When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Yes, for now. I reserve the right to return! MB’s current powertrain lineup’s unproven and so far abysmal reliability caused me to look for a prettier girl.
The 9Y0 Cayenne S is an awesome car. An apples-apples comparison would be vs the V167 AMG GLE53, or W166 AMG GLE43.
I will add to this over time as I remember more details.
Comparing W166 GLE350 vs 9Y0 Cayenne S, for features which are standard on all models and trim levels:
Navigation: COMAND vs PCM: PCM by a mile. COMAND was outdated the day it was introduced. MBUX vs PCM is a more fair comparison, and I still vote for PCM based on some experience with MBUX.
Seating position: Porsche. I don't like the MB seat bottom angle, it is too flat/not raked backwards enough.
Seating surfaces: Porsche. Leather is standard on all Cayennes. MB standard is MB-Tex aka vinyl.
Interior aesthetics: Porsche. My wife and I agree on this. MB has the iPad-stuck-on-the-dash look which is dorky. The Porsche has a proper "dashboard" with linear, integrated design.
Exterior aesthetics: Porsche. The Cayenne rear 3/4 view in particular is excellent. The W166 front view isn't the best.
Space: Porsche. The Cayenne feels roomier, although numbers on paper show that the two vehicles are similar.
Standard maintenance: Porsche. Oil + filter change requires the same amount of time for both cars. Spark plug change on the Porsche took me 2 hours the first time, and will take less than that next time. The GLE M276 took me 4.5 hours after having done it 3 times; it's a bugger of a job. I expect brakes on both cars to be similar in terms of time and effort. Porsche engine air filter is a breeze - snap out engine cover, two torx screws and you're done. M276 is a fussier process.
Underhood management: Porsche. Better trim panels and hood sealing. Very little road dust enters the engine bay. The GLE is terrible with dust and the front-of-engine bay sealing is not good.
Fuel economy: Porsche by a long shot. I could never manage more than 20mpg on the GLE, babying the throttle. I drive the Cayenne pretty aggressively, with a much more powerful engine, and fuel economy is is 22.5mpg - 23mpg, or 15% better than the MB.
Transmission: Porsche. The ZF8HP is sublime. The 7G is not good at all - balky, uncertain and clunky.
Floor mats: tie. Porsche mats are leather-edged, both brands have logos, Porsche all-weather mats are far better fitting, MB velour pile is deeper and more luxurious.
HVAC: tie. MB is has a really good AUTO function, once you get used to it. Porsche has center console-mounted HVAC controls which are easy to access, but the mode/AUTO control isn't as good as MB.
Brakes and steering: tie. Both cars are Autobahn-capable and steering and brakes need to be world class for this, and both companies do a good job. I like MB low speed steering assist. Porsche parking lot steering feel is heavier than it needs to be. Steering wheel position was a little better on the MB. The Cayenne doesn't allow the steering column to move as low as I would like.
Audio: harman kardon vs Bose: hk by a little. I like the hk system in W166. Both hk and Bose are greatly lacking in EQ functionality. hk in the W166 is really a good implementation.
Comfort entry: MB. The hold-to-close feature is great on MB to close windows and roof. Porsche doesn't offer the feature to close windows with the fob.
Sun visors: MB. Porsche sun visors are too shallow. BMW visors are the worst of the three. MB does a good job with generous coverage sun visors.
Homelink: MB. MB Homelink opens the garage door from the end of the street. Porsche Homelink has less than half of this range.
Door window and lock controls: MB. "Buttons" are seeing a transition in the auto industry now, and MB has better buttons on the door for window and door lock controls.
Comparing the Cayenne S to the GLE43 and GLE53, mainly from a textbook or spec-sheet point of view:
Porsche wins in the performance KPIs.
Power: Cayenne S 434hp* / GLE43 362hp / GLE53 434hp
Torque: Cayenne S 550Nm / GLE43 520Nm / GLE53 520Nm
* some Porsche sources indicate 440hp for the EA839 2.9L TT V6.
Features I had on the W166 that would be nice to have on the Cayenne:
Heated/cooled cupholders: a little gimmicky but the "heat" feature kept coffee warmer than it otherwise would be if the feature was not present
Basic old-fashioned cruise control: I don't like ACC on any car. Porsche doesn't have a way (that I know of) to deactivate ACC. My GLE had non-Distronic cruise control which I liked.
Roof rails: less common on Porsches, which are ordered nearly 100% with options and little "standard" equipment or "packages". People tend not to order roof rails. I load bikes on the roof, now I need a hitch carrier or throw the bikes in the car.
Auto dimming headlamps: good feature on the MB, this comes with the PDLS+ option for Porsche which is not on my car.
Parktronic: loved it on GLE, I don't have it on the Cayenne.
