I know these are a bit of an apple and an orange, but there must be others that have been in my spot before. Interested in your thinking.

I am a huge Porsche guy, my DD is a 997 TT, currently a 2010 TT Coupe. I just love them, have had TT's forever, and I feel like if it is just me in the car and the weather is decent (about 80% of the time here) that I will drive the 911 every day.

But I have a family, sometimes the weather is a challenge, etc and I need a 4WD. Currently, i have an Audi S8. Love the looks, but honestly i cant tell the performance difference between that and my former A8. Want a P Car as my other ride.

The new Cayenne's look great, but so do the Panamera's. I think the width of the Panamera freaked me out on the test drive....I liked it but didn't quite love it. Cayenne TT is great for what it is, but there is a little handling penalty for being up another foot or so? The other thing is that I can never figure out Porsche's pricing (I get it...whatever mkt will bear), but there is a pretty huge price gap between two moderately optioned versions of these guys.

How did you decide?

 

Search on this forum I have heard lots of others that said a Cayenne is a great comprise and best of all worlds. I was looking for an SUV/SAV so that decision was a little easier for me.. I drove the Panamera a bit and just did not find it as open or comfortable as the Cayenne. The PDK is cool though

 

The width of the Panamera freaked me out on the test drives I did before finalizing on the CTT but its not an issue once you get used to it. After buying the CTT I kept thinking about the PTT and I soon realized it was the PTT that I really always wanted. Luckily I had bought the CTT slightly used so there was virtually no depreciation on selling it which encouraged me to go for a brand new 2010 PTT. Now that I've had the Panamera for a while, the width is not an issue while driving. In fact, I love look at it when it is parked.

What I am saying is that if you need the utility or snow filled roads for a good part of the year, then to me Cayenne is the obvious answer. If not, then Panamera is the obvious answer.

Upon reflection, I feel the reason I originally bought the CTT was not utility but more of legacy & attachment. I've been driving Cayennes since 2005 when there was no Panamera. Somewhere subconsciously it must've been an obligation to stick with the Cayenne. With the PTT, I dont miss, or itch for, the 911 so for me its best of both worlds.

 

For me, the Cayenne offered several advantages over the Panny - towing capacity (for my boat), more interior space, better ground clearance for deep snow in tahoe, and a lower price. so it was superior utility at a lower price. having said that I think the Panny is one of the best looking cars on the road and if I didn't need that extra utility of the Cayenne I'd probably go for the Panny.

 

I don't understand why the Panamera is that expensive, I really can't justify the expense for what you get (why is it so much more than the Cayenne?). Looks are subjective to everyone but I don't like the looks of the Panamera (That being said I own a Caddy CTS-V) the car just doesn't seem proportioned properly-like they just stretched a two door. I think the Cayenne has the best utility all around, able to tow, drives great, good power, fairly roomy. I would opt for the Cayenne, but you need to figure out what you really require the vehicle for.
I'm also not stuck on it having a Porsche crest on it just to have it in my driveway, as long as it does what I want it to do and it does it well then it works for me. The V as it is stock competes well with the Panny, throw $2000. in mods and well it competes with just about anything out there.

And I wish I had a 997TT for my daily driver as well, well every other day to make use of the V.

Good luck on what you decide!

 

I loved the Panamera after test driving it a few times, but the Cayenne suits my lifestyle better, hauling bicycles etc. Also live in New Hampshire, so winter is a big factor. PDK is great, but the 8 speed in the Cayenne isn't that far behind. If you get PTV and PDCC I don't think you'll be disappointed with the handling, even coming out of a 911 as your daily driver.

 

I have a a 997.2S with PDK, the acceleration and handling are comparable between my CTT and the 911. I chose the CTT over the PTT mainly because I have 2 little boys who would ruin the backseat of the PTT with their car seats and my wife cant fit back there with them. Also paying 30k more for a car that is less practical for my life style. But I do plan on getting the wife the PTT a few years down the road. The CTT does give an amazing feel to be sitting up so high and yet have such amazing handling and acceleration. The PTT will probably handle a little better and the PDK is sooooo much faster in shifting then the 8speed in the CTT, which that and the lower curb weight is why it is much faster in a straight line.

 

if you already have a 911, then definitely get the CTT for its utility.

 

I am having the same dilemma. Have a 2011 Ctt (my 3rd) since 2003. I love the vehicle but always thought it would be great for porsche to make a sedan with the same engine as the cayenne tt. So it seemed like a no brainer but I am still unsure if its is going to be right for me. Well, I shall soon find out. I did order one, it is at port and should be here next week. I am going to trade in the Ctt for it and I think I may also trade in my 2009 911 4S. I am hoping to have a good snow vehicle as well as a fun car all wrapped in one. Any thoughts ?

 

^other than one less seat and smaller trunk space than CTT, the PTT is just about perfect.

If I can only have one Porsche for all driving duties, it will be a PTT.

 

I know most of you hate the US version of Topgear, but last night they had the PTT, X6M, and Ferrari California. Per the Stig driving all of these cars on their Lap the PTT bested the Ferrari by 3 seconds and the X6M by 5 seconds....that is incredible. It even beat the time of the Lambo balboni gallardo.
I dont know what the CTT would do, but I assume it would be very similar to what the X6M did. So one might say that the extra 30 grand is for a 5 second faster lap time..haha.

 

And from the looks it didnt have pdcc from the visual body roll.

 

Yes, that body roll was excessive. PDCC will only prevent body roll up to .85g but it seemed like there was body roll at lower g's. What was with the ugly color and stock rims, guess they were trying to prove a point that the car is unattractive.

 

I look forward to my 11CTT,but for the moment i can give you a few impressions from having had a Pepper...
I drove my mother from LA to Carmel in my 09 CTT.and recently picked her up at Miami airport in a 2011 Panamera loaner
Both times she sat in the back
She liked the Panamera,but was more comfy in the Pepper since she felt there was more legroom and definitely noticed more trunkspace for all her luggage
Also, the Panamera has nowhere near as good rear visibility
Just my 2cents...

 

My wife wanted me to get the PTT but I can't stand the back 2 seat configuration and I'm still not sold on the rear end.
Ended up ordering a 2011 CTT which will arrive mid February.
I drove both, PTT is great just not or my needs.