Topic: Test Drive: 2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS

[Autos_Editor]

The Porsche Cayenne GTS isn't the most practical Cayenne, or the fastest, but its handling sets it apart from most any other SUV.

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[safristi]

An abomination ON ALL LEVELS...isn't it slower than a Forester TURBO.....

[OliverD]

I'm not usually one to about Porsche option pricing but it kind of bugs me that to get the cool exterior colours with matching interior trim is $7k+ on both the Cayenne and Panamera GTS models.

Still, love the GTS. Make mine red.

[ChaosphereIX]

don't get this class of vehicle at all. They should not exist and it is a shame they are so popular, as now car firms spend all their enthusiast car budget on a four ton suburban tractors with 22s and 500hp. The real go fast family cars should be awd wagons. Where is the new v70r or RS6 Avant? Oh sorry they are building R-Design XC60 and SQR5 or whatever they are. Buy a proper Porsche people.

[Threader]

The Ford Fiesta flavored color  does not do this poor vehicle any justice.

[mixmanmash]

don't get this class of vehicle at all. They should not exist and it is a shame they are so popular, as now car firms spend all their enthusiast car budget on a four ton suburban tractors with 22s and 500hp. The real go fast family cars should be awd wagons. Where is the new v70r or RS6 Avant? Oh sorry they are building R-Design XC60 and SQR5 or whatever they are. Buy a proper Porsche people.

2014 Mercedes Benz E63 AMG 4matic S-Model Wagon.  I'd buy that over this ute any day.

[OliverD]

don't get this class of vehicle at all. They should not exist and it is a shame they are so popular, as now car firms spend all their enthusiast car budget on a four ton suburban tractors with 22s and 500hp. The real go fast family cars should be awd wagons. Where is the new v70r or RS6 Avant? Oh sorry they are building R-Design XC60 and SQR5 or whatever they are. Buy a proper Porsche people.

I have to shake my head whenever someone says things like "they should not exist". So just because it doesn't appeal to you means it shouldn't be offered? I'm a huge wagon fan too but the problem is that no one buys them. The market has voted with dollars, or rather, lack thereof.

[evil_twin]

don't get this class of vehicle at all. They should not exist and it is a shame they are so popular, as now car firms spend all their enthusiast car budget on a four ton suburban tractors with 22s and 500hp. The real go fast family cars should be awd wagons. Where is the new v70r or RS6 Avant? Oh sorry they are building R-Design XC60 and SQR5 or whatever they are. Buy a proper Porsche people.

Does this very company (Porsche) not offer the Cayman, Boxter and 156 flavors of the 911???  The "problem" is not budget to build sportscars or sportswagons, but the people to buy them.

I love wagons and wish more were offered in NA, but it's not like they aren't being built.  The car companies just aren't bringing them here.

[ChaosphereIX]

don't get this class of vehicle at all. They should not exist and it is a shame they are so popular, as now car firms spend all their enthusiast car budget on a four ton suburban tractors with 22s and 500hp. The real go fast family cars should be awd wagons. Where is the new v70r or RS6 Avant? Oh sorry they are building R-Design XC60 and SQR5 or whatever they are. Buy a proper Porsche people.

Does this very company (Porsche) not offer the Cayman, Boxter and 156 flavors of the 911???  The "problem" is not budget to build sportscars or sportswagons, but the people to buy them.

I love wagons and wish more were offered in NA, but it's not like they aren't being built.  The car companies just aren't bringing them here.

catch 22 isn't it. We don't buy wagons because all the good ones are stuck in Europe and we get warm leftovers. I just don't get why hot SUVs are so popular, I see many in my neighbourhood.

And you are right about Porsche, but the same can't be said for just about every other manufacturer. Except Merc perhaps.

[aquadorhj]

saw the GTS yesterday in white, and it looked sharp..    and i got thinking that maybe i'll be super happy with it. 

[ChaosphereIX]

It's not a catch 22. I guarantee if they brought over all the "good wagons" there still would not be line-ups to buy them. You're being silly.

I don't see 328 wagons on the road....a good wagon.

I don't see CTS wagons one the road....a good wagon.

I don't see A4 wagons on the road....a good wagon.

I don't see the E-class on the road...a good wagon.

We might like wagons but we're three dudes on a car forum. The greater population aren't wagon enthusiasts. The car companies don't bring them over to NA because they won't sell - IE it's a poor business proposition.

