I have owned a number of Porsche sports cars from Boxsters to Carerras but this is my first non sports car Porsche. Just took it on a 500 mile trip as well as a couple days of normal commuting.
My initial impressions is this vehicle feels BIG compared to what I have been driving. After a while it seemed to be less of an issue. It certainly does NOT handle as well as a 911 or Boxster, but handles better than any other SUV I have driven and is plenty sporty for normal road going uses (would not want to track it, but have ridden with a Pro Driver in one on the track before),
I love the creature comforts this SUV has, but I would be happy with a few less switches. While I think the center console looks fine in this application, I do not think I will like it in the new 991 unless it is really toned down.
I love the look inside and out. I love the size. Plenty of cargo room and comfortable enough for 4 adults to take a trip together.
The more I drive this vehicle the more I like it. While a Carrera S will have more handling, acceleration, etc. this vehicle has more than any of us need on the streets and gives you so many creature comforts you can not get in a sports car.
So far I am very happy with my purchase and if I have an event free ownership experience (like every other Porsche I have owned) I will be very pleased. I understand the prior year had some bugs that caused reliability issues and I hope they have worked them out for the sophomore year of this new Cayenne variant.
I noticed you continued to compare it to other Porsches. My question is how do you compare it to other SUVs? What other SUVs did you own before? And what about it's off-road capabilities to other SUVs in its price category?
Here the price of a Cayenne S is in the range of BMW X5 & X6, MB ML, Range Rover and Lexus LX.
When it comes to off-road, it's no brainier for that category, it's either Lexus or RR. If its a cross-over, it goes to personal taste to choose between the rest.
__________________ "Remember, it only took Marty Mcfly 88mph to travel through time in the DeLorean! I would hate for you to accidentally land in a time without petrol!" ...JB
. . . When it comes to off-road, it's no brainier for that category, it's either Lexus or RR. If its a cross-over, it goes to personal taste to choose between the rest. . .
Lexus?! Really? Range Rover I'd agree with, but I guess I'm not that familiar with the Lexus LX. I certainly wouldn't have considered taking the RX400h we used to have for any serious off-road excursions. It was really more of a cross-over than SUV, IMO.
Other than gravel roads, I have yet to do any significant off-road or snow driving in my Cayenne, but based on reviews I've seen, even with it's new-fangled off-road AWD system, I think it will be quite capable. (As with winter/snow driving, I think tires make a big difference there also)
I have owned an Isuzu Trooper, Dodge Durango, Ford Expedition, and Lexus RX400h in the past, and driven several others (e.g. Toyota RAV, Hyundai Santa Fe, MB ML350, Acura MDX, Infinity FX), and none had the all-round capability of the Cayenne. The first 3 all basically ride and handle like trucks. In terms of handling and performance, as well as engineering, fit and finish the Cayenne beats all of those hands down. It has about the same towing capacity as the Expedition, but despite being smaller, feels much more secure and stable pulling a 5000+ lb. trailer than the Ford did. It is a very comfortable car to drive or ride in, and thanks to the 8 speed tranny, our V-6 gets 26 mpg cruising at 70 mph on the highway.
Lexus?! Really? Range Rover I'd agree with, but I guess I'm not that familiar with the Lexus LX. I certainly wouldn't have considered taking the RX400h we used to have for any serious off-road excursions. It was really more of a cross-over than SUV, IMO.
__________________ "Remember, it only took Marty Mcfly 88mph to travel through time in the DeLorean! I would hate for you to accidentally land in a time without petrol!" ...JB
TPC Balboni... 3.7L Cayman turbo S
Last edited by HassaanAbdeen; 10-28-2011 at 10:55 AM.
Actually the RX is from the same platform as the Lexus ES 350 with in turn is from the same platform as the Toyota Camery. It is a unibody design similar to the sedans. I would categorize it as a cross-over more so then a SUV. IMO.
When I participated in the Porsche Driving School we took a Cayenne on an off road course and it seemed pretty capable. The course was much more demanding than anything I would typically do with my SUVs. An instructor also drove us around the track (4 of us) and did lap times I could likely not beat in my sports car. So I believe the Cayenne is MUCH more capable than I am as a driver on and off road.
