Crown

great pics,

thank you

Last pic cuts the cake, awesome.

throt

"I didn't do it"

Ironically an RX330 is in the last picture.

Whoopsy:

One problem with the new Cayenne is that it resembles the Lexus RX330 too much.

I am a car guy, know my cars pretty well that I can tell most of them from afar, but last night on a dark stretch of highway I was making up ground on a SUV in front, which I thought was a Lexus RX330 from the tail lights shape and body shape, but when I got close enough to pass I found out it was a new Cayenne. Few minutes later I made the same mistake on another Cayenne.  Finally made the right call on a 3rd Cayenne after I passed a real RX330. In the dark the way to tell them apart was the Cayenne has LED tail lamps while the Lexus has conventional.

 

Truth is: If I had the money and/or wouldn't care about customers and neighborhood, I would probably get the 997 GT2 RS or the new 991 Turbo (due 2013 ?), get the Cayenne Turbo Powerkit as a family car too and be done with it.

Unfortunately I have the problem that I can't decide: Yes, the biggest advantage of the Cayenne Turbo Powerkit would be, that it looks like a japanese SUV to many people, especially if you remove the Porsche badges/lettering. I can't see any similarities to the RX330 too much but I can see some design similarities to a Nissan Qashqai, which is good...for me.

On the other hand, I looked at performance figures (factory claims) today and the new 991 Carrera S is almost 2 seconds faster from 0-160 kph (100 mph) than the Cayenne Turbo. The powerkit may shave off a second or so from this figure but still...it is slowlier than the new Carrera S.

Then, I looked at Panamera Turbo performance and apparently only the S can really outrun the new 991 Carrera S. I take the 991 Carrera S as some sort of benchmark because the Carrera S is usually the "Volks-911" over here in Germany and the streets will be crawling with them, well...sort of...in a year or two, so I need to be happy with my future Porsche decision.

Now I'm back to square one: I already had decided, together with my wife and kids, to get the Cayenne Turbo Powerkit. After comparing all the performance figures, I tend to want the Panamera Turbo S a little bit more. Dammit' Porsche, why couldn't you make the Panamera look smaller and less "here I come" screaming. This car really leaves a posture in traffic or on any parking lot.

What to do now ? Difficult decision. Maybe I'm lucky and Porsche offers a Cayenne Turbo S with 570 hp or more before I have to make my decision next year but I really want a very good performer but I can't get a 911 anymore because of the family. Bummer...really tough decision for me.

Maybe we should start an offertory on Rennteam..."Poor RC can't afford a sports car anymore, share your passion with him by donating a small amount towards the goal of getting him a sports car again." 

How does this sound ?

Of course I'm joking, I would never ask for money on Rennteam but it really sucks that life can be so good but not always when it comes to (expensive) car choices.

Sorry for boring you with my inner devils regarding my next (family) car but it really makes me sad and happy at the same time. Happy to drive a Cayenne Turbo again and sad because I probably won't be able to drive (or better said...own) a 911 for at least a couple of years to come.

Life is tough...

Not really though. 

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Carrera GTS Cabriolet PDK, BMW X5M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

If I were you I'd get a Panamera GTS! :)

Second choice would be a Cayenne Turbo no doubt! Looks beautiful, is very fast, versatile, and understated.

RC,

won't  the facelift panamera do what the new cayenne did vs. the old model ?

make the car "look" smaller some how ?

get the facelift PT end of next year

Christian - why not do what most of us do when we have families..?

Get a 'sensible' family car for the wife which also acts as a family transporter.  She and the kids seem hell-bent on a Cayenne, so that should keep them happy.  Leaving you with a choice of which 911 to replace your GTS with... when the time comes.  Hell, they can't have it all their own way... a guy needs his little indulgences..

"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."

Porsche Carrera GTS (2012); Porsche Cayenne Diesel (2012)

What does one call a fleet of 100+ 991s?  A plethora of Porsches?  I just took a short walk down to the hotel where dealer principals from all over the world are staying for the international dealer launch - to be met by the sight of row upon row upon row of gleaming 991s stretching into the distance, all lined up and ready for their daily run around the Cape Peninsula.

