Thanks for the data points, they are valuable. I went by my local dealer, (Beverly Hills Porsche), yesterday to check out a used 2012 Cayenne turbo they have. I drove it and was not at all impressed but two things; A) it was not a great example and B) a drive around Westwood, even on a Sunday, never really shows off a Porsche in its best light.
When I jumped in it, the dash display was reading, "Chassis Failure" and the ride height would not adjust from its lowest setting. Maybe just a minor issue, maybe not but not a harbinger of great things in a complicated, feature laden used luxury car. The salesman let me drive it anyway and in hindsight, he probably should not have. The ride was truly awful, not merely too firm but it bounced over any undulation in the road like it had no shocks. Some malfunction of the air suspension, I guess, because they could never have sold one of these new if that was the normal ride.
It was powerful but not particularly responsive or fun in any way. It reminded me of a Bentley I've put some miles on, another powerful, heavy turbo vehicle that is not fun. I was expecting a rocket and it was a dog until you sunk your foot into it, at which time it displayed its massive lungs and would probably pull forever. Just like the Bentley. I want to say that there was something wrong w it but there were no CELs displayed, just the chassis warning.
It reminded me that I've driven one other modern Cayenne, a test drive of a new 2014 or '15 a few years back at the dealer when I was helping a lady friend buy a new car. That one was a V-8 S model and in city driving, it did absolutely nothing for me. I realize that it's an SUV and this time it was driving around the USC neighborhood, (DTLA Porsche), but old man Porsche always said that a great car should be fun to drive around the block. He meant that you do not have to take a 911 to the track or even drive fast to appreciate it, that it was enjoyable at all times. We left the dealership and continued on to other makes of cars.
All that said, I still haven't given up on them. In the lot where the turbo was, they had a slightly scratched-up black Cayenne diesel the really intrigued me. I sat in it and it was less complicated but still plenty luxurious enough w leather, heated seats, etc. It turned out that it was a dealer car that they used as a shuttle, parts runner, etc. Low miles, (41k). I made a cash offer for it on the spot that was plenty fair and he called the boss right in front of me but alas, it was not for sale. That is the model that has my interest at the moment; 400+ lbs. of torque @ 1700 rpm and ~30 mpg highway sounds like a love affair. I'm hunting the classifieds.
