2018 Cayenne bets?......

[pete]

Yes, there's an SD card slot in the glove box, along with a slot so you can plug in your own SIM card for the onboard data connection. According to the manual (download the Porsche "Good to know" app if you haven't already for the complete online manual), PCM supports SD cards up to 128GB. Somewhat amazingly, FLAC is listed as a supported audio format, so my plan is to just dump all my uncompressed media on to an SD card. As well as the SD card, there are two USB sockets in the arm rest cubby.

On the subject of data, 7GB of data through the embedded SIM is free until at least 30th June, but after that there are indications that 7GB will cost around £30 per month. If Porsche do decide to start charging at that rate, my plan is to just switch to a cheap SIM-only deal with Three or EE for about a third of the cost.

[5to1]

pete said:

Yes, there's an SD card slot in the glove box, along with a slot so you can plug in your own SIM card for the onboard data connection. According to the manual (download the Porsche "Good to know" app if you haven't already for the complete online manual), PCM supports SD cards up to 128GB. Somewhat amazingly, FLAC is listed as a supported audio format, so my plan is to just dump all my uncompressed media on to an SD card. As well as the SD card, there are two USB sockets in the arm rest cubby.

On the subject of data, 7GB of data through the embedded SIM is free until at least 30th June, but after that there are indications that 7GB will cost around £30 per month. If Porsche do decide to start charging at that rate, my plan is to just switch to a cheap SIM-only deal with Three or EE for about a third of the cost.

Hmmmm, that's a little stingy to be frank. BMW give you 3 years of data. Although they then charge you and don't give the option of using your own SIM, so I guess VAG/Porsche are better in that respect.

Do VAG (it's based around the VAG system I believe) still not allow you to use your tethered phone for the WAN connection? I have more then enough data on my mobile contract, so would be good to be able to use that. Of course the car wouldn't have any connection when I wasn't in the car, but thats not a major issue for me.

Ideally I'd like it to use my phones connection if it's connected and the embedded SIM as a backup, that way I could use a cheap pay go SIM such as this:

https://www.mymemory.co.uk/3-payg-4g-trio-data-sim...

Depending on Data usage, might be an option even if the car won't switch to using your phone when its connected. They can often be picked up for even less then this. We use them (or similar SIMS) for backup comms for remote kit. And also great as backup for home if router supports dual WAN.

[pete]

Well, the answer to any connectivity question seems to be "it's complicated"

Porsche provide 2 years of inclusive online services, like enhanced navigation routing, map updates, remote control and a load of other things, independently of whether you have a data contract or not.

Where the data contract comes in is for use of the vehicle's built in wifi hotspot (which could be useful for my kids' tablets, if I let them loose on YouTube Kids!), and also to enable online radio, Napster or Amazon Music. The data contract isn't used by the core online services.

The complication comes in the myriad ways you can hook the car up to an external phone or wifi access point. If you want things like Amazon Music to work, you need to have your phone and car connected to each other via wifi, by default with the phone connecting to the car's wifi access point. In that case it seems to use the phone to enable the app on PCM, then the PCM/phone combination uses the car's data connection to access online music, content, etc. I would love to find someone who can clearly articulate how the network traffic is routed and what is running on PCM vs the Porsche Connect app on the phone, but I'm still looking...

You can also connect the car to any external wifi access point, which could be your phone, or your home wifi network when it's parked up. In that case you can tell the car that it should use that connection rather than the internal LTE module as the main route for data, but I haven't tried apps like Amazon Music in that mode. They work if the phone connects to the car; not sure if they work if the car connects to the phone. Given that in both modes, the phone and the car are on the same IP network, it could work, but nothing seems to be simple now there are so many permutations!

(I will issue a disclaimer at this point that I've spent most of the last 20 years architecting distributed mobile applications, so my natural reaction to any of this stuff is to try to figure out exactly how it works. Never knowingly under engineered, and all that. Everyone else will probably just plug their phone in and get on with it )

[Cheib]

Hybrid has been launched, sounds like it’s a significant step up on the Hybrid in the old model. Also some new options, HUD, 22” wheels (blimey!) and massage seats.

https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/products/porsche-c...

[5to1]

Cheib said:

Hybrid has been launched, sounds like it’s a significant step up on the Hybrid in the old model. Also some new options, HUD, 22” wheels (blimey!) and massage seats.

https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/products/porsche-c...

Oh for gods sake, HUD was the one option I was desperate for :/

I bloody asked them about it aswell and got the ‘its not the Porsche way’ spiel.

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 08:09

[5to1]

On a side note I’ve got another revised delivery date for end of next week. About 3 weeks late but hopefully this is accurate

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 08:15

[Cheib]

5to1 said:

Cheib said:

Hybrid has been launched, sounds like it’s a significant step up on the Hybrid in the old model. Also some new options, HUD, 22” wheels (blimey!) and massage seats.

https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/products/porsche-c...

