Crown

Wonderbar:

"With its powder keg of an engine, the 35i seems an anomaly in its class. Even a 420-horsepower Porsche Cayenne GTS won’t beat this BMW in a drag race, and saddled with roughly 1,000 additional pounds, the Cayenne would be likely to lose a battle on the racetrack as well."

Quote from a NYT article extolling the virtues of BMW's new X1 crossover mini-SUV.  An apples to oranges comparison for sure, but nevertheless BMW buyers and dealers will surely crow about how this far cheaper SUV beats the GTS.

Also, sure to be compared to new Macan, which will enter this competitive segment soon. 

The X1 35i is not available in Germany, probably for a good reason (it would kill some X3 and X5 sales).

However, my wife's X3 35d, a Diesel with a bi-turbo engine and 313 hp, kills my Cayenne GTS from 0-100 kph (I measured 5.3 seconds with the Performance Box compared to 5.9 seconds of my Cayenne GTS) and up to 160 kph, the X3 can't be overtaken by the GTS. Only above 160 kph, the GTS gains. 0-200 kph measured at 25.8 seconds for the X3 35d and 19.8 seconds for the GTS (AMS tested the X3 at 26.x sec. and the GTS at 22.x seconds).

Bottom line is: Porsche surely makes a huge mistake by ignoring the above facts. With so many new and powerful smaller and larger SUV models on the market, their success will be hurt in the future. Especially since the Cayenne is not really cheap and other manufacturers, like BMW or Mercedes, are offering huge rebates and/or very good lease offers. Porsche needs to offer more for the money.

Btw: The X3 35d with 313 hp is actually a car which would have huge success in the US. Just imagine a 0-60 kph performance of 5 seconds flat in a SUV with a Diesel consumption of 8-10 l  only. This is practically half of what my Cayenne GTS eats. I know that Americans aren't too much into Diesel engines but the X3 35d really rocks and it is a perfect daily commuter for a small family. 

--

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

Good post RC.  I don't think the X1 will steal any GTS sales (different buyers I think) but it will certainly challenge Macan sales.  Going to be interesting in that small SUV segment.

But I agree that Porsche should give the GTS more off the line acceleration...

RC; I decided to take a test drive after reading your comments about how great the X3 3.5d is,  one month later there is one in my garage,  you were right, what a fantastic little SUV! Its a hoot to drive, my wife loves it, and yes I hate to admit that it surely beats the cr@p out of my 958 GTS from 00 to 160km/h. 

galion:

RC; I decided to take a test drive after reading your comments about how great the X3 3.5d is,  one month later there is one in my garage,  you were right, what a fantastic little SUV! Its a hoot to drive, my wife loves it, and yes I hate to admit that it surely beats the cr@p out of my 958 GTS from 00 to 160km/h. 

I'm happy you like it. Very nice package from BMW. The Diesel consumption is sensational, I can't get it over 10 liters / 100 km, even if I drive it in Sport mode and with full acceleration most of the time.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

Wonderbar:

Good post RC.  I don't think the X1 will steal any GTS sales (different buyers I think) but it will certainly challenge Macan sales.  Going to be interesting in that small SUV segment.

But I agree that Porsche should give the GTS more off the line acceleration...

There is something very weird going on with my GTS: From standstill, there is a short delay before the engine revs up and the car starts off from standstill. A little bit like a Turbo. I kind of have the feeling that this delay is artificial, I can't help it. Over 80 kph, the GTS accelerates very nicely and surprisingly, it goes so fast from 180 to 240 kph (I have winter tires, can't go faster) that I sometimes have the feeling I'm driving a Cayenne Turbo. This behaviour has been confirmed by various comparisons I made with my wife's car (X3 35d) and even the new Cayenne Diesel S. Over 200 kph, I move away from the Diesel S, slowly but steadily. So I really don't get this setup.

Why would Porsche artificially limit the acceleration from standstill ? Or is it related to the drivetrain/Tiptronic (torque limit)? I just don't get it. My car goes really really well, I clocked it recently at 19.5 seconds from 0-200 kph (full tank, me and my son in it), which is almost 2-3 seconds better than in some magazines. From 0-100 kph however, the best time I could achieve was 5.9 seconds (most of the time, it is 6.0 or 6.1 seconds). This is probably the first Porsche which doesn't really seem to reach Porsche's performance claims from 0-100 kph. Many reviews in car magazines actually got the same results, usually in the 6.1 range, the best being 5.9 seconds. Porsche claims 5.7 seconds.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

Who cares about acceleration from standstill with an SUV?

