This might sound wacky, but has anyone thought about Cayenne versus Lexus LX470 versus Range Rover? I'll kick off the discussion with a few pluses and minuses as I see them:

Cayenne (S or Turbo):
pluses include on-road performance, off-road capability, general sportiness
minuses include small-ish back seat for family

Lexus LX470:
pluses include plush luxury, quality, reliability
minuses include under-powered

Range Rover (this one I know firsthand):
pluses include plush luxury, off-road capability
minuses include quality, reliability

I use my SUV for family trips and personal trips requiring more stuff than my C4S can carry. Occasional light offroading.

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts, suggestions, and particularly first-hand experience.

 

The LX has much better build quality, service and reliabilty. The Cayenne should only be bought if you place a heavy emphasis on handling (and acceleration should you opt for the turbo) - it doesn't hold jack. Otherwise, I'd just get the Lexus and enjoy a great car with no trouble. The fun thing about our Cayenne turbo is we get lots of exercise putting in oil (1 qt/every 1k miles so far - 8k miles/ 8 quarts). The tires were at the wear bar at 6k miles with a pregnant woman and then mother of an infant driving it well over 95% of the time. The truck has been in the shop several times in the 7 to 8 months we've owned it (most of the problems they can't fix - many they won't even acknowledge as being anything other than "normal"). This is in stark contrast to the 996 we had for over 4 years and didn't have any non-oil change/annual service related visits to the dealer.

 

Ben your beginning to sound like an old record.

 

I've definitely heard Ben's story...how bout a positive story from a completely satisfied customer. Oh, wait, we're talking about the Cayenne

 

just want to share my experience with anyone unfamiliar like i wish i'd known before. i would have made a different decision had i had this info prior. those who have seen this experience shared in the past will consider it an "old record" while those who have not will consider it NEW info. iow, i don't plan to stop sharing it anytime soon so you'll have to live with it or ignore it - entirely your choice.

 

Ben,
Yes, my 996 has been essentially perfect, too. The best quality car I've every owned.
I wonder how typical your CT story is.
The Lexus, of course, is (statistically) as good quality and reliability as there is, but is it a big, lumbering brute?
Steve

 

Yep, my 996 was definetely the best quality car I've ever owned too. It was also the longest (by far) I've ever kept a single car.

Apparently a lot of the problems we've experienced (are experiencing) with the Cayenne aren't very typical (though the dealer service response is typical), but there have been a few people on various boards with many of the same problems. However, the hesitation issue for which Porsche doesn't have a solution (yes, I've had the useless "fix") is very typical.

If you're gonna get something as small as the Cayenne, why not look at the GX470 instead of the LX?

 

well at least you haven't lost your sense of humor even after the xlr looks like it won the supercar battle.

 

I like the Range most from that list....
I actually just placed an order for a Range Sport in Orange - V8 supercharged
The Range is the ultimate SUV - you should checkout top gear's episode on it

 

any video of the new RR Sport?

 

Agreed Range Rover is best hands down best on/off-road capabilitys. Smaller more nimble then the LX. The LX isnt bad either its just to big the range rover has a perfect size and is built tremendously well the 4.4 hse that is the 4.0/4.6 had some problems back in the day.

 

The RR LR3 (or Discovery) in the US was renamed because of the residual disaster the Discovery is for leasing companies. The projections were so bad that rebadging/relaunching was the only way to get the reasonable lease rates needed for launch.

Unfortunately we are not those companies and know the real stories behind the Disco.

Built on the same line your know !

good luck !

 

I owned a Cayenne Turbo for 1.5 years and about 20k miles (and $25k in depreciation). Our LX comes in the next couple of weeks. I'll post a comparo sometime in the next couple of months.

 

RRS pics, vids, etc....
http://136.8.154.52/L320/flash.htm?m...CT_2004&html=1
I cant wait!!!

 

WOW Mansour I really like it! I'm gonna ask my dad to get it