Buying an older Cayenne - Questions
Discussion
So, I'm pretty set on getting a 3.2 Cayenne. The V8 has been discounted because of the engine. The Turbo is just unnecessary as it's for my wife/family car.
I've read about issues with the prop shaft, but don't really know any of the details/cost if it hasn't been done yet. Any info on this would be helpful.
From what I can find though, there doesn't appear to be much else other than the odd electrical gremlin? Does anyone know differently?
Finally, air suspension. Everyone seems to think it's something to look for, but from a maintenance point of view, is it just something else to go wrong? I read a thread here recently where someone had to replace all four sensors and the ecu/controller.
Any other general tips? I'm looking at ~2005 cars and around £10k budget.
I've read about issues with the prop shaft, but don't really know any of the details/cost if it hasn't been done yet. Any info on this would be helpful.
From what I can find though, there doesn't appear to be much else other than the odd electrical gremlin? Does anyone know differently?
Finally, air suspension. Everyone seems to think it's something to look for, but from a maintenance point of view, is it just something else to go wrong? I read a thread here recently where someone had to replace all four sensors and the ecu/controller.
Any other general tips? I'm looking at ~2005 cars and around £10k budget.
Why discount the V8, had mine for a year very reliable actually nothing went wrong. Petrol usage across the range is roughly the same so buy best example you can find rather than focusing on a particular model.
Mine already had coolant pipes changed, they all need doing after a while. Regarding air suspension I never used mine, always left in comfort, in reality it's big bus and you never want to hoon around in it. Saying that I haven't driven one with normal suspension.
Mine already had coolant pipes changed, they all need doing after a while. Regarding air suspension I never used mine, always left in comfort, in reality it's big bus and you never want to hoon around in it. Saying that I haven't driven one with normal suspension.
5678 said:
The Turbo is just unnecessary as it's for my wife/family car.
As a 2005 Turbo Cayenne Owner I would suggest that you do not discount one so quickly. Sure it is very powerful, nothing wrong in that, but you do get more "kit" as standard over and above the 3.2 and V8 models, the fuel economy is not as bad as you think. I am getting 19.0 MPG (a friend has a 3.2 and gets 20.5 ish.As a family hack which ours serves as, then things such as memory seats and mirrors are just great as are the heated seats front and rear. I am not sure where they sit pricewise but I can think there is not much difference
HTH
Rob
5678 said:
........Finally, air suspension. Everyone seems to think it's something to look for, but from a maintenance point of view, is it just something else to go wrong? I read a thread here recently where someone had to replace all four sensors and the ecu/controller.
That was me. Just to put your mind at rest on that, the controller + 4 sensors cost (as parts) just over £300. So probably not as bad as you think.Having said that - I had another problem with the air suspension when I bought the car (can't remember the details) but I think that was nearer £1k to fix, maybe even over. So yes - it can cost money.
I have had an unfortunate year with mine. Starter motor failed (beware - this can be a consequence of the coolant pipe problem, resulting in coolant being dumped all over the starter motor - leading to a failure further down the line). Both front window regulators snapped at different times. Aux belt snapped. The level sensor failed. And probably some other stuff I've forgotten.
I really like the Cayenne as a runaround car. On the other hand - mine is on it's last chance. It is becoming what can only be described as : A money pit. I think it has cost me more to maintain in the last year than my two other cars put together. When they are a Ferrari 360 and a 996 turbo, that becomes a problem. (Although the 996 turbo is due a major next week, so perhaps the balance will shift......).
I would steer clear of the V6 personally unless you are looking at a Diesel, they are pretty underpowered and there is a reason Porsche stopped selling them in the UK (you can only get them now if you do a special order).
The V8 is a much better option overall, you will also find a higher level of specification and generally it will be a nicer car to drive providing it has been serviced maintained properly.
The V8 is a much better option overall, you will also find a higher level of specification and generally it will be a nicer car to drive providing it has been serviced maintained properly.
davek_964 said:
That was me. Just to put your mind at rest on that, the controller + 4 sensors cost (as parts) just over £300. So probably not as bad as you think.
