Cayenne S Transsiberia

[BmillsSkier]

I like most Porsche purists winced when the Cayenne was rolled out some years ago. However over the last few years I have found myself liking these SUV's more and more. It seems that Porsche was determined to make this a real performance vehicle and giving it equal access to the same engineers, testing facilities, etc that the hallowed 911 has. I even recently read that the latest Cayenne Turbo out accelerates the very respectable BMW M5.

The only thing that I never completely bought into was the off road, or even near off road ability of the car. Today I came across this ad for a Transsiberia rally which Porsche built 26 modified Cayenne S's for and my doubts were erased.

http://www.porsche.com/all/Transsybe...rnational.aspx

Now I know this isn't the offroad equivalent of a Hummer H1, or some Camel Cup RR's, but I like the toughness and tech they put into it. I like how they went with more of a rallycar bent instead of a pure brute meant to tackle 45" of mud.

your thoughts?

[Jax]

It's Camel Trophy and Land Rovers, not RRs. Just sayin'. 'Camel cup' made me laugh, though.

[lemon boy]

Yay for porsche they can build a car that after putting an extra 100k in mods to a 100k car can go across siberia! NO SHIT!

[BmillsSkier]

point well taken. Its been a long time since I've seen any press about Camel Trophy which may explain my misnaming it. Second point taken too, last I saw they were running Discos and not RR's, both made by LR.

[dbp]

That is very fast for an SUV, but I'm pretty sure it can't beat an M5 off the line. I've seen 0-60 times for the M5 as low as 4.1 seconds. The same magazine says the Cayenne Turbo's time is 5.9 seconds. Porsche's site says 4.9 seconds. Again, that is really fast regardless.

[lemon boy]

I think you guys mean camel trophy

It is one thing to drive whatever in a rally where there is a fleet of support vehicles/mechanics/equipment/tools/parts and a huge budget and quite another to get into your own vehicle and head off into the hinterlands.

I think the thing that really highlights to superflous and silly nature of such things is the Mongol.

Sorry, I don't mean to be a crabby pants and shit in your thread, I just think that it's silly to spend that much on a vehicle with the putative use being offroading.

[Jax]

If I was given one and HAD to drive it, I would be sure to put it through the rigors, you know, just to see what could happen.

The on-board computer-technology bs would not likely work at the end of a trip to Baja, per say. Alloy wheels, while light and pretty, would be beat to shit in no time. I've seen the Toureg in action, though, and they are not without merit for the occasional foray on rough roads.

[Jax]

I think you guys mean camel trophy

.

Hey LB, I beat you to it.

[lemon boy]

yeah bmills was still saying cup when I posted IIRC...or not.

[grrrr]

I think you guys mean the camel toe rally, which happens in Arkansas. And they're not Range Rovers, they're lifted Chevys.

[BmillsSkier]

Sorry, I don't mean to be a crabby pants and shit in your thread, I just think that it's silly to spend that much on a vehicle with the putative use being offroading.

I see your point, however I was looking at this particular vehicle without even thinking about price or affordability.

If you dont like the money being spent towards the offroading aspect, perhaps you would be happier with the on road version?

[Jax]

[dbp]

Mongol Rally... in an ice cream van.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6908117.stm

[AbsolutStoli]

that was a 959 in 1986, so i never really had a doubt that porsche can build a capable off-road vehicle.

[grskier]

I here the Cayenne is competent in off roading.. of course I only get close to them when they blast by me going up Red Mountain Rd.

[Free Range Lobster]

Yay for porsche they can build a car that after putting an extra 100k in mods to a 100k car can go across siberia! NO SHIT!

Its like buying a WRX STi because they put the body on their rally cars.

[Cono Este]

A 4x4 is only as good as its tires. The cayenne is a sweet around the town, opps another pothole car. That v8 rumbles.

[philippeR]

Yay for porsche they can build a car that after putting an extra 100k in mods to a 100k car can go across siberia! NO SHIT!

Seconded.



And I drove a Cayenne. It's surprisingly competent on road, for a 2.5 tons truck. And probably rather good off road for a porsche. Other than that, it's the most expensive oxymoron on wheels I can think of. The fact that it's Porsche best seller is amazing.

