5192 Lbs.

[Lucky]

I received Porsche's latest Cayenne propaganda in the mail today. Figured I would give the thing an almost fair chance: I read the copy, studied the pictures, and picked through the specifications tables. I hate to admit it... the thing was starting to sound pretty neat.

Then I saw the curb weight! What a shocker. Even the S model without the twin-turbo weighs in at 4949 Lbs!!!

What a pig. A pig with a powerful engine. Still a pig.

[kstar]

Perhaps a pig, but a pig that laps the Nurburgring faster than many other "accomplished" sports "cars"!

And, it makes pretty good time over snow and ice, so I hear.

Porsche does have a long lineage in rallysport. Perhaps some of this lineage has found its way into the Cayenne. The Paris-Dakaar Rally and the 959 come to mind.

This sucker may be heavy, but look at the vehicle as a function of power to weight. The turbo model is pretty impressive in this regard, IMO. The NA model is not too shabby either.

If I win the lottery or get the asking price for my SoCal home, I will be on the list for a turbo Cayenne. I'll be searching for the rear passenger LCD screen option for my almost 4 year old daughter, too!

Note that I am the same guy that likes the Segway scooter.

Flames accepted without prejudice.

Best,

Kurt

[pwd72s]

My GAWD! The curb weight is similar to that of my 1977 Dodge power Wagon. This may be a pic. Think about it, folks...

[RazorRacer]

I'm new to Porsche, but respect the 911 for it's performance. I like it because it out performs the BMW and Ford in it's class. I was a little put out when I saw a Porsche store on Rodeo Drive. It's like a marketing guru has taken over the racing spirit. Again, I'm new to this so take my comment with a large grain of salt.

[pwd72s]

By Jove! I think Razor Racer has GOT it!

[old_skul]

[Brian993]

Paul close your eyes because your not going to like this. If I could afford an import suv like a Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, and Land Cruiser, why not have a Porsche to consider? There engineering cant be beat. I can understand why some folks would be disappointed in their new marketing (rodao drive) strategy, but that is the typical crap of todays world. McDonalds started out selling hamburger's and fries, now they sell kids cloths also. Its cazy but this is what everything has come to. Anything for a buck.

[cegerer]

Hey Mark,

What is that, the optional Cayenne travel trailer???? -- Curt

[pwd72s]

Brian? No offense meant...but this IS an east/west coast thing. Once, not long ago, our "daily driver", Cindy's Ford Ranger was not to be used...think that was the day I was giving it a wash/wax. So, she took the old Dodge. Her mission? Take an 80's something Aunt on her weekly shopping trip. Along the way, the Aunt said: "Cindy...that Deputy in the sheriff's car is LOOKING at us." Cindy: "Don't worry about it Auntie, he's just looking at the old truck. It's a guy thing." Brian? Where I live, the old Dodge gets MANY more favorable comments than a new German SUV would ever get. It's a location thing. I mean, just imagine me driving through your suburb in my old Dodge...just going hunting, Ruger M77, 7mm Rem. Mag caliber, in the gun rack, equipped with it's 3X9 Leupould scope. Here, the only thought would be: "nice old truck". Back there? "Guns are bad, because Sarah Brady said so." There? If driving a 5,000 pound plus sports ute that will never go off pavement is cool? Well, whatever floats your boat... That all said? I'll bet I'll NEVER see the new pepper car on an Oregon hunting road... Like I said, location. Ask RONinLB...he came out here for a look...and he did find cougar tracks near his campsite. Location...all I can tell you is that Orygun AIN'T N.J. or N.Y. And yes, I was in NYC...but only once, that was enough. The predators there are a lot worse than the ones here...

[Brian993]

I can appreciate our two worlds. I am a city kid and I dont mind a trip to the mountains from time to time, just couldnt live there. The numbers of perspective buyers are like minded city folks, the bean counters follow the trends and the trends come from the masses. I do agree that Porsche has been a little slow on the draw here - especially given the condition of the "shock" market. Hey wanna buy some CMGI stock for .32?

