RE: Porsche Cayenne
Discussion
Setting aside the issue of looks for a moment, their are two things that stop me buying a Cayenne - weight and driver involvement.
I'm a long-term Porsche enthusiast having owned most of the major models over the past 15 years. I also love the BMWs I've owned. I've had X5s for nearly three years and currently run an 4.6is X5 and have most recently ordered a new 4.8is.
The Cayenne TT weighs 280kg more than the X5 4.8is and that's because the Cayenne was built to be a VW first and foremost otherwise I suspect they would have built a smaller car closer to 1800kg (rather than the 2355kg of the Cayenne TT). What this does, regardless of clever air supension is make it feel ponderous, it also results in a truly shocking fuel mileage of close to 10mpg (in my hands) compared to my regular 17mpg+ in my 4.6is.
The other factor that kills it for me is that compared to what I'm used to the Cayenne has little or no steering feel and is really awful if you choose the Steptronic option. This is for a Porsche for goodness sake! I never thought I would see myself disliking the steering on a Porsche. Also, it just doesn't feel very sporty and in my mind more like how I would expect an Audi SUV to drive.
I'd really like to buy a Cayenne and support the brand that I've enjoyed for the past two decades but they've slipped up with the Cayenne just as they did for the first few years of the 996 and as I buy my third X5 in a row I still remain unconvinced by Porsche's attempt in this market sector.
I'm a long-term Porsche enthusiast having owned most of the major models over the past 15 years. I also love the BMWs I've owned. I've had X5s for nearly three years and currently run an 4.6is X5 and have most recently ordered a new 4.8is.
The Cayenne TT weighs 280kg more than the X5 4.8is and that's because the Cayenne was built to be a VW first and foremost otherwise I suspect they would have built a smaller car closer to 1800kg (rather than the 2355kg of the Cayenne TT). What this does, regardless of clever air supension is make it feel ponderous, it also results in a truly shocking fuel mileage of close to 10mpg (in my hands) compared to my regular 17mpg+ in my 4.6is.
The other factor that kills it for me is that compared to what I'm used to the Cayenne has little or no steering feel and is really awful if you choose the Steptronic option. This is for a Porsche for goodness sake! I never thought I would see myself disliking the steering on a Porsche. Also, it just doesn't feel very sporty and in my mind more like how I would expect an Audi SUV to drive.
I'd really like to buy a Cayenne and support the brand that I've enjoyed for the past two decades but they've slipped up with the Cayenne just as they did for the first few years of the 996 and as I buy my third X5 in a row I still remain unconvinced by Porsche's attempt in this market sector.
domster said:
So when are you inviting us all to test drive your cayenne, Henners? You sound as if you are on the brink of a benevolent gesture
You must be joking - I start doing Porsche`s work for them when they scratch my back first !!
You need to get yourself down to the Porsche centre Buckingham, or Milton Keynes or where ever your nearest centre is. They`ll let you have a spin and give you a cup of tea. On that subject a massive press release to follow from 911virgin Hall in the not too distant future. All hush hush at the moment though - tense negotiations at the moment.
Henry
Henry, as far as I am aware there is no OPC in Milton Keynes.
Too much poor quality housing, plus the fact that too many roundabouts would doubtless lull Jonny 911 Virgin into a false sense of security, binning a pristine 996 possibly not high on the agenda.
OPC Towcester, sorry Silverstone is nearest to that neck of the woods. And a jolly nice OPC it is too. If only they know how to replace the oil filler cap on a Boxster
Cheers!
Greg
Too much poor quality housing, plus the fact that too many roundabouts would doubtless lull Jonny 911 Virgin into a false sense of security, binning a pristine 996 possibly not high on the agenda.
OPC Towcester, sorry Silverstone is nearest to that neck of the woods. And a jolly nice OPC it is too. If only they know how to replace the oil filler cap on a Boxster
Cheers!
Greg
They are not alone ! We had to lend a customer an oil filler cap the other day following an AFN, sorry Porsche centre just outside London service, or was it a Porsche centre just on the way out of London ,you know by the brewery - on the way to Wales, service. Anyway one of the Porsche centres !!
