Porsche Cayenne Turbo | Spotted
No tints, no badges, small(ish) wheels and well over 500hp - here's how to do fast Cayenne in style
We love a Q car on PH. Old or new, big or small, there’s something eternally appealing about a lot of speed and not very much fuss. While typically a saloon or estate, the Q car can take on a few different shapes and sizes: the old V6-engined Audi A3s, for example, that look identical to diesels, and one or two Mercedes coupes that boasted V8 power with very unassuming styling.
Everyone has their preferred under-the-radar performance hero, be it a BMW wagon, Jaguar saloon or Audi two-door, though it’s hard to imagine the Porsche Cayenne ever featuring in a Q-car hitlist. They’ve just always seemed a bit too OTT, a bit brash to really deliver on the subtle speed brief. A Panamera is probably Porsche’s best stealthy option, either as a new prospect or secondhand.
But there have been 20 years of Cayennes now, and times change. While the latest cars, complete with GT Package, are more boastful than ever, the sheer popularity of Cayennes means its early impact has lessened. With so many of these Porsches, and similar-sized cars, now around, you don’t really think much of them these days. This 2011 example, an early version of the second-gen ‘E2’ car that now seems quite smart, could head the other way unnoticed.
There’s a little more to it than meets the eye, though, and plenty to pique the interest of PH. It’s a Turbo, first off, which means 500hp from a 4.8-litre V8 - good start. It’s been modified, too, with the addition of a Milltek exhaust and some ECU work, meaning it’ll now be producing more than 500hp as well as boast some additional V8 thunder. Definitely nice to have, however rarely seen on Cayennes.
And while the notion of a modified Porsche Cayenne probably throws up all manner of undesirable visions, this one goes without window tints, keeps relatively sensible wheels, and goes without even a ‘Turbo’ badge on the boot. Only the more prominent pipes give any clue as to its performance, and that’s really cool.
Plenty about this Cayenne suggests money has been spent on it, from an original spec that includes sunroof and Porsche boot protection to a service history that includes recent specialist upkeep. The colour combination that might not have broad appeal likely means only the most committed apply; for being a bit different, we think it looks quite smart. Two owners have kept it well for less than 50,000 miles, seemingly. Fast estates of course have their place for the family-minded PHer in a rush, though never has a Cayenne looked like quite such a persuasive alternative. Long live the modestly-specced turbo V8.
SPECIFICATION | PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO (E2)
Engine: 4,806cc, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 8-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 500@6,000rpm (standard)
Torque (lb ft): 516@2,250-4,500rpm (standard)
MPG: 24.6
CO2: 270g/km
Recorded mileage: 47,000
Year registered: 2011
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £23,995
The breadth of ability they have is staggering, can be a quite motorway cruiser yet can lift it's skirts and outdrag most things to properly thunderous soundtrack. Air suspension can soak up some horrendous bumps yet also has an active roll control system so can corner in a manner it has no right to while the four wheel drive is surprisingly capable with locking diffs and decent ground clearance but also cleans up and doesn't look out of place around towns.
The transfer box was a bit of a weak point but Porsche extended the warranty to ten years and most are likely to have the newer box fitted by now, I believe Porsche also changed the spec of either the oil or coolant for it which I'm told helped a lot as well.
The sunroofs can also leak and cause a lot of electrical issues.
Ours doesn't have the sunroof which solves that and had the transfer box done just before the warranty ran out.
Otherwise, just keep chucking the fuel in!
The breadth of ability they have is staggering, can be a quite motorway cruiser yet can lift it's skirts and outdrag most things to properly thunderous soundtrack. Air suspension can soak up some horrendous bumps yet also has an active roll control system so can corner in a manner it has no right to while the four wheel drive is surprisingly capable with locking diffs and decent ground clearance but also cleans up and doesn't look out of place around towns.
The transfer box was a bit of a weak point but Porsche extended the warranty to ten years and most are likely to have the newer box fitted by now, I believe Porsche also changed the spec of either the oil or coolant for it which I'm told helped a lot as well.
The sunroofs can also leak and cause a lot of electrical issues.
Ours doesn't have the sunroof which solves that and had the transfer box done just before the warranty ran out.
Otherwise, just keep chucking the fuel in!
I would be put off by the exhaust on the otherwise modest spec. The fact the Porsche badge has been removed as well as the Cayenne Turbo badge is a bit weird to me, makes me think it was wrapped. Potentially not a bad thing for the paint but wrapping along with ECU mod and loud exhaust would probably be enough to put me off tbh...
The giant red calipers look amusing behind the small wheels. If I did risk it I'd be painting those black or silver asap!
I would be put off by the exhaust on the otherwise modest spec. The fact the Porsche badge has been removed as well as the Cayenne Turbo badge is a bit weird to me, makes me think it was wrapped. Potentially not a bad thing for the paint but wrapping along with ECU mod and loud exhaust would probably be enough to put me off tbh...
The giant red calipers look amusing behind the small wheels. If I did risk it I'd be painting those black or silver asap!
I keep looking at these, but the fly in the ointment on my 4.2D was the Tiptronic box. It was fine when you were being lazy, and eventually woke up when being really 'on it' but seemed slow to react when you wanted anything inbetween. Not a patch on the ZF in that regards.
I'd love to know if the calibration is better in the petrol version, or the FL 2015 models...
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