Pulled up to our bar tonight and saw a strange looking SUV. Went over and took a look at it, it was a new Porsche Cayenne.
Unusual part about it was it had the drivers names painted on the side plus a map of North and South America painted on the hood, with a route marked from Fairbanks to a town on the Southern tip of South America. Happened to meet the couple later (from the Netherlands) who owned it. Guess they are on a trip as outlined by their hood. They offered to let me test drive their Porsche ( which I stupidly turned down). Very nice couple, but very hard to understand.

Went home and looked up some info on the Cayenne. Base model costs 60k and comes with a 340 HP engine, with a 450 Hp twin turbo v-8 available, WOW. Wasn't really floored by the styling or interior, but I bet it flat handled and perfromed for a SUV. I will be kicking myself in the A@@ for several days for turning down their offer.

Mark

 

I think they are quite ugly personally and why porsche went the SUV route is beyond me. They need to stick with their cars unless they plan on making the worlds fastest production SUV, then they have got something.

 

As I posted above, you can get it with a twin tubo v-8 boasting 450HP. I would imagine that would make the Cayenne move pretty d@mn quick. But I agree with you, it was not all that appealing sytle wise.

Mark

 

The reason Porsche got into the SUV market was to allow them to stay an independent company and still produce the high end limited number cars they are known for. Except for Ferrari,almost every sportscar manufacturer has merged or been bought up by a larger company ( note Lambo and BenZ). Among Porsche owners, many expressed the desire to drive a Porsche SUV instead of a BMW, Lexus or Benz model. I have been a Porsche owner for the last 10 years and I love the handling but my power kick is the Lightning. Many people dislike the look of the Cayenne, but many people think our Lightnings are just pick-up trucks also. To each his own. I'll be happy when I have one of each!!!

 

Rick is correct. Today's yuppie looking for " status " wants a SUV from an acclaimed manf. What better way to show your status then with a 450HP Porsche SUV? Its just where we are headed at this time. SUV's will soon disappear like the minivan craze did in the 80's.

 

But did they have to make so ugly.

 

Well.............it is the world's fastest SUV...............0-60 in 5.4 and the 1/4 at 103 or so in 13.8. It was on one of the Magazine TV shows this past weekend.....

If someone has the $80K or whatever to buy it, why the hell not

JC

 

cuz you could buy a viper with 80k

 

It looks like a lunar rover. We all know that most SUVs will never see a gravel road. Lower them and make them look good. that 4x4 look should be an option.

 

what about that new lingenfelter TT Escalade

 

Ferrari is owned by Fiat.

The Cayenne is mainly a rebodied and re-engined VW/Audi vehicle. To say Porsche is an independent is a misnomer. They have fed at the VAG trough since the beginning of the company. Can't blame them, considering the companies share the same family (both corporately, and ownership) lines.

 

In the stock category, its the fastest SUV. If I was to spend that much on a SUV ,I personally would get a pimp *** Range Rover. Forget speed in a suv ,I just want a chill ride.

 

ive taken ****s that look better than this suv

 

Could be that the 'master plan' at Porsche isn't going all that well:
http://www.detnews.com/2003/insiders...b01-250263.htm

 

A Subaru Forrester turbo is just as quick and you could buy 4 of them for what that Porsche cost. Skip