RC:
The GTS never made sense to me. Personally, I think that the GTS is a "money milking" machine, nothing more. Of course it is a great Cayenne model and of course it is fun to drive, thats not the point. The point is what one gets for the money on the GTS.
The GTS needed to have the Turbo engine, same chassis setup and maybe lets say 50-100 kg less weight, using lighter materials. THAT would have been justified. Just my personal opinion.
Christian, only my opinion:
when I decided in 2008 on the GTS he made perfect sense for me personally as I not wanted the Turbo and the Turbo S doesn’t exist at that time.
However, not compared to a Turbo or a form of "GT" in the SUV-class (similar to the 997 GT3 vs. 997 S), but as an REAL alternative to the Cayenne S for the following reasons:
really very good chassis, tighter suspension and with the PDDC enormous cornering ability.
Furthermore I like much better the "Turbolike" optics with the sportpackage incl. lower mouldings and aluminium trim compared to the Cayenne S even to the standard Turbo.
A good point as well: the other seat graphic with Alcantara. This seat is really comfortable and provide good lateral support. The powergain of 20 hp, of course, wasn’t a great deal but not disturbing.
More essential for me:
The sticker of the GTS includes some more options which are to pay as an extra to the Cayenne S.
21-inch wheels
Sport Exhaust System
Turbo brakes
Aluminium package
Sportpackage
a.s.o.
The effective surcharge in the GTS is very small compared with the S.
Therefore the decision was very clear for the GTS and made a lot sense for me. (imho)
A truly sporty GT-Model, as described by you, would have been a gain for the Cayenne in general, no doubt about, but the GTS should’t play this role at any time.
--