Henry
Henry
It's the same old story, wherever you go, Company Leaders and Directors are following the same mantra, 'The Shareholder Comes First', Paranoid, feckless so called decision makers arguing they need to grow the company to stay independent, absolute cobblers, If anything a future sucessfuly diverse company such as Porsche would make an ideal purchase for one of the ailing industry 'Giants', it's the new religion, Mergers and Aqusitions, for those that lack the imagination and courage of doing it themselves, instead some tosser who happens to be called a C.E.O. who will probably be get a golden parachute when the masterplan falls about as it invariably does, will gather up his posse, ring the laywers and accountants and ask "do we have more money thanh them", "Yes Sir, you do", "But they have something we can't quite make ourseleves, right" "Right, Sir" "OK, Let's buy them", "Sir, You're a genuis..." "You think that's clever, wait till you see what plans I have for their model range", "Now we'll win back our loyal customers", Well at least some of us will be able to say we owned/drove a Porsche, yes remember them...
I think that the porsche cayenne is AWSOME! I pick mine up on mothers day. I am an at home mom of 5. When my husband and I married 8 years ago and blended our 2 families I gave up my sports car and here I am 3 ford expeditions later. My boys are both 16 now and have told me that it is "gay" to ride around with me, so they hardly ever get in the car with me anymore. I live in rockwall TX, land of the boob jobs, fake nails, lipo suction, golfing, tanning salon, at home moms. With 5 kids I dont have time for golf and I dont want any of the other stuff. I just turned 40 and my husband recomended that we trade in the tank and get me anything I wanted. I drove them all... infifity. lexus,jag then cayenne...WOW, I felt like I was 21 again. I had forgotten how free and wonderful it felt to drive something like that. There is not a dealership around here so we had to drive into dallas to get one. There arent any that I have seen around here ( ill be the first). Who needs fake boobs and lipo? I'll get my feel good fix with my cayenne. So will porsche jeopardise its future with the cayenne? I dont think so, there are alot of gals out there just like me. The times they are a changing !
You know, after reading all of the posted conversation I can see that you guys know alot about thease cars. That is why this site interested me so much. I wanted to find out everything I can before I drive home in my $60,000 plus toy. But you know where I live there are more lincon nav, hummers, excursions, and armadas than you can shake a stick at. And they all cost about the same. I drove them all... they didnt excite me. Why not just keep the tank? OR... Why not spend a little more and get something I would really enjoy! At this stage in our lives we are doing better financially than ever. I've got the nice big house, the kids are getting older, bla,bla,bla I wanted something a little more exciting to drive than a hummer. The cayenne fits the bill. I wish I could drive something sportier but I still need the space that an suv provides. Can you think of a better one? I would be very greatful for any advice you could throw my way. And in response to my boobs... I come from a long line of great boobs. No need to raid the bank on that just yet. All in good fun, JC
I think you`ll find a Cayenne plenty sporty enough - go for the Cayenne V8 S, not the V6 thing. When I`ve been driving in the States for a while then come home and hoped back in the Cayenne it makes me realise just what a cracking SUV it is.
Pop down to the local dealers and bid them in the balls, they`ll have a stack round the back of the showroom waiting for you to plonk your bum in. Be a bit flexible with things like spec and colour, you may find they have a stocking plan which means cars need to be sold based on how long they`ve been in stock, rather than how desirable they are.
Have fun and you never know you might even come round to our way of thinking and start spelling things properly - all right so I`m can`t spell to save my life but at least I`m trying to spell English rather than American !!
Keep smiling and good luck
Henry
Pop down to the local dealers and bid them in the balls, they`ll have a stack round the back of the showroom waiting for you to plonk your bum in. Be a bit flexible with things like spec and colour, you may find they have a stocking plan which means cars need to be sold based on how long they`ve been in stock, rather than how desirable they are.
Have fun and you never know you might even come round to our way of thinking and start spelling things properly - all right so I`m can`t spell to save my life but at least I`m trying to spell English rather than American !!
Keep smiling and good luck
Henry
bzymom said:
I think that the porsche cayenne is AWSOME! ............Who needs fake boobs and lipo? I'll get my feel good fix with my cayenne. So will porsche jeopardise its future with the cayenne? I dont think so, there are alot of gals out there just like me. The times they are a changing !
well said that "gal". Will
PS it could look better.
