[quote]Originally posted by Prince:
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Why wouldn't the owners take it off road?? Why wouldn't they let their kids eat cookies in the back?? Doesn't anyone here realize that the people who are going to be buying this are RICH RICH RICH people. They would have to be rich, seeing as any other person would by a Toyota or something if they wanted an SUV.

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THAT is precisely why Porsche makes the Cayenne, and the Carrera 4, and the 911 Twin Turbo, and quite a few other fine pieces of machinery. They're built for the RICH ELITE, and if somebody that makes $1.5 million a year wants to take their $85,000 Cayenne, or $140,000 Lamborghini, or $70,000 Hummer, or $55,000 BMW X5 offroad - them let em!

Greg

 

Hell yeah Rothmans, way to tell it like it is. I am totally with you on this one. Even though I don't like SUVs this was a very smart move on Porsche's part. Think about it, I mean really we all keep saying the SUV market is falling off but that is bull. What was the largest market segment last year - Light Trucks and SUVs. The folks at Porsche were making one catagory and I am sure they were feeling it. Now they have a car that fits another niche. And just think about how many high end SUVs you see on the road, I see a **** load (Hummer, X5s, Rovers, etc.) In fact there are at least two in the parking garage here at work right now.

And I know as a fact at least one of them has cookie crumbs and other kids mess in it because it belongs to my brother-in-law and his kids are pigs.

Quite frankly I find the 996 unappealing and cannot wait until that rear engined lump is phased out. If you sods want to bitch about money better spent why don't you send your crying towels to Porsche and tell them to quit spending money on that outdated hunk of crap. At least with the Cayenne they have a test mule for new engine designs. Maybe if we are lucky they will stuff one of those motors in a mid or front engine monster, like a replacement for the 928 or Boxster derivative (coupe please).

 

Heck... I hate to say it... but a decent looking (I don't hate it) SUV type vehicle, holds the family/dog/crap, handles and goes well AND can easily tow an enclosed trailer+944 TurboS+racing crap(the tow rating is 3500kg, which is pretty damn good!) is a 'hit' in my book.
The tow ratings of the competition(X5, ML, RR) can't compare.
Anyways, no way in heck I can afford the 'new' price tag, but in a couple of years... who knows

88 951S (racer)
98 Jeep GrandCherokee V8 (hauler)

 

[quote]Originally posted by Sean (1986 944, 2000 986S:
<strong>Cayenne will sell to Soccer Moms, because it's a station wagon that the husbands might actually enjoy driving.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I would rather have an Audi S6 Avant.

Edit- I want Porsche to produce a high performace "Estate" car (as the British like to call them).

 

Well I don't think it's great,but not bad....keep in mind that it looks more like the Audi Avant,which has quattro,a turbo and an adjustable ride height, also there is the new S6 with a 4.2 liter V8,uh...340 HP in a wagon !!!,with quattro,whew!! The body on this looks higher window wise and fender height,but not as tall as an SUV.(ps, the A6-V8 is 62K without any options.) Stand in line there's a wait to get one.

 

Well I don't think it's great,but not bad....keep in mind that it looks more like the Audi Avant,which has quattro,a turbo and an adjustable ride height, also there is the new S6 with a 4.2 liter V8,uh...340 HP in a wagon !!!,with quattro,whew!! The body on this looks higher window wise and fender height,but not as tall as an SUV.(ps, the A6-V8 is 62K without any options.) Stand in line there's a wait to get one.

 

Hey Rothmans,

I've seen the plane motors and tractors… but do you have photos or links to the TANK!!! I have to see that. An amphibious car? Bizarre…

 

Doctor Porsche designed a proto for the Tiger.

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/4635/tanks/tiger1/trials.htm" target="_blank">Porsche Tiger Tank</a>

He also designed the schwimmwagen

<a href="http://www.schwimmwagen.com/" target="_blank">Schwimmwagen</a>

which was based on the kubelwagen that he also designed

<a href="http://www.kubelwagen.com/" target="_blank">Kubelwagen</a>

which was based on the original Volkswagen if I remember correctly and wound up being recreated as the VW Thing in the 70's

 

It's not as bad as I thought, but I still think those headlights are butt ugly (don't like 'em on the 996 either)
Problem is, the irresistable urge I'm gonna have to strangle the first M-F-er I see driving one of these things with chrome 20" wheels and 30 series tires <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" />

 

Up to now, the vehicle that has topped my "Most Ridiculous and Pretentious Poseur Mobile" list has been the BMW X5. I'll now have to ad the Cayenne to that list. I think 90% of SUV owners buy them for the wrong reasons. Twin turbo SUV? Gimme a break. That's almost as ridiculous as sport trucks with low-profile tires and shiny chromed mags.

 

I have no problem with anyone that buys a cayenne. My only disappointment is that whenever people hear Porsche they always think sports car. That now may be coming to an end.

 

Good on you Sprewell 17, you've hit the nail on the head !!!! <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" /> Jim H

 

Lol, you guys crack me up. So many differing opinions . I guess I have to add in my thoughts too. What I don't understand is why you are questioning the target market and practicalness of the Cayenne. As I see it the following things are true:

1. Nearly all SUV purchases are unecessary to begin with. So why would people suddenly shy away from a vehicle costing not much more (relatively) than a LX 470, ML55 AMG, or X5 4.4? None of those vehicles is anywhere near practical yet people continue to purchase them. SUV sales have nothing in the world to do with practicallity (ok, maybe for about 3% of buyers they do, but not the kind that purchase these type of SUV's).

2. Porsche is and always has been a smaller, lower volume car company. With the ever increasing distance from Audi and VW (effectively complete now), Porsche is really on their own now. Revenue is a must to keep afloat as a company and 911's or Boxster's aren't going to alone bring in huge sales(Boxster definetely helped though). The introduction of an SUV is only natural for the survival of the company as it is by far the hottest market (also one which Porsche has absolutely no piece of).

3. I live in a generally affluent city, and let me tell you, people will most definetely pay for this sort of thing. You don't BTW have to be some CEO making 1.5 million in salary a year. You could easily afford one of these on $225,000 a year. In addition people purchasing upper end cars lease them a good portion of the time from what I have observed.

From my perspective, this is a great(albeit tragic) move for Porsche as a company. Do I think it tarnishes the prestige of Porsche? Absolutely. But above all, they are still a company that needs to profit, reguardless of how it may change their image. Tapping into the SUV market has been shown to be an effective way to do this.

In the end I'd rather see a Porsche lineup with a new lower end sports car(mid 30's) than an questionable looking SUV. However, how can I blame Porsche for wanting to boost sales. I really can't.

 

looks like a VW!

 

I'd wouldn't feel too safe doing 250 km/h in a high centre of gravity car like this.

I wouldn't worry too much about the kids getting chocolate in it though. It will be worth about 40% of sale value in 3 years either way.

Sam.