mdrobc1213

Which one is the choice in terms of engine and performance at the price point from owners who have both cars? Is the 2009 improved with the new Direct injection engines from the 997? Or is the V8 the only way to go? I heard the complaints agianst the 1st generation V6 Cayennes were that they were too anemic on HP but supposedly the new 2008 engines and 2009 have fixed that?

doberdog

Yes the 08-09 engines have direct injection but the addition of a sport setting for the transmission plus much better overall transmission mapping makes the larger 3.6L V6 so much better to drive. Many here will say the S is the only way to go but the new V6 is now an option where in the past it wasn't.
The V6 is the best seller in the Cayenne line where in the past the S had the lions share of sales, so many people must have tried them and enjoyed driving them.
If you drive in the city where the additional power of the V8 isn't required, then the V6 is a good option. My wife uses hers for short trips around town so the S would be a waste of money in her case. She loves the V6 and I don't mind driving it around on the weekend plus the V6 does feel lighter.

fulmer

I have a 2009 V6 and love it. The power is great, but I usually keep the transmission in Sport mode. This makes the engine power come alive.

I live in a country where the average engine size is 1.8L Toyotas.... Japan. So I feel like I've got enough power to live with, at least for now. If I lived in the US, I would probably want the V8, just because I'd be on the highway a lot more, and maybe towing something too...

ltc

No.
Last time I checked, the 997's did not have a V6 in the back, rather a flat 6, albeit with DFI.

ltc

The 'new' V6 in the Cayenne is still an Audi designed and built engine, correct?

richc

When I was looking at getting one, I drove '08 S's and '09 V6's. I settled for the V6, it does everything I need to do in one of these vehicles. I didn't note much of a performance hit with the V6 until it's punched, and then it's noticeable. Since having the pedal floored isn't a mode I normally drive in, I decided not to worry about it. When I was looking (Sept. 08) the '09 S's hadn't landed yet, and other factors were if I wanted a S I'd be buying a year old model and they didn't offer Bluetooth, and I really wanted Bluetooth. I'm not towing with it, we have a F350 diesel for hauling the horses around and let's face it - these aren't sport cars. My attorney want thru the same process I did at almost the same time and he decided on the S.

Your best bet is to drive them both, my dealer let me take them out one morning and keep them overnight and really get a feel for them.

Shrews

I'm driving an 09 v6 loaner right now. surprising power but i would opt for the S, considering buying a GTS actually....

doberdog

The V6 is derived from the famous VW VR6 narrow angle design that was used in many vehicles from the Corrado to the Eurovan. A great engine that has been enlarged and modified for the Cayenne.
The power from this engine is surprising to many, now that it has a direct injection and sport setting. In the city, it is more than enough power.

mbslrm

Does the sport setting come on all Cayennes?

ltc

Sport PASM or Sport Chrono ?

doberdog

Yes the sport setting comes on all 08 and 09 Cayenne's. It improves throttle response, re-maps the transmission settings and opens up the limits of the PSM (stability control etc). The most important feature is the responsive transmission setting. I've had the Turbo out on the track with sport on and it is VERY quick, the throttle is actually hard to modulate under very hard driving but for every day use it transforms the way it drives and really helps the lower powered V6.

slider172

Had an 09 V6 as a loaner and was unimpressed. Yes its better than the old 6 , and yes the "Sport"button does wake up the engine BUT why should you have to push a button to "wake up" a detuned engine.
Bad gimmik from Porsche if you ask me.
Go with th S.

ltc

I don't know, even on the S models, you had to turn off Please Save Me in order to help reduce hesitation....even though there really is no hesitation problem in the transmission's adaptive control algorithms (i.e. there is no grandma mode)

doberdog

Having a sport setting is common with almost all brands. Running in normal "D" short-shifts the transmission in order to reduce the amount of fuel a vehicle uses. This is done to help lower the CAFE rating each manufacturer has to achieve. The reason the sport setting works well for many drivers is it allows the option of driving more aggressively on-demand, allowing the driver to decide if they want to us more fuel.
The sport setting does change the transmission mapping and increases the sensitivity of the throttle for more responsive driving. The hesitation experienced with the first generation vehicles has been eliminated with the introduction of direct injection, improved transmission mapping and the sport setting.

medtech

V8 - "There is no substitue"