Cay-ute

I read a rumor somewhere that the spare will be present in MY 2004 Cayennes because Porsche figured out other solutions to the extra battery and subwoofer placement issues. Don't know if this is true.

I found an article at <a href="http://www.thalisst.com/newsletter" target="_blank">www.thalisst.com/newsletter</a> that explained what Porsche was planning to do about the spare. I am not sure that all of that is correct but you should check it out!

Cay-ute

Corrected: <a href="http://www.thalist.com/newsletter" target="_blank">www.thalist.com/newsletter</a>

Carrera GT

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by John H. in DC Area:
<strong>If these tall wagons are sold out for the rest of the year.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Hardly "sold out" --- they're available in excess at many dealers near San Francisco.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Speedraser:
<strong>The window rattled in the door when the door was closed -- not the solid sound I wanted to hear.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I played with the windows on four doors of three Cayennes and they all worked perfectly. Slamming the driver door with the window half down or fully down didn't seem to make any rattling noises. I did have trouble with the electric closing mechanism on one Turbo that didn't seem to detect the rear door properly.
Anyway, sure enough, Porsche needs to go back to the build quality clinic (who did they use to revamp during the 964 years; wasn't it Toyota?) and figure out how to design (and outsource, I guess) all the "fiddly bits" (like Fjords for the HHGTG folks out there) up to scratch.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><strong>The brakes are also incredible, look like 6 pistons, even on the S. There was a turbo there, but it was sold, 96K. the guys were sitting in it playing with the air suspension.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">You're right, they're identical on S and Turbo, both six pots. Extremely powerful braking. And I would add my dislike for seeing dealers leave "sold" cars on the showroom open for sticky fingers and people jumping around ... at least some of the local dealers had the respect for their customers to close up the sold cars and put up polite "sold" signs to alert at least the polite amongst the crowds.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><strong>I would love to drive a 4.6is and C-S back to back and see what the differences felt like, then I think the decision could be made. I think they will sell them well.

jason</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I played with the 4.6is on two lengthy test drives. It's not all that. Plus it's really dated compared to the Cayenne in terms of dynamics. It is about as quick, I guess, but the tranmission lets down the rest of the car. I hesitate to say it, but in my humble, the Infiniti FX-45 beats the pants off the X5 in the "cross-over, no low-range" category. In fact, I agree with other comments here (and all over the Web) that the FX45 does much of what Porsche should have done (aside from the fact the FX45 transmission and chassis don't really come into the same class) and Porsche simply must cease this insane overpricing of options ... $700 for a CD changer?! Are they insulting their customers? For starters, CD changers can handle six CDs "in-dash" and not waste space for a swapper box in the cargo side box. Second, the Cayenne Nav system should be DVD-based (for better data, faster access, as available in sedans under US$30K) and in case you didn't know, it's necessary to swap audio and navigation CDs in the dash to listen or navigate (not both at once) unless you get the CD changer. This is just plain weak. I hear that PCM will be a dealer installed retrofit pretty soon. I'll leave it off the order sheet and hope for improvements.

All that said, I think Maserati (of all companies?!) has at least put out a design study that reflects the exterior I would have liked to see draped over the Porsche chassis and tranmission.

Also, there are rumours of a Cayenne with a six-speed manual transmission option (probably a model below the "S") coming early in '05, which would suit the true hard-core off-roaders (most of whom wish Range Rover would convince Ford to reconsider their transmission choices inherited from BMW...)

Cheers,

Speedraser

Carrera GT,

Maybe there is a lot of variation in these early-build vehicles. There were three Cayennes in my local showroom. Two had their respective driver's windows all the way down, and each door rattled when closed (I didn't have to slam the doors -- they just rattled). The third Cayenne had the window all the way up. Although the door didn't rattle when it closed, it clearly made two sounds -- one when it closed against the stop, and a second when it bounced back a little. The doors on my '81 SC and '95 993 make one single, solid "thunk."

Anir,
You said you intend to keep your 993TT forever. First, of course you do! Second, maybe that's the problem -- Porsche wants you to buy cars repeatedly, not fall in love with the one you already have and keep it. Perhaps they don't realize that if a special car like a Porsche doesn't make me feel like I want to keep it forever, I won't buy it in the first place. If the new cars made me want them badly enough to keep forever, I'd likely buy a new one periodically anyway. An Accord can be an appliance, but I hope a Porsche never will.

