Picked up my new S today. Yes it is smooth, powerful and wonderful. Glad I equipped it with many options, no regrets other than wish I had added a few more.

So here is the odd part. I miss the drive of my Hybrid S.

I owned the Hybrid as a bridge Cayenne as mine was being built. I was familiar with the less than favorable view of the professional reviewers, but the ride was fantastic and the deal unbeatable, so I spent the last 10,000 mi in a 2012 Hybrid S.

Yes, the braking can be quirky, it's not overpowered, I'm familiar with the critics. But my advantage is that I've spent more than a weekend or an afternoon at a track with one, I've lived day in and day out for a reasonable number of miles.

The quirky brake thing disappears from your head in about a week. Light braking can give you some irregular feedback that after a bit you do not notice. And when you need your brakes, i.e. heavy braking, they feel just as firm and predictable as any other. The Hybrid is not a screaming accelerator or track vehicle. I have other vehicles, though, that specialize in that, so it doesn't need to be.

The S is obviously more powerful - but only in its power band. Off the line, the torque of the Hybrid makes it feel lighter, and the fast revving 6 lends to that feeling as does the "sail" feature when you take your foot off the accelerator. The final sense is that the power train carries the vehicle effortlessly. Unfortunately, more so than the S I just picked up today. The new S seems harder to get moving, and gives the impression of laboring more by slowing down more quickly when you take your foot off the accelerator. Without question, at 3500 rpm, or at 85mph, there is no comparison. Which is great, if that's where you operate your vehicle the majority of the time.

But for running over to QuickShop, or picking up something at Lowe's, or just in the commute to work - the Hybrid quickly became something to look forward to as its garage mates enviously watched us drive away day after day. It effortlessly made the mundane enjoyable.

So just sharing an interesting perspective and wondering if it is uniquely mine. Give me V8 power and performance anytime - that I need power and performance. For the mindless carefree joy of taking a quick jaunt from A to B - I'm missing my Hybrid.

Crazy?

Is Porsche on to something here, i.e. changing the expectations we have in our vehicles?

 

interesting. thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

Greetings and many thanks for taking the time to share your impressions
I had a Panamera hybrid as a loaner,and did have fun driving around the club under electric power only(up to 11mph)..though it was not a silent ride with the whirring of the electric motor
And as far as the mindless care free joy of taking a quick jaunt from A to B?...thats what my CT is for

 

Wait till the S is broken in. I had similar feelings when I first picked mine up. Now, at about 5K miles, and with the engine broken in, its much lighter on its feet.

 

good thought, letting the engine loosen and the drivetrain breathe a bit -

It's not going anywhere, I just never expected the difference

thanks for the comments

 

I have a hybrid. I think it is a little slow off the line. But when you put it in Sport it is great. I am addicted to the Sport mode now. I wish the there was a way to leave the sport mode on all the time.

 

Both are great. My wife has an Hybrid and I have the S. Never thought we'd ever be twins with vehicles, no 911 for her yet We use hers for long car trips as its better on milage, but I prefer the power of my S.

 

Have you pressed the "Sport" button yet?

 

Sure, there is no question of the differences when the CS is pressed to any limit. But seriously, what percent is that with a daily driver? Even driven "spiritedly" daily, is it 20%? There's only so many full throttle departures or twisties I can do to get to the speed limit of 40 and turn 2 corners on the way to Home Depot.

For the rest of the time - the hybrid "sailed" much better, giving it the feel of a lighter, even smaller vehicle, certainly not 5500# worth. I was just surprised at this very different feel in the 2 frames; and having the CH feel lighter on its feet.

Kev Song, I'm curious, you have both, do you notice the same? or is it a matter of my CS getting broken in and revving easier?

 

b56tc, I'm still in my break in period on the S but. I find it interesting that you think the hybrid is lighter off the line. For me its the other way around with the gas powered being much more responsive to throttle input. I agree that the Hybrid feels a little lighter, but overall ride is the same. We have the air suspension in both, and both Cayennes are set the same in ride height and in sport mode. Though the Hybrid as 18" b/c my wife is attracted to curbs, so the bigger the sidewall the better. I will say in stop and go traffic and long highway trips the Hybrid is a great choice. As for the sailing part....the gas powered S doesn't do it when coasting, maybe thats why you feel the Hybrid is lighter?

 

Right - definitely not lighter off the line. I'm talking about lighter in cruise, the small variations you make while maintaining a steady speed manually (ie not using cruise control).

When you have less foot pressure on the throttle - the H does not decelerate as quickly - seems to "sail" (my term, not the Porsche meaning, maybe "coast" is better) - and likewise less or lighter foot throttle inputs to control a steady speed.

It's ethereal, I realize, but to this driver, after 10K in the hybrid, the s felt bigger, heavier, and more work to coax it to the destination. Faster, but not easier.

Just surprised the H felt like the power train carried the car more nimbly.

You have the best of both. Pretty good plan.

 

I'll have to pay closer attention when I get behind the wheel of the hybrid.