I have recently owned one of the M/B SUVs (ML 350) and the Cayenne handles significantly better for sporty driving and is pretty comparable in features, etc. I have also owned a Range Rover, I loved it while it was running, but it was in the shop a lot of the time.
The more I drive this the more I am convinced it is the right vehicle for my needs and that is really what matters most isn't it.
I have seen better videos showing the off-road capabilities of the Cayenne... but nothing a Land Cruiser, Range Rover or Wrangler can't do.
Very true having owned a Wrangler and Range Rover in the past. However these cars would not fair so well on twisty back roads vs. the Cayenne. It is a very versatile vehicle. Perhaps not the best in any one classification, but clearly competent in all of them (which is likely what Porsche was going for).
Very true having owned a Wrangler and Range Rover in the past. However these cars would not fair so well on twisty back roads vs. the Cayenne. It is a very versatile vehicle. Perhaps not the best in any one classification, but clearly competent in all of them (which is likely what Porsche was going for).
On The Car Show they said that the new Cayenne generation is 400 pounds less than the previous generation as they dropped the off-road capabilities... IMO this makes it a cross-over. Interestingly the Cayenne drives on reverse up to 58 mph... I mean really what are you thinking Porsche?!!
__________________ "Remember, it only took Marty Mcfly 88mph to travel through time in the DeLorean! I would hate for you to accidentally land in a time without petrol!" ...JB
On The Car Show they said that the new Cayenne generation is 400 pounds less than the previous generation as they dropped the off-road capabilities... IMO this makes it a cross-over. Interestingly the Cayenne drives on reverse up to 58 mph... I mean really what are you thinking Porsche?!!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Intersting, not sure what they dropped, need to look into that. Mine has locking diffs, decent control and ride height adjustments so it has some off-road oriented features. I did not get the skid plates, etc. that are optional as I will not be using this as a hard core off-road vehicle, just some dirt roads and fields now and again.
On The Car Show they said that the new Cayenne generation is 400 pounds less than the previous generation as they dropped the off-road capabilities...
This is inaccurate. The off-road capabilities weren't "dropped".
The 400lb savings comes from extensive reworking of the materials used in the frame, lightweight aluminum doors, and the bit they/you are referring to: deletion of the low-range transfer case.
The explanation for the last is that the new 8 speed automatic provides the low gear torque needed that obsoleted the need for the extra hardware.
This is inaccurate. The off-road capabilities weren't "dropped".
/you are referring to: deletion of the low-range transfer case.
The explanation for the last is that the new 8 speed automatic provides the low gear torque needed that obsoleted the need for the extra hardware.
Not true, torque vectoring is what they are referring to, and it improves handling not off road low range driving
"Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus
In short, PTV Plus sends more torque to the outside rear wheel when cornering, helping the vehicle track truer to steering input. "
PTV - Porsche Torque Vectoring
(FAQ in progress)
Available for the 911 Turbo for the first time is the optional Porsche Torque Vectoring with variable torque distribution to the rear wheels and a mechanical limited-slip rear differential.
PTV is a system that actively enhances vehicle dynamics and stability. As a function of steering angle and steering speed, accelerator pedal position, yaw rate and vehicle speed, PTV is able to improve steering response and steering precision significantly by specific braking of the right or left rear wheel.
In simple terms, this means that when the car is driven assertively into a corner, moderate brake pressure is applied to the inside rear wheel. At the same time, different amounts of drive torque are distributed to each rear wheel via the rear axle differential. Consequently, there is more drive force at the outside wheel and a rotational pulse (yaw movement) is generated around the vehicle’s vertical axis. This assists the steering input and results in a more assured steering manoeuvre.
At low and medium vehicle speeds, the system significantly increases agility and steering precision, whilst at high speeds, and in combination with the mechanical limited-slip differential, it additionally ensures greater driving stability.
The system, combined with Porsche Traction Management (PTM) and Porsche Stability Management (PSM), also puts its stabilising effect to good use on road surfaces with varying levels of grip and on snow and ice.
As PTV increases the car’s dynamic performance, the system remains active when driving on the racetrack, even if PSM has been deactivated.
Where efficiency is concerned, this enhanced performance and stability are achieved without the need for any additional components, apart from the mechanical limited-slip rear differential. In other words, a more enjoyable drive with no additional weight.
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Re: Impressions of a Cayenne S 2012 
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