Porsche Cayenne – now that’s a statement

The car you drive says a lot about you.

Just think about it – how often do you see someone in rush hour traffic and immediately form an opinion of them based solely on the car they are driving?

Twenty-something driving a hybrid? Probably just graduated from a liberal arts college with a degree in something like political science or graphic design.

Woman in her mid-40s driving an SUV covered with soccer and cheerleading stickers? Soccer mom.

Grey-haired guy driving a flashy red convertible? Midlife crisis.

It’s okay – we all do it.

Cars aren’t just means of transportation – they are status symbols, expressions of who we are and what we value.

Perhaps the most widely recognized status symbol car is the Porsche.

A Porsche represents wealth, success, and a certain proclivity toward the finer things in life. It’s not just a car – it’s a statement.

The 2008 Porsche Cayenne is the midsize SUV for those who can afford luxury. It’s dazzling, sumptuous, powerful, and way out of my price range. (I drive a fuel-efficient hatchback that cost under $15,000. That’s my statement.)

The Cayenne starts at a reasonable $43,400 for the base model and skyrockets all the way up to $93,700 for the top-of-the-line Turbo, which boasts a formidable 500-horsepower turbocharged V-8 engine that does zero-60 in only 4.9 seconds.

Whoa, baby.

For 2008, the Cayenne received a bit of makeover, with a new headlight design and a wider, more aggressive stance.

In addition, all models now have direct fuel injection, as well as a new push-button Sport driving mode that allows the driver to select the drivetrain and chassis setup that best fits the current driving conditions. Other new additions include a standard power liftgate and optional Dynamic Curve Lights, which enhance visibility when cornering.

As would be expected, the Cayenne offers all of the amenities you could possible want on a luxury SUV – leather seats, power everything, second-row 60/40-split folding seat, GPS navigation with touch screen, a 250-watt Bose Surround Sound audio system, XM satellite radio, back-up camera with park assist – you know, the works.

The Cayenne is available in four models: base, S, GTS, and Turbo.

The base model, which starts at $43,400 (plus $895 freight), is powered by a 3.6-liter, 290-horsepower V-6 engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic S (manual overdrive system) is available for an additional $3,000.

While it may only be the base model, it’s still a $40,000 Porsche, so of course it comes loaded with tons of great stuff. Standard features include air conditioning, cruise control, AM/FM stereo with single-CD player, multi-adjustable driver and front passenger power seats (leather, of course), rain-sensing wipers, fog lamps, alloy wheels, deep tinted glass windows, and a load-bearing exterior rack.

Performance options are also available, such as Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, with active anti-roll bars and enhanced traction, Air Suspension (independent double-wishbone front suspension with pneumatic air springs), and several off-road features, such as a rear viscous limited-slip differential and underbody protection.

The S model, with a starting price of $57,900 plus freight, only offers a few more amenities (such as dual-zone climate control and driver’s seat memory), but it does provide more power: the engine is a much beefier 4.8-liter, 385 horsepower V-8. The six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic S comes standard.

The GTS model, which is the one I tested, has a starting price of $69,300. A 4.8-liter, 405-horsepower V-8 engine powers the GTS, along with the six-speed manual transmission.

I absolutely loved driving the GTS – it’s incredibly agile and responsive, the engine is forceful yet remarkably easy to manage, it shifts gears like a dream, and the stainless steel dual exhaust is just plain awesome.

The top-of-the-line model is the Turbo, which starts at $93,700 and is powered by a devilish 4.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 that cranks out 500 horsepower and has a top track speed of 171 miles per hour.

The engine is a compact alloy, which allows it to be powerful without being heavy and cumbersome, thus making it very agile. And surprisingly, the Turbo actually qualifies as a low-emission vehicle.

Now, if you can afford a $90,000 car (or even a $50,000 one), you probably aren’t all that worried about being able to afford the gas that goes into it. However, you might just want to know how long you can cruise around in your sweet ride without having to stop at a gas station.

EPA fuel estimates for base models are 14 city/20 highway; S models get 13 city/19 highway, GTS models get 11-13 city/17-18 highway, and Turbos get 12 city/19 highway.

My GTS model had several upgrades, including Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control ($3,510), moon roof ($1,190), the Bose system ($1,665), XM radio ($750), the Porsche Communication Management package ($3,070), which includes GPS navigation with touch screen, trip computer, and MP3 player, for a total package price of $87,740 (including freight).

I’ll be honest, for the whole week I drove this vehicle, I felt like a million bucks. If you’re looking for a status symbol that tells the world "I am rich, successful, and I like pretty things," then I definitely recommend picking up one of these.

As for me, I’m content to tell the world, "I have marginally acceptable credit and Dad didn’t have to help me finance this economy car of mine."

The automotive columns of Jennifer R. Williams appear regularly in the Star-Telegram. Contact her at autoscribejennifer@yahoo.com.