DC from Cape Cod

So...I just swapped my 2004 for a 2005 model...here are some of the differences.

1. Alcantara headliner - MUCH better than what I had before.
2. Front windows seem to be tinted a darker shade.
3. Seat heater control wheels have detents for each setting.
4. Nav is DVD-based.
5. Compass in dash - never had this before - cool.
6. No more lag.
7. MUCH, MUCH tighter vehicle...and my 2004 only had 8K miles.

New Options (for me)

1. XM Radio - very cool.
2. Sport seats - also very cool.
3. Painted Sport Technos - extremely cool.

What a difference a year makes.

bancu

This is a _very_ good thing and you certainly earned it. It also gives me hope.

Digging a bit more in to the lag/hesitation issue did it manifest itself before:

- as you came out of a turn and applied more throttle
- pulling out into traffic from a stop
- as a 1-2 second delay when you applied the throttle in any situation

Does your '05 pass all of the above tests?

DC from Cape Cod

Those were my INITIAL impressions....I've only had a very limited amount of seat time. I'll certainly post again in a few weeks with additional thoughts.

bancu

Written like a seasoned and wise Cayenne owner <g>. I'll keep my fingers crossed and look for your 'longer' term evolution.

Did you see this: http://www.rennteam.com/showflat.php...&page=0#46978?

It makes me wonder if more of us aren't going to be _forced_ into Lemoning our Cayennes due to our hesitated response safety concerns. Of course the guy posting this has the new 'gearbox' and 'different gearbox ECU unit' he's still not satisfied with the response.

I don't know what the answer is but something has to be done.

I went and drove 'recent' builds of the Touareg v8 and TDI and both of their throttles seemed to be more deterministic in their responses. Like you I'll chalk that up as an 'initial' evaluation since I can never totally predict or force the hesitation in my CT. It's the unpredictability that makes it so unsafe to me.

Neither Touareg seemed to upshift any where near as soon as my CT does normally around town. Again, I didn't have them for weeks so this is not a sure thing.

The sport setting on the Touareg transmission is a sure thing. It is a joy to experience in town. It seemed to have either Touareg upshifting and downshifting much more aggressively then even spirited (not hammered all-out) driving in my CT. Sport mode also locks out sixth gear. Both of the Touregs also started out in 1st gear at a stop. All of these observations were made without disabling ESP.

What was also telling is that the v8 seemed to be more 'clunky' in its downshifts. (Writing this makes me really wished I had checked build dates.) The v8 downshifts (and this could have been limited between certain gears) were on par with Tipping down my Cayenne from 2nd to 1st at a stop. Downshifts in the TDI were _very_ smooth and I don't remember and 'chunking'.

bancu

DC,

Any chance you can give us an update on how the lag issue is with your '05 vs. '04 CT?

Thanks.

DC from Cape Cod

<grin>

Not yet - I only have 226 miles on the 2005. I was on vacation and have been driving the 911 a bit before the weather turns.

cobalt

DC,

When was your 04 TT built?

I just purchased an 04 with 12/03 build date. It has the Alcantara headliner, indents in the heater control wheels and sport seats. I believe the compass should be an option on 05's. I also noticed when I received the disk for the nav system it said DVD on it vs CD. I didn't make anything of it but I will look closer now. I also don't appear to have the lag everyone is talking about.

Could you tell me what a painted sport technos is?

Glad to hear your upgrade to an 05 gives you all you wanted.

DC from Cape Cod

My 04 was built in May (I think) - it was #14 for the 2004 model year. It did not have the alcantara headline.

Painted Sport Technos are Sport Technos that have been partially painted with the factory paint to match the body color. It is a factory option.

That Cobalt 911 is beautiful.

cobalt

Thanks,

Best of Luck with the new toy. If you have any pictures I would love to see them with the painted technos.

bancu

Thanks DC. I'd be driving the 911 too.