X5 to Cayenne advice Plus LPG conversion

[li'l pugs]

Question for the PH massive and applogise if I'm on the wrong forum but here goes anyway:

Current run a 4.4 X5 and am looking to change to a newer,but second hand Porsche Cayenne. Which one should I be looking at for similar performance or better ?

Also, will be looking to convert to LPG but wondered how much of the boot space I'm gonna lose. (With the X5 it's just the spare wheel space in the boot floor). Has anyone done it ? How much is the conversion ? Is it recognised by Porsche ? (Recognised BMW conversion is £2.5k)

Any info would be gratefully receieved.

Paul

[DoctorD]

Paul, I can't speak about the LPG conversion but if you want to preserve the performance of your 4.4 X5 you will need to be looking at the Cayenne S, It's heavier but has similar torque to your 4.4. It revs a little harder at the top-end with performance a little slower but close to the 4.6is.

[IAINSMITH]

Hi Paul,
I wouldn't buy a Cayenne, i know the muppet who programmed all the machines that build the suspension and brakes!

You wanna get a new Audi Q7, been there last week at the factory and they look nice in light colours in the flesh, much better in the flesh than in photos!

[persuader]

IAINSMITH said:

Hi Paul, I wouldn't buy a Cayenne, i know the muppet who programmed all the machines that build the suspension and brakes! You wanna get a new Audi Q7, been there last week at the factory and they look nice in light colours in the flesh, much better in the flesh than in photos!

You don't mince your words do you. have you ever owned a Cayenne?, well I have and i have a vast experience of both 4x4s and performance cars and i say the suspension and brakes are both excellent.

[cinque]

Go for the S perfect compromise (i speak from experience)

[li'l pugs]

persuader said:

IAINSMITH said: Hi Paul, I wouldn't buy a Cayenne, i know the muppet who programmed all the machines that build the suspension and brakes! You wanna get a new Audi Q7, been there last week at the factory and they look nice in light colours in the flesh, much better in the flesh than in photos! You don't mince your words do you. have you ever owned a Cayenne?, well I have and i have a vast experience of both 4x4s and performance cars and i say the suspension and brakes are both excellent.

Persuader.........Ian part owns the company that programmed the machines that build the suspension and brakes.........He was taking the p155 out of himself.

[IAINSMITH]

Hi Persauder.

You're right they handle fantastically, as Paul mentioned (Lil Pugs) i wrote all the software for the machines that build the suspension and brake assemblies for the VW, Porsche and now the Audi!

Don't worry it was a bit of a joke between me and Paul!

FYI as an owner the Porsche is built alongside the VW and Audi in Bratislava, Slovakia, with the (virtually) finished Posrches getting shipped to Leipzig to have their running gear installed (Engines, Gearbox, Suspension and Steering Wheel!)

The suspension and Brakes for all of the Porsche variants are built in Leipzig by ThyssenKrupp Automotive!

As you'll probably know there are some VERY fast Cayenne variants coming soon, middle of the year! With larger braking capacities! Expect ridiculous BHP figures!

[johnny senna]

So fellas, any info on LPG conversion? Or any experience with this?

[li'l pugs]

IAINSMITH said:

Hi Persauder. You're right they handle fantastically, as Paul mentioned (Lil Pugs) i wrote all the software for the machines that build the suspension and brake assemblies for the VW, Porsche and now the Audi! Don't worry it was a bit of a joke between me and Paul! FYI as an owner the Porsche is built alongside the VW and Audi in Bratislava, Slovakia, with the (virtually) finished Posrches getting shipped to Leipzig to have their running gear installed (Engines, Gearbox, Suspension and Steering Wheel!) The suspension and Brakes for all of the Porsche variants are built in Leipzig by ThyssenKrupp Automotive! As you'll probably know there are some VERY fast Cayenne variants coming soon, middle of the year! With larger braking capacities! Expect ridiculous BHP figures!

Iain, why can I never spell your name right ?? It's not like it's right in front of me every time I see your motor !!

Anyway, cheers for clearing that up, and guess who's off to Audi this weekend to take a look at what info they've got ?

[IAINSMITH]

The VW is more suited to all the off road driving you'll be doing Paul

All of the underside protection is gone on the Audi, maybe to cut down on weight!

Not that any of this really matters to 99.9% of people of course.

[955 GUY]

My mate had his (oldish) range rover converted and I was impressed with the cost savings, but i would be nervous about resale.

I would also suggest an "S" rather than the V6. I have driven both, and a X5 4.4.

[warmfuzzies]

Resale,

If I were buying one, I would ask this:-

If the guy could afford to buy this, why did they feel they had to convert to LPG in order to be able to run it, if cost were the issue? What else could have been skimped on?


Not saying that's what you'll end up doing, but that's my approach to buying a second hand car. (please don't take offence)

kevin.

[li'l pugs]

The reason for the change is that it's actually my wife's car (company car allowance) and she fancies a change. We've run the X5 for about a year, most of which has been Manchester to York 2 or three times a week = £150 in extra petrol.

She fancies the Porsche, and I fancy most of that £150 back in our pockets, hence the poss swap to LPG. The other option is for me to use the Porsche and her use my car for the long trips, which is where we are at the moment.

The conversion is about £2500 so will take us 2 years to make back, so were looking to keep the car for at least 3.

Hope that makes the position a little clearer.......there is method in our madness as I want the same performance, just without the large fuel outlay.

Paul

[Merritt]

li'l pugs said:

The conversion is about £2500 so will take us 2 years to make back, so were looking to keep the car for at least 3. Paul

Assuming Mr Brown (or whoever is in charge of the purse strings by then) doesn't add a substantial amount of tax to LPG in the next couple of years..

[Laingy]

working on a 2 year horizon, i wouldnt bother, many changes in tax/prices/new technologies will change your view before the saving happens

[clorenzen]

Not to upset the Board regarding Cayennes but I think a much better value for money proposition is a diesel VW Tuareg. I have owned an X5 and simply hated it - too little space for what it is, poor visibility and for my wife the doors were much too heavy to open and shut and buildt quality was dismal. We now have a Range Rover and that has been perfect but I rented a diesel Tuareg over Christmas and despite the fact that it was the small 2.2 TDI I was very impressed. It had all the gimmicks (air suspension, cornering lights etc) and for its size it was very easy to drive and it is HALF the price of the Range Rover and Cayenne S.

[li'l pugs]

clorenzen said:

Not to upset the Board regarding Cayennes but I think a much better value for money proposition is a diesel VW Tuareg. I have owned an X5 and simply hated it - too little space for what it is, poor visibility and for my wife the doors were much too heavy to open and shut and buildt quality was dismal. We now have a Range Rover and that has been perfect but I rented a diesel Tuareg over Christmas and despite the fact that it was the small 2.2 TDI I was very impressed. It had all the gimmicks (air suspension, cornering lights etc) and for its size it was very easy to drive and it is HALF the price of the Range Rover and Cayenne S.

You're missing the crucial element here, the car will be my wife's car (Company car allowance) so none of the above matters........she want's the Porsche so she'll be getting the Porsche !

Women !!!!!

[dealmaker]

IAINSMITH said:

Hi Paul, I wouldn't buy a Cayenne, i know the muppet who programmed all the machines that build the suspension and brakes! You wanna get a new Audi Q7, been there last week at the factory and they look nice in light colours in the flesh, much better in the flesh than in photos!

Ian ,

Did you see any in Black? was thinking of getting one this colour for the wife!

What colours did you see/prefer???

THANKS!