Hi everyone.

The blessing of a baby boy induced me to sell my beloved 2008 911 Carrera S last week and I'm about to order a 2012 Cayenne S as a replacement. I've searched this forum to make sure I'm not asking questions which haven't been asked a hundred times and I didn't find anything so I'm looking for input from you owners.

1. I'm strongly leaning towards the Pano roof. I know it adds weight were you don't want it but I'm not going to be driving the Cayenne anywhere near as hard as I did my 911 and I love the increased sense of open-ness the pano roof brings. However, since it has a quasi-mesh screen rather than a true cover, I'm worried about how hot the interior of the Cayenne is going to get. I'm ordering a black interior and I intend to use the Cayenne to transport my son. We're doing the premium plus package so we'll have the sunscreens in the side windows and I live in S. CA (Dana Point, specificaly) where it generally isn't too hot but I don't want my little man baking in the heat. Thoughts/suggestions.
2. In a related manner, I'm thinking a possible offset would be the 4 zone climate control. I'm told it comes with extra vents for the back and a separate compressor. But is that overkill? How strong is the standard climate control?
3. Seats... I had the non-power, sport seats in my Carrera S and loved them. But that car was a pleasure car that I drove like a sports car. My dealer is actually talking me out of the 18 way power sport seats because they say many buyers find them too confining and too hard to get in and out of on a daily basis relative to the 14 way seats that come with the premium package plus option. I'm curious to hear what you actual owners think. I'm guessing most of you with CTT's have the 18 way seats and do you find them to be a PITA after a while and do you see any increased bolster wear as a result?

Thanks in advance.

Christian "Da Hapa" Asis

 

Pano roof: I was very nervous about the amount of light and potential heat. Neither is an issue whatsoever (I am in NC). The sun at noon looks like dull frosted light-bulb and is not a problem and the heat doesn't appear to be an issue (though I have not had it in july-aug). Once the sun is not directly overhead (or at night), you can open the shade and the pano roof is really dramatic. Its almost like being in a convertible. No brainer for me; great option.

4 zone: I elected to save the money inasmuch as it just gives the rear passengers controls for the HVAC system; I was not aware of the separate compressor (something else to maintain?). The vehicle is not really that big and doesn't have a third row, so I am not sure of the necessity of more vents. I do not regret passing on it since the rear passengers (kids) in my vehicle shouldn't be messing with the ac anyway.

Seats: I "demo'd" both 14 and 18 way seats and ended up getting the 14's. The 18's were nice but a bit confining and I am 5'9"-160 lbs (others will disagree of course). The one that put it over the top for me was increased bolster wear was reported, and it is a little tougher to get in and out of the 18's. Yesterday I took a 7.5 hour trip in my CS and the 14 ways seats were incredibly comfortable (confirmed by my passenger). As always, best to try them both out to see what "floats your boat".

Hope the info helps and good luck. The Cayenne is really extraordinary.

 

I couldn't agree more with WFBlue's answers on all accounts! I did see one member had their pano rood ceramic tinted...just another thought has it blocks heat nicely, but I wouldn't say it is a must by any standard.

Trev

 

I was in Dallas the other day looking at a '12 CTT. I was concerned about the Pano and the 18-ways too. The roof was not a problem. It was 88 degrees that day and we parked the car out in the sun for quite a while to test out the heat issue, not too hot and not too much light, both of which I'm sensitive too. The 18-ways were another story, way too confining for me, and way too hard to get in and out of. I had to pass on the car for this reason. The 14-ways feel like bolstered seats to me anyway, fit me way better, and by no means will let you slide around, just a bit wider. Remember the 18-ways have sport seats in the back also which could inhibit occupying the middle seat in some cases. Also over time plan on getting premature wear on the 18's unless you are very careful getting in and out especially with the natural leather package. The 4-way comes standard with the Premium Package on the CTT however I would order it regardless due to the kids and the fact I'm in Oklahoma especially with the Pano roof with added heat.

Yes and they did show me a new type of tinting that blocks almost all of the heat if it's a problem. It was amazing...

Congratulations on the baby boy!

 

i love the looks of pano roof, but it's more of a perk for passengers i feel because of where it starts.. (should start further forward imo) if your buying an S which makes it a 600$ upgrade.. i would get it hands down.

AC controls=too much for kids to mess with..

18 ways, not unless your REALLY skinny.

