diver110

So, after having received some very helpful feedback on this forum, today I went out and drove a 2011 baseline Cayenne. Loved it. Handles just a touch better than my Jeep GC. I want to be able to do some light offroading. The salesman, who seemed like a straight shooter, did not think there was much off road capability difference between post and pre 2011. But on this forum, some leaned to pre-2011, though for the light stuff I do, it may not make that much difference. Any additional feedback in that regard would be gratefully received.

Initially, I leaned turbo. And I would like its hotter performance. Buy I am beginning to wonder if it is worth the dime in the heavier traffic universe I live in. The traffic is has even gotten heavy in the Colorado mountains in which I spend time. A S version with air suspension might be enough for my needs. Are you turbo drivers, who spend much time in traffic, glad you have it?

Thanks. Great forum.

Kirill

How about this one - https://ed-napleton.porschedealer.co...+Black+1547101 2013 CPO Diesel for $42K (probably can get it for less) Good Options - Roof Rails, Hitch, Entry & Drive, Multifunction wheel and LCA
Just so an ad for it - really liked it.

nodoors

955/957 have a low range transfer case the 958 does not... it actually is proving to be a weak link on the 958

If you want to do offroading or towing then you will want the air suspension.

Unless you are coming from an SRT8 JGC, a v6 958 will probably feel fast enough. The v6 is way easier to maintain and has better reliability, almost all of the engine problem chatter on this board is related to the v8 models.

vandal968

Nodoors, I've got the air suspension and love it. What advantage does it give when towing?

cheers,
c

user 83838290

The car stays level even when you hook up a (heavy) trailer.


As for the original question. Dude, you’re buying a porsche, might as well have some fun. Go for the turbo.

mtnrat

This

Wisconsin Joe

The salesman is full of it. He just wants to sell you that car.

958 Transfer case does not have low range. 955/957 does. That alone is "worth it's weight in gold"for off roading.

And I have to say:

To Turbo or Not to Turbo...

WHY is this a question?

Petza914

In the high altitude / thin air of CO, the Turbo will have significantly higher performance. Nobody ever drove both a base and a turbo and bought the base. Get yourself a 957 turbo with PDCC.

v10rick

The challenge will be to find an S or base with factory air suspension. All 957 GTS models are equipped with AS.

diver110

I wondered about the altitude issue, Petza.

vandal968

All three of our cars are pretty quick, 968, Infiniti M45, and Cayenne Turbo. When we go into the mountains the M45 has been the car we've used for the last couple of years. 4.5l, 340hp fast car, faster than the 968. At 6000ft, while it' still fast you can tell that you've given up significant power due to the pressure altitude. Just made the same journey that I've done a 100 times before, but this time in the new-to-me Cayenne turbo which is still making sea-level horsepower at 6000ft. Holy smokes, it's awesome. Blasting around someone shooting from 80 to 100 in an instant going UPHILL at 6000ft is a thrill.

cheers,
c

AGARubberDuck

IMHO, the only reason to look for an S over the Turbo is if you're shopping the same price point and want to get into a newer model year. The extra power is intoxicating, but really it's more than just that. All of the options that come as standard on a turbo opposed to finding them a-la-carte on an S (or just going without) really make a difference to the overall experience.

People talk about the missing low range on the 2011+ like it completely neutered the off-road capabilities and they are now only suitable for wet roads. I'd counter that the tire choice matters significantly more than the ability to select a low range. I've had both my 04ctt and 11ctt driving through plowed fields and grass-path minimum maintenance roads. Since I'm never going to take my cayenne rock crawling, or attempt to goof around at an off-road park, I'd say dropping the low range was a reasonably good choice for Porsche. It certainly hasn't degraded the functional off-road capabilities of getting to the hunting shack, or driving through fields/CRP to retrieve game.

cfiiman

Yep I agree with others, I only have a base b/c it was the best value/condition in the area at the time. Wish it was a turbo, always have, but I have a 911TT for when I need some power

diver110

So, pre-2011, the Cayenne had a low range option that is not in post-2011? That strikes me as a big deal. Admittedly, I don't use low range on my "trail ready" Jeep GC very often, but I certainly think it is nice to have. And I do use it some. Also, even though I would only do light offroading in the Cayenne, what if I screw up and go down the wrong trail (it happens)? Nice to have low range to extract one from one's stupidity. Fully agree about the tires being a big deal. I run offroad tires on my Jeep, though not very aggressive ones.

Petza914

Correct, both the 955 and 957 have the low range for some serious off-roading that the 958 and newer do not. You should look up some of the videos when Porsche first released the Cayenne and what it was capable off while swaddling you in leather, Bose sound, and A/C.