owned.
The following 4 users liked this post by wingless:
boyce89976 (09-10-2023),
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Russian Mafia (09-18-2023),
Terry Adams (09-09-2023)
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#8
Macan is the best SUV I've ever driven or owned. If you're grading it as a C-/D+, then everything else is an F.
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#9
Rennlist Member
First SUV I have ever owned, and it checks all the boxes. Especially for a road trip.
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#10
I would like a broader view from the outside mirrors though. Just widening them an inch would be a big improvement. With most cars it’s relatively easy to get an uninterrupted rear view that virtually eliminates blind spots with proper placement of the exterior mirrors, but I’ve struggled a little bit with my Macan.
https://www.suncoastparts.com/product/SKU95BASP.html
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boyce89976 (09-16-2023)
#11
Not a complaint about Porsche engineering in general - their skills in chassis and drivetrain development are deservedly legendary
-no, it's simple things that would be easy to get right that are stubbornly wrong - perhaps because they are seen as unimportant.
Examples: Outward visibility - like many SUVs, especially the "coupe'" styled ones, outside visibility is marginal but a few, mostly cheap and easy changes would offer significant improvement e,g. folding rear headrests instead of the difficult to remove and inconvenient to store pull-outs, Rear view mirror - why the crescent bottomed "semi oval" that cuts off the lower corners of the already small rear hatch window - the traditional rectangle would serve better. Looking forward - age has robbed me of about 4' - I'm a scant 5'8" now and, with the driver's eat at it's highest position, all I see looking forward and down is the lower edge of the windscreen - not even a hint of the hood or nose of the car so I am wholly dependent on the front sensors for parking.How much could it cost to add 2-3" to the seat height adjustment? (mine are the 14-way seats, don't know about the others)
My favorite example - and a trivial one to boot: Porsche conveniently includes a pair of clips on the inside of the glove box door for a pen, tire pressure gauge or whatever - but they are on the right side, a difficult stretch even for an unbelted driver of a LHD car (I have a set of clips and will be adding them to my car) Oh well, at least it is easy for those with RHD examples - NOT SO! in RHD drive cars, the clips are fitted to the LEFT SIDE of the door!
Do the design engineers drive the cars anywhere other than test track?
-no, it's simple things that would be easy to get right that are stubbornly wrong - perhaps because they are seen as unimportant.
Examples: Outward visibility - like many SUVs, especially the "coupe'" styled ones, outside visibility is marginal but a few, mostly cheap and easy changes would offer significant improvement e,g. folding rear headrests instead of the difficult to remove and inconvenient to store pull-outs, Rear view mirror - why the crescent bottomed "semi oval" that cuts off the lower corners of the already small rear hatch window - the traditional rectangle would serve better. Looking forward - age has robbed me of about 4' - I'm a scant 5'8" now and, with the driver's eat at it's highest position, all I see looking forward and down is the lower edge of the windscreen - not even a hint of the hood or nose of the car so I am wholly dependent on the front sensors for parking.How much could it cost to add 2-3" to the seat height adjustment? (mine are the 14-way seats, don't know about the others)
My favorite example - and a trivial one to boot: Porsche conveniently includes a pair of clips on the inside of the glove box door for a pen, tire pressure gauge or whatever - but they are on the right side, a difficult stretch even for an unbelted driver of a LHD car (I have a set of clips and will be adding them to my car) Oh well, at least it is easy for those with RHD examples - NOT SO! in RHD drive cars, the clips are fitted to the LEFT SIDE of the door!
Do the design engineers drive the cars anywhere other than test track?
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boyce89976 (09-16-2023)
#13
Three Wheelin'
My dislike is the change to the "switchless" controls on the center console
I used to be able to find the one I wanted by feel, now you have to actually look down to find it and see if it "light up"
I used to be able to find the one I wanted by feel, now you have to actually look down to find it and see if it "light up"
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roule (09-27-2023)
#14
Completely agree - I have major loss of feeling in my hands - carpal tunnel syndrome - touch screens are a real problem for me. I suspect that this change was predicated on "engineering" input from the accounting department - a single straight from the supplier part vs ?? buttons, lights, frames etc.
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dak911 (09-17-2023)
#15
Completely agree - I have major loss of feeling in my hands - carpal tunnel syndrome - touch screens are a real problem for me. I suspect that this change was predicated on "engineering" input from the accounting department - a single straight from the supplier part vs ?? buttons, lights, frames etc.