John..

I was reading in Panorama last night that the Cayenne has a 6 speed tip tranny which is produced in Japan. Is this true? Seems like Porsche is just outsourcing as much as possible to keep profits high. Both my cars have Japanese parts (A/C), but nothing so substantial as a transmission. What's next, engines from the Far East? I'm less and less impressed every day I read more.

dawktah

This is what I heard as well. But as far as who I do not know.

M758

Yep,
Aisen of Japan is building these.

They also built the auto tranny in my Jeep Cherokee. I don not doubt that it will be good solid unit and these are not weak spots in XJ's and are generally considered very good.

John from WA

IMHO a German car with German Ing should have German parts, especially for something as major as the tranny. Isn't that part of the identity of the brand? oops.. forgot, Porsche doesn't value the brand identity that was built over the last 50 years anymore. The old professor dies and look what happens... an SUV

Flying Finn

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by John from WA:
<strong>...The old professor dies and look what happens... an SUV</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">With japanese tranny...

Mike in Chi

the old professor built tanks, trucks, tractors and the occasional race car.

Still, the tranny????

Christian S.

So the implication is that the Old Professor would knowingly source and fit an inferior part to his vehicles just because it was a German part....

First thing that comes to mind - my headlight switch - straight out of a Beetle and hopelessly outdated and inferior to anything produced by Japan for decades before it's installation in an '87 Carrera.

Things sure have changed - for the better....

John from WA

Why not fit a honda engine as well. They are very reliable. Where do you draw the line?

For better or worse, buy a German car you want the German engineering.

Christian S.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by John from WA:
[QB]Why not fit a honda engine as well. They are very reliable. Where do you draw the line?QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Very simple John, you draw the line at parts that you intend to manufacture in house - engines for example (although if you can source a "better"" component part for the engine from abroad do you rule it's inclusion out?)

The Cayenne engine is Porsche designed - and Porsche built. I would be fascinated to know about the Jap dif and whether it has been in any way "engineered by Porsche". If not, it has probably been chosen because sensibly, Porsche realise that there's no gain in manufacturing their own.

"For better or worse" should not be entertained - only "For better".

Fitting an jap engine to a Porsche would fundamentally change the identity of the car. Fitting a Getrag gearbox to a Supra doesn't change it's identity or make it any less Japanese .... (Hope I haven't started another Supra monster here.......)

Todd

And on their website they are boasting about how it's "Made in Germany" and what that means. Maybe the thing should say "kinda-put-together in Germany"

Anir

Everybody's got a valid point, but I feel like someone has to help Christian "fight the good fight". <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

What I consider to be the world's greatest sports road car ever - the McLaren F1 - outsourced critical components from outside Britain. The engine came eventually came from BMW, but not until after they gave Honda some serious thought.

Our '03 Rover (arguably the best one made to date) is a hodge-podge of British, German, and American parts.

I understand the emotional barrier to the idea of Japanese parts in a Porsche, but as Christian said, if that's the best part available...

John from WA

So the only part of the Cayenne that is true Porsche is the engine, since they designed and build it. While the rest of the engineering design is Porsche, the body is built by VW and shipped for interiors and engine to the Porsche plant. I gues if the buyers don't care...

axhoaxho

And from last month's Automobile magazine, the Cayenne's 2-speed transfer case is provided from a USA company (I forgot the name)....

John Murray

Who cares? Listen, if you ain't gonna buy one then shut up. Stop your complaining about a vehicle you wont own or drive and go for a spin in the one you do. Be happy with that.

How do you think the 'classic Harley guys' think about the new V-Rod?

My guess, the same as all the 'classic Porsche guys' think of the Cayenne.

For years Harleys came with Japanese front ends! Oh my God! Japanese parts on an American motorcycle? Blasphemy!!!! Know what? Those bike were the smoothest ever built. Think all the 'new' Harley buyers care? Nope.

Think all the 'new' Porsche buyers care about the trans? Nope. Just you guys with the 70's 911.

My two cents, I hope not to offend anyone.

John from WA

Make me!

haha