Other features
My Cayenne is well-optioned, there are very few options it doesn't have. The list below are on my Cayenne but were not on the GLE350. I don't have experience with a fully-optioned GLE to comment.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by chassis
The 9Y0 Cayenne S is an awesome car. An apples-apples comparison would be vs the V167 AMG GLE53, or W166 AMG GLE43.
I will add to this over time as I remember more details.
Comparing W166 GLE350 vs 9Y0 Cayenne S, for features which are standard on base models:
Navigation: COMAND vs PCM: PCM by a mile. COMAND was outdated the day it was introduced. MBUX vs PCM is a more fair comparison, and I still vote for PCM based on some experience with MBUX.
Audio: harman kardon vs Bose: hk by a little. I like the hk system in W166. Both hk and Bose are greatly lacking in EQ functionality. hk in the W166 is really a good implementation.
Seating position: Porsche. I don't like the MB seat bottom angle, it is too flat/not raked backwards enough.
Seating surfaces: Porsche. Leather is standard on all Cayennes. MB standard is MB-Tex aka vinyl.
HVAC: tie. MB is has a really good AUTO function, once you get used to it. Porsche has center console-mounted HVAC controls which are easy to access, but the mode/AUTO control isn't as good as MB.
Interior aesthetics: Porsche. My wife and I agree on this. MB has the iPad-stuck-on-the-dash look which is dorky. The Porsche has a proper "dashboard" with linear, integrated design.
Exterior aesthetics: Porsche. The Cayenne rear 3/4 view in particular is excellent. The W166 front view isn't the best.
Brakes and steering: tie. Both cars are Autobahn-capable and steering and brakes need to be world class for this, and both companies do a good job. I like MB low speed steering assist. Porsche parking lot steering feel is heavier than it needs to be. Steering wheel position was a little better on the MB. The Cayenne doesn't allow the steering column to move as low as I would like.
Space: Porsche. The Cayenne feels roomier, although numbers on paper show that the two vehicles are similar.
Standard maintenance: Porsche. Oil + filter change requires the same amount of time for both cars. Spark plug change on the Porsche took me 2 hours the first time, and will take less than that next time. The GLE M276 took me 4.5 hours after having done it 3 times; it's a bugger of a job. I expect brakes on both cars to be similar in terms of time and effort.
Underhood management: Porsche. Better trim panels and hood sealing. Very little road dust enters the engine bay. The GLE is terrible with dust and the front-of-engine bay sealing is not good.
Fuel economy: Porsche by a long shot. I could never manage more than 20mpg on the GLE, babying the throttle. I drive the Cayenne pretty aggressively, with a much more powerful engine, and fuel economy is is 22.5mpg - 23mpg, or 15% better than the MB.
Comfort entry: MB. The hold-to-close feature is great on MB to close windows and roof. Porsche doesn't offer the feature to close windows with the fob.
Transmission: Porsche. The ZF8HP is sublime. The 7G is not good at all - balky, uncertain and clunky.
Floor mats: tie. Porsche mats are leather-edged, both brands have logos, Porsche all-weather mats are far better fitting, MB velour pile is deeper and more luxurious.
Sun visors: MB. Porsche sun visors are too shallow. BMW visors are the worst of the three. MB does a good job with generous coverage sun visors.
Comparing the Cayenne S to the GLE43 and GLE53, mainly from a textbook or spec-sheet point of view:
Porsche wins in the performance KPIs.
Power: Cayenne S 434hp / GLE43 362hp / GLE53 434hp
Torque: Cayenne S 550Nm / GLE43 520Nm / GLE53 520Nm
Features I had on the W166 that would be nice to have on the Cayenne:
Heated/cooled cupholders: a little gimmicky but the "heat" feature kept coffee warmer than it otherwise would be if the feature was not present
Basic old-fashioned cruse control: I don't like ACC on any car. Porsche doesn't have a way (that I know of) to deactivate ACC. My GLE had non-Distronic cruise control which I liked.
Roof rails: less common on Porsches, which are ordered nearly 100% with options and little "standard" equipment or "packages". People tend not to order roof rails. I load bikes on the roof, now I need a hitch carrier or throw the bikes in the car.
Auto dimming headlamps: good feature on the MB
Other features
My Cayenne is well-optioned, there are very few options it doesn't have. The list below are on my Cayenne but were not on the GLE350. I don't have experience with a fully-optioned GLE to comment.
2020 GLS450 / 2024 Ford Bronco / (former) W212 4-matic 350 sport package
Yeah…um…you won’t be back… I have yet to meet a single Porsche owner who regrets it. Not. A. Single. One. I think they should swipe the “best or nothing” slogan, because in my opinion, they are the best. That car will do things that defies the laws of physics, and do them in such a manner of comfort that you won’t believe it.
