I drove a 2011 Cayenne S last Friday and was a little underwhelmed. Perhaps b/c my expectations were very high.

It was a $90k S with 21s - but base suspension. No PDDC, torque vectoring or air suspension.

Car was great in so many ways. Loved the looks inside and out. The interior is fantasic. Engine sounds good and power is appropriate, although not much faster feeling than the previous GTS (which is a second slower to 60?).

The deal breaker was that it still drove like a heavy SUV. Although much more car-like and nimble than the first gen Cayennes, the suspension didn't feel as buckled down as a GTS (which I'm sure its not - from an objective point...ride height etc..).

I drove the Panamera V6 with bases suspension and 21s and it was a far better drive. But, again SUV vs. car.

I was expecting to be blown away with the new Cayenne, and really wanted to be impressed, but wasn't fully. I drove a friend's 2011 X5 5.0 the next day and was impressed by the new driveline. He paid 70 for a truck that is faster, slightly more solid feeling, a bit larger and definitely more well optioned than the Cayenne I drove with a sticker $20k north of the X's.

The new Cayenne is gorgeous and a huge improvement, but I bet its not cross shopped that intensely. My guess is the purchase decision is made either automatically by existing P-car owners, or with one glance at the end of the hood.

DRP

 

The Cayenne GTS is not a second slower to 60, more like .1 sec slower to 60. Also 90k for an S? You can get a turbo for close to that.

2008 Cayenne GTS 0-60 in 5.7 sec
2011 Cayenne S 0-60 in 5.6 sec

 

I agree, Cayenne as a new vehicle is in a league of its own. I think those who can easily afford it will get a Cayenne, and those who don't will get a X5.

With 2 tone leather, special paint, I can quickly get to 90K. It all depends on one's priority.

 

Interesting to note your thoughts. I drove a CS and turbo both with PASM(but not PDCC, PTV), and was very impressed with the handling on the sport mode. There was definite bodyroll though. I am hoping that with PDCC and PTV there would be a sharper handling with minimal bodyroll. I've never driven an X5. My wife is not a big fan of X5's looks and just absolutely fell in love with the Cayenne's front looks/interior. So I too did not cross-shop. I just uttered the words "how about trying out the FX" ...she did not talk to me for a couple of hours . So did not waste any time just went ahead with the custom order. There is no way I could have found what we wanted on the lot. I wanted the natural leather, 18-way seats, Burmester, air-suspension, PDCC, PTV and 20 inch wheels. My wife wanted the adaptive cruise, back-up camera, LCA and panorama roof. My custom CS order was 5K above the base turbo price. I don't see what's wrong with that. But I keep hearing this all the time from several folks " for that price I would go for the turbo". The straight line acceleration of the turbo remains unmatched. But there is more to driving/handling of a vehicle than power on a straight line. I understand that a lot of features come standard on a turbo but if I wanted all those above options on a turbo I would still be spending another 20K than what I spent on a CS..why don't people get that. I wanted a fully loaded (including performance upgrades) CS and that's what I am getting. If resale is not in consideration, tell me wtat's so wrong with my thought process

 

The Cayenne is definately one of the best SUV's out there and my build is at 92k, so I know what you're talking about. But, I wouldn't dis the X5 or X6. They were definately on my list and a well equipped X5/X6 is about 15k less than the Cayenne. Plus, the 'free' maintenance and BMW's excellent lease rates draw alot of would-be Cayenne buyers into them. In this economy, it's about what you get for the price of admission. I have had to seriously look at a loaded BMW vs a not-so-loaded Cayenne S and I would be buying the BMW all day long. It's a great vehicle and most people who drive these things don't look at PTV or PDCC or two-tone leather and the Burm. Most Cayenne buyers get the V6!!! I am not disagreeing with you, but don't bash someone for buying a BMW based on their economic status. I, for one, have 2 cars, single and can afford anything I want, but it doesn't mean paying out the nose on a depreciable asset. for someone who wants their Cayenne long term, load it up with what you want, not for resale. Those options depreciate just as fast as you can add them up.

 

check out some X5 owners comments in "cayenne reliability? " post. You might rethink getting the X5.

 

Jen, very well worded and how correct you are. I could have saved a good 45K on the X5 if you take into account the pricing difference and the diesel rebates etc. I promise, the only reason I went overboard on my wife's Cayenne S order is because I/we don't like to change our cars every 5 yrs or so. Just sold our family hauler a Sienna after 8 solid years. That too because we no longer needed the third row and wife/ and believe it or not my 9/11 yr old girls were bitten by the P-bug and wanted a Cayenne. I already went against their wishes and got a 911 instead of the pana. Will not disappoint them again. I just cannot see driving a Porsche without some of the ground breaking performance upgrades/options. IMO I might as well then go for a different car. We also just were stunned at the Burm audio system. Besides that I can now feel proudl that the only other car that has my audio system (besides the Pana) is the Bugatti Veyron. Hence to satisfy my ego/desire etc etc...I'm left with a bottomline price that is 45K + . But I want to be positive in my thought process and have no regrets whatsoever that I have spent that much $$ for what will be the "family car".

 

w00t - i agree, can't believe how many times i have heard/read the you could have bought a turbo for those prices - sorry but i wouldn't order a stripped turbo.

great build on that S - crested headrests and arm rest???????????

 

+1 Options make or break a car.

 

GTS in this country is a 6.3 machine. Across the pond in europe, a GTS with a stick and a few more ponies is the 5.9 you quote. Also, we don't get the fully lowered steel spring GTS sport suspension - instead we get the more comfortable and heavier air suspension.

Porsche says 5.3 for the new S. It's 400 lbs. lighter with 2 more gears...

I've driven the GTS many times. Quick? Yes. Fast? Not quite (although it sounds lightening fast with the nascar exhaust). The X6 or a new X5 5.0 smokes it. Several car lengths by 80.

Can't wait to see a new GTS. I think it will be sensational given the diet of the new car...

DRP

 

Cpa4S, please don't give me any more ideas ... it's 110K and counting already. Thats why I deleted the dials in luxor beige, seat belts in cognac. I actually have the crests on my C4S and like them. But I have enough going on the CS already so I'll take a pass on those "crests".

+1, +1, +1 for that. That's exactly why none of the Cayennes in the dealer's inventory excite me. But I have a strong feeling that come next spring, the dealers would have better, more fully optioned Cayenne's in their lots...now if only I am more patient.

 

i have been driving a 2010 cayenne loaner from the dealer.. imo its junk

the car has excessive body roll, the mirrors are positioned in a way that its hard to see the sourroundings.

also the power - oh wait - what power

that being said im sure a cayenne turbo is a different story with the power and the air suspension. im yet to drive on so i cant comment just yet.

but i will make it know that a range rover sport supercharged is far superior than a cayenne.. but against a turbo im sure it would be left behind.

 

I thought I was the only one that thought this way, I purchased a turbo and sold it within a months time. Not what I expected

 

A Cayenne is most glorious in the turbo and turbo S variants.

What exactly did you not like with the turbo in order for you to sell it within a month?

Did you test drive one before the purchase?

 

A local dealer had an event several months ago at PBIR and had the new CS with PDDC, torque vectoring and air suspension. I was very impressed with the handling of the suv around the track, the P driver we followed let us push him to where we were pretty much flat out... the only thing I noticed was the brakes were kinda mushy but it was the end of the 3 hour event and they were running full time so the fluid had to of been hot. I was very impressed, high speed there was no body roll what so ever, the sport mode handled better than trying to use the shifter. Around the track I forgot that I was in a SUV!