[RowanBuds]

Originally Posted by solstice

Thanks, I’ll make sure my next X5 test drive is configured as such. The Audi dealer made me an interesting offer that I’ll likely take them up on. They said to call them when I schedule my next drive of the Cayenne and X5 and they’ll lend me a Q8 to drive to and from each test drive to get an immediate comparison.

Please take them up on this and let us know your feedback!

[Paladin1]

Still 50 dolled-up R8s (Decennium) coming to the states in 2020 - the last of the breed. A mere 215k clams and one is yours. Probably worth every penny, but....

[msi200]

I testdrove the Cayenne in base and Turbo trims and honestly I don't feel the hype. G05 is not worse by any means.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by solstice

Thanks, I’ll make sure my next X5 test drive is configured as such. The Audi dealer made me an interesting offer that I’ll likely take them up on. They said to call them when I schedule my next drive of the Cayenne and X5 and they’ll lend me a Q8 to drive to and from each test drive to get an immediate comparison.

Funny when we were test driving the Q8, the Audi dealership gave us the exact same offer of taking it to the other dealerships to compare side by side. We didn't take them up on it because we knew right away there was something off about the way the Q8 drove.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by msi200

I testdrove the Cayenne in base and Turbo trims and honestly I don't feel the hype. G05 is not worse by any means.

Me too and I was a 30 year 911 owner. I much preferred the X5 50i M-Sport and would put it up against the Cayenne Turbo on a handling course. I like where the torque comes in with the 50i better than the Cayenne. I am not a price point buyer and the X5 interior is on another level than the Cayenne.
My biggest issue with the Cayenne is it’s design. Open console cupholders and middle “mini-van” like center console. No thank you.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Funny when we were test driving the Q8, the Audi dealership gave us the exact same offer of taking it to the other dealerships to compare side by side. We didn't take them up on it because we knew right away there was something off about the way the Q8 drove.

Lol, must be a corporate strategy. What didn’t you like about the way the Q8 drove? I quite liked it other than it drove “large”. The problem for me is that our 2013 Cayenne drives just as nice and in some ways better. Not much incentive to fork out $50k for a trade. I have the same issue with the X5 though so I’m really leaning at keeping the Cayenne another 2-3 years and see if the new cars improve or our car deteriorate...

[Gcsave]

I think the BMW only lost by 1 point, but was the fastest and cheapest despite the Porsche being considered ‘sportier’. I test drove both and got the X5 for the same reasons others have mentioned: price differential wasn’t worth it

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by solstice

Lol, must be a corporate strategy. What didn’t you like about the way the Q8 drove? I quite liked it other than it drove “large”. The problem for me is that our 2013 Cayenne drives just as nice and in some ways better. Not much incentive to fork out $50k for a trade. I have the same issue with the X5 though so I’m really leaning at keeping the Cayenne another 2-3 years and see if the new cars improve or our car deteriorate...

From what I remember we felt like it didn't drive AS smooth as the X5, nor was it nearly as quick. Also it felt like there was a huge amount of lag between when we hit the gas till when the car began to move, whereas the X5 was way more responsive. Otherwise we absolutely loved the look of the Q8, especially in that "year 1" package.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

From what I remember we felt like it didn't drive AS smooth as the X5, nor was it nearly as quick. Also it felt like there was a huge amount of lag between when we hit the gas till when the car began to move, whereas the X5 was way more responsive. Otherwise we absolutely loved the look of the Q8, especially in that "year 1" package.

Interesting, I didn’t notice much lag and I came out of my M3 into the Q8 which as you know has very little lag. Neither did I notice any roughness from the Q8’s driveline. As for the ride it had 22” wheels which wasn’t as smooth as our Cayenne’s ride but not bad and I would go for 20s or 21s anyhow. Power wise I found it more than adequate for an SUV, I never drive my SUVs hard, fast yes, hard no.
I had the V6 version of the 958 Cayenne S as a loaner for a couple of days a while ago and remember disliking it’s delivery and I was surprised the Q8’s was so much better. Not as powerful but more responsive and flexible.