What is important to me is above 80km/h and there, like you said, the V8 does nicely.

2012 Cayenne S White/Espresso 

Ex: 993 Targa, 986S, 986 and 964 C2

993Targa:

Who cares about acceleration from standstill with an SUV?

What is important to me is above 80km/h and there, like you said, the V8 does nicely.

Well...this is actually the speed range I can full enjoy the engine/exhaust sound. It sounds nicely over 80 kph too but in the city, especially if there are walls, houses, etc. around, the exhaust sound is just divine.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

I think acceleration is important in a Porsche SUV, and I would be disappointed in a 0-60 time of 6 seconds.  Many mid -range, mass produced American sedans (Acura TL, for example) are this quick or quicker off the line, and as a Porsche owner I want to know that I am faster than these less "exclusive" and more more commonplace cars.  Call me a snob, but so be it.  The GTS should be in the low 5s IMHO...

I feel the same, I drove one, priced it out with pdcc, and a few other necessary options bringing  it  over 100 grand, and that 0-60 time keeps me from pulling the trigger.   The 2014 srt Jeep with their 8 speed, new interior, center display, 7200 towing, and styling upgrades looks attractive to me.  And yes, I know it's  Jeep, and not a cayenne.  I had one of the first turbos when they came out.

I don't think it's fair to compare an SUV to a Sedan, you will always lose unless you have significantly more HP. At the end a GTS is a Cayenne S with red painted brake calipers , 20HP more you won't notice in a straight line.

The only answer is a Turbo (S) but then again a lot of cheaper cars are faster as well...

2012 Cayenne S White/Espresso 

Ex: 993 Targa, 986S, 986 and 964 C2

I've never thought that SUV buyers bother about any minute differences in 0-100 (0-60) times!

We learn something every day.

"Form follows function"

not so much about the 'times' but the lack of feeling of torque  (for the money)

reginos:

I've never thought that SUV buyers bother about any minute differences in 0-100 (0-60) times!

We learn something every day.

Oh, I do. Always did. Had the first ML55 AMG in my town, loved this car.

Yes, the Cayenne GTS should do 0-100 kph in 5.2 seconds or so (which would probably translate into 4.9 or 5.0 seconds from 0-60 mph). Over 6 seconds is just too much. Actually the new Diesel S and the GTS should have the same straightline performance, so customers can choose. One review tested the Diesel S at 5.1 seconds from 0-100 kph, which makes it a second faster than the GTS. A real shame.

I don't know what Porsche marketing is doing but this is not the way a GTS should perform, sorry to say that.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

The official 0-100 is 5,7s and 0-160 13,3s.

The 0-100 is the same as S Diesel. I don't know, but Porsche are customarily conservative about their figures 

"Form follows function"

reginos:

The official 0-100 is 5,7s and 0-160 13,3s.

The 0-100 is the same as S Diesel. I don't know, but Porsche are customarily conservative about their figures 

I know but in the case of the GTS, the numbers don't add up. From 0-200 kph, the GTS is faster than the Diesel S, which is understandable but still, the 0-100 kph performance kind of bugs me.

I may have found the reason why 0-100 kph isn't that great: According to Porsche, the Cayenne Diesel S weights around 110 kg more than the GTS. All reviews I read so far actually indicate that the weight is almost the same and that the GTS weights at least 80-90 kg over the Porsche claim in the specs. This is not options related!

So my wild guess would be that Porsche somehow added some sort of modifications (the GTS really feels stiff, so maybe they added re-enforcements of some sort) which have additional weight. This would explain why the GTS is probably the only Porsche in the model program which doesn't meet the performance claims from 0-100 kph. Actually there have been Cayenne S tested faster from 0-100 kph than the GTS. This is ridiculous.

The engine is OK, like I said before, I clocked 0-200 kph in slightly under 20 seconds (19.7 or so, I don't remember anymore), which is very good. Most reviews clocked the GTS at 21-22 seconds. So the engine has the power, no doubt about it.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

RC,

How's the fuel consumption now ? how is your driving style ? full throttle + sport from day 1 ?

Picked up mine today haven't had enough time to put more miles, but the brakes are much more improved than my TT, even though the rotors are smaller.

Hey, congratulations BiTurbo! Would love to seem more pictures!

BiTurbo:

RC,

How's the fuel consumption now ? how is your driving style ? full throttle + sport from day 1 ?

Picked up mine today haven't had enough time to put more miles, but the brakes are much more improved than my TT, even though the rotors are smaller.

 

Congrats...more photos please. 

My fuel consumption hasn't really improved, I have now 3700 km on the car. The engine is in a pretty good shape and the exhaust sound got louder  and today I'm getting my summer wheels back on, so I'm curious on how the car behaves with them (Michelin Latitude Sport, 21'').

So far, the car has been completely trouble free but I have a minor issue with my Vodafone Nano-SIM and the PCM, there seems to be a software glitch which hasn't been solved yet.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

Thanks!

As everyone else, I too didn't get any discounts on the Cayenne (Ordered early MY2011 Turbo in 2010) and so I've decided to keep it as simple as possible with the options (no burmester, panoramic roof, 21" wheels, special color, pccb, driver memory seat.. etc....) pdcc and ptv+ are there cause it's a must in an suv that weighs over 2,000kg

- White / Black GTS Alcantara seats
- Reversing Camera + ParkAssist
- Auto dimming mirrors
- PDCC
- PTV+
- RS Spyder Wheels
- Wheel hub cover w/full color P-crest
- LCA (Lane change)
- Light comfort package
- Porsche crest Front/Rear
- Telephone module
- Center console armrest with logo

Nice, but I'm still not a fan of the painted white side skirts. Think it looks better in non-GTS version. 

I must say I regret not taking the 20" wheels, they are a lot cheaper and look great.

2012 Cayenne S White/Espresso 

Ex: 993 Targa, 986S, 986 and 964 C2

Looks great! For myself I like the painted skirts and lower valence - especially at the front.

That is a very good spec too. Enjoy in good health!

Very nice car, congrats!!!

1987 911 Carrera 3.2 - 2012 Cayenne Diesel - 2010 Abarth 500 - 1995 BMW318ti

Unfortunately, I've been facing this minor problem, a message sometimes pops up and wouldn't allow me to start the engine "Move gear lever to P or N" it happened twice, walked away from the car for 5 mins and later on got back in and the engine was running, I took her back to the service center today while leaving the office

Sorry to hear that.    I have 3700 km on my car now and not a single issue (knock on wood).

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

Turned out to be a faulty gear lever housing

BiTurbo:

Turned out to be a faulty gear lever housing

Oh boy...  Bad luck I guess.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

I don't know about bad luck, but I had some issues with the Turbo too when the 958 was released in mid 2010.

If one more issue occurs it's goodbye for good and I have taken an oath to never buy another Lexus failed product and Porsche may end up on the list soon enough.

BiTurbo:

I don't know about bad luck, but I had some issues with the Turbo too when the 958 was released in mid 2010.

If one more issue occurs it's goodbye for good and I have taken an oath to never buy another Lexus failed product and Porsche may end up on the list soon enough.

Both, my Panamera Turbo S (now 8000 km) and my Cayenne GTS (now 4000 km) have been trouble free (only exception the mentioned PCM phone module issues with Vodafone nano SIM cards) so far, knock on wood.

My former 997 Carrera GTS Cabriolet was also trouble-free (5000 km) and same goes to my highly tuned 997 Turbo (30000 km).

I really would call it bad luck...unless of course someone at the dealership is messing with you but I suppose this is very very unlikely.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

I've done 30k km and only hade one issue with the heating so far. Blower broken or something. For the rest my Cayenne S has been trouble free. Knock on wood.

2012 Cayenne S White/Espresso 

Ex: 993 Targa, 986S, 986 and 964 C2

Car is back and guess what I found out this time ? black marks were all over my clothes on the side when I got back home

I've sent Porsche AG Stuttgart a fax  and hope they act immediately and get some people replaced, cause I think I know who's sh*tt*n in my cars on purpose and leaving oil/grease or god knows what it is exactly on the side of the seats whoever the a-hole is has also tried hard to scratch my steering wheel on the 911 and messed up the drivers side window tint and left some sort of strange tiny cuts on the door sills guard right behind the CF part