X5 35d vs. Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Motorweek has the Cayenne diesel on this morning. Nice ride.

I'm down to the next-gen X5, next-gen Q7, A7 TDI, or Cayenne TDI as my next car. If somehow BMW/Audi mess up the Q7/X5, there's a good chance I will ED an Audi A7 TDI or Cayenne Diesel in Germany.

Too bad Porsche doesn't offer any ED discount

Originally Posted by jerryjash

Included Nav. sun roof ..Porsche Xeon lighting pkg. soft ruffld seats. speed sens. steering Conv.Pkg..MSRP was $63105.00 paid $56895.00

How were you able to get such a great deal? My local dealer laughed when I asked about discounts for the diesel

That being said, the one I want is $71k. I'm not even sure if that includes bluetooth, and such. The online Porsche build-your-own is so damn confusing

Originally Posted by 1HOT BMR

I have the X5d and I have never driven a Cayenne Diesel but I drove the 2013 Cayenne GTS with the V8 a couple of days ago - my first Cayenne test drive ever. I like my 35d much better in ride, handling and power curve/delivery for every day driving. The interior of the Cayenne is far superior in elegance, quality of materials and just beautiful to look at - on everything else I like my X5d much better, especially the ride handling with AD and non run flats. My guess is that the engine power/delivery for the Porsche diesel must be similar but the handling and ride are most likely worse. BTW, the sticker on that GTS was 104K!

I love my X5, but I'm not sure I buy that the ride/handling is better than the X5. The Porsche is quite a but lighter and above all, it's a Porsche. If they can do one thing well, it is driving dynamics. Same can't be said for BMW anymore

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

I'm down to the next-gen X5, next-gen Q7, A7 TDI, or Cayenne TDI as my next car. If somehow BMW/Audi mess up the Q7/X5, there's a good chance I will ED an Audi A7 TDI or Cayenne Diesel in Germany.

Too bad Porsche doesn't offer any ED discount

They had a discount(think they called it something else) going for ED back when I looked at their diesel SUV. It was nothing significant though.

Originally Posted by Snipe656

They had a discount(think they called it something else) going for ED back when I looked at their diesel SUV. It was nothing significant though.

They also charge $250 for getting Euro maps on the NAV when you do ED. Ridiculous when Audi, BMW, Mercedes do it for free.

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

They also charge $250 for getting Euro maps on the NAV when you do ED. Ridiculous when Audi, BMW, Mercedes do it for free.

I know nothing about the NAV since never inquired on that from either Mercedes or Porsche which are the two places I have talked to about doing an ED. All I remember for Porsche is they had a discount or credit of some sort, I think it was a couple thousand dollars and you could apply it to the car, to the plane tickets, to hotels or whatever you wanted to do. I maybe even posted the number back when I posted in here about my driving impressions of their diesel SUV. From what little I found online the Porsche dealers can discount a car being ED if they desire to. I'd imagine it is kind of like with Mercedes where for the longest time I kept getting told the deal is with Mercedes direct and not the dealer so they can't discount any more than the 7% then finally I find someone willing to do 9% and then after a long time I find someone else willing to do 11%

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

I love my X5, but I'm not sure I buy that the ride/handling is better than the X5. The Porsche is quite a but lighter and above all, it's a Porsche. If they can do one thing well, it is driving dynamics. Same can't be said for BMW anymore

I agree with you that Porsche's driving dynamics are the best (the Cayman is my favorite) and I'm sure that this Cayenne GTS would have handled better if it had a few more option boxes ticked, like the one that takes care of body roll which I asked and it didn't have - and the ride would have been better too (maybe) if the wheels had been smaller . . but .. .. as I drove it my X5 is better. As far as the weight difference, yes it's lighter and feels lighter. In fact, it feels like a car with an overboosted power steering. Even the sitting position is so low with the ride height set to low that it feels like a tall car/crossover type and not an SUV.

I am thinking about replacing my 550 with an M5 but I like my wife's X5 so much that I thought that perhaps the Cayenne GTS would be as exciting as the M5 or even my 550. I'm so glad I drove it since it took away all thoughts I had of getting a Porsche SUV.

Finally, I don't like the X5M because it rides like a truck and it looks the same as the one I have, and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo gets to about $160K when I tick all the boxes with the stuff I want - and it is the biggest gas hog of them all

Originally Posted by Emission

Cayenne GTS will run circles around an X5 35d, at any speed.

- Mike

So will the Porsche Hybrid. BTW: anyone tried one? Soooo much fun

Originally Posted by the328

So will the Porsche Hybrid. BTW: anyone tried one? Soooo much fun

Yes, and sooooo expensive.

- Mike

Originally Posted by Emission

Yes, and sooooo expensive.

