RE: Porsche Cayenne Diesel S: Review

RE: Porsche Cayenne Diesel S: Review

Author
Discussion

athol

325 posts

211 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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I've been searching for a replacement for my Touareg R50 for ages. I know VW and Audi both put the 4.2 in their SUVs but they're just not special enough but this looks like it might have the answer. I've also owned large petrol SUVs but there is something special about the massive torque wave that a huge diesel produces. The feeling that you could be pulling your house (or a 747 a la Touareg V10) is amazing.

Good on you Porsche.

threespires

4,295 posts

212 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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One has to admire the engineering to make them work so well, their biggest problem is the vast number drivers of these and their ilk who turn into morons when they get behind the wheel.

epom

11,543 posts

162 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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Are indicators an option on these ?? Love them I have to say smile

toppstuff

13,698 posts

248 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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threespires said:
One has to admire the engineering to make them work so well, their biggest problem is the vast number drivers of these and their ilk who turn into morons when they get behind the wheel.
Cant say I have noticed. Living near Porsche Uk HQ I see loads of these. All being driven normally.

What or who are these morons you refer to? Confirmation bias in play perhaps?

justa1972

303 posts

138 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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I've got to admit that is a seriously impressive piece of kit

I'd have one if I could afford one !

TWPC

842 posts

162 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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cnn said:
I got my Diesel S in May 13. I couldn't get myself, wife and 3 kids in a 911 or a Panamera (why no bench-seat?) and the roads where I live are awful, so the Cayenne it was.
This thing has all the real world performance you need unless you absolutely have to have a Turbo and it really sounds like a petrol V8. Even the dealer thought it was a petrol until he looked under the bonnet and it is effortless to drive.
I have cruised across Europe, down to Cornwall and up to Scotland on trips and it is faultless regardless of surface/gradient/weather.
A 911 would be my ideal car but the Cayenne ticks all the key boxes right now. If I can ever afford a 911, I can be happy in the fact that I will have partially subsidized my next purchase :-)
Oof: this seems to answer my theoretical preference for the Panamera with the V8 diesel...! We also have 3 kids; I didn't realise you can't get a Panamera with a rear bench seat.

The comment about these 4x4s having less and less ground clearance and becoming more like jacked-up estate cars is also spot on, and makes them more appealing. Why don't Porsche sell RWD Cayennes and Macans?

Output Flange

16,800 posts

212 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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I had Porsche Silverstone's demonstrator V6 diesel for a few days a month or so ago, and it really was a fantastic thing, with one exception - it simply didn't feel fast enough. I did enquire about borrowing a V8 diesel, but it seemed that there were only a couple in the country, and they were busy elsewhere.

I'm a fairly recent convert to SUVs, but I have to say that I wouldn't want to be without one now. The versatility is fantastic - plenty of room (I don't have kids to cart around), a decent enough drive and perfectly able to tow the race car.

If I could only keep the X5 or the 911, it'd be a difficult choice. And one I suspect the 911 wouldn't win.

toppstuff

13,698 posts

248 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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I think the new X5 is also worth a look. A great deal of work has gone into the latest version, even if the styling looks familiar.

The M50d version is pretty epic - over 380ps and a wall of torque.

Cayenne still has that V8 appeal though. I suspect that if both cars are kitted out, the BMW could be cheaper though.

DonkeyApple

55,378 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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TWPC said:
Oof: this seems to answer my theoretical preference for the Panamera with the V8 diesel...! We also have 3 kids; I didn't realise you can't get a Panamera with a rear bench seat.

The comment about these 4x4s having less and less ground clearance and becoming more like jacked-up estate cars is also spot on, and makes them more appealing. Why don't Porsche sell RWD Cayennes and Macans?
Not only does the Panam have no room for the nanny or MiL but I think I've read that they can't fit this engine in it.

threespires

4,295 posts

212 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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toppstuff said:
Cant say I have noticed. Living near Porsche Uk HQ I see loads of these. All being driven normally.

What or who are these morons you refer to? Confirmation bias in play perhaps?
I was harassed by a moron in one [possibly not a Porsche but similar type] just minutes before returning home and reading this thread.

toppstuff

13,698 posts

248 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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threespires said:
toppstuff said:
Cant say I have noticed. Living near Porsche Uk HQ I see loads of these. All being driven normally.

What or who are these morons you refer to? Confirmation bias in play perhaps?
I was harassed by a moron in one [possibly not a Porsche but similar type] just minutes before returning home and reading this thread.
But what did being a moron have to do with his choice of car?

