Hi Exc911ence

"I think that a member of the local Corvette club summed it up perfectly when he stated that while the Corvette may be built by Chevrolet, it doesn't mean that you'll ever see members lapping in their Suburbans."

While funny, I'm not sure the Corvette guy's analogy is apt.

He belongs to a Corvette club, not a Chevrolet club. It's devoted to just one model from the marque's broader product line.

I wouldn't expect the 356 registry to allow Cayennes at their events, or the 924S club to either.

As I understand it, PCA has been devoted to all Porsches, no matter how they are cooled or where the engine is located.

I guess we have to wait and see the car before we decide if it's worthy of the name.

Just my two pennies.

Have a good Sunday

M

 

I'm thinking of buying a Cayenne as a replacement for my tow vehicle (a ML-320)! So you might see one at DE's!

 

[quote]Originally posted by Mike in Chi:
<strong>I guess we have to wait and see the car before we decide if it's worthy of the name.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

This brings up another question about the Cayenne: Is it a car as you stated, or is it a truck? I believe that if Porsche had designed the Cayenne as a truck in the same vien as the Land Rover, people's opinions would be different. I would wholeheartedly support a down-and-dirty, mud-slinging, off-road machine from Porsche but producing what is essentially a station-wagon with excessive ground clearance seems, at least to me, as a little pointless. I understand that it laps the 'Ring as fast, if not faster than the Carrera does, which brings forth the question again of WHY? WHY not just buy a sports car? WHY not buy an Audi Quattro wagon? WHY pay six figures for a "car" that looks remarkably like the $15K Hyundai Sante Fe? I'm interested in seeing whether or not the Cayenne is even capable of towing a trailer, let alone one loaded with a car on it.

 

exc9llence

[quote] Is it a car as you stated, or is it a truck? <hr></blockquote>

Good point... maybe we should call it a vehicle.

Mike

(BTW, clever handle)

 

I believe Porsche has stated that the tow capacity is in excess of 7500 lbs!

 

Just checked Christophorus, its says the towing capacity is 7700 pounds, should be enough for even 928 racers...

 

[quote]Originally posted by PaulStewart:
<strong>should be enough for even 928 racers...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Heh, heh, heh.

 

sooooo, we know it is a vehicle...
and it evidently will have 7700 lbs of utility...
I wonder if it will have any "sport"?

 

[quote]Originally posted by Kevin E Davis:
<strong>sooooo, we know it is a vehicle...
and it evidently will have 7700 lbs of utility...
I wonder if it will have any "sport"?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Like any other SUV... Nope.

 

then how would it go against an X5 4.6is? if those "vehicles" are not utilty, but mostly sport, and even if they are like a touring car set higher off the ground, i would imagine the C to be able to handle itself quite well against the others.

on another note, i second a couple of other people's opinions on the possibilites of opening up different types of competition (think rally style) with a bunch of four wheel drive "light trucks" like the ML55 (342hp & 5073 lb/2300 kg), the X5 4.6is (340hp & 4824 lb/2188 kg) and Cayenne Turbo (450hp & 5000?lb)- in the dirt, snow, and mud. Kinda expensive to break though, huh?

 

I have no doubt that the Cayenne Turbo will possess awesome hp and wonderful brakes, but I still fail to see how it could hold its own in track corners against traditional Porsche sports cars. If I added 600+ lbs to my 993TT and jacked it up several inches, its handling would suffer immensely, regardless of straight line speed and braking ability. Heck, even the USA height cars handle poorly compared to those with a ROW suspension, and we're only talking about 30 mm there.

 

For what it's worth, an acquaintance who went to BMW's "M" school related the following story:

After the students spent a couple of hours on the autocross course, each trying to post the best time in their M5s, one of the instructors went out in an X5 - and smoked them all.

Although I don't want (and can't justify the expense of) a Cayenne, it never hurts to keep an open mind. With all that horsepower and some suitable track tires, I think a Cayenne will be quick enough to embarass a lot of us at our DE events.

