Cayenne S -- impressions

[Matt Holcomb]

I drove a Cayenne S today, albeit briefly. It was odd sitting in a car that high with a Porsche crest on the steering wheel. It felt incongruous -- wrong, even.

The steering was hyperactive, especially for a car that big and hefty. The brakes were great (as we've come to expect of anything with a Porsche badge), and the engine was smooth and sonorous.

The car's interior epitomizes why I don't like modern car interiors -- they just reek of profit. It's insulting.

I'd probably buy one if I had a family and the money, and if I felt I could come to terms with the fit and finish of the car's interior.

[Aussie]

I probably prefer the look of the BMW X5.

I have driven a 4.4 V8 one and they are fantasic cars. Apart from being up high, you wouldn't know you were in a big 4WD. They steer very well and dont lean to one side like alot of 4WD's when you go around a corner fast.

I think the Cayenne look a bit funny at the front end, and the interior doesn't look quiet to the standard of the BMW.

[cegerer]

oh boy ..... this should turn ugly quick .....

[MuffinMan]

A friend of mine just bought an '04 S and brought it to an autocross yesterday. We had 5 people in the car for one run and still ran faster than about half of the cars there. It is a heavy truck, but lots of fun.

[Rot 911]

Ther is no way you will ever get me to agree that the Cayenne is an attractive design from any angle!

[sundaypunch]

Originally posted by Kurt V
Ther is no way you will ever get me to agree that the Cayenne is an attractive design from any angle!

How about the profit angle?

[thrown_hammer]

Five people in a car during an Auto-cross run? Now you gotta admit that is funny! I can just picture hitting a pole and five clowns rolling out! (Not insinuating Cayanne drivers are clowns....)

[vesnyder]

Five people in the car for an AX - that had to be hilarious, and a lot of fun.

I would buy one if I had the money to burn ...

[MarkY]

I'd take one in a heartbeat. Compared to the competition, what else is there? I know 2 people with BMW X5s and both of them wish they never bought them. There in the shop more than they drive them.

So what are your choices? An Escalade is garbage and couldn't be any uglier. I know a couple of people with MB M series and they have a ton of problems as well.

[motion]

Infiniti FX45

[ubiquity0]

The Touareg, a good-looking Cayenne.

[no substitute]

SUV's aren't my favorite vehicle by a long shot, but to a Cayenne Turbo S, all the others are lunch (actually a light snack).

[jyl]

If you want four doors and a hatch, how about a hot (RS-type) Audi wagon?

[mikester]

FX45 = AMC Eagle with nice options
Nissan Murano = AMC Eagle

[D Hanson]

Originally posted by Aussie
I probably prefer the look of the BMW X5.

I have driven a 4.4 V8 one and they are fantasic cars. Apart from being up high, you wouldn't know you were in a big 4WD. They steer very well and dont lean to one side like alot of 4WD's when you go around a corner fast.

I think the Cayenne look a bit funny at the front end, and the interior doesn't look quiet to the standard of the BMW.

I was a BMW person until my experience with X5s. In fact, I had an M3 and X5 at the same time once. Thanks to the X5, I will never buy another BMW again. Complete POS, besides the Cayenne is much funner to drive.

[Emission]

Originally posted by D Hanson
I was a BMW person until my experience with X5s. In fact, I had an M3 and X5 at the same time once. Thanks to the X5, I will never buy another BMW again. Complete POS, besides the Cayenne is much funner to drive.

When I'm done with my X5, I should sell it to you.

Our X5 has been absolutely flawless for the past year-and-a-half -even more reliable than our Toyota 4Runner before it! It has never been back to the dealer except for an oil change.

It handles great, and is a blast off-road and in the snow. Sorry your experience was less than perfect. We are going to replace ours with another in a year.

[cegerer]

Those AX pics are absolute classics! Reminds me of the 3-seater Arrows for some reason ......



On performance vs the X5: the Cayenne S holds the 12th fastest time for road cars on the Hockenheim GP Circuit. The X5 4.6 is at 20th. The Cayenne TT is 8th.

http://www.izoom.com/cayenne_outback.html

[89911]

Originally posted by Aussie
I probably prefer the look of the BMW X5.

I have driven a 4.4 V8 one and they are fantasic cars. Apart from being up high, you wouldn't know you were in a big 4WD. They steer very well and dont lean to one side like alot of 4WD's when you go around a corner fast.

I think the Cayenne look a bit funny at the front end, and the interior doesn't look quiet to the standard of the BMW.

OK, I'm biased!

[993.986.]

Audi Allroad, (essentailly a hot Audi A6 wagon) all-wheel drive. Fast, handles well, great in the snow, fabulous interior, what's not to like?

[Matt Holcomb]

I have no doubt a Cayenne S is fast around cones, the Streets of Willow, and over the dunes of the Sahara.

It is a Porsche after all, just not a very focused one. And that is the root of my indifference: the car, like most modern cars, is schizophrenic. Granted, there is a healthy market for schizophrenic cars, but I like my cars to be the master of just one trade.