 

This is exactly why I passed on the four zone, my 8 year old and his same aged cousins/friends would drive me nuts with those controls in the back. They are bad enough in my Denali that has it.

I've seen the 4 zone in other Cayennes and the controls would be broken in months if I had them, best to just avoid all that.

Plus I would have a tornado in my car, kids in back would have it full blast on coldest setting, the Wife who is always freezing would have heat on her side, and I would be somewhere in the middle, causing some crazy weather in the Pepper.

 

I like you must part with my precious 911 in exchange get the Cayenne S. I suppose there are worse things in life. So I am grateful to go in this direction. My Cayenne S arrives in about 30 days. Based on what you have listed here is what I would advise.
Go for the Pano if that is something you would like, you either love or hate it, but if you like it, odds are you will love it.
18X seats seem like overkill, use that extra 1400-1800 for PDCC, PTV or other options you cannot install or change later. ( I was too late with some of my desired changes)
4 Zone Air, not sure completely but i think that was part of the premium plus package, if not, your right, you really do not need it with the little one in the back.
Hope this helps.

 

Thanks Ted. Everyone who knows me is SHOCKED that I parted so easily with my beloved 911 but the truth is that my son absolutely changed everything overnight. It sounds cliche' (and I guess it is) but little ones are game changers and while I'm still passionate about cars, I'm now more focused on sharing that passion with him when he grows up and it's gonna be a lot easier to do that with him in the car than standing in the garage when I drive away!

 

Thanks to all for the responses and opinions. Please keep it coming.

It sounds like the pano roof and 14 way seats are for me. I'm still on the fence on the 4zone climate control (which isn't part of the premium + package of the Cayenne S but is part of that package on the CTT). You guys raise good points but I would assume that the system has some kind of "lock out" or "sync" from the front controls which would preclude kids from creating the "tornado" one of you so deftly described. I'm not doing backflips over the additional cost and understand the point about the interior of the Cayenne not being that big but my son is years away from being out of a car seat and/or big enough to screw around with the controls and I know that the few days when it's really hot here (it was 94 last night at the harbor), I'll be wishing I spend the extra coin.

Please keep your feedback coming. And thanks again.

 

 

I like the 4 zone on my CTT. I also have the extra glass and like that too. The controls for the rear AC can be locked out from the front so the kids can't mess with it.

Biggest issue to concern with about pano is the noise/rattles that many of them have.

 

First off Congrats on the new additions (son + car) to the family. I'm up in LA but my in-laws are in Newport and I got married just around the corner from you at the St. Regis. I figured I'd give you some local perspective since I frequent your neighborhood.

I can tell you w/o a doubt the panoroof will not be an issue from a heat perspective. We head down to Newport every other weekend or so to being my daughter to see the grand parents and its at least 10-15 degrees cooler than where I'm at in LA and I don't have an issue with heat. Granted this summer was very very mild this year compared to some in the past but I highly doubt you'll regret this mainly because my daughter loves the panoroof when its open. It changes the perspective, particularly when sitting in the back seat you almost don't feel like you are in an enclosed car anymore because its so open. Esp. on road trips this is great. Also very minimal light gets in...unless you are staring directly at the little sliver of light that cracks through the mesh you won't even feel/see that you don't have a hard cover but rather a mesh screen. Needless to say for $600 we definitely got this.

As for the seats its really preference but I concur with what everyone else said in that the bolsters get worn much quicker and can be tight. I opted for the 14 way and have no regrets. I have the 18 way seats in my M3 and unless I am doing some serious cornering (ie. 110 freeway above downtown LA ) I usually have it on the loosest setting (I'm 6'1").

Good luck.

Also, I see more Lambos and Ferrari's than I do 958 Cayenne's down in Newport. And Range Rovers are a dime a dozen also...no joke. That's why its awesome having the Cayenne.

 

If it becomes a problem just tint the roof down further with the new tinting material that now exists. It will knock out all of the heat and further quell any external lighting issues. I will get the name of the stuff, saw it in Dallas the other day. Park is putting it on a lot of their cars now. This is what I will do if it indeed becomes a problem.

I would like to know if anyone out there with a new '11 or '12 is experiencing any rattling issues. That would make it a deal breaker/change order for me. I've heard the new design is a lot better but I would like real world opinions for sure

 

It's the Nano Ceramic Tint. The only downside is I heard there is a blue-ish color to it but it blocks 90% of the heat.

No noise or rattling.

 

Negative on the noise or rattling.