[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by g21

how does Cayenne compare with X5 M50i?

I doubt it's even close. The G05 chassis X5 is a horrendous driving car in my opinion. It wants to cruise and take corners at 5mph, that's all it's capable of.

Meanwhile with the Porsche there's an immediate sense of stability and control. The steering is firmer and relatively communicative, the body doesn't bobble around at all, the ride/handling balance is exceptional.

BMW can do better if they want, they are capable of it as evidenced by how great the E70 model was, they just choose not to.

[pbonsalb]

The X5M handles decently and is stupid fast for an SUV, but the ride is not great. They had to make it stiff for the handling. The X5M50i is disappointing compared to the X5M, but certainly is softer riding. Porsche is more car like than truck like, in comparison.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I doubt it's even close. The G05 chassis X5 is a horrendous driving car in my opinion. It wants to cruise and take corners at 5mph, that's all it's capable of.

Meanwhile with the Porsche there's an immediate sense of stability and control. The steering is firmer and relatively communicative, the body doesn't bobble around at all, the ride/handling balance is exceptional.

BMW can do better if they want, they are capable of it, they just choose not to.

You make me very curious about this car. I have a mate who owns a luxury car garage and his favorite daily is a Cayenne, sounds like I know why. (he doesn't own one)

[chassis]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

The X5M handles decently and is stupid fast for an SUV, but the ride is not great. They had to make it stiff for the handling. The X5M50i is disappointing compared to the X5M, but certainly is softer riding. Porsche is more car like than truck like, in comparison.

BMW’s leichtbau concept is fundamentally wrong for handling. It relies on braces and stiffeners which in a consumer grade production car, including M, cannot deliver the same chassis stiffness as a proper integrated and stiff body-in-white can.

Consider the massive and stiff cast aluminum spring towers on the Cayenne. They are designed to cope with Lambo levels of performance. The X5 is at most a BMW, no higher brands use the platform.

[Gautam]

The Cayenne is literally the only car that makes me think “what if…” versus my M550i. The M550i is more than fast enough for me. I wouldn’t mind the extra cargo space and ground clearance of an SUV, but it would still need to feel like a car.

The X5 drove too much like an SUV. The M5 was mostly out of budget (as was the Cayenne) and wasn’t really what I was looking for anyways.

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I have a 21 Cayenne S and 18 M5. Night and day difference, but the Cayenne is pretty good for an SUV. It is for my wife. I tried to buy a GTS with the detuned B8 but she said it sounded like a truck. I put a JB4 on the S, but honestly the GTS felt like it had little to nothing on the S during my 60-110 highway testing. I was really surprised by that. 24 Cayenne S models have the detuned V8 instead of the V6 if you are looking at new.

Our S does not have any handling options other than 20” wheels and PASM. A GTS would have more stock and you can spend a bunch optioning more if you want the best handling 5000 lb SUV possible. If it was for me, it would be a Turbo with handling options since I like power. You could tune the GTS if warranty is not a concern.

Power wise you are carrying extra weight with less power so acceleration will be slower, even with a Turbo. Maybe acceleration is not that important to you and it won’t matter. I love it so I want as much power as reasonably possible and have tuned my M5. Stock 21 S with Sport Chrono has been tested at 109 in the quarter. A 21 M550ix did 119 — big difference.

I wonder if you’d feel differently with the handling options. Or for that matter, with a Turbo (S) which is a much better match against the M5. Though at close to 2x the price. Then again, even a well equipped S easily gets into M5 territory price-wise while being closer performance wise to an X5 40i… If you want power and raw acceleration, the M5 is extremely hard to beat.

23109VC has a good perspective here too on the 5er vs Cayenne GTS…

[Tk718]

Some posts here reminded me why I didn’t consider the x5. I drove x5 m50i at bmw ude. Found it to be too disconnected , however comfortable and fast. I expected something similar of x3m or x3 m40i performance from the x5, but I guess there no hiding the weight. The problem I found with bmw in general is that it’s either too floaty yet comfortable, or overly stiff yet handles well. With Porsche what I’m getting is most owners say it’s a great balance of comfort and handling. The downside is the initial price and high maintenance costs to play.

So my buy out is 51k on the m550i, Im assuming 2021 or 2022 Cayenne S is about 30-40k more. Is the 30-40k difference worth it in this case? Or will I just get extra utility with almost the same vehicle dynamics ?

