Test driven 2 x Cayennes for whole day - My review here...
Discussion
Background:
I have a Cayenne on order for March build and just finally got to drive one this weekend. I am impressed with a lot of this car (after having tried the RRS and Volvo C90) but I also am disappointed in some areas. For what is it worth (cathartic for me, perhaps enlightening for others) here are my two pennies. I started the day at the friendly and professional Porsche centre where i placed my order and where they parked my R8 securely for me to take the Cayenne to drive for the weekend.
Comfort and Suspension Choices:
Having a bad back, they had two cars lined up for me - as i list comfort as a top priority in this car purchase. First we went out in a 21 inch wheel with PASM and Air Suspension. It has standard seats. I mentioned the R8 before because first i needed to readjust to naturally much less sharp controls but also because it has magnetic ride which i am told is the same concept as PASM in that you can electronically adjust the firmness of the ride. Unlike magnetic ride, I found the difference between the normal, comfort and sport barely noticable although this could have more to do with the tyres. We played about with the air suspension ride height too and while i am sure that the sport on low ride felt more firm, i did not feel the comfort permutations felt that comfy and anything approaching RRS. The corollary is the roll and handling was light years in front. Contrary to any perception had you not driven an R8, the car is actually quite comfortable (once in and out of it!)
The second car which i took out and have now driven 50 miles in on a mixed cycle of city, A road and motorway is the 19 inch wheel with no PASM or Air Suspension. No doubt at all that this car is more comfortable. Much softer and i think it is quieter. If i got the 19 inch with air suspension, i am sure it would be like a magic carpet. But to save £3k - i definately think that the air suspension, dif lock and PASM is unnecessary for me if i get the 19 inch wheels. Thats a big saving and i get all weather tyres. Question is, am i big enough to be sensible or will i always look at the car and regret not having the cooler big wheels.
Seat Choice:
Both cars had the standard seat. My back is painful not from jolts per se (in this car, there are no jolts whatever the setup), but from not being held firmly. (Spine stability). The standard seats meant i was rolling about a bit when cornering at speed. I think the best option for me is the adaptive sports seats which would hold me like a bucket seat and that is what i need. My concern would be that while i might get some resale value on big wheels and air suspension, im not sure if anyone else will place value on sports seats which I beleive are a £3k+ option.
Driving Position:
I thought the driving position was excellent - a bit difficult to see the front corners of the car and its not the slimmest of vehicles but its not hard to drive about even on tight lanes (again the R8 is good training for that!). I love the cockpit feel with the centre console slooping inbetween both front seats with lots of buttons (and blanks!). Its a great long distance driving position. I can see myself driving to the Alps in this no problem.
Overall:
Overall i am very impressed with the drive. Much sportier than the RRS when you put your foot down, even id say quick and without trashing it, and yet lovely and quiet if you are on a cruise. I've had 4 other cars with a Sports button and all it seems to do was hold the rev's higher. Im not sure what the Cayenne Sports button does but it makes a BIG difference to the drive instantly - much more responsive and with a little boost for coming out of turnings - ideal for making that gap in traffic turnign into a busy road. Really impressed with that. Also i must say the handling is first class. I felt so confident throwing it around a roundabout or pushing it on a long curve as if i was in an A5 or a quality saloon - very impressive for such a big and tall car.
Two Surprising Great Things:
Another thing i like which i never anticipated was the servo power steering. The first car had it, the second didnt. I would definitely recommend this option. Felt so wonderful mooching around narrow city street with that super light steering.
The power tailgate - best thing since auto windscreen wipers and lights. Love it - would definitly order that.
Things I am disappointed with:
1. The car looks a little cheap inside without all the leather options. The original one i saw in the showroom had stiched leather everywhere which transforms the interior. The plastic as standard is not nice - better than a Ford mind but its just not great. Perhaps i am used to the leather i i get this option usually, but it felt like a Freelander not a Porsche so if you are a luxury car buyer when spec'ing, you cannot leave this out - i think thats another £2k to shell out. The carpet is not thick and plush - the mats a little economical in their construction. There seems to be a sea of blanks too which makes you feel cheap in there - and its not like having air suspension, diff lock and PASM are required. (I think they put a coin holder in there is you get nothing so that could help). I think its impossible to buy a Cayenne for under £60k and have the kind of luxury it deserves. Im not certain but i think that even auto lights and wipers are an option. As is the night mirror (something ive had standard in two previous cars over 5 years ago) - ditto folding mirror!!. Thats offputting to me as i was hoping i could get a luxury SUV for the price of a E Class or Jag. The Caynenne is not the quite good value SUV I thought it was.