I’m for sure going to drive one again for longer time and distance to see if I missed something. I do remember driving it in dynamic mode except when putting it in comfort before gunning over some railroad tracks to test the range of the adaptive dampers.

Personally I think the Q8 is the best looking of the bunch by far and maybe me wanting to like the whole package make me suppress negatives but I don’t think significantly. I was a kid who lusted after the original Audi Quattro rally car which likely explain why I find the Q8 so attractive, it share lines in the rear quarter

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by solstice

Interesting, I didn’t notice much lag and I came out of my M3 into the Q8 which as you know has very little lag. Neither did I notice any roughness from the Q8’s driveline. As for the ride it had 22” wheels which wasn’t as smooth as our Cayenne’s ride but not bad and I would go for 20s or 21s anyhow. Power wise I found it more than adequate for an SUV, I never drive my SUVs hard, fast yes, hard no.
I had the V6 version of the 958 Cayenne S as a loaner for a couple of days a while ago and remember disliking it’s delivery and I was surprised the Q8’s was so much better. Not as powerful but more responsive and flexible.

I’m for sure going to drive one again for longer time and distance to see if I missed something. I do remember driving it in dynamic mode except when putting it in comfort before gunning over some railroad tracks to test the range of the adaptive dampers.

Personally I think the Q8 is the best looking of the bunch by far and maybe me wanting to like the whole package make me suppress negatives but I don’t think significantly. I was a kid who lusted after the original Audi Quattro rally car which likely explain why I find the Q8 so attractive, it share lines in the rear quarter

Oh agreed... And I definitely wouldn't call the driveline rough. We just felt the X5 was a bit smoother. And I also agree that power is more than adequate, but again when we we were comparing it to the X5 40i, the Q8 did not feel as quick.

In regards to the lag, maybe you'll notice if you drive it in comfort mode for an extended period. It just felt like unless we were really mashing down on the gas while in comfort mode, the car would just hesitate. Hard to explain I guess.

Definitely agree with you on it being the best looking of the bunch.

[AEC]

I also love the exterior look of the Q8 with the S line (Year One) package and I like that they offer 21 and 22 inch wheels with all season tires. Unfortunately, it ends there for me. IMO, it doesn’t drive nearly as well as the X5 and I don’t care for the new look Audi interiors with the dual touch screens.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

In regards to the lag, maybe you'll notice if you drive it in comfort mode for an extended period. It just felt like unless we were really mashing down on the gas while in comfort mode, the car would just hesitate. Hard to explain I guess.

There are a lot of threads on the Audi forum about the lag in the Q8. It seems to be the number one issue with folks that have them. I wonder though if a lot of those aren't because for many of them they are coming from a supercharger and this is their first turbo.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

There are a lot of threads on the Audi forum about the lag in the Q8. It seems to be the number one issue with folks that have them. I wonder though if a lot of those aren't because for many of them they are coming from a supercharger and this is their first turbo.

Pretty sure its the new 3.0L Turbo V6 and the programming of the ZF8, seems to be pretty prevalent on the S4/5 forums as well. I've experienced it first hand when test driving an S5, I personally prefer the previous 3.0 Supercharger V6 paired to the DCT or 6MT

[msi200]

VW's new 3L diesel in Europe is also well known for its huge turbo lag. This has to do with the newest emission standards.

[Paladin1]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

Pretty sure its the new 3.0L Turbo V6 and the programming of the ZF8, seems to be pretty prevalent on the S4/5 forums as well. I've experienced it first hand when test driving an S5, I personally prefer the previous 3.0 Supercharger V6 paired to the DCT or 6MT

Would also say there's a considerable lag in the outgoing supercharged Q7, having driven one for over a year. So much so that you have to calculate it into your driving habits. Definitely more noticeable than my previous F15.