[23109VC]

I have a 2021 Cayenne GTS and a 2018 M550. Test drive 2023 X5 M Comp and X5 M50.

Forget the M50 - it’s more squishy than the M550. Feels like a minivan. X5M is fast but feels like an SUV - handling was poor.

Cayenne GTS drives like a 911. Razor sharp handling, steering is amazing, engine sound / exhaust is total PORN, and the engine is super responsive. It’s literally a sports car hiding in an SUV chassis.

I’d much rather be in my cayenne than the M550. It is so much sportier .

Downside is cost. You get less options for more money. A new GTS is $130 with decent options but you’ll have less options than a nicely equipped X5.

CPO they are $100-110. Be careful if you drive one - once you do you will not want an X5.

I’m all fairness the GTS is the sportiest driving variant of the Cayenne. I did not drive a base or S and did not drive a Turbo. The Turbo is even faster but their who have driven both say the GTS is more fun.

The power ratings by Porsche are also BS. My GTS is supposedly 453. No way. It’s over 500. It weighs more than my M550
And is AS FAST.

[G30M]

so this is turning into a Cayenne appreciation thread. looked at the local listings and none within reach to test drive. there are a plethora of models though, highest model is over 2X the price of lowest models

a bit lost in the sea of models. what option/tech makes it handle well/would you want?

[G30M]

Originally Posted by 23109VC

It weighs more than my M550
And is AS FAST.

feels fast and timed fast are 2 different things

[pbonsalb]

A GTS sounds faster than it is. Car and Driver tested one at 112 in the quarter. M550i got a power bump a few years ago. Not sure what the old ones ran, but one of the car magazines tested a recent model at 122 in the quarter. 10 mph in the quarter is a massive difference.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by chassis

A 3-series to the next level?

The Porsche Pajun was the 3er competitor that never was. Sadly that car was canned due to Dieselgate and some other outside issues and thus now became the Taycan.

[23109VC]

Originally Posted by g21

feels fast and timed fast are 2 different things

True…. My M550 is a 2018 so the older motor. The engine in the Cayenne is much more awake… and responsive. End of the day if I could only keep one the M550 woudl be gone.

I’m actually looking to trade teh M550 for something sportier. Considering a 911, 718, or M3/M4.

[Gautam]

The m550 is honestly not very good at “feeling fast.” If anything that’s its weakest suit. Even Mb & Audi have significantly better throttle response. And it’s detached from the road. Quiet and smooth, so you don’t feel the speed that much even when it’s there. In its defense, even the non LCI is factually faster in a straight line than the Cayenne gts, assuming you have a good launch on each. But it’s arguable how much that matters. None of these cars are the right one to get if the drag strip is an priority.

Originally Posted by 23109VC

Downside is cost. You get less options for more money. A new GTS is $130 with decent options but you’ll have less options than a nicely equipped X5.

CPO they are $100-110. Be careful if you drive one - once you do you will not want an X5.

This is it though. Even a ‘24 S, not GTS touches 120 to reach parity with my M550i in terms of options. And that’s without any of the handling options added, which bring it closer to 130. The Porsche tax is a dear one.

At the time I was buying my m550, the only Cayenne that wouldn’t have been a big stretch to my budget would’ve been a base with “poverty spec,” which I think wouldve been a distinctly worse choice. If I had test driven a well optioned Cayenne s, I’d probably have been in a frustrating dilemma. So I purposefully pretended it didn’t exist, and left it as something to look at for next time.

[23109VC]

If you’re comparing a base Cayenne versus an M550 I think that’s an easy decision to go with the BMW.

We had our car in for service once and we had a brand new base Cayenne as a loaner. I did not drive it much, but the limited time I had in it I could tell you that while it was a very nice car - it did not feel sporty.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by g21

so this is turning into a Cayenne appreciation thread. looked at the local listings and none within reach to test drive. there are a plethora of models though, highest model is over 2X the price of lowest models

a bit lost in the sea of models. what option/tech makes it handle well/would you want?

That's kind of the thing with Porsche... soooooo many options. You can look at two cars that seem almost identical but one can be $10k more because of all the options.