>> Edited by will_t on Thursday 28th April 11:30
Just my h'penny worth as to why i bought one:
I bought a KN S 4 months ago. Traded in a 4.6 hse rrover against it. Completely diff. vehicles, although in a sense bought for fairly similar reasons. The rrover was, in essence, crap. Yes, you could waft about, Yes you had the 'high up' driving position, Yes at the beginning it felt fine, BUT, and its a big BUT, the thing ended up costing a fortune to run and fix, the built quality was absolutely sh*ite. If anyone is tempted to ship one of these in (and they are getting v. cheap now), is either get a fantastic bullet proof warranty or DONT)
I had to make a decision on choosing a vehicle that would cope with 2 small children, a medium sized dog, be large enough to swallow all the paraphenalia that surrounds them and also provide fun, comfort and be high up enough to put all these things in without shaggin mine/the wifes back up. I was trading out of 2 cars into 1.
So what options were open to me & why did i discount them?
RRover new shape - Had an old one, put me off the brand, oil burner was soo underpowered it was shocking, petrol versions were being offered at massive discounts too soon for my liking. Nice interior/cockpit, just too afraid it would end up like the previous one.
BMW X5 - very good road manners, good build quality, diesel version looked like a good 'financial' move. But i didnt like the shape, the petrol versions were depreciating like stones (heavy ones at that!) & the dealers just had this horrible arrogant swagger that to be frank, put me off (which is sad, although it was only a minor point in dismissing it), oh ,and everybody has them (which to be fair is prob. a good point, as it probably displays how well thought of they are?)
Lexus RX mumble - Very very impressed by the dealer themselves, the actual salesmans knowledge of the product, the toys offered & build quality. But, the engine (V6 3lt?) felt sluggish, I didnt like the driving position (felt too big for it @ 6'1) and its looks didnt win me over.
Merc M - Know 4 people that have had them, new & older versions from smaller to larger engine variants & all 4 put me off! Really put me off
VW Tourg -Nice, great price, diesel was frightenly torquey (sp?), petrol versions refined, build quality fine, interiors very tactile. Rumours of cliff-like depreciation worried me (worst of the new 4*4's?), strange point, but didnt like the front end (IMHO)
Audi RS4 or variant - wanted one badly, BUT too low for loading kids all the time and didnt want a fcked back
Merc Eclass estate - see above
THEN i tried the KN.
V6 was poor. Needed the gearbox working really hard to keep it buzzing, just didnt seem like a good 'package'. Too smaller engine for its weight.
Turbo - Stupidly quick, in fact frighteningly so, had all the extras as standard. But it was too expensive for what i wanted/needed.
kn S - Great middle ground. Got one fully specced up with ALL the toys. Its quick, comfortable, versatile, feels well screwed together and IMHO the looks grow on me (in a perverse way i like its ugliness, if that makes sense. It doesnt conform.) I chose the 'S' because i believe it will be the model that will be the most 'functional' over the period that i will have it. I also think that the V6 will depreciate far more rapidly (especialy the low spec ones) & the 'turbo', although fantastic, will only appeal to a much smaller market than the 'S'.
On the question thats been debated re: dilution of the brand? i really couldnt give a monkeys arse! i bought it for what it does & for that purpose it scores very highly. Yes, the badge issue does come into it, but only because in my eyes it stands for 'quality & longevity', factors that i rated high on my tick-list. I think too many people are judging this vehicle by the perception of the type of people that 'might' be buying them. I have one, therefore that puts me in a postion to rate them.
..........................and 4 months in, i wouldnt change it for anything. The dealers have been 'more' than helpful (and no. im not under any false pretensions here, im sure a lot of you are thinking 'wait till it goes wrong!) but we shall see. It keeps me more than interested & ive had a few interesting cars over the years to know whats 'good' and whats 'not'.
so there you have it.........sorry if its overly long, but i hope it answers some of your questions as to 'why people buy them', after all, its opinions & debate based on 'gained knowledge and facts' that count. Not spouting someones view that youve overheard down the pub!
I bought a KN S 4 months ago. Traded in a 4.6 hse rrover against it. Completely diff. vehicles, although in a sense bought for fairly similar reasons. The rrover was, in essence, crap. Yes, you could waft about, Yes you had the 'high up' driving position, Yes at the beginning it felt fine, BUT, and its a big BUT, the thing ended up costing a fortune to run and fix, the built quality was absolutely sh*ite. If anyone is tempted to ship one of these in (and they are getting v. cheap now), is either get a fantastic bullet proof warranty or DONT)
I had to make a decision on choosing a vehicle that would cope with 2 small children, a medium sized dog, be large enough to swallow all the paraphenalia that surrounds them and also provide fun, comfort and be high up enough to put all these things in without shaggin mine/the wifes back up. I was trading out of 2 cars into 1.
