Taking a punt on a cheap Cayenne - what to look out for?
Discussion
I'm just browsing through the classifieds and have noticed that some of the early Porsche Cayennes are getting very, very cheap.
I was wondering if there was anything in particular to look out for with these? Obviously they are now around 12 years old so things will start to go wrong, but are they fundamentally reliable and are there any particular weak spots?
Something like this, just seems like a lot of car for the money. As a couple we do very low mileage so even the fuel economy wouldn't be a great issue for us.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
I was wondering if there was anything in particular to look out for with these? Obviously they are now around 12 years old so things will start to go wrong, but are they fundamentally reliable and are there any particular weak spots?
Something like this, just seems like a lot of car for the money. As a couple we do very low mileage so even the fuel economy wouldn't be a great issue for us.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
A lot of the buying guides I have read, including the evo one are suggesting any of the V8s, apart from the turbo suffer liner problems from 70,000 miles onwards, which can come on without warning within 500 miles, rendering an enormous bill. They were effectively saying to avoid them entirely, is the problem really that common?
http://www.evo.co.uk/buying/buyingguide/288391/por...
"These early Cayennes are not paragons of reliability, though, and age doesn’t help. Here, too, they are like a modern 928, especially in their electrical gremlins. Porsche specialist JZ Machtech goes so far as to recommend buyers avoid a pre-2007 Cayenne S entirely, thanks to a tendency beyond around 70,000 miles towards disintegrating Lokasil cylinder coatings and consequent catastrophic engine failure. A new engine from Porsche, once fitted, will - at around £18,000 - cost more than the car is worth.
In fact, JZ Machtech has given up selling all early Cayennes because they cause too much grief when customers bring them back for the inevitable faults to be fixed. "
http://www.evo.co.uk/buying/buyingguide/288391/por...
"These early Cayennes are not paragons of reliability, though, and age doesn’t help. Here, too, they are like a modern 928, especially in their electrical gremlins. Porsche specialist JZ Machtech goes so far as to recommend buyers avoid a pre-2007 Cayenne S entirely, thanks to a tendency beyond around 70,000 miles towards disintegrating Lokasil cylinder coatings and consequent catastrophic engine failure. A new engine from Porsche, once fitted, will - at around £18,000 - cost more than the car is worth.
In fact, JZ Machtech has given up selling all early Cayennes because they cause too much grief when customers bring them back for the inevitable faults to be fixed. "
Test drove a 2006 Turbo S today, really happy with it, was a good but not flawless example (aluminium trim had loads of dents, damage to tear leather seat) I also pressed one of the buttons on the left that I assume controls the diffs and I got a warning light and a message saying function not available. I assume that isn't normal?
I've now found a 2003 Turbo S which looks a very clean example but has MOT advisories for new pads and discs plus rear tyres but the price is quite keen. Do you think a very thorough test drive is sufficient or is an inspection required for these?
I've now found a 2003 Turbo S which looks a very clean example but has MOT advisories for new pads and discs plus rear tyres but the price is quite keen. Do you think a very thorough test drive is sufficient or is an inspection required for these?
It was one in Essex, a fair way from you but there seem to be a lot available without having to travel too far. The cheaper ones appear to be in Scotland actually!
I'm still trying to get my head around all the options, we want a Turbo S with black interior and Bose, maybe directional headlights, I'm not sure what other options are worth having?
I'm still trying to get my head around all the options, we want a Turbo S with black interior and Bose, maybe directional headlights, I'm not sure what other options are worth having?
Interesting call with JZM about them inspecting a vehicle, I spoke with one of the sales guys whose advice was don't buy a 2005 Turbo, he said they have seen them with engine problems as well as the NAs.
However, they will provide a full warranty on them for £995 per year... They sound like they have a good reputation, but if they are that much of a problem, why would you provide a warranty for them?
The question is then I suppose how good is their warranty?
However, they will provide a full warranty on them for £995 per year... They sound like they have a good reputation, but if they are that much of a problem, why would you provide a warranty for them?
The question is then I suppose how good is their warranty?
Yes I did!
I bought a 2003 Cayenne turbo from Brookspeed in Southampton for £8,650 with 89k and full Porsche service history. It had a bit of work done to it prior to collection, a little paintwork, two new tyres, a service and a few other bits sorting.
It then had a brake vacuum leak which was fixed by PIE Performance nearer to me, which then immediately went back as the leak had killed the servo so that was also replaced. At the same time PIE looked into a jerk from the gearbox and changed the gearbox fluid. This didn't resolve it so Brookspeed collected the car and took it back to Southampton and replaced the gearbox valve cylinder block. Since then it has been 100%. Both PIE and Brookspeed were great, would not hesitate to use either again.
It has been great, sounds fantastic, comfortable, quick (although I don't tend to drive it very quickly). Does 15mpg everywhere but we don't do huge miles and it seems like an awful lot of car for the money. It will need new pads and discs soon but I will do these myself for around £400.
I bought a 2003 Cayenne turbo from Brookspeed in Southampton for £8,650 with 89k and full Porsche service history. It had a bit of work done to it prior to collection, a little paintwork, two new tyres, a service and a few other bits sorting.
It then had a brake vacuum leak which was fixed by PIE Performance nearer to me, which then immediately went back as the leak had killed the servo so that was also replaced. At the same time PIE looked into a jerk from the gearbox and changed the gearbox fluid. This didn't resolve it so Brookspeed collected the car and took it back to Southampton and replaced the gearbox valve cylinder block. Since then it has been 100%. Both PIE and Brookspeed were great, would not hesitate to use either again.
It has been great, sounds fantastic, comfortable, quick (although I don't tend to drive it very quickly). Does 15mpg everywhere but we don't do huge miles and it seems like an awful lot of car for the money. It will need new pads and discs soon but I will do these myself for around £400.
greghm said:
Thanks for the quick answer! That sounds really good. So I understand that all of these faults and costs were taken by the garage himself ? if not, how much was it ?
- 15 mpg is super low, I managed to have 30 mpg with a BMW 645 most of the time (mostly motorway)
Yes, I didn't have to pay a penny, I imagine the bills were £2-3k.- 15 mpg is super low, I managed to have 30 mpg with a BMW 645 most of the time (mostly motorway)
It's 15.5mpg virtually the whole time, quite a few short journeys too, but even on longer runs I don't think it's much different. It's thirsty, there's no getting away from that. It's a price worth paying in my opinion. On the plus side it's a lot of car for the money and I don't think it's depreciating at all from what I can gather looking at the market.
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