[pwd72s]

Brian...maybe it's not so much east/west as it is city/country. After all, I'm sure I'll soon be seeing pepper cars when I make my rare treks to Portland, Oregon. The same as I now see many other SUV's that never leave pavement...in all the european & asian brands you just mentioned. Lexus is VERY popular here, also Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes, et al. But I do think they haul golf clubs and tennis rackets more often than they haul hunting rifles or fishing rods...and I guess my point is that a 996 would haul rackets & clubs better than a sports ute would. So, I have trouble understanding the logic behind the current SUV status craze. But I'm an old fart...that probably explains it.

[Lucky]

I just retrieved the brochure from the trash... figured I'd post some of the stunningly good technical aspects of this new Porsche.

• Turbo: 450 hp @ 6000 rpm, 460 lb-ft from 2250 to 4750 rpm
• Brakes: F: 18" discs w/ 6 piston fixed calipers, R: 17" w/ 4 piston fixed calipers (how do they fit 18" brakes inside 18" wheels?)
• Towing: 6160 Lbs (at least it is more than the curb weight! Still less than my Exploder can tow @ 6700 Lbs)
• Performance: Turbo: 0-60 in 5.6 sec, S: 0-60 in 7.2 sec. (these things are quick!)
• Top Speed: Turbo = 165 mph, S = 150 mph (and fast!)
• A pneumatic ride height adjustment system for clearance ranging from 5.4" to 9.8"
• Buttons: 52 buttons on the HVAC/Navigation/Audio control panel (including one labeled "Mail" ... wunderbar.)

The styling isn't bad, either. I like the interior and the exterior shape is growing on me. I guess the marketing people aren't too dumb: there is only one (tiny) picture showing the Cayenne from the rear.

As a sport-ute, the Cayenne will undoubtedly set a new standard for the class. As a Porsche, it still dissappoints me. Think of what a cool sports car Porsche could have developed for the $$$ spent on bringing the Cayenne to market.

[pwd72s]

And now we bring up the decision not to race? Developing the SUV was the excuse...

[old_skul]

The first rally they win with the Pepperwagen will probably be the excuse they use for stepping out of racing.

I am with most of you that stepping out of racing to make...well, this...was a mistake. But I can see the writing on the wall.

And, uh, those are 20" wheels, I believe. 6-piston calipers? Good lord! Maybe Porsche did something different with this thing.

[Lucky]

Back to the trash can to check the booklet again...

It does say that 20" wheels are available as an option, but the little "Specifications" table shows (in adjacent lines, no less) that the brakes are 18" (up front) and the standard wheels and tires are also 18" (wheels = 8Jx18, tires = 255/55R18).

Must be an error, as the brakes are not in-board.

[JMPRO]

Kurt, if you live in Rancho Santa Fe you probly can afford a half a dozen of these suvs, one in each color and one for each acre you live on.
Jerry

[cegerer]

Other than The Dakar rally, what type of racing would the Cayenne be eligible for? Even in the Dakar, I'm not sure what class it would run - probably some type of unlimited class where it would have little chance anyway. And has Porsche said anything about SUV racing anyway?

Hey Paul: if you and I stacked our cars on top of each other, we'd still have to add lots of sandbags to come up to the incredible weight spec of Porsche's latest!! -- Curt

[Doug E]

If all we saw were the specs we'd think someone was making a new sports car. I still can't believe that performance is cloaked in an SUV body.

Am I the only one that would like to see that thing lap the 'Ring as quick as the claim?

[Norm Faustino]

I cant wait for the Uber-yuppies to start wrecking them so I can get some of those six piston calipers.

[Wayne 962]

Hmmm, my opinion:

- The new SUV will be a difficult sell, considering that the VW model looks hipper and is also basically the same thing (is anyone really fooled by trucks such as the Infiniti Qx4 that are actually Pathfinders?)

- The Porsche store is actually Porsche Design, which is a whole different company started by someone else in the Porsche family. They work closely together, but are independent from the factory (at least that's what I've read).

- 10:1 HP ratio? Nothing really new there, as my 914-6 has about those numbers. You can put a large engine into a 911 (like a Chevy big block), and achieve some pretty fast numbers off the line...

Horsepower alone doesn't impress me much. What is it that Pirelli says? Horsepower is nothing without control?

-Wayne