Touring with a Taycan 4S

All words and photos by: Jim McKee

2021 Fall Colors Tour To West Virginia in a Taycan 4S As a PCA member of approximately 20 years and a Porsche owner of 46 years, I figured it was time to write down my observations on how things have changed. In particular, how my Taycan 4S performed on a terrific Maryland Fall Colors tour to West Virginia. But how did this start for my wife and I? 45 years ago, while in Navy training in Idaho Falls, Idaho, we had the opportunity to participate in several time-distance rally events through the farmlands of Idaho in a 1963, 356B Super 90 on our days off. Dirt roads, paved roads, we learned early that we loved these, Porsches. I also learned a 356 is not the best “off road” vehicle. This car stayed with us for a year and then we had to get sensible…. Fast forward to August 2021 (two 914’s, three 911’s and a Panamera later) when we took ownership of a 2021 Taycan 4S. An EV is a whole new experience with many questions to be answered. What is the range? Can I find the next charger? How long will take to get there with charging? Will I be late to events? I took the first few months of driving to work through these and other questions. When the Fall Colors tour to Berkeley Springs, WV was announced, we signed on. My first thoughts went back to our rallies in Idaho. My goodness, how the technology has changed. But my first rule: no off roading in the Taycan 4S (not a Cross Turismo). My lack of familiarity with performance vs range issues and a lack of familiarity

Taycan 4S (cont’d)

with available chargers fed my initial feelings of range stress. The coordinator of the Fall Tour provided a rough route for the rally. Not unlike a flight plan, waypoints, fuel stops and divert fields, I set about looking at the route and available chargers. At this point, I didn’t have any confidence in the estimated range calculated by the car because it uses historical data to calculate future performance. The question was how the up and down through the back roads at various speeds and accelerations and decelerations would affect total range. The planned rally was 160miles. It was well within the Taycan’s rated range. It was approximately 20 miles to the start and finish point from Frederick, Maryland. I wondered what kind of range I would have remaining at the end of this event.

With the route plotted and chargers located, I now had confidence that we would not be left stranded by a spirited drive. If I had to bail out of the rally, I would follow procedure, pull over and wave everyone else to keep going. I would then rejoin at the end of rally and provide comic relief to the ICE (internal combustion engine) Porsches as we discussed how it went.

We gathered the morning of the rally in Middletown, Maryland. As is with all Porsche events it was an enjoyable occasion, with everyone admiring everyone else’s cars and trading stories. It was very nice assortment of oldest-to-newest 911’s, some 928’s, Caymans and Boxster’s, a Cayenne and a Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Executive. I was the only Taycan. I felt no pressure, everything was planned. I knew I had enough battery range to stay with everyone. As we lined up into our three groups of nine cars, the sound of these beautiful machines was wonderful. As the only EV, I sat there in relative silence, the low whirr of my synthetic, government-mandated electric motor noise barely perceptible above the idles and revs of everyone else.

Once we got going, the initial miles were through straight, roller coaster roads. Short runs that rose and fell 10 feet over a distance of 50 feet. I think it surprised most of us (no wheels left the pavement, as far as I know). But I had not tightened up the Taycan’s suspension yet, so inertial forces were noticeable in a 5000 lb car trying to jump this

Taycan 4S (cont’d)

Jim McKee

little hill. Every subsequent short hill was taken at a more careful pace and the Taycan’s torque was put to work on the downhill sides of each hill.

Without getting into a tedious description of the next 150 miles, I can say that it was a very pleasant run of tight turns and gentle hills. The Taycan had no issues keeping pace with or cornering with the other cars. Turning was responsive and tight, but tight turns felt especially tight because of the size and width of the car compared to the road width.

The trip to Berkeley Springs was a joy and as far as I know, we arrived with as many cars as had departed. After a lunch break, we all took a short winding run to Paw Paw, West Virginia. After a short break, we started back. Here are some of my observations on the Taycan 4S’ performance during the rally: The air suspension is remarkably smooth. It was only after my wife/navigator commented that she was getting motion sickness from the ride while reading the navigation directions. I switched the suspension to sport mode and the car ride tightened up. No more motion sickness feelings. The car is so quiet. There are no squeaks or rattles. There are really no aural cues for how fast you are going, other than a tone change in the motor noise. With the air suspension and instant torque, you can be doing (way) north of 80 mph and it feels like 55mph. There is a button to turn on regenerative braking, but it is a gentle braking akin engine braking in ICE higher gear. Otherwise, Porsche has engineered the car to coast for reasons of range efficiency.

Taycan 4S (cont’d)

Normal braking is a seamless combination of regenerative (recuperative) and large, disk brakes. During the rally, 95% of all braking by the brake pedal uses the electric recuperative braking. The last few percent of the braking is done with the rotors and pads. At the end of a 20-minute run through the mountains near Paw Paw, West Virginia, we stopped for a 15-minute break. The Taycan rotors were cool to the touch immediately after 20-minutes of vigorous braking activity. As advertised, torque is instantaneous. If we fell behind a little, it took no time to catch up. People behind me said they could really see the acceleration, but to be honest, I could also see the instant acceleration of the 911’s ahead of me. Porsches are just fast…. The return trip from Berkeley Springs was uneventful. More good roads and by then, I knew range was not going to be an issue. I think that in spite a lot of spirited driving, the equally spirited braking provided some charging back to the battery. I finished the rally with 80 miles predicted range (42% charge) and easily made it back to a Level 1 DC charger in Frederick. After a 20-minute charge back to 90% capacity, we departed for the Eastern Shore.

Did the car surprise me, in some ways? Yes. The rally course and distance challenged what I thought was going to be a range of about 200 miles on 100% charge. In reality, total range was nearer to 250 miles. I felt like that was comparable to putting my 2009 911S through the same workout on 16 gallons of gas. It is just easier to find gas and quicker to fill the 911. Did the car handle like a 911? Well… it handles like a four door, 5000lb 911. Steering is responsive and well -tuned to the mass of the car. The suspension can be Rolls Royce smooth or 911 tight. It’s a nice choice to have. The Taycan’s acceleration is a hoot and while some say that not having the roar of the engine and exhaust is a minus, finding yourself instantaneously and silently at 80mph from 50mph gives you the feeling of “OMG, how did I get here so fast?”. It is not a plus or a minus. It is just different!

My range stress is now gone. I know the Taycan can handle vigorous driving and have enough range to get to the next charger. The rally was a great exercise for the car, the driver, and the navigator….

5-13-2014: 1965 356C Loaded in Trailer for the Journey Home to Maryland