If a novel prize winner was driving a Cayenne, would he /she be a moron?

alanis35

36 posts

224 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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I drove the v8 at silverstone last tuesday amazing sound performance and driving position.

Instant response from the 8 speed gearbox selling my x5 to get one

I WISH

874 posts

201 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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Any driver should be able to drive what the hell he (or she) likes without prejudice .... and I have no problem with anyone driving SUVs.
That doesn't however stop me from scratching my head in terms of wondering why people make the choice.
It's remarkable how often you see phrases in car(?) tests and forums like this one which will say things like "it handles like a car" ..... or .... "it's amazing how well it handles for its size".
Well ....... why not just buy a bloody car!!
Interesting also that in this article we see the phrase .... "even if it's not really that spacious given the bulk of the thing".
This is universally true of pretty much all SUVs. They are really very compact inside given the volume of air they occupy on the outside.
Then there are the running costs ..... extra fuel ... enormous wheels and tyres ..... etc., etc.

OK ..... if you live on an isolated farm .... or tow a trailer regularly .... or are part of the horsey set .... I can kind of see the point. But then there are some very talented four wheel drive "conventional" great handling estates out there. Even more if two wheel drive will do nicely.

Buy one if you want with impunity .... and enjoy it if that's your thing ...... but please don't compare it to a car ..... don't expect me to get out of the way on a narrow road ..... and don't necessarily expect me to understand.

sperm

Panjy

162 posts

147 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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I've got to be honest & say i also don't really understand why most people buy these cars.
I understand why someone with 3+ children might buy one as there isn't really another option of having something fast & practical with enough seats (i'm guessing this gives you a third row).
But going on the fact that 90 plus percent of the fast SUVs i see not having 3+ children in them then why would you buy one over say an Audi S6 avant or the like?
The Audi costs a similar amount, has more boot space than a family of four can fill, is faster, sounds better, handles better, is better looking & isn't that much worse on fuel.
I've nothing against people liking different types of cars, each to their own. I'm just interested in the thinking behind why people would choose one of these if they don't need a slightly bigger boot & an extra row of seats.

Edited by Panjy on Thursday 27th March 19:29

Fire99

9,844 posts

230 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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I've nothing particularly against the Cayenne other than where far too many seem to live.

However diesel is still a nasty nasty substance and I hate the way the trend has gone towards them (me included)

red997

1,304 posts

210 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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to answer the 'why buy one of these over an avant A6'
having driven an avant A6 (RS6) it was possibly one of the most dull moments of my life...
I've owned two Cayennes, first gen turbo and second gen hybrid.
I did many, many miles in the 1st - traded it in for the 2nd - which dragged the cup car around europe.
it also made an appearance at Donnington and Spa, and far from disgraced itself. According to the passengers, anyway
I've driven the diesels - loved the V8, V6 not so much;
in fact, the only reason I ended up with the hybrid was because I couldn't be arsed waiting 18 months for the diesel !

If you don't think that they can do off road - get yourself on a Porsche off road course...it changed my view.
Correct tyres obviously make a huuuugggeeee difference in winter, but both were very capable in pretty deep snow and ice.

If I still had the GT3, I would probably still have the Cayenne.
but I don't
So I have a Panamera Turbo S instead


alanis35

36 posts

224 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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Countersteer said:
Two things that I don't like about Diesels: The sound and the sound. If a manufacturer can do something about that then I'll give them a chance...
The only way I could tell it was diesel when I drove it was because it said diesel
It had a v8 burble

alanis35

36 posts

224 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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The Curn said:
I don't think it's the case that people no longer "want" a sporty two seater as a daily driver, but more the practicality of having one.

I'd love a 2 seater as a daily driver but it's simply not practical for the other duties it has to fulfill.

I think therefore people who have £90k to spend on a 911, but suddenly find themselves with 3 children, a dog, and all the associated crap that goes with it end up buying something like this as it copes with family life, but is still enjoyable to drive.

A sweeping generalisation I'm sure, but I guess most people who can afford to buy / run a car in this price sector have a few years under their belt so will probably find themselves with family?
Spot on

Panjy

162 posts

147 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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I totally get having one if it is used to tow your fun car - thats what i always thought big 4x4s were best at.
What i don't understand is why you'd have one as your family / fun car when you don't tow / have 3+ kids / need the extra boot space.
In my eyes there are much better options out there.
So am i right in thinking that you're saying that your Cayenne was more fun to drive than your RS6?

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

199 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
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Just a shame Porsche remain steadfast in its attempts to shoehorn the 911 aesthetic onto this car. RR shell on this chassis would be sublime.