So what options were open to me & why did i discount them?
RRover new shape - Had an old one, put me off the brand, oil burner was soo underpowered it was shocking, petrol versions were being offered at massive discounts too soon for my liking. Nice interior/cockpit, just too afraid it would end up like the previous one.
BMW X5 - very good road manners, good build quality, diesel version looked like a good 'financial' move. But i didnt like the shape, the petrol versions were depreciating like stones (heavy ones at that!) & the dealers just had this horrible arrogant swagger that to be frank, put me off (which is sad, although it was only a minor point in dismissing it), oh ,and everybody has them (which to be fair is prob. a good point, as it probably displays how well thought of they are?)
Lexus RX mumble - Very very impressed by the dealer themselves, the actual salesmans knowledge of the product, the toys offered & build quality. But, the engine (V6 3lt?) felt sluggish, I didnt like the driving position (felt too big for it @ 6'1) and its looks didnt win me over.
Merc M - Know 4 people that have had them, new & older versions from smaller to larger engine variants & all 4 put me off! Really put me off
VW Tourg -Nice, great price, diesel was frightenly torquey (sp?), petrol versions refined, build quality fine, interiors very tactile. Rumours of cliff-like depreciation worried me (worst of the new 4*4's?), strange point, but didnt like the front end (IMHO)
Audi RS4 or variant - wanted one badly, BUT too low for loading kids all the time and didnt want a fcked back
Merc Eclass estate - see above
THEN i tried the KN.
V6 was poor. Needed the gearbox working really hard to keep it buzzing, just didnt seem like a good 'package'. Too smaller engine for its weight.
Turbo - Stupidly quick, in fact frighteningly so, had all the extras as standard. But it was too expensive for what i wanted/needed.
kn S - Great middle ground. Got one fully specced up with ALL the toys. Its quick, comfortable, versatile, feels well screwed together and IMHO the looks grow on me (in a perverse way i like its ugliness, if that makes sense. It doesnt conform.) I chose the 'S' because i believe it will be the model that will be the most 'functional' over the period that i will have it. I also think that the V6 will depreciate far more rapidly (especialy the low spec ones) & the 'turbo', although fantastic, will only appeal to a much smaller market than the 'S'.
On the question thats been debated re: dilution of the brand? i really couldnt give a monkeys arse! i bought it for what it does & for that purpose it scores very highly. Yes, the badge issue does come into it, but only because in my eyes it stands for 'quality & longevity', factors that i rated high on my tick-list. I think too many people are judging this vehicle by the perception of the type of people that 'might' be buying them. I have one, therefore that puts me in a postion to rate them.
..........................and 4 months in, i wouldnt change it for anything. The dealers have been 'more' than helpful (and no. im not under any false pretensions here, im sure a lot of you are thinking 'wait till it goes wrong!) but we shall see. It keeps me more than interested & ive had a few interesting cars over the years to know whats 'good' and whats 'not'.
so there you have it.........sorry if its overly long, but i hope it answers some of your questions as to 'why people buy them', after all, its opinions & debate based on 'gained knowledge and facts' that count. Not spouting someones view that youve overheard down the pub!
well all this is very interesting. I took delivery of my beautiful new cayenne yesterday and it is by far the nicest 4x4 I have ever seen. It's off road capability is more than enough for my needs which are driving on shoot days. It's plenty big enough and not having 7 seats means I will not be playing taxi driver so much any more. As for alternatives, arrive at a shoot in anything japanese and you'll be asked if you've come to tarmac the drive. BMW X5s are a bit common and nearly cost as much as the cayenne so what's the point of having one of those ? Every single Land Rover Discovery or Range Rover I have ever owned or known has broken down within weeks of being bought without exception. Okay, they are the default option for a 4x4 and once they have been back to the dealer three or four times they are reliable enough. I suppose how you see the cayenne depends on what you are used to but from my perspective they are just the most fabulous vehicle and unbelievable value for money.
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