Dick Hagerty: Can a car be worth an eight-month wait?

We are in the process of buying a new car. Which, at first glance, should hardly be a remarkable thing. People buy new cars on a regular basis. Some buy a new car every year.

What makes this “process” different is that the purchase period has extended to a full seven months and only now the end appears to be in sight.

So, you ask, how does it take a full eight months to purchase a new vehicle, especially when the buyer is very motivated and never hesitates to make a decision? Well, to begin with, this is no ordinary family car.

The vehicle in question is a Macan. Still with me? Unless you are a pretty serious car nut, you have probably never heard of a Macan, but the auto fan magazines and even this newspaper have written glowing and remarkable reviews on its performance and style.

Named after an Indonesian tiger, the Macan is the newest creation to emerge from the very creative minds at the German Porsche autoworks. While its category is compact SUV, it has been dubbed “the closest you will come to owning a 911 sports machine while still driving a conventional sedan.”

Since placing our order in November, I have seen exactly one Macan on the open road. And that was cruising alongside of us just as we had left San Francisco airport soon after placing our reservation. Each Porsche dealership seems to have one on the showroom floor, but none for customer delivery.

Thinking we might be the first Macan owners in Modesto, I keep hearing whispered reports that at least one is already stalking our local streets. Each time I am told where I might see it, a quick trip turns out to be a false alarm, generally discovering one of the older and larger Porsche sedans already in production. Being first, or even last, is of little concern to me. I am just getting old enough that I am hoping to still know how to run it through its paces by the time it finally arrives.

And no, in answer to numerous queries from serious car buffs, I did not get the twin-turbo model. I figured it was hardly worth an additional thirty grand to go 9 mph faster than the indicated 156 mph for my version. Whether or not mine ever achieves that lofty number will be a closely guarded secret. Neither my insurance company nor the ever-vigilant CHP need know all the facts.

So, applications are now being accepted for test rides. That line forms on the right. There are already numerous applicants, and test rides will be cheerfully given.

As to test “drives”? Ah, now that is the real question, is it not.

The best answer at the moment is yes, you can drive it if you possess an international competition license and have earned points in a sanctioned event. Otherwise you will have to settle for a quick spin under the capable hands of the owner.

And yes, with a second-place finish in the Baja 1000 International some years back, I do qualify for the driving restriction.

This story was originally published May 22, 2015 at 2:03 PM with the headline "Dick Hagerty: Can a car be worth an eight-month wait?."