TCM,
Whoa- next year? Are you sure? The dealer told me the RR will retain the BMW licensed engine, etc for the entire model run. If what you say is correct, then that might change my time table a little bit.
pdiack,
Heres a quick comparison:
power: Cayenne wins with 340bhp vs. 282 in the RR
weight: Cayenne wins with ~5000 lbs vs ~5400 for the RR
0-60: Cayenne wins with ~7.2 seconds vs ~9.6 seconds for the RR
Top Speed: Cayenne wins with 150mph vs 130mph.
Fuel Economy: Cayenne wins with 13/18 vs. 12/16
Cargo: even- both have 19 cuft. The X5 has 16.
Price: I cant do a fair comparison since the Porsche car configurator wont load properly. Base prices are: $55,900 for the Cayenne vs. $69,995 for the RR. However, consider that with the Cayenne much is optional and with the RR much is included.
So the Cayenne has the numbers. IMHO the RR has the feel.
Having driven a Cayenne S for around the same time as the RR so far, I would characterize the Cayenne S as driving like an elevated MB S class; whereas the RR drives like an elevated E38 7 series. Here are some observations I made on both:
Engine: Both are smooth- but the Cayennes doesnt feel as powerful as its numbers suggest. The RR doesnt feel as slow as the 0-60 number, but I bet it really does take that long to go 0-60. The RR will not win too may stop light wars. Its kind of like my 525it in that respect- once its underway its more than fine. And as you know BMW engines have a way of feeling more powerful than they are. Once you have that 5400lb mass under way, well you know physics- an object that is in motion tends to stay in motion. Overall Id characterize the RR engine as having grunt- while Id say the Cayenne has refinement. I like grunt!
Throttle: the Cayenne's feels somewhat vauge- which was a surprise and the transmission is not geared to kick down at high way speeds the way the X5 or the RR does. I didnt like this at all. Instead of a jolt of power upon fully depressing the throttle, you get a smooth rush of power- this is very much like driving a S500. I like the BMW way of that kick down jolt- some will consider the Cayenne's way more refined. I dont. I just remember thinking: thats it?! I was really surprised by this. The RR throttle sensitivity and how it works with the engine/ tranny is nearly identical to a BWM automatic.
Brakes: The Cayennes are the best I have experienced in a SUV- Id say here you cant lose between the two because you basically have the best brakes available from the factory in the Porsche and probably the 2nd best in the RR. The RR brakes have great feel and are very powerful.
Steering: here was the real surprise- the Cayenne S felt overly boosted and even a little vauge- kind of like the throttle and like a MB S class. The RR doesnt have tremendous feedback but you will recognize the weighting as BMW. The real surprise is highway driving in the RR. The car lowers ~6/10ths of an inch and the steering boost is really reduced. This makes the car feel very stable.
Handling: I am sure on a skid pad or road course the Cayenne would produce better numbers due to its lower weight and greater power- but the basic feel of the cars is very much S class vs. 7 series. You can tell which one I prefer. Actually I remember thinking the Cayenne suspension never really felt like it settled down on the highway- which was odd given this is a Porsche afterall. I was very dissapointed with this. Id say the RR has a little more body roll- but its not as big a difference as you might think.
Interior: The Cayennes is pretty nice. The grab handles on the center console are a nice touch. Some of the switch gear felt a little cheap. The ambience is a little too Audi-esque for me- although most people think Audi makes some of the best interiors, I never warmed up to them. Overall its a nice, clean interior that is worthy of its asking price. You can nit pick on the materials. From a materials stand point, the same is true of the RR. I could tell immediately where they cut costs. Most surfaces felt fine, but they didnt feel of the highest quality. None was out of place though. But what the RR manages to achieve is what BMW could not with its new interiors. The interior of the RR feels very special, one reviewer said something like you feel like a rock star. I can see where they are coming from. Nevertheless, it feels like an automobile interior and not a nouveau style hotel room. In terms of controls, both are about the same- youll have to take a few minutes to get used to them, but theres no maddening interface to deal with. You get in and go.
Exterior: This is purely subjective- I really dislike the Cayenne's sheet metal. I think it looks like a jacked up 911 mated to an Audi wagon. The RR has an austere look to it, which is something I think BMW used to have and has for some sad reason has abandoned. I really like it- it looks purposeful and even a little mean- but not in an overdone way.
So for me, Id never be looking at the Cayenne because I just truly dont like the styling. However, if it drove the way the RR did then I would be considering it more (when did you ever think youd hear that about a Porsche vs. a Land Rover?!!!!
). Im not surprised that RR bench marked the E39 5 series for the RRs on road driving behaviour- and Im also not surprised that Porsche apparently benchmarked MBs S class. Porsche wanted to be the other car in the garage of its 911 and Boxter owners- and for many that other car is/was an S class.
I remember thinking the whole time I was driving the Cayenne: Id take the X5 over this any day- period. A number of magazines have remarked the same thing. The RR kind of feels like a bigger X5 but with a little bit different driving position from a BMW and with a little bit more body roll- but not bad at all.
So in the end its like choosing BMW vs. MB. Kind of funny isn't it?
anyone want to pick up the remaining 14 months on a 525it lease? its a rare color- carbon black.