2. I think the sat nav and screen is poor quality. Its nice to have the screen in the rev counter console but the software is poorly designed and the screen itself is fiddly and doesnt respond anything like an iPhone iPad - you find yourself wanting to pinch it or double tap but it doesnt work and lags like a iPhone 3 using the latest iOS5 software - slow and annoying. Having said that its better than the Audi one i am used to - but then its 3 years old and i always thought the Audi sstem was clunkcy - that whole wheel thing. The best i have used was the Mercedes COMAND - better than all the rest and that was 6 years ago. These shoddy interfaces are a problem with all cars i think - they need to get Apple in to show them how to build a system. And why on earth dont these systems allow you to mirror your iPhone so you can get internet on the thing - its like everything is 10 years behind with a crappy pre iphone touch screen. At least this car didnt have the Voice command option as its something i wont have to pay for that never ever works and i know of noone that can get it to work on their car.
3. I found the brakes very disappointing for such a powerful and heavy car. I must caveat that the R8 i am used to has the best brakes i have ever tried (even better than the C4S i test drove which are excellent) but the Cayenne brakes are soggy and spongy. Both cars - so this is the design of them. They work ok and the ABS is good on a emergency test stop but they lack and sharpness and bite. Real shame that. I like a solid brake.
4. While the look is better than the earlier generation, and i like the rear a lot, i still think the car is trading off its Porsche badge. I think the overpriced and ride reducing big wheels are the only thing to set it off from another drab SUV so i am luke warm about the looks. My other half disagrees - she loves the look of it.
Conclusion:
Great car but Porsche got cheap on the options. I'm re-evaluating if this is the car for me now. I wonder if i might be better to ditch the R8 and get a 991 (it looks sensational) as it has four seats (well two teeny ones for the toddlers) and then get a Kia Sportage / 3 year old Freelander for the supermarket drive.
Footnote: the dealer said that even with the new 911 out, all the team there queue up to take the Cayman R home as they say its the best drive of all the cars Porsche do. In the real world, with small streets and narrow country lanes, i can see what they mean - i used to have an SLK350 and long ago an MR2 and i still have never quite had that same feeling of drivign since. Even the R8 - i find it too big and too powerful to really drive.
Fatboy
I have a Cayenne on order for March build and just finally got to drive one this weekend. I am impressed with a lot of this car (after having tried the RRS and Volvo C90) but I also am disappointed in some areas. For what is it worth (cathartic for me, perhaps enlightening for others) here are my two pennies. I started the day at the friendly and professional Porsche centre where i placed my order and where they parked my R8 securely for me to take the Cayenne to drive for the weekend.
Comfort and Suspension Choices:
Having a bad back, they had two cars lined up for me - as i list comfort as a top priority in this car purchase. First we went out in a 21 inch wheel with PASM and Air Suspension. It has standard seats. I mentioned the R8 before because first i needed to readjust to naturally much less sharp controls but also because it has magnetic ride which i am told is the same concept as PASM in that you can electronically adjust the firmness of the ride. Unlike magnetic ride, I found the difference between the normal, comfort and sport barely noticable although this could have more to do with the tyres. We played about with the air suspension ride height too and while i am sure that the sport on low ride felt more firm, i did not feel the comfort permutations felt that comfy and anything approaching RRS. The corollary is the roll and handling was light years in front. Contrary to any perception had you not driven an R8, the car is actually quite comfortable (once in and out of it!)