That’s a heck of an upgrade Chassis! Enjoy it! I am very jealous!
Only modification I would make, if it even has it, is to disconnect the fake sound buzzer box. Im sure the Porsche forums will tell you if it does.
not comparing, because there is no comparison to be made, but on my last two GTI’s one of which was heavily influenced by Porsche (2015), they had little “soundaktors” in the windshield’s cowl to give them a more sporty and fake noise. Immediately unplugged them in both versions and loved the natural sounds instead, especially on the 2015.
if you want more HP, look up APR Tuning for a computer flash. Since its turbo, it’ll be worth it. Did that on my last GTI and it went from 205 to 320hp immediately. Had 0% problems from it for 40k miles before selling it (mistake). Had it on my 2013 as well, again 0% problems.
Yeah…um…you won’t be back… I have yet to meet a single Porsche owner who regrets it. Not. A. Single. One. I think they should swipe the “best or nothing” slogan, because in my opinion, they are the best. That car will do things that defies the laws of physics, and do them in such a manner of comfort that you won’t believe it.
That’s a heck of an upgrade Chassis! Enjoy it! I am very jealous!
Only modification I would make, if it even has it, is to disconnect the fake sound buzzer box. Im sure the Porsche forums will tell you if it does.
not comparing, because there is no comparison to be made, but on my last two GTI’s one of which was heavily influenced by Porsche (2015), they had little “soundaktors” in the windshield’s cowl to give them a more sporty and fake noise. Immediately unplugged them in both versions and loved the natural sounds instead, especially on the 2015.
if you want more HP, look up APR Tuning for a computer flash. Since its turbo, it’ll be worth it. Did that on my last GTI and it went from 205 to 320hp immediately. Had 0% problems from it for 40k miles before selling it (mistake). Had it on my 2013 as well, again 0% problems.
i had a buddy that bought a cayanne was very happy with it until he needed to do a thermostat or something like that. got quoted for 15+ hours because they need to lift the motor partially out to get to the $15 part lmfao
anyway he has a g63 now
2020 GLS450 / 2024 Ford Bronco / (former) W212 4-matic 350 sport package
There were only two unique maintenance items that i was aware of that seemed to span the VAG vehicles - one, if you’re dual clutch gear box (in Porsche land its known as the PDK), do not go past the maintenance period for the fluid. It was 40k on my VW’s. Not major surgery, think maybe $400 at dealer. Two, you’ll likely see the carbon issue on the valves around 70k miles. Seemed to be a thing across the 2.0t and 3.0t moreso with their engines than others (that I was aware of). However, its been such a common thing now for the last 10 years that they’ve got it down to a science to fix it. Expect that one to be in the $1k-$2k range. You’ll know it when you feel a little stumble at idle in the engine. Not deal killers in my book by any measure. It will help to run some fuel cleaner with the PEA through the system once every 10k or so, maybe twice, that’ll slow the process buildup a little, but no way to avoid it when you have a turbo on a high performance direct injection engine.
otherwise, its high smiles on country roads, and stunning confidence and comfort on highway cruises!
No PDK on the Cayenne, rather it uses the sublime and nearly perfect ZF8HP transmission.
Re: all topics PCV. Porsche in the latest EA839 TT DI V6 and EA825 TT DI V8 engines uses oil-vapor separators, aka catch cans. MB does the same with the M17x 4.0L TT DI V8. These are the only means used to manage intake valve deposits, by removing as much as possible the oil mist from blowby gases that are fed into the induction system. The Porsche solution is not perfect, and the MB solution is also not perfect as evidenced by relatively common rear main crankshaft oil seal replacement on W213 AMG and other models. RMS replacement is collateral damage from failed oil-vapor separators which then cause excessive crankcase pressure and consequent RMS failure. Summary: change the oil-vapor separators after warranty expires, and every several years thereafter.
Not much was just curious if moving to Slovakia would change things or already changed things, if any.
Since 2002 the factory has been successful enough to allow it to keep producing the best selling Porsche for quite some time into the future. Probably a question for the VAG manufacturing strategy folks.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by chassis
Since 2002 the factory has been successful enough to allow it to keep producing the best selling Porsche for quite some time into the future. Probably a question for the VAG manufacturing strategy folks.
2020 GLS450 / 2024 Ford Bronco / (former) W212 4-matic 350 sport package
My 2015 VW GTI was one of the first to roll off the new plant in Mexico. Everyone thought it would be crap. It was flawless for the 7 years I had it. Not a rattle ever, solid as a rock.
its all robots anyways, which i prefer to be honest. Never once have I seen the appeal of a handmade AMG engine. Robots don’t get hangovers, ex-wives, sore fingers..
04-10-2023, 07:41 PM
MB’s current powertrain lineup’s unproven and so far abysmal reliability caused me to look for a prettier girl.