I see e classes 328, and a4 wagons, but they are sparse. Yet to see a cts wagon. Yes I might be being a bit silly, but do you notice how many small crossover SUVs are getting lower and sleeker and are basically slightly taller wagons now? Look at the upcoming Q3 and the X1 - essentially wagons with viagra but they sell because they are still classified as SUVs. I may be being silly, but no more silly than buying an SUV that is not very practical, can't go in 2 inches of snow, and you are afraid of scratching the massive 20s it rolls on. Plus it has a massive amount of power...for what? Are you going to track it? I don't get it at all, but cudos to those that do and are willing to part with their hard earned cash for one.

[jyarkony]

don't get this class of vehicle at all. They should not exist and it is a shame they are so popular, as now car firms spend all their enthusiast car budget on a four ton suburban tractors with 22s and 500hp. The real go fast family cars should be awd wagons. Where is the new v70r or RS6 Avant? Oh sorry they are building R-Design XC60 and SQR5 or whatever they are. Buy a proper Porsche people.

Umm, Volvo just introduced the V60 R-Design.... go buy one (in 2014) when it arrives – it is about the best inheritor for your Saab turbo wagon, isn't it?

Vmango nails it. All those people that never come to these forums, and who actually buy new cars, care more about easy step-in height and child loading height and visibility (over all the other SUVs) than the compromise in handling by that ride height.

I own a turbo wagon, but frankly, if i was stuck with one car forever (forever being the next 5.3 years of typical ownership), it would be small crossover. There's a used Tiguan out there somewhere calling my name...

[aaronk]

...We might like wagons but we're three dudes on a car forum. The greater population aren't wagon enthusiasts. The car companies don't bring them over to NA because they won't sell - IE it's a poor business proposition.

It's true - SUV's sell in North America, so that's what they build. Honestly, if I wanted a comfortable and powerful highway cruiser and had money to burn, a Cayenne would be a tempting option. More room for passengers, better driving position for visibility, and still fast. It's not like people are driving these things on a track - most of their lives are spent on a highway, and for that purpose a Cayenne would do quite nicely. Sure it's excessive, but so are any of the uber-powered wagons at this price point.

[jyarkony]

saw the GTS yesterday in white, and it looked sharp..    and i got thinking that maybe i'll be super happy with it.

White was the colour I was hoping for, but after a week in it, I think this green has just the right volume for this truck. 

[JRM]

I think Porsche should have stuck to building sports cars.  The design language doesn't translate well to 4 door sedans and SUVs.  What's next, trucks??

[ChaosphereIX]

don't get this class of vehicle at all. They should not exist and it is a shame they are so popular, as now car firms spend all their enthusiast car budget on a four ton suburban tractors with 22s and 500hp. The real go fast family cars should be awd wagons. Where is the new v70r or RS6 Avant? Oh sorry they are building R-Design XC60 and SQR5 or whatever they are. Buy a proper Porsche people.

Umm, Volvo just introduced the V60 R-Design.... go buy one (in 2014) when it arrives – it is about the best inheritor for your Saab turbo wagon, isn't it?

Vmango nails it. All those people that never come to these forums, and who actually buy new cars, care more about easy step-in height and child loading height and visibility (over all the other SUVs) than the compromise in handling by that ride height.

I own a turbo wagon, but frankly, if i was stuck with one car forever (forever being the next 5.3 years of typical ownership), it would be small crossover. There's a used Tiguan out there somewhere calling my name...

you are right about the Volvo, it is sharp and if it comes with awd I might give it serious thought. Oh ya I'm poor so I might consider buying it in 5 years.I don't see the issue with seeing over all other SUVs, all are the same height so you can't see at junctions anyways unless you get a lift kit. And ease of egress and load height, I would rather it be low to the ground to load heavy things in the back. But my back is young and I am in shape so maybe my tune will change as I get older. I was raised in a Cavalier, and our family of three did fine with the dog. A V70R, TurboX Sportcombi, or a A6 Wagon can do anything an SUV can and be more fun to drive at the same time. But I know I am angering people so I will keep quiet. I just don't get driving so high off of the ground, feels unnatural to me.

[evil_twin]

don't get this class of vehicle at all. They should not exist and it is a shame they are so popular, as now car firms spend all their enthusiast car budget on a four ton suburban tractors with 22s and 500hp. The real go fast family cars should be awd wagons. Where is the new v70r or RS6 Avant? Oh sorry they are building R-Design XC60 and SQR5 or whatever they are. Buy a proper Porsche people.

Umm, Volvo just introduced the V60 R-Design.... go buy one (in 2014) when it arrives – it is about the best inheritor for your Saab turbo wagon, isn't it?

Vmango nails it. All those people that never come to these forums, and who actually buy new cars, care more about easy step-in height and child loading height and visibility (over all the other SUVs) than the compromise in handling by that ride height.

I own a turbo wagon, but frankly, if i was stuck with one car forever (forever being the next 5.3 years of typical ownership), it would be small crossover. There's a used Tiguan out there somewhere calling my name...

you are right about the Volvo, it is sharp and if it comes with awd I might give it serious thought. Oh ya I'm poor so I might consider buying it in 5 years.I don't see the issue with seeing over all other SUVs, all are the same height so you can't see at junctions anyways unless you get a lift kit. And ease of egress and load height, I would rather it be low to the ground to load heavy things in the back. But my back is young and I am in shape so maybe my tune will change as I get older. I was raised in a Cavalier, and our family of three did fine with the dog. A V70R, TurboX Sportcombi, or a A6 Wagon can do anything an SUV can and be more fun to drive at the same time. But I know I am angering people so I will keep quiet. I just don't get driving so high off of the ground, feels unnatural to me.

Nobody is questioning your preference for wagons.  I quite agree with your assessment and would like to avoid purchasing an SUV/crossover thing for as long as possible (if ever!). 

But that doesn't make feeding the masses what they want a bad idea for car companies.  People want SUVs.  People with more money want powerful, luxurious SUVs from prestige brands.  Everyone has different needs and wants.  Give the people what they want.

Hopefully there are at least a handful of wagon options in North America for those like you.

[tooscoops]

on this site, i'm pretty sure we know we are a minority... plus, even if we made the exact vehicle many on here want...

they still won't buy it...

price point, not in the market, don't buy new, don't like the way the admin is charged at their local dealer... whatever. if the dream car of this group was built... maybe one or two would be sold.. and that's a car built to our specifications!

so let porsche build this... let jeep make an srt... let bmw throw M's on everything... go for it if it makes sense to build it (and hopefully sell it!)

i will say that on first glance without my glasses on this morning and without my eye opening coffee... i saw the little thumbnail and i thought it was a kia. whoops! also... side note.... why don't more companies offer different coloured seat belts?! thats the perfect amount of colour in a cabin to me.

and we all know my bias on here... so instead of this, i'll take an srt grand cherokee, a subbie brz and use my spare 20 grand for gas and insurance....

[Northernridge]

Every once in a while I'll be at the local Mercedes store wandering around the showroom and a higher-performance SUV will catch my attention – V8 or AMG model – and I'll think, wow this would be great on the road. Then I immediately think, yea but it would be so much better if all that performance was in a lower and lighter CAR. Then I dismiss the high perf. SUVs and shake my head.

Sort of reminds me of guys at the gym that only work on arms and chest. It's great that you've got huge guns and can bench press a bus but really, how often does that come in handy?

Hey Porsche Cayenne GTS...How much ya bench?

[evil_twin]

Every once in a while I'll be at the local Mercedes store wandering around the showroom and a higher-performance SUV will catch my attention – V8 or AMG model – and I'll think, wow this would be great on the road. Then I immediately think, yea but it would be so much better if all that performance was in a lower and lighter CAR. Then I dismiss the high perf. SUVs and shake my head.

Sort of reminds me of guys at the gym that only work on arms and chest. It's great that you've got huge guns and can bench press a bus but really, how often does that come in handy?

Hey Porsche Cayenne GTS...How much ya bench?

Agree with the analogy, but we really need to consider the true market for this thing. 

I'd wager most purchasers of a Cayenne GTS already have a very nice sedan or sportscar or both.  But they also want/need a cargo/people hauler and have a large enough budget that they want something even more special than a base Cayenne or X5 4.8, etc...

Sure all the power and sport would be better applied in a lighter vehicle, but if you already have 1 or 2 or 10 of those vehicles in your garage, why not add the big daddy SUV?

If you're total car buying budget is $150k and you're choosing this over, say, an X5 4.8 + M3 combo, then yes...I agree.  Silly choice.