Obviously the main option is the trim, Base, S, GTS or Turbo. If money were no issue I would go with the GTS... since I'm not a billionaire I didn't even test drive the GTS. However I was initially looking at Macans and did test the Base, S and GTS Macan and the GTS was by far the sportiest feeling and sounding. I would imagine the same applies to the Cayenne, but the price difference isn't worth it to me. I'd rather just have a sporty car for that, but if I could only have 1 vehicle then it might be a good compromise.

Then you have the gazillion options and that's personal preference. Most are cosmetic and luxury stuff like full leather etc. IMO the only thing mandatory is the premium package. Otherwise I don't even think you get keyless entry. Mine just has premium pkg and cooled seats which is all I need. They do offer a PASM option which I'm honestly not sure if it improves handling at all or just offers and better ride. Personally I did not want to deal with something else to go wrong and I find the ride fine as is. I think it handles great period, but even more so given the fact it's an SUV.

It's definitely a sporty SUV. If you just want a nice luxurious rid I'm not sure it qualifies. In fact I think it's at its worst when doing slow city driving. The ride isn't very soft, transmission is kinda jerky, throttle response is meh. However when you put it in sport mode and drive the piss out of it is when it shines. Even my gf agrees, it doesn't like going slow.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

The Porsche Pajun was the 3er competitor that never was. Sadly that car was canned due to Dieselgate and some other outside issues and thus now became the Taycan.

Interesting. Taycan fills the smaller car segment for Porsche, and an ICE or even hybrid from them in this segment seems unlikely imo.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

It's definitely a sporty SUV. If you just want a nice luxurious rid I'm not sure it qualifies. In fact I think it's at its worst when doing slow city driving. The ride isn't very soft, transmission is kinda jerky, throttle response is meh. However when you put it in sport mode and drive the piss out of it is when it shines. Even my gf agrees, it doesn't like going slow.

thanks that concludes my interest in the Cayenne. i don't like how it looks, i can't afford the price of the GTS or the service, and i don't like stiff rides when carrying 5 people and 2 small dogs seated in 2 rows around the terrible winding roads around here.

i guess you can't have sporty and cushioned ride, they don't go together!

still i think Porsche makes amazing sporty cars, the best looking car i've ever seen is the 718 GT4 (not the RS) but i don't like how the engine sounds! (drone)

[GTS Daddy]

Originally Posted by g21

thanks that concludes my interest in the Cayenne. i don't like how it looks, i can't afford the price of the GTS or the service, and i don't like stiff rides when carrying 5 people and 2 small dogs seated in 2 rows around the terrible winding roads around here.

i guess you can't have sporty and cushioned ride, they don't go together!

still i think Porsche makes amazing sporty cars, the best looking car i've ever seen is the 718 GT4 (not the RS) but i don't like how the engine sounds! (drone)

That's not accurate on ride quality. Drive one and you will see. The second gen was rough but the third gen Cayenne (2019+) and especially the 2024 Cayenne is a fantastic, smooth, daily driver as I said in my earlier post.

If you do not like the way it looks or just can't afford the one you want, then it doesn't make sense.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by g21

i guess you can't have sporty and cushioned ride, they don't go together!

On the contrary, the Cayenne is exactly that - sporty and comfortable ("cushioned"). Air suspension is required to deliver the result which Porsche in fact achieves with the Cayenne.

[23109VC]

Originally Posted by chassis

On the contrary, the Cayenne is exactly that - sporty and comfortable ("cushioned"). Air suspension is required to deliver the result which Porsche in fact achieves with the Cayenne.

I can also confirm the ride quality on the GTS is excellent in it’s most comfortable setting. Just like BMW has three settings and each makes a noticeable difference in the ride - the Porsche is similar. You get the best of both worlds.

[gatorfast]

I dont have the air suspension, just standard PASM, on my 2020 Cayenne S and I find the ride very comfortable. No complaints from the wife or kids. There is nice variation too between normal, sport, and sport+ suspension settings.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

I dont have the air suspension, just standard PASM, on my 2020 Cayenne S and I find the ride very comfortable. No complaints from the wife or kids. There is nice variation too between normal, sport, and sport+ suspension settings.

That is what I have on my 21 S, plus 20” wheels. I like it. Not that I am unhappy but we’re I to buy another, I’d get the Turbo for more power, air suspension and the active swaybars. This one was for my wife and she would have been content with the base model and complained about the loud exhaust on the GTS.