Having said that - I had another problem with the air suspension when I bought the car (can't remember the details) but I think that was nearer £1k to fix, maybe even over. So yes - it can cost money.
I have had an unfortunate year with mine. Starter motor failed (beware - this can be a consequence of the coolant pipe problem, resulting in coolant being dumped all over the starter motor - leading to a failure further down the line). Both front window regulators snapped at different times. Aux belt snapped. The level sensor failed. And probably some other stuff I've forgotten.
I really like the Cayenne as a runaround car. On the other hand - mine is on it's last chance. It is becoming what can only be described as : A money pit. I think it has cost me more to maintain in the last year than my two other cars put together. When they are a Ferrari 360 and a 996 turbo, that becomes a problem. (Although the 996 turbo is due a major next week, so perhaps the balance will shift......).
Yes, I remember! I've followed a fair few of your cayenne threads with much interest. Might have to have a dig through again. Having said that - I had another problem with the air suspension when I bought the car (can't remember the details) but I think that was nearer £1k to fix, maybe even over. So yes - it can cost money.
I have had an unfortunate year with mine. Starter motor failed (beware - this can be a consequence of the coolant pipe problem, resulting in coolant being dumped all over the starter motor - leading to a failure further down the line). Both front window regulators snapped at different times. Aux belt snapped. The level sensor failed. And probably some other stuff I've forgotten.
I really like the Cayenne as a runaround car. On the other hand - mine is on it's last chance. It is becoming what can only be described as : A money pit. I think it has cost me more to maintain in the last year than my two other cars put together. When they are a Ferrari 360 and a 996 turbo, that becomes a problem. (Although the 996 turbo is due a major next week, so perhaps the balance will shift......).
AndrewIC said:
I would steer clear of the V6 personally unless you are looking at a Diesel, they are pretty underpowered and there is a reason Porsche stopped selling them in the UK (you can only get them now if you do a special order).
The V8 is a much better option overall, you will also find a higher level of specification and generally it will be a nicer car to drive providing it has been serviced maintained properly.
I've spoken to a few well regarded porsche specialists now (all of which have good reps on here) and all of them have suggested me to avoid the v8. Occurences of engine failures appear to be coming more frequent. The V8 is a much better option overall, you will also find a higher level of specification and generally it will be a nicer car to drive providing it has been serviced maintained properly.
I will admit, I've not driven the v6 yet. I do accept there's a point where a car can be so slow as to be dangerous. If that's the case then I'm more likely to go for a turbo than the v8 based off the research so far!
Luke. said:
Seriously, go Turbo.
They're more reliable, not much thirstier and don't cost a lot more. In fact, I just sold mine for £8,500. There are bargains to be had.
Plus, in my view, they look far better and the kit on them is great.
What age/mileage was yours to go for that price? Looking at the usual places, there aren't many Turbos that cheap.They're more reliable, not much thirstier and don't cost a lot more. In fact, I just sold mine for £8,500. There are bargains to be had.
Plus, in my view, they look far better and the kit on them is great.
Just wanted an easy sale, and to be fair, sold it cheap to a mate as just wanted to move it on without having to deal with the general public and wasted weekends.
Though saying that I only paid £9250 for it last June. So bargains out there. It's was my perfect spec too. Grey with 20" Sport Techno alloys and the silver roof bars.
Though saying that I only paid £9250 for it last June. So bargains out there. It's was my perfect spec too. Grey with 20" Sport Techno alloys and the silver roof bars.
Edited by Luke. on Thursday 31st July 11:11
hondansx said:
If you're that terrified about things going wrong, why not going for the cheaper Toureg and spend the difference on the warranty? Otherwise you're paying a premium for 'the badge' when in reality you're getting the sorriest excuse for a Porsche available.
I wouldn't say terrified. I'm just trying to make a fairly safe purchase. Looking at Turbos now anyway!
I've just gone through my Cayenne receipts and I must admit, it's not as bad as I thought. Although that is using quite a lot of man logic.