I didn't have my camera on me, but managed to snap a few shots with my BlackBerry - which I thought some of you may enjoy seeing.  Not a bad way to start a Monday morning! 

Do they give them away after the tests ?   I have never seen such so many similar 911 at once !!

 997.2 C2S, PDK, -20mm

Gnil:

Do they give them away after the tests ?   I have never seen such so many similar 911 at once !!

Ha, I wish!  None of these will even be staying in South Africa, as they're all left-hand drive - so they need special permits to be driven on local roads.  All have stickers on their bumpers saying something like "Danger: Official test vehicle".  I think one will be left here in Cape Town after the launch, at least for a while - available for viewing at the OPC from December 12, but not for test drives.

this picture is kind of sad......it shows that the 911 is a mass-product.....at least they should have thrown some different wheels and aero-kits on some of them....

BjoernB:

this picture is kind of sad......it shows that the 911 is a mass-product.....at least they should have thrown some different wheels and aero-kits on some of them....

Beautiful and sad at the same time.  I remember an interview of a Porsche Executive saying that the 991 will be the most successfull 911 ever.  The issue with seeing so many 911s is that the design loses its sense of occasion fairly quickly, unlike that of Ferraris for e.g.

ARMD009:

RC,

won't  the facelift panamera do what the new cayenne did vs. the old model ?

make the car "look" smaller some how ?

get the facelift PT end of next year

Nope, not the facelift but the next generation and I'm not even sure it is going to happen (the smaller look) because the Panamera sells very well because of that look.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Carrera GTS Cabriolet PDK, BMW X5M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

oh well, keep searching

John H:

Christian - why not do what most of us do when we have families..?

Get a 'sensible' family car for the wife which also acts as a family transporter.  She and the kids seem hell-bent on a Cayenne, so that should keep them happy.  Leaving you with a choice of which 911 to replace your GTS with... when the time comes.  Hell, they can't have it all their own way... a guy needs his little indulgences..

 

 

I'm afraid life isn't that easy. I can't afford two Porsche anymore, unless one of them would be a Cayenne Diesel for example but spending 80k EUR on a Porsche Diesel ? Does this sound right to you ? I would rather buy a BMW X3 35d, a very fast Diesel, for 20k EUR less. I need a car I can actually drive all the time, not only look at it when I come home. No more garage queen for me, sorry. At least I need a car to move my family in on weekends but one which also provides a decent amount of fun for me too. The Panamera Turbo S would be the best choice (performance).

Many people I know own a BMW or Audi Diesel for daily driving and a 911 for weekends or special occasions. It worked a little while for me but I'm a car nut and I can't drive a stupid lame ass Diesel on a daily basis and the car I actually like most on weekends. I can't do that, I want to have fun all the time.

--

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Carrera GTS Cabriolet PDK, BMW X5M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

Ziggy:

BjoernB:

this picture is kind of sad......it shows that the 911 is a mass-product.....at least they should have thrown some different wheels and aero-kits on some of them....

Beautiful and sad at the same time.  I remember an interview of a Porsche Executive saying that the 991 will be the most successfull 911 ever.  The issue with seeing so many 911s is that the design loses its sense of occasion fairly quickly, unlike that of Ferraris for e.g.

Yes, the 991 is a mass product but are you really surprised ? Compare the reliability, price tag and performance of the 991 Carrera S with the competition like the Mercedes CL series/SL series, BMW 6 series, the Maserati GT(S) or the Aston Martin Vantage. Now tell me: Which one offers the best value for the money, especially from a performance point of view ? There is no substitute.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Carrera GTS Cabriolet PDK, BMW X5M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

RC:

Ziggy:

BjoernB:

this picture is kind of sad......it shows that the 911 is a mass-product.....at least they should have thrown some different wheels and aero-kits on some of them....

Beautiful and sad at the same time.  I remember an interview of a Porsche Executive saying that the 991 will be the most successfull 911 ever.  The issue with seeing so many 911s is that the design loses its sense of occasion fairly quickly, unlike that of Ferraris for e.g.

Yes, the 991 is a mass product but are you really surprised ? Compare the reliability, price tag and performance of the 991 Carrera S with the competition like the Mercedes CL series/SL series, BMW 6 series, the Maserati GT(S) or the Aston Martin Vantage. Now tell me: Which one offers the best value for the money, especially from a performance point of view ? There is no substitute.

