preme123

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w00tPORSCHE

Welcome to RL :

1. Where do i take these codes for a check to see if the order is really placed. And what process is it in now?

I cannot answer that.

2. Should i take the risk of the grey market?

I would not especially for an expensive vehicle which is so well engineered.

3. What are the bad effects of Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. How reliable is it? Will it break down with heavy injuries....? Since Thailand is really hot and get rains every day!

Hard to talk about reliability when this is the first year of the hybrid for Porsche. Having said that, Porsche is known for it's reliability. If you live close to a dealer, don't plan to keep the vehicle much longer than end of factory warranty, like hybrid technology and want to go green then those are reasons to not worry and go for one.

4. Should i go for the Diesel or the Hybrid? Since I want fuel economy and also performance

I would pick diesel any day over a hybrid again not that hybrid is bad.

5. Are the 21'' inches wheels strong enough for Thailand's Road? We have tons of bridges and hills, so we would be jumping around quite alot, and i'm scared if there would be tyre problems..... I have heard that it's quite loud compared to the 18-19 sized too right? This is due to the tyres or it's normal for big wheels? If it's the tyres, i have no worries, Thailand have tons of rubber to spare hahaha

The smaller the wheel size the better the ride comfort. The more bigger the wheel, lesser the diameter of the tire sidewall and higher the chance of flat tire (tire puncture). If you have a lot of potholes then I would recommend the 20 inch. Good compromise in terms of looks, with less harsh of ride and lower cost of tire replacement (compared to a tire for a 21 inch wheel).

preme123

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preme123

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PETER838

Do not buy the Hybrid without full warranty!!! they are an absolute disaster even with Porsche franchise dealer.....they aren't trained and the cars are so technical.

I know from experience!!! I've rejected my hybrid as I'm sick of the problems that even a Porsche dealer can't fix.

Go for the diesel!!! if you don't believe me take a look

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReY4s6dczlM

Blaine S

Peter has had some really bad luck with his early hybrid and it is hard to say if it is a one off lemon or reflects more systematic problems. Time will tell.

My experience has been the opposite and have had zero problems with the hybrid system. However I only have 3,000mi on the clock.

With regard to the hybrid vs. diesel I can't say I've driven a diesel Cayenne. But I really doubt that the diesel will measure up to the hybrid with regard to interior noise. If you like the S class, the hybrid might be the better choice. In town in heavy traffic, it is silent when running on the electric motor. When starting off from a stop with the motor off, the hybrid is smoother than both the V6 and V8 Cayennes. When going down hills and the motor shuts off or "sailing", again the hybrid is going to be winner as far as interior noise. I also have the optional acoustical and thermally insulated glass which I would highly recommend.

As far as buying from a dealer - the hybrid control system is a complicated bit of electronics. I would make sure that all of the programing updates were performed at the dealership. Electric motors are simple and reliable, NiMH battery technology is tried and true, and Porsche worked closely with Toyota to develop the Cayenne hybrid and Toyota has a lot of experience with hybrids. Top that off with Porsches overall reliability and I was not that concerned with buying the first Porsche hybrid.

Welcome to Rennlist.

ltc

For long term ownership and simplicity, it is hard to ever argue against a diesel engine, especially the current VW TDi.

Having owned both hybrids and diesels for years, I always go for the diesel.

PETER838

No question the Hybrid without the faults was a great drive, but not definitely not worth the risk without full warranty.

I'd question the Porsche testing, the problems seemed to stem from the communication between the electric and petrol engines wiring etc.

The dealer did mentioned that there had been problems with other cars how many I'm not sure.

I'm a Porsche fan, I've had too many over the past few years. I just wish that the Diesel had been my first choice with the Cayenne.

preme123

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ltc

The battery pack should have the shortest operational lifetime out of everything on the hybrid drive train.
Thermal management during charge/discharge cycles is the biggest challenge.
The capacity will diminish over time until it eventually needs to be replaced.
Estimates are between 7-10 yrs for a battery pack, which is a fairly expensive part to replace on all current hybrids.

preme123

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LongThaimer

Hi preme123,

I am also in Bangkok, thinking of getting hybrid s from the grey market, did you buy one and how is the performance?

thanks a lot

rgds