- Mike

I completely agree. Hybrid is way too expensive. The diesel is much more comparable priced except it does not have active anti-roll bar from their website. That's the key technology which makes cornering much more fun. It was the main reason why I removed Porsche out of equation.

Of course, Porsche is more expensive in Package than BMW. Their active anti-roll bar is $3.5k option alone and you have to add air suspension which is another $3.98k. Their air suspension system is far superior to BMW X5. It actually adjust heights of the car. Then again, I am not sure how important is height adjustment.

I can't wait to see what 2014 X5 looks like. Given the current trend in BMW, I don't believe I will regret my decision to get it early. Only time will tell.

Originally Posted by henrycyao

Their air suspension system is far superior to BMW X5. It actually adjust heights of the car. Then again, I am not sure how important is height adjustment.

For off-roading, height adjustable suspension is very handy. My LR4 has it and it saved my butt once when I got stuck on a rock I couldn't see under a snow drift--it also has a mode where it senses when you are stuck and can raise you up a couple inches further than the max height setting. It saved us in the middle of a snowstorm at 2am one night. Really cool stuff!

Originally Posted by X5 35d

For off-roading, height adjustable suspension is very handy. My LR4 has it and it saved my butt once when I got stuck on a rock I couldn't see under a snow drift--it also has a mode where it senses when you are stuck and can raise you up a couple inches further than the max height setting. It saved us in the middle of a snowstorm at 2am one night. Really cool stuff!

I'd have to agree. When I drove the Cayenne Diesel in Alaska, it had the height-adjustable suspension and I used it to raise the vehicle several inches when crawling through a creek bed — and I dropped it down to the ground for high-speed cruising (not only does it lower the center of gravity, but the Cd will actually drop to improve fuel economy). I'm a fan of height-adjustable suspension.

I also see no reason to purchase a Cayenne Hybrid.

- Mike

....or a VW T-egg hybrid either!

Originally Posted by UncleJ

....or a VW T-egg hybrid either!

+100.

I recently had one for a week. Lousy fuel economy and dated technology (compared to the most innovative hybrids today).

- Mike

Originally Posted by Emission

+100.

I recently had one for a week. Lousy fuel economy and dated technology (compared to the most innovative hybrids today).

- Mike

Dated technology? If you're referring to a synergy drive the Touareg Hybrid was not meant for fuel economy or being "green", in fact it is a replacement for a V8 gasser, a VW way of "sneaking" it into US. Considering that it is a mirror image of Porsche Hybrid (less clothing) for a $25k less MSRP plus the discounts you can get on it now, I'd say it's a steal of a deal. This thing is a wolf in a sheep's clothing or more like a warewolf since it can be both, an animal and a civilized decent MPG SUV.

Originally Posted by the328

So will the Porsche Hybrid. BTW: anyone tried one? Soooo much fun

Porsche is having a hard time selling their Hybrids. A dealer said that 6% off list is all they could go on the v6 & Diesel versions but if I was interested in a Hybrid, he could get me a well equipped one for $25K off MSRP. It brought the price down a LOT but it was still about $4K more than the Diesel and the Diesel get better fuel economy.

Originally Posted by ndabunka

It brought the price down a LOT but it was still about $4K more than the Diesel and the Diesel get better fuel economy.

But which one is more fun to drive?

Originally Posted by Snipe656

But which one is more fun to drive?

Correction. It was $14K more which made the Fun aspect irrelevant.

Originally Posted by ndabunka

Correction. It was $14K more which made the Fun aspect irrelevant.

I was only asking because it read like the fuel economy was relevant. So left me wondering which though was more fun to drive.

Never could see the use of those "big" hybrids -- VW, Porsche, Lexus, 'slade, etc. They just don't get enough added mileage to justify the expense, and complicated drivetrain for limited performance gains. I would much rather have a Cayenne S than a hybrid.
Mike, nice review on the retro 302! Now then when do we get a retro "John Milner series" deuce coupe -- that one would be fun!

Originally Posted by UncleJ

Never could see the use of those "big" hybrids -- VW, Porsche, Lexus, 'slade, etc. They just don't get enough added mileage to justify the expense, and complicated drivetrain for limited performance gains. I would much rather have a Cayenne S than a hybrid.
Mike, nice review on the retro 302! Now then when do we get a retro "John Milner series" deuce coupe -- that one would be fun!

Thanks!

Send me a link to a car, and I will call them up and do a story!

- Mike

http://thehotrodshop.net/graffiti.html

Originally Posted by ChuckGr

http://thehotrodshop.net/graffiti.html

Is that place in San Diego? PM me.

- Mike

Chuck - great link! I drive that "Paradise Road" stretch frequently on the way to the raceway at Sears Point -- always think of that scene in the movie. Great flick a good snapshot of how we wanted it to be "back in the day" in NorCal.