Deliberate1

I am on the cusp of buying an '08 V6 with stick. I love the stick and have had one in every car I have ever owned (well excpet for that Lexus ES 300....). Was just doing a random search and came across this review of the V6 with stick from MotorTrend:

Those contemplating the manual to inject more driver appeal into the entry-level Cayenne need only a quick trip around the block to realize it doesn't. The six-speed is notchy and rubbery, with long throws and an indeterminate gate, characteristics far from helpful in ensuring smooth progress in a 290-horsepower SUV weighing 5045 pounds. Worse, the noise, vibration, and harshness inherent in a V-6 engine are simply amplified through the direct mechanical connections; you feel a constant buzz on the ball of your left foot from the clutch pedal, for example. An automatic transmission hides a multitude of V-6 sins.



Edit: But then I found this, which suggests a little break-in goes a long way:

I am also the proud owner of a Cayenne V6, 6 speed. Initially, I wasn't happy with the performance of the Cayenne 6 speed. I have always driven sticks (Over last 10 years: Nissan 240Z, BMW 325is, BMW528i) and this one was very notchy and difficult to make smooth transitions between the gears. However, after a break-in period of about 1500 miles, there was a marked improvement in the shifting and performance. The transition was almost night and day. I recall consciously mouthing to myself that I was able to finally work the gears and accelerate at lights and merge into traffic.



Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz1e65j2WBm

The Cayenne I am looking at is 700 miles away, so a test drive is not possible. Rubbery, buzzy, sins of a V6? Please tell me it ain't so....
David

GTS 6 spd

Go for it - if you love a manual transmission you'll be much happier than in an auto.
My affinity for the manual in our GTS may be a slight infatuation with the fact that it's a V8 w/ a manual, along with the other attendant joys of a GTS. It is a little notchy but who expects car like smoothness in a 5000 lb truck.

My recipe for shifting joy is slow and smooth when cold w/ mild throttle inputs, and when warm I find it shifts smoother when I accelerate quickly w/ a modestly quick gear change. But that's when I'm paying attention - I really take no notice of my technique when simply driving around town and have not found the tranny bothersome in any way.

Can't comment on the V6 buzz factor.

Deliberate1

Thanks for your your thoughts. But then, your screen name says it all....

mt-sfo

I have an '11 stick Cayenne and love it. It was a little notchy during the first 1000-1500 miles, but shifts very smoothly now. and I love the sound of the VR6 engine!

Deliberate1

Nice.

Deliberate1

Nice. Do you know if your 2011 has the same drive train as 2008? And what kind of mileage are you getting? Porsche is doing my ppi today. Once I get the report, if clean, the P!G will be on the Enjoy!
David

mudman2

I drove one recently and it does not drive half as well as the tip, imho

Cpa4S

new model stick has shorter throws

the manual tranny is not as nice as the sports cars but it sure makes driving these Cayennes a lot more involving, connected and FUN.

steph280

So the 2011-2012 V6 is the same unit found in the VR6? That is a nice engine!

mudman2

but moving 5000+ plus pounds

roberga

6 is almost as slow as a METRO. If you want a 6 speed make sure you get anything but the V6. We ended up with a turbo and it is a perfect SUV for us. Great tow rig. As a matter of fact sometime I forget I am pulling a boat as when I step on the throttle is just plan moves.

steph280

If we get one it will be wife's daily commuter. She probably wouldn't know the difference if they stuck a 4 banger in it.

mt-sfo

yeah the 04-10 stick shift feels different then the 11+ stick. I did a very brief test drive of an 06 stick shift a few years ago and the throws were definitely longer than in my 11 cayenne.

one of my clients has a 09 GTS manual. I haven't driven it, but it sure does sound great!

chong0

Just took delivery of my '12 Cayenne MT.

Comparing this to an '08 GTS MT (i test drove this 7 months ago)- these are my thoughts :

-agree with Cpa4S that I would probably be much more uninvolved because the MT keeps me occupied.
-throws seem a bit shorter than the GTS
-1st gear seems a little bit taller in the V6- I remember the GTS needed to shift immediately out of 1st and let it pull in 2nd.
-coming from a '09 328xi wagon MT (this car was also ordered but turnaround took only 3 months), the obvious things are that the cayenne is much bigger, much taller, much heavier, and feels like a truck.
-it is notchy and hoping that 1500 miles comes quick, but the gating feels pretty secure and not rubbery
-i have not gotten the engine past 4200 rpm because the instruction manual wants low rpms for 2k miles
-there is a vibration that is not annoying but low level that is just there at around 3500 rpms (around 100 mph in 6th gear) that you can feel through the stick (i like resting my hand on the stick).
-the MT was a big plus to order a cayenne vs getting a x5 5.0 (essentially the same price) and the new interior on the cayenne is just beautiful and blows away BMW.
-city driving averaging 14 mpg, highway at good cruising speed getting close to 23 mpg (crazy!)