Carrera GT

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Speedraser:
<strong>Carrera GT,

Maybe there is a lot of variation in these early-build vehicles.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I see you have a flair for benevolent diplomacy. I'd say the "variation" you mention is more like bad QA and every car has some common mistakes and some cars have mistakes all their own... </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><strong>one when it closed against the stop, and a second when it bounced back a little. The doors on my '81 SC and '95 993 make one single, solid "thunk."</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I think you've got a good ear. And I agree that there's great pleasure in the sound of a 911 door "thunk." I found the Cayenne to have a much more solid "thunk" than the 996 (and let's not mention the Boxster) but still not the vault door sound and feel of the "air" 911's.

As for cars to keep "forever" I think you're missing the point about Porsche's product planning to an extent (although for sure, they've reduced the 911 model life-span from a decade to what feels like a week between revamps and face-lifts) but if I understand what you've written, I completely agree that any new model making its debut is something that we might lust after, but it's only after time and tide that we can develop a lasting appreciation for it. The two "things with wheels" that I intend to keep forever are a 2001 Ducati 996R (not available in the US except as a race team bike from the factory, I had to import it and go through DOT/EPA privately) and a '97 Turbo (I've been looking for the right example off an on for ages) but when I look at the Cayenne, it's something I fully intend to drive half way through the warranty (like the Boxster before it) and move on to the next offering from Porsche. My only regret so far was selling a '94 911 RS America with 10K miles. I should have put that in the back of the garage. Lesson learned: never sell a Porsche, just put it to one side and you'll want it again in the future. Trust me on this one.

Speedraser

Carrera GT,
Nice post, and thanks for the compliments. As I look for employment in anticipation of finishing grad school in May, perhaps I should apply to the UN...

Regarding new car lust, I don't think a car necessarily has to be around for a while before I can develop a lasting appreciation for it. Having just written that, a "lasting appreciation" by definition requires some period of time to pass, so maybe you have a point...

My (cynical) point regarding product planning was that Porsche may not want to build cars that people keep forever such that those people don't continue to buy new cars. What I'm trying to say is that I don't think I would want to buy a special car like a Porsche if I didn't think, when I bought it, that it would be a car I would want to keep forever. I want to keep my SC and my 993 forever, but I really hope Porsche again builds a car that makes me lust after it -- now, they don't. I would love to order a new Porsche to my specs, but they don't make anything I would replace my 993 with. I hope that changes, especially if by then I can figure a way to add another Porsche to my "collection."

Sweet bike, BTW, and happy hunting for the '97 TT.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

SteveL1

Who was in charge of wheel design????? The two that I've seen on the "S" and the Turbo look like they belong on a Pontiac! And the brushed alum. trim on the out side.......What were they thinking????? Did BMW loan Bangle to Porsche to help out with this project. There's lot's of potential there, but somehow they just missed the oppotunity to blow everybody else away on tis one!

Anir

Todd,

Good points. Although I plan to keep the 993TT forever, I'd also love to buy another Porsche - as soon as they make something I can lust after. Right now, the GT3 is the only product I find really desirable, and I still think it's a bit of an ugly duckling. As nice as the Boxster's dynamics are, I'm just not attracted to the design, and I guess I feel the same about the Cayenne.

So, I'm not sure that my loyalty to the 993 is a bad thing for Porsche as a corporate entity, since most Porsche owners are fortunate enough (and passionate enough) to be able to own more than one car. I am hoping that the 997 will light my fire, since I can't afford a Carrera GT (too bad - what a machine).

Carrera GT,

Good luck with your hunt for a '97 993TT. I spent a year searching for a low-mileage example with a chestnut brown interior. It was worth the wait. Plus, prices have come down a good $20-30K since I bought mine.

Speedraser

Anir,
I, too, think that the kind of loyalty the 993 and older cars inspired is a good thing for Porsche. I just think that Porsche may not think so anymore...

Carrera GT

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by SteveL1:
<strong>Who was in charge of wheel design [...] Did BMW loan Bangle to Porsche to help out with this project</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">funny