[ArmadaBC]

that was a 959 in 1986, so i never really had a doubt that porsche can build a capable off-road vehicle.

The 959 was such an amazing car, there was a dude in Allentown Pa that used to drive a body modified Fiero around that from 20 feet or so looked just like it. It had all the badges and everything, though when you looked inside it was a Fiero interior.

[MakersTeleMark]

It's a hopped up Touareg. Meh.

[tigerstripe40]

The only thing that I never completely bought into was the off road, or even near off road ability of the car. Today I came across this ad for a Transsiberia rally which Porsche built 26 modified Cayenne S's for and my doubts were erased.

Of all the sports car companies (Porsche, BMW, etc) making SUV's, I'd have to say that the Porsche Cayenne S is probably one of the better ones out there. But you can't even GET one with a diesel...

With that said, for the money you'd spend on a Cayenne S you can buy a REAL sports car, a REAL offroad rig, and a diesel tow rig to pull it with...

[BmillsSkier]

that was a 959 in 1986, so i never really had a doubt that porsche can build a capable off-road vehicle.

I completely agree. That was and still is one bad ass car. You can finally bring them into the states with modifications making the emissions legal and also with the passing of the show and display law, passed with the help of 959 owners Bill Gates and Paul Allen. These new mods bring the hp up to 575 from 444hp and 0-60 times in the low 3's, not to mention 200+ mph top speeds. Absolutely amazing.

And I drove a Cayenne. It's surprisingly competent on road, for a 2.5 tons truck. And probably rather good off road for a porsche. Other than that, it's the most expensive oxymoron on wheels I can think of. The fact that it's Porsche best seller is amazing.

I too have driven the Cayenne S. I thought it was a nice firm ride, especially compared to my 4Runner, and damn that engine growled. As I said earlier, price isn't a consideration when you're looking at cars of that caliber. The Cayenne is only Porsche's top seller by 1% (37% to 36% for the 911) halfway through this year. Prior to that the 911 has always held the top spot for Porsche sales. That being said, when Porsche revealed its plans for the Cayenne they pitched it under the presupposition that Cayenne sales would enable Porsche to not only generate more money for its more traditional product lines, but more importantly to simply stay in business. Looks like they hit the mark.

[Art Shirk]

Yay for porsche they can build a car that after putting an extra 100k in mods to a 100k car can go across siberia! NO SHIT!

Porsche likely doesn't, nor do potential Porsche owners, care about the price tag. Porsche filled a gap in the automarket...an insanely expensive SUV that can flat out bomb on the road, and has great off road ability. I don't think anyone would argue that the Cayenne S is a great deal. But if you have a shit ton of money, want the versatility of an SUV, want to be able to smoke a mountain road like a havana banana, and be seen in a top brand, Porsche just provided it.

P.S. STi's share more than just a body with their rally counterparts. Of course McRae isn't driving one off the factory line, but Subby has done a great job delivering an amazing car for a good price.

[philippeR]

Porsche likely doesn't, nor do potential Porsche owners, care about the price tag. Porsche filled a gap in the automarket...an insanely expensive SUV that can flat out bomb on the road, and has great off road ability. I don't think anyone would argue that the Cayenne S is a great deal. But if you have a shit ton of money, want the versatility of an SUV, want to be able to smoke a mountain road like a havana banana, and be seen in a top brand, Porsche just provided it.

P.S. STi's share more than just a body with their rally counterparts. Of course McRae isn't driving one off the factory line, but Subby has done a great job delivering an amazing car for a good price.

You got a point. Except that a cayenne is nowhere near to "smoke a mountain road like a havana banana". It's better that other trucks, but it's still very far from an enjoyable spirited drive.
(And you may bomb the highway, but not for too long, as you'll need to refill...)

[Art Shirk]

You got a point. Except that a cayenne is nowhere near to "smoke a mountain road like a havana banana". It's better that other trucks, but it's still very far from an enjoyable spirited drive.
(And you may bomb the highway, but not for too long, as you'll need to refill...)

I think you are right, but relative to other SUV's, it certainly out performs on the road by a great bit. I drove the Cayenne S, was very impressed, and the only other SUV that touched it for on road performance was the new Rover Sport supercharged--another sweet rig IMHO: