Turbo impressions - Few months of ownership

[stealthn]

Well it seems like only yesterday but I guess I have had my CTT for about 2-3 months now and I thought I would throw together my impressions (as this forum dearly needs content )


The interior is very nice and surprisingly roomier than I thought, I can easily transport the whole family and dog. The leather is so much better than the plastic interior, the seat bottoms could be a little bigger in my opinion (No I don't have a J-low butt), and the regular seats still hold me in fine.

There is a LOT of electronics on these vehicles, so I can see where programming had it's issues in the past. Just more things to go wrong, but nice features. The Heat/AC is really strange as I find it is either hot or cold, I cannot find the medium. But at least it does blow cold.

I had the coil issue in my first week and got that out of the way under warranty so I know I'm good for a while. I just noticed a small puddle which I think is Hydraulic fluid on the driveway so it's going in for service next week. I suspect the steering rack. I got a low oil warning yesterday (nice to have) and check the dipstick to find it almost dry. I put a litre in and will check it again today. I will ask the service guy to check for leaks because I have only driven it about 2000KM and to use that much oil in that distance would be a surprise.

The truck is a pleasure to drive and I have tried all heights and shock settings. I like low comfort, but in all settings (even sport) there is still too much body roll for me. The speed is great and she really hauls! I do however find the tranny annoying, whether PCM off/on manual or otherwise just when I want to punch it it decides to go down a gear and I find my face on the window before she gets going.

Gas, well it sucks, but hey it's fun , I am getting about 13 Mpg city, 20 Hwy, so it's not that eco-friendly. I was talking with a neighbour who test drove the S and said it drove like a Jeep. I can tell you the turbo does not, it drives like a car and is able to soak up our crappy streets with out any issues.

The brakes are awesome, but the pads must be made out of chalk as the dust is huge. I don't know if Porsche has better pads with less dust, but they should.

So in summation; great power, drive, interior, functionality, features. Cons: Transmission, AC/Heat settings, and the location of the rear hatch shock system (I hope I never have to change them), and brake pads.

Hope this has been informative.

[targa81]

I have a 2004 CTT (and an 81 911sc Targa) and I share your impressions. I've read that many use oil more so than NA Cayennes. One quart every 1500 miles sounds like the average with some CTT's using more and some less or not at all. The ones that use oil haven't seem to have had leaks to speak of.

[dweymer]

Try EBC greens next time you change. I do not know if they make them for the pepper but they produce MUCH less dust when I put them on my expedition, and BMW.

D

[Cobalt]

Glad you like it.

I like my 04 so much I decided to keep it another 3 years. To date it has been issue free. I have only had to add one quart of oil since new. I have a complete oil change every 6500 miles.

Interesting you find the car downshifts when you don't want. i find mine doesn't downshift when it should. I prefer to manually drive it on back roads as it doesn't run high enough in the revs as I would like. It does roll a lot but tires will make a difference and I like mine set at the lowest setting all the time.

I was going to trade mine in for an 06 CTTS because I feel the brakes are not adequate for the power of the vehicle. I guess it depends on what else you drive but compared to my other P-cars the brakes just feel weak. The CTTS brakes are perfect but too much $$ to upgrade.

Enjoy your ride.

[stealthn]

Thanks guys, I'll have to ask the mothership what pads I can use that won't void the warranty.

As far as shifting. I've learned a little more; disengage PSM and it will redline in everygear. With it off is where I really feel the shifting jerk me around. Best way to describe it is when you are slow rolling like going to a stop then it goes green and you step on it, somehow I'm always on the way from 3rd to 2nd just when I step on it and my face hits the window when it shifts to 2 then I get whiplash when it gets on it.

Manual shifting is interesting. I notice much more of a delay using the tip than the stick, and more than once I've downshifted when I meant to upshift (has Porsche never seen an F1 race) , it should be back for up and forward for down....

My two cents (CDN)