While I generally agree with the StupidUselessVehicle designation, consider a two passenger, $100k+ vehicle capable of three times the highest speed limit in the country (i.e. the Turbo). To most rational folks, it's stupid, useless, anti-social, and possibly even immoral. Of course that doesn't mean that I don't still want one.

As with everything else in life, it's different strokes for different folks and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[quote]Originally posted by Bryan Moore:
<strong>For what it's worth, an acquaintance who went to BMW's "M" school related the following story:

After the students spent a couple of hours on the autocross course, each trying to post the best time in their M5s, one of the instructors went out in an X5 - and smoked them all.
</strong><hr></blockquote>


YEAH I SMOKED A 400HP ZR-1 DRIVEN BY A STUDENT A WHILE BACK. I WAS DRIVING A STOCK 74 914 2.0 WITH 91HP. SO WHAT! IT WAS ALL TALENT AND EXPERIENCE. I'M NOT DUMB ENOUGH TO THINK MY 914 COULD BEAT A ZR1 GIVE EQUAL DRIVERS. ALSO, DOES'NT THE M5 HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AS THE HIGHEST POWERED X5? IF SO I CAN'T SEE HOW A X5 COULD BEAT A MUCH LOWER AND BETTER SUSPENDED M5.

EDIT:

BMW X5 V8 SPECS

02 4.6iS Spe MT Apr-02 4.6 V-8/5A
0-60, s. 6.20
1/4 Mile, s. 14.76
60-0 Braking, ft. 117.00
Slalom, mph 63.13

BMW M5 SPECS

02 Sedan Sdn MT Apr-02 5.0 V-8/6M
0-60, s. 4.60
1/4 Mile, s. 13.08
60-0 Braking, ft. 116.00
Slalom, mph 66.96


NOW TELL ME HOW ON EARTH GIVEN AN EQUAL DRIVER COULD THE X5 BEAT AN M5?

NOW FOR COMPARISON PORSCHE SUV VS. 996 SPECS

SUV tt 4900LBS 400HP PWR/WEIGH 12.25:1 0-60 5.1-5.6 SEC

02' 996 C4 3197LBS 320HP PWR/WEIGHT 9.99:1 0-60 5.0SEC

I DOUBT EXPERIENCED DRIVERS WILL BE WORRIED BY THE SUV. BUT I'D LOVE TO HAVE ONE FOR MY TOW VEHICLE.

 

[quote]Originally posted by exc911ence:
<strong>

This brings up another question about the Cayenne: Is it a car as you stated, or is it a truck? I believe that if Porsche had designed the Cayenne as a truck in the same vien as the Land Rover, people's opinions would be different. I would wholeheartedly support a down-and-dirty, mud-slinging, off-road machine from Porsche but producing what is essentially a station-wagon with excessive ground clearance seems, at least to me, as a little pointless. I understand that it laps the 'Ring as fast, if not faster than the Carrera does, which brings forth the question again of WHY? WHY not just buy a sports car? WHY not buy an Audi Quattro wagon? WHY pay six figures for a "car" that looks remarkably like the $15K Hyundai Sante Fe? I'm interested in seeing whether or not the Cayenne is even capable of towing a trailer, let alone one loaded with a car on it.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I think I can answer this question - at least from my perspective. I have an 02 C4S. I snowboard in the winter. I need to be able to drive in the snow (hence the 4S part).
I live in the city, so I have to pay for garaging the car. This means that it is only practical for me to have 1 car. Audis are 2 a penny and I don't want one. Not even the RS^ if they ever bring it here.

I also sail in the summer (small boats - I borrow an SUV to tow currently and it would be nice to not have to).

I LIKE PORSCHES NOT HYUNDAIS

I'm 6'2, so no-one is sitting behind me.
It would also be nice to be able to take more than 1 other (in comfort) and 2 others (cramped) when I go away for the weekend.

Given all this - what would you suggest I get other than a Cayenne Turbo?

btw: The idea of doing a DE in a Cayenne sounds like a hoot. I'd want one just to do that...