Oh for gods sake, HUD was the one option I was desperate for :/

I bloody asked them about it aswell and got the ‘its not the Porsche way’ spiel.

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 08:09

I wouldn't blame your OPC/the SE you're dealing with....I think they genuinely get pretty poor info from Porsche about what's coming. I was surprised it wasn't available on the new Panamera and was told the same...

[5to1]

Cheib said:

I wouldn't blame your OPC/the SE you're dealing with....I think they genuinely get pretty poor info from Porsche about what's coming. I was surprised it wasn't available on the new Panamera and was told the same...

In isolation I would probably feel the same. But since I put my money down almost every key milestone I've had to chase them.

For example the SE that was dealing with my order handed me over as he was leaving. When the press car was doing the rounds I chased up the new SE just in case and was assured they'd let me know. The press car came and went, my SE was away, whoever was responsible for her clients didn't bother to contact me and I only found out when I called the dealership to ask when it was coming.

Head of Sales took over my order. Assured he'd find a solution after I returned (I was scheduled to be away for a month, hence I chased them to avoid this issue). I returned, but not only had they not sorted anything, but the Head of sales had left as well and no one had bothered to take up my order.

This has happened again and again. They didn't tell me i'd been allocated a slot. Didn't tell me it would be April build. Told me last minute I needed to finalise spec to keep my slot. Told me about the delay, but I found out about the GSM module issue here. Etc, etc. Finally saw a press car in Reading (hour round trip rather then 15 mins). Had several SE's including two Sales managers and now back with the second SE. She is very nice, but several months ago my order was supposedly taken up the chain to ensure no more screw ups, so kind of calls the veracity of that supposed "escalation" into question.

[5to1]

Now I've got my rant over the hybrid looks interesting. Not worth the extra cost for my 5k miles a year, but may be for someone that does a lot of Urban journeys.

Not too sure about the lime green callipers :O especially on that white car. Do like the sport design kit though, havent seen any real pictures of it before. Pity they ran out of it

Also looks like PASM is standard. Also standard on the Cayenne S, was that always the case?

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 10:46

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 10:46

[Taffy66]

I like the spec sheet especially since they've managed to increase the power from 416 to 462, yet reduce the weight by 55Kg..I had a LOI already with my dealer and phoned this morning to confirm my order..

[Cobnapint]

5to1 said:

In isolation I would probably feel the same. But since I put my money down almost every key milestone I've had to chase them.

For example the SE that was dealing with my order handed me over as he was leaving. When the press car was doing the rounds I chased up the new SE just in case and was assured they'd let me know. The press car came and went, my SE was away, whoever was responsible for her clients didn't bother to contact me and I only found out when I called the dealership to ask when it was coming.

Head of Sales took over my order. Assured he'd find a solution after I returned (I was scheduled to be away for a month, hence I chased them to avoid this issue). I returned, but not only had they not sorted anything, but the Head of sales had left as well and no one had bothered to take up my order.

This has happened again and again. They didn't tell me i'd been allocated a slot. Didn't tell me it would be April build. Told me last minute I needed to finalise spec to keep my slot. Told me about the delay, but I found out about the GSM module issue here. Etc, etc. Finally saw a press car in Reading (hour round trip rather then 15 mins). Had several SE's including two Sales managers and now back with the second SE. She is very nice, but several months ago my order was supposedly taken up the chain to ensure no more screw ups, so kind of calls the veracity of that supposed "escalation" into question.

That's piss poor. Sounds like Porsche are either overwhelmed with the constant flow of orders, or are starting to take their customers for granted and have taken their eye off the ball.

[5to1]

Hasn’t been a pleasant experience to put it mildly.

Now to cap it all off the one option I’d specifically asked about has popped up the week after mine was built :/

I don’t think they’re overwhelmed. They look better staffed then BMW relative to the number of cars they shift. I just think it’s piss poor process which is a management issue. Handing over between staff to accommodate staff leaving or taking hols is surely trivial for a multinational.

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 12:23

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 12:24

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 12:36

[Equilibrium25]

pete said:

The colour is not quite as dark as carbon black, looking very blue in the bright showroom lights, but in the current cloudy weather it looks much darker. I'm sure it will look fantastic when spring returns. I really like it with the aluminium trim, but I think Moonlight Blue is dark enough that it would look great with the gloss black trim pack as well.

After a few days with the car I'm even more impressed. I was initially worried it wouldn't feel as torque-y as my old diesel, but it has exactly the same 550Nm maximum torque at even lower revs (torque is flat from 1,800 to 5,500rpm!), plus the car is lighter overall, so that isn't an issue. It seems happy to rev too, but I'll wait until it's done a few more miles before I start exploring the upper reaches of the rev range. Fuel economy is hovering around the high 20s, but it's too early to tell if that's representative.