The second car which i took out and have now driven 50 miles in on a mixed cycle of city, A road and motorway is the 19 inch wheel with no PASM or Air Suspension. No doubt at all that this car is more comfortable. Much softer and i think it is quieter. If i got the 19 inch with air suspension, i am sure it would be like a magic carpet. But to save £3k - i definately think that the air suspension, dif lock and PASM is unnecessary for me if i get the 19 inch wheels. Thats a big saving and i get all weather tyres. Question is, am i big enough to be sensible or will i always look at the car and regret not having the cooler big wheels.
Seat Choice:
Both cars had the standard seat. My back is painful not from jolts per se (in this car, there are no jolts whatever the setup), but from not being held firmly. (Spine stability). The standard seats meant i was rolling about a bit when cornering at speed. I think the best option for me is the adaptive sports seats which would hold me like a bucket seat and that is what i need. My concern would be that while i might get some resale value on big wheels and air suspension, im not sure if anyone else will place value on sports seats which I beleive are a £3k+ option.
Driving Position:
I thought the driving position was excellent - a bit difficult to see the front corners of the car and its not the slimmest of vehicles but its not hard to drive about even on tight lanes (again the R8 is good training for that!). I love the cockpit feel with the centre console slooping inbetween both front seats with lots of buttons (and blanks!). Its a great long distance driving position. I can see myself driving to the Alps in this no problem.
Overall:
Overall i am very impressed with the drive. Much sportier than the RRS when you put your foot down, even id say quick and without trashing it, and yet lovely and quiet if you are on a cruise. I've had 4 other cars with a Sports button and all it seems to do was hold the rev's higher. Im not sure what the Cayenne Sports button does but it makes a BIG difference to the drive instantly - much more responsive and with a little boost for coming out of turnings - ideal for making that gap in traffic turnign into a busy road. Really impressed with that. Also i must say the handling is first class. I felt so confident throwing it around a roundabout or pushing it on a long curve as if i was in an A5 or a quality saloon - very impressive for such a big and tall car.
Two Surprising Great Things:
Another thing i like which i never anticipated was the servo power steering. The first car had it, the second didnt. I would definitely recommend this option. Felt so wonderful mooching around narrow city street with that super light steering.
The power tailgate - best thing since auto windscreen wipers and lights. Love it - would definitly order that.
Things I am disappointed with:
1. The car looks a little cheap inside without all the leather options. The original one i saw in the showroom had stiched leather everywhere which transforms the interior. The plastic as standard is not nice - better than a Ford mind but its just not great. Perhaps i am used to the leather i i get this option usually, but it felt like a Freelander not a Porsche so if you are a luxury car buyer when spec'ing, you cannot leave this out - i think thats another £2k to shell out. The carpet is not thick and plush - the mats a little economical in their construction. There seems to be a sea of blanks too which makes you feel cheap in there - and its not like having air suspension, diff lock and PASM are required. (I think they put a coin holder in there is you get nothing so that could help). I think its impossible to buy a Cayenne for under £60k and have the kind of luxury it deserves. Im not certain but i think that even auto lights and wipers are an option. As is the night mirror (something ive had standard in two previous cars over 5 years ago) - ditto folding mirror!!. Thats offputting to me as i was hoping i could get a luxury SUV for the price of a E Class or Jag. The Caynenne is not the quite good value SUV I thought it was.
2. I think the sat nav and screen is poor quality. Its nice to have the screen in the rev counter console but the software is poorly designed and the screen itself is fiddly and doesnt respond anything like an iPhone iPad - you find yourself wanting to pinch it or double tap but it doesnt work and lags like a iPhone 3 using the latest iOS5 software - slow and annoying. Having said that its better than the Audi one i am used to - but then its 3 years old and i always thought the Audi sstem was clunkcy - that whole wheel thing. The best i have used was the Mercedes COMAND - better than all the rest and that was 6 years ago. These shoddy interfaces are a problem with all cars i think - they need to get Apple in to show them how to build a system. And why on earth dont these systems allow you to mirror your iPhone so you can get internet on the thing - its like everything is 10 years behind with a crappy pre iphone touch screen. At least this car didnt have the Voice command option as its something i wont have to pay for that never ever works and i know of noone that can get it to work on their car.