Porsche cars have never been high on snob appeal but very high on substance.

"Form follows function"

I totally agree - otherwise why would we be on rennteam  - but unless you drive yr 911 daily I am even more convinced to wait for a car like Turbo or GT3 which you see less than a "normal" 911 as far as you can call it a normal car. The fact that you can see so many of them put's me off a bit - and I am sure that many people venture out to other brands because exactly of that....(not because it's a better car)  

RC:

Many people I know own a BMW or Audi Diesel for daily driving and a 911 for weekends or special occasions. It worked a little while for me but I'm a car nut and I can't drive a stupid lame ass Diesel on a daily basis and the car I actually like most on weekends. I can't do that, I want to have fun all the time.--

 

Totally agree - I also couldn't drive a "stupid lame ass diesel" on a daily basis (very good description, by the way).  So how about adopting my solution - a 911 for weekend, holiday and track-day fun, with a hot hatch to add some driving fun to the daily commute, and a "family car" for the wife and long trips?  There are many hot hatches to choose from, most of which provide more than adequate seating in the back (even in coupe form - I don't accept that kids should be so lazy or pampered that they can't step around a front seat when getting into or out of a car). 

Of course, hot hatches don't provide the same raw horsepower as sports cars or even some SUVs, but that's not the point - the point is that they're fun to drive, with great driving dynamics and more-than-adequate power for their weight (especially in turbocharged form).  I've chosen a Clio RS 200 Cup, but there are many others - e.g. Megane RS 250 Cup, VW Golf Mk VI GTI, SEAT Leon Cupra, Mini Cooper S JCW, VW Scirocco R, Ford Focus RS or ST, Citroen DS3 Racing, etc.

An added bonus is that these cars are mostly very economical - i.e. well-priced and inexpensive to run.  I suspect that one of the main reasons some people don't buy these cars as daily drivers is because they're worried about their image and the perception others may have of them - i.e. these cars are seen as "not exclusive enough", they don't say anything (or perhaps say the wrong things) about our "social standing", they are not "luxurious enough", or not "big enough", etc.  To that I say: life is too short to be so concerned about what other people think of us - I'd rather have fun driving than worry about what other people think of me. 

PureBlue:

 i.e. these cars are seen as "not exclusive enough", they don't say anything (or perhaps say the wrong things) about our "social standing", they are not "luxurious enough", or not "big enough", etc.  To that I say: life is too short to be so concerned about what other people think of us - I'd rather have fun driving than worry about what other people think of me. 

 So so true, its whats known as "the snob factor" ..

The Ford RS Focus would be a blast and my choice. Wait for the new shape though, Christian....

throt

"I didn't do it"

or even a Fiat 500 Abarth`?

RC, Audi Diesel and a 911 S.....

A development documentary.

Hi RC.  I am on my second family, with two kids 16 and 10, and even though I will be 70 (gasp!) next year I am still a Porscne nut with the same expensive tastes like you.  I and my family love the Cayenne Turbo S, and I drive it and all the family around daily (and on long trips).  The perfect family car for a power freak like me.  So I like your Cayenne Turbo powerkit choice--you will enjoy it and getting all the compliments from your family.  Powerful Cayennes are superb automobiles.  ( I think you should consider the Cayenne Turbo S though, as it will be nicely optioned and you will have the feeling you have the top of the line--to me somehow important).

I admit to longing for a Panamera Turbo S, but I will wait until my daughter goes to college in 2013.  Then I can let the Cayenne go and indulge myself a bit more.  Meantime, I adore my Cayenne...

Carrara:

A development documentary.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LS90XYXi1xg

 

RC:

Many people I know own a BMW or Audi Diesel for daily driving and a 911 for weekends or special occasions. It worked a little while for me but I'm a car nut and I can't drive a stupid lame ass Diesel on a daily basis and the car I actually like most on weekends. I can't do that, I want to have fun all the time.

--

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Carrera GTS Cabriolet PDK, BMW X5M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

My entire perception has also changed over time. I really don't care now about any attention. Actually, the less the better.

I still drive our 96 Suzuki Sidekick to work sometimes as a result. 

Personally, I think the contrast is rather fun