£9k Petrol Family SUV Cayenne Turbo or Range Rover Sport?

[R4PID]

3 x sports cars doth not a happy family make...

One of the sportscars is about to go and so we want (need) a car with more doors, big petrol engine and 4WD (this is pistonheads afterall).

We've previously had an early T6 XC90 (loved it but although 7 seats is handy it was a bugger to configure) and I've had 2 grand cherokee jeeps.

We fancy something smart from a premium brand with some charisma and bags of poke. We're looking at something around 2003 to 2008 and have a budget of around £9-10k but may spend a bit more for the right car.

The Cayenne seems like a good option the turbo has bags of power, air suspension and PDCC means it has a great ride and they're supposed more reliable than the normal and S petrol versions. Image wise well the mk1 has grown on me over the years and I'm willing to live with and love those googly front lights.

The mk1 Range Rover Sport is a good looking car for sure but it is looking dated and boxy now. I know the 4.2 supercharged version has a Jag engine in it but struggling to find anything with regards to its reliability, how do they hold up with higher miles? Most of them being diesels there do appear to be lots of stories of unhappy owners suffering endless niggles surely there are some delighted owners somewhere?

I know both are a risk, are a bit 2005 footballers wives, will having wallet busting mpg and high car tax but I'm intending to go in eyes wide open, buy right and enjoy a piece of SUV gas guzzling, smooth cruising nirvana for the family.

[R4PID]

Thanks for the input. Already done an XC90. Quite fancying a dabble with the 4WD Pork at the moment. Poll results seem pretty conclusive.

[R4PID]

sbk1972 said:

What is your budget ? That should influence what to buy.

SBK

R4PID said:

We're looking at something around 2003 to 2008 and have a budget of around £9-10k but may spend a bit more for the right car.

[R4PID]

DSLiverpool said:

I would look at a later GTS with air if in budget (about £15k) - my 4.8s with 380 BHP is plenty fast enough the GTS has about 405 My Cayenne in a year has had
Stat - £450
Prop and Gbox oil change - £800
Service - £400 (at OPC)
It needs a backlight (LEDs going) and the lack of bluetooth is a pain but otherwise its great.
I really like the way it feels solid and just gathers speed.

Yeh, I love the look of the GTS, the shape of the seats and the decent colours they come in. Just a little bit of a stretch.

[R4PID]

sbk1972 said:

Spooky, yesterday I watched an old Top Gear on Dave Channel which showed Clarkson test driving one of those 4x4 Porsches. He was impressed but felt it was so ugly. I have to say I do like the idea of power etc. 440+ bhp. impressive.

I reckon you should just go out and buy one. None of the suggest cars above will be cheap, or without issues, but its an itch that needs to be scratched, so scratch it :-)

My Ml55 has had a ton of issues, it's a car where each day I worry..... will it break down today, but I love it. Mine came with a sports exhaust so the AMG v8 is delicious. It has 22inch black alloys, tinted windows, and is black. Just looks the devils wagon. :-) I'm such a ponce, at 46 I shouldn't be so childish !!!

So, do it, go buy a Porsche 4x4, you will love it. Just try to do some research and buy a model where most of the issues have been sorted.

I read somewhere that when you lock your car and walk away, if you don't look back and think.... I like that, then it isn't a good car. I always look back at my old Ml55.... I love it, I love it faults and all ( I so know I've tempted fate and it will break down today.... bugger :-) )

SBK

Briliant, this is me all over. Great post. Age is just a number and life really is too short to drive boring cars. The Merc sounds right up my street, murdered out SUVs driven by middle aged blokes just for the hell of it!

Not that I needed it (rarely opt for boring dependable cars) but thanks for the inspiration!!

[R4PID]

sbk1972 said:

As soon as you buy one get some pics up.

Also prepare yourself for the endless..... bet its awful on fuel... remark. I always get that when i tell someone or people see what I drive. I reply by saying it isnt and between 7 - 14 mpg is impressive

Owning / driving these things is like sticking two fingers up at the low literage, eco driver groups.

Once your married, kids, demanding job, kids clubs, responsibilities.... you forget thst inner nob of a bloke you were back im your 20s when all you lived for was cars and birds. Having a wild car is escapism and reminds me that deep down im still that young wally
EVery man needs a v8 in his life.

Sbk

Oh we're well used to that... e93 M3, Evora S, T6 XC90, teens mpg is the norm for us and always has been. Most people know us well enough now to just not bother asking. Meanwhile they're throwing huge sums into horrid new, diesel, Euro eco boxes and then taking a massive hit on depreciation whilst waxing lyrical about 45mpg (*yawn).

[R4PID]

Toyoda said:

This beauty's up for sale with change from 5k. Manual too!

https://www.jgmcarsales.co.uk/used-cars/porsche-ca...

Great, it just needs to be an auto and have a turbo.

[R4PID]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you're going to stretch the budget there is another performance SUV that becomes an option:

Grand Cherokee SRT8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Completely ridiculous. I love it.

[R4PID]

ZX10R NIN said:

I forgot to add with them being N/A & a simple design the drivetrain is pretty much bulletproof.

I'm guessing real world mpg is gonna be sub 10... ?