The chassis is a revelation with the air suspension, in that it's actually driveable in comfort without rolling or pogo-ing around the place, and sport feels perfectly usable when pressing on. Sport plus is obviously a bit on the firm side, but the sport chrono pack comes with an "individual" setting that I will probably set to the more aggressive powertrain with the middle suspension setting. The only other chassis trickery I've gone for is rear axle steering, so no clever electric active anti-roll or clever differentials. However the RWS is very noticeable in that the car feels very darty and responsive at low speed, with much sharper turn in than the old model, but it's no less stable on the motorway. It might be all in my mind though...

Otherwise the interior is a bit of a tech fest, but like most new technologies I have some teething problems; in my case it's problems with my Porsche Connect account that are stopping the data connection and remote services from working. That's the price I pay for being a beta tester I suppose. Oh, and my trusty iPod classic with 80GB of music doesn't work with the new PCM hardware, but at least it's also on my phone, and I could achieve the same by plugging in a large SD card, so not the end of the world.

Thanks Pete. Really good to read your review. The S does have a good spread of power I think, and seemed to suit the car well on my brief drive. It seeemed roughly as responsive as my 440i, which is about 115bhp less in a car that weighs perhaps a third less. Plenty of power in the Cayenne S anyway.

I hadn’t considered the rear wheel steering, as it’s very hard keeping the option cost down. It sounds promising though and might make the car more wieldy around town, which will be its main use for us. I didn’t check whether the demonstrator had it.

Keep the reviews coming :-)

[Equilibrium25]

5to1 said:

Now I've got my rant over the hybrid looks interesting. Not worth the extra cost for my 5k miles a year, but may be for someone that does a lot of Urban journeys.

Not too sure about the lime green callipers :O especially on that white car. Do like the sport design kit though, havent seen any real pictures of it before. Pity they ran out of it

Also looks like PASM is standard. Also standard on the Cayenne S, was that always the case?

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 10:46

Edited by 5to1 on Wednesday 2nd May 10:46

The hybrid does indeed look interesting and I am surprised that if only costs the same as the Cayenne S, but with the addition of sport chrono. Those calipers would have to go though, yikes!

I might drop my OPC a line to see how the residual is on a PCP as the hybrid may be cheaper over the first three years.

[pete]

No, PASM and air is still a £1500 option in the UK for both the S and the E-Hybrid. The HUD won't be available until builds from after August this year.

The hybrid would have been interesting for our use pattern if we had anywhere to plug it in, but it's carrying 250kg of extra battery weight that will seriously nobble the standard car's remarkable agility.

Edited by pete on Wednesday 2nd May 13:50

[Cheib]

Equilibrium25 said:

The hybrid does indeed look interesting and I am surprised that if only costs the same as the Cayenne S, but with the addition of sport chrono. Those calipers would have to go though, yikes!

I might drop my OPC a line to see how the residual is on a PCP as the hybrid may be cheaper over the first three years.

You shouldn't be surprised! Have a look at the pricing of the Panny Hybrid vs the Panny 4S....it's a bargain by Porsche standards! 10% cheaper and comes with better spec.

[Phooey]

Liking the Sportdesign bodykit and new wheels.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3bclPioykE

Edited by Phooey on Wednesday 2nd May 15:08

[5to1]

You're rubbing salt in the wound posting a pic of the HUD

Sport design kit does look good. Tempted to retrofit or wrap the black plastic trim, with white it will be easier to match.

Not a fan of the wheels, never have liked the big bulky propeller look. Prefer the Turbo Design or Exclusive Design ones. I went for the Turbo Design as they were the only satin offerings when I initially drew up my spec.

[Phooey]

5to1 said:

You're rubbing salt in the wound posting a pic of the HUD

Sport design kit does look good. Tempted to retrofit or wrap the black plastic trim, with white it will be easier to match.

Not a fan of the wheels, never have liked the big bulky propeller look. Prefer the Turbo Design or Exclusive Design ones. I went for the Turbo Design as they were the only satin offerings when I initially drew up my spec.

Sorry . I don't think I'd spec the HUD myself unless it was only a couple of hundred quid so wouldn't bother me. Sportdesign kit I would want though. Wheels - I think the Turbo design or the RS are the best but the new ones look OK in that pic I thought.

eta - I'd also want it in Quarzite Grey Metallic

Edited by Phooey on Wednesday 2nd May 15:50

[5to1]

pete said:

No, PASM and air is still a £1500 option in the UK for both the S and the E-Hybrid. The HUD won't be available until builds from after August this year.

The hybrid would have been interesting for our use pattern if we had anywhere to plug it in, but it's carrying 250kg of extra battery weight that will seriously nobble the standard car's remarkable agility.

Edited by pete on Wednesday 2nd May 13:50

The weight is carried low down and static, so whilst it wont help handling I don't think it will seriously nobble it. I don't particularly notice a full tank of fuel and/or a couple of passengers, which is weight carried higher up and sloshes about.

Where did you get the HUD info? Are they not shutting down production now?