The initial service cost - which is by far the most I've had to pay on any car - I am ignoring, for the simple fact that this was my own fault for not checking the car over properly when I bought it. I don't think that's an indication of general Cayenne running costs.
I think it does perhaps make me more annoyed when something else breaks though, because a part of me thinks that if I paid all that, there shouldn't be anything left to go wrong!
Anyway - that aside, I have :
Drive belt snapped April 2013 and took a pulley with it (or the pulley took the belt with it). If I could have got the pulley off, I'd have done it myself but as it was it cost just under £400 including the recovery to 9E.
August 2013, the reversing sensors started playing up and the interior ventilation refused to change (i.e. it wouldn't switch which vents were active). Took it to 9E, but both problems fixed themselves while there and have not occurred since, so no real cost.
December 2013, the starter motor started playing up. Probably could have got away with this for longer but the new one proved just how knackered the old one was. Expensive job unfortunately, due to location - so just over £900.
May 2014, driver window regulator snapped. Just under £400 to fix.
July 2014, suspension level fault. I wasted £140 buying a sensor that wouldn't work with my control unit. Fault finding, new control unit and 4 new sensors will cost me just over £600. If I'd known how the new control units came I could have cut my losses and halved my cost.
So - significant, but not as bad as I'd thought. And to be fair, also not more than the combined cost of my other two cars. In fact, the minor service on the Ferrari wasn't far short of the total costs above (ignoring the first horrendous service).
When considering the costs vs what you're thinking of buying - I think it's worth remembering that many of these things could equally happen on a turbo. Starter perhaps not, since it's the coolant pipe splitting that ultimately caused that - but level sensors, regulators, aux belts etc. are probably fairly common.
The initial service cost - which is by far the most I've had to pay on any car - I am ignoring, for the simple fact that this was my own fault for not checking the car over properly when I bought it. I don't think that's an indication of general Cayenne running costs.
I think it does perhaps make me more annoyed when something else breaks though, because a part of me thinks that if I paid all that, there shouldn't be anything left to go wrong!
Anyway - that aside, I have :
Drive belt snapped April 2013 and took a pulley with it (or the pulley took the belt with it). If I could have got the pulley off, I'd have done it myself but as it was it cost just under £400 including the recovery to 9E.
August 2013, the reversing sensors started playing up and the interior ventilation refused to change (i.e. it wouldn't switch which vents were active). Took it to 9E, but both problems fixed themselves while there and have not occurred since, so no real cost.
December 2013, the starter motor started playing up. Probably could have got away with this for longer but the new one proved just how knackered the old one was. Expensive job unfortunately, due to location - so just over £900.
May 2014, driver window regulator snapped. Just under £400 to fix.
July 2014, suspension level fault. I wasted £140 buying a sensor that wouldn't work with my control unit. Fault finding, new control unit and 4 new sensors will cost me just over £600. If I'd known how the new control units came I could have cut my losses and halved my cost.
So - significant, but not as bad as I'd thought. And to be fair, also not more than the combined cost of my other two cars. In fact, the minor service on the Ferrari wasn't far short of the total costs above (ignoring the first horrendous service).
When considering the costs vs what you're thinking of buying - I think it's worth remembering that many of these things could equally happen on a turbo. Starter perhaps not, since it's the coolant pipe splitting that ultimately caused that - but level sensors, regulators, aux belts etc. are probably fairly common.
Luke. said:
Just wanted an easy sale, and to be fair, sold it cheap to a mate as just wanted to move it on without having to deal with the general public and wasted weekends.
Though saying that I only paid £9250 for it last June. So bargains out there. It's was my perfect spec too. Grey with 20" Sport Techno alloys and the silver roof bars.
That's a good price you got, trade offers are far worse.Though saying that I only paid £9250 for it last June. So bargains out there. It's was my perfect spec too. Grey with 20" Sport Techno alloys and the silver roof bars.
Edited by Luke. on Thursday 31st July 11:11
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff