Interesting to hear of your experiences with the new one.
I've got a '55 3.0d and like it a lot. Had it a year now. Prefer it to the Cayenne S, and Forester STI I had before it, even tho far less pokey.
I'm averaging 31.7mpg for last several thousand miles (mixed daily commute 60m).
I drive it like an old woman though, so should be getting decent no's. I do like not having to fill it up until well after 550miles on a tankful though - I hate petrol stations so the less I have to visit the better!
When I was looking at one, I had a nosey in the facelift to see what I couldn't afford. As nice as it was it seemed like they had no glovebox and the centre bin split opening thingy didn't appeal. Not like I could afford it mind!
My bmw specialist has the twin turbo D version, remapped and pulling huge torque numbers and he loves it to bits
Cheers
Iain