3. I found the brakes very disappointing for such a powerful and heavy car. I must caveat that the R8 i am used to has the best brakes i have ever tried (even better than the C4S i test drove which are excellent) but the Cayenne brakes are soggy and spongy. Both cars - so this is the design of them. They work ok and the ABS is good on a emergency test stop but they lack and sharpness and bite. Real shame that. I like a solid brake.
4. While the look is better than the earlier generation, and i like the rear a lot, i still think the car is trading off its Porsche badge. I think the overpriced and ride reducing big wheels are the only thing to set it off from another drab SUV so i am luke warm about the looks. My other half disagrees - she loves the look of it.
Conclusion:
Great car but Porsche got cheap on the options. I'm re-evaluating if this is the car for me now. I wonder if i might be better to ditch the R8 and get a 991 (it looks sensational) as it has four seats (well two teeny ones for the toddlers) and then get a Kia Sportage / 3 year old Freelander for the supermarket drive.
Footnote: the dealer said that even with the new 911 out, all the team there queue up to take the Cayman R home as they say its the best drive of all the cars Porsche do. In the real world, with small streets and narrow country lanes, i can see what they mean - i used to have an SLK350 and long ago an MR2 and i still have never quite had that same feeling of drivign since. Even the R8 - i find it too big and too powerful to really drive.
Fatboy
Edited by fatboy21 on Saturday 14th January 17:15
Edited by fatboy21 on Saturday 14th January 17:20
tali1 said:
Unless i missed it you haven't said what engines you drove? -you can then use what car? to compare 2 rivals with
Cayenne pricey options -nothing new for luxury German brand ?.Also bear in mind that a like for like Panamera is 20k more expensive!
the first was a Hybrid and the second a Diesel 3.0 but the first was just a quick 10 mile drive looking at handling as it had the suspension and 21 inch wheels. For what its worth, i found the diesel MUCH more torquey and quick off the mark and in that mid range power. Im not sure if that matches official numbers.Cayenne pricey options -nothing new for luxury German brand ?.Also bear in mind that a like for like Panamera is 20k more expensive!
SonnyM said:
OP - what is your opinion of the Hybrid unit?
let me put it this way. the dealer said it was slower in real life. it felt much less punchy - had no torque - for me. i was surprised to learn it has a near 1 second faster 0-60. The diesel feels much faster than 7.6s - i think it must be very quick between 10mph and 40mph which is where i think you need it in an SUV - ie. getting out of junctions/turnings and away from lights.i dont really get the idea of the hybrid. even in central london, where it is possible to crawl along in electric mode, you only have to request the slightest accelaration and the engine kicked in.
having said that, i took it on a short test drive and i was really using it as a platform for the suspension so if the hybrid is your thing - i recommend you ask someone who wanted a hybrid and maybe compared with Lexus as i havent
Fatboy - thanks for going to such lengths to detail your test drive experiences. I test drove a Cayenne Diesel for a day quite recently and was extremely impressed with the level of comfort. Car in question had air suspension, PASM and was running 20" RS Spyder wheels. The motor certainly has some "go" to it, like a surfing a wave of torque and I found it to really quite refined. Car was at OPC Hatfield if you wished to try.
My wife has a bad back so I am interested in your references to the seat comfort (unfortunately she wasn't around when I had the Cayenne for the day). I have heard from others that have either spec'ed the adaptive seats or tried them that it actually makes getting in to the car more difficult. You have to maneuver your body around the bolsters rather than slide in to the seat as you step in to the car. Something to perhaps think about?
I have run various configurations through the Porsche Configurator and agree that it is extremely difficult to get any sensible level of specification on the car for less than GBP60k. You don't have to go too crazy and you can easily add another 25% to the RRP.
Cheers,
Ben.
My wife has a bad back so I am interested in your references to the seat comfort (unfortunately she wasn't around when I had the Cayenne for the day). I have heard from others that have either spec'ed the adaptive seats or tried them that it actually makes getting in to the car more difficult. You have to maneuver your body around the bolsters rather than slide in to the seat as you step in to the car. Something to perhaps think about?
I have run various configurations through the Porsche Configurator and agree that it is extremely difficult to get any sensible level of specification on the car for less than GBP60k. You don't have to go too crazy and you can easily add another 25% to the RRP.
Cheers,
Ben.
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