This is my 4th SUV since 1992 and this is one is the most fun to drive. It handles better then my '02 Lexus GS430 and is almost as quick (0-60 in 7.2 seconds verses 6.5 seconds) and it can even tow almost 8000 pounds! It's also the most comfortable SUV I've ever driven (including several test drives in the: Toyota Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Lexus LX 470 and Lexus GX 470). The ride is solid but you definitely feel the road more then either of the Lexus SUVs in comfort mode and the Toyota Land Cruiser. However it's not as bad as some of the SUVs I've owned in the past.

I have not taken the Cayenne off road yet, so I can not comment on it's off road capabilities. It's supposed to be a great off road vehicle. There are several articles about the Cayenne that reviews it’s off road capabilities you can Google. Here are some that I read:
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/2008-Porsche-Cayenne/Performance/
http://www.automotive.com/2004/43/porsche/cayenne/reviews/driving-impressions/index.html
http://autos.aol.com/cars-Porsche-Cayenne-2006/expert-review

The Cayenne has the best looking interior that I have ever seen in an SUV. I have the Havanna/Sand Beige aka tan interior. It also has a GREAT sound system. The 2006 came standard with a Bose 350 watt 14 speaker AM/FM/ and in dash CD. Mine came with with the optional 6 CD changer in the rear. The dish display is very simple and very informative. The speed is displayed in both analog and there’s a three inch dot matrix (digital) display that gives speed, outside temp, radio or CD and it can be toggled to see fuel distance and mileage information. The dot matrix display also acts as the interface to change a multitude of settings and do display a variety of warnings from the internal monitoring system. I didn’t opt for the Porsche GPS because I didn't like the interface. The 2008 models have improved it a bit, but I like touch screen and the Porsche GPS uses a dial.

This is a very safe vehicle. There are too many safety features to mention; however it has driver and passenger airbags and full curtain airbags in the front and back seats. It also comes with ABS and stability systems that work together both on road and off.

I have not had the SUV long enough to comment on its reliability, though Consumer Reports gives high marks, to the 2006 Cayenne S and suggests that it should be a very reliable vehicle.

This is a great SUV but there are some drawbacks, all of which are typical for SUVs in this price range. The Cayenne S gets between 13 to 15 mpg in the city and 19 to 25 mpg on the highway. It requires 91 Octane or higher gas. The service manager said to expect to spend about $750 to $1200 for new tires every 20k miles. It requires a minor service every 10k miles that is between $200 and $300, a major service is required at 20k miles that is between $600 and $800 and there are additional other major services at other intervals. Again, this is fairly typical of the higher end SUVs but this is something you should know if you are considering spending between $45,000 to $65,000 for a used SUV.

Believe it or not my major drawback of the Cayenne is that it only has one 12v outlet in the front and one in the rear consul that faces the back seat. I've had to get a 2 prong outlet extension for the 12v outlet to accommodate blackberry, ipod and Garmin GPS. The minor issues are the ignition is on the left and the key is HUGE.

So why did I buy the Cayenne? It wasn't just because I've wanted a Porsche since I was about 10 years old. It was because the Cayenne S was the only vehicle that had everything that I wanted:
1) The luxury, comfort, power and handling of my Lexus GS 430.

2) 4 wheel drive for off road and inclement weather

3) To drive to the beach with my family of three, one in a rear facing baby seat, my two dogs and luggage in one vehicle.

If I were to do this car search again, I would drive the BMW X5 with the bigger engine, the new Audi SUV and the Touareg V8 or V10.

Amount Paid (US$): 44,300
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2006
Model and Options: Cayenne S with preferred package