Opinions on Cayennes

s_wilwerding · s_wilwerding's Garage

I currently have a 2007 Honda CRV, and am looking to move up. With used Cayenne prices in the low to mid $20Ks, I'm interested.

Any years to look out for? How anemic is a Cayenne - in other words, should I definitely look for a Cayenne S? Turbos are probably out for me, so it's between a base and an S. How tough to add an iPod hookup?

Thanks.

kanadary · 12-21-2010, 06:57 AM

check out this month's excellence magazine, there's an article about getting a used suv. if its already gone from the shelves i can email you a copy. give me a pm.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I've driven a few this week and last, and have settled on one I think. I drove the V6 it's not really any fun at all. The S is great, it was my first choice... then a turbo came along. I'm setting up a PPI in the turbo this morning and if it passes I'll probably buy it. The turbo, is well, just amazing.

kaisen · 12-21-2010, 07:21 AM

The base is not anemic, it's probably pretty comparable to your CRV in terms of get-up-and-go. The V6 Cayenne has more horsepower and torque, but also weighs a lot more than the Honda. If you're looking for FUN, then step up to the V8 'S', but there are plenty of happy base Cayenne (and Touareg) owners.

As always, buy the newest one you can afford. I'd rather buy a newer year than pay a premium for lower miles.

Let me know if you'd like any help

E

VincentVega · 12-21-2010, 07:51 AM

x2 on the article in Excellence, good read.

MysticLlama · 12-21-2010, 08:55 AM

We have an '04 S, and it's a great car, have ended up driving it most of the time actually.

The M3 is more fun, but the Cayenne tends to "ignore" rain in that it doesn't have that slight fidgety feel.

The issues in the Excellence article are the main ones, we knew about those going in, really they aren't too bad if you're aware of them and it's not going to ruin your day when you run into it. The valley coolant lines are the worst as that can be up to $3k. The driveshafts have come down in price, and the other stuff is fairly minor.

Shuie · 12-21-2010, 09:07 AM

There is an '04 S sitting on the lot here for ~$20k. I'm so tempted to go trade the wife's Highlander in on it.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaisen

As always, buy the newest one you can afford. I'd rather buy a newer year than pay a premium for lower miles.

I'd question the wisdom of this based strictly on depreciation. For the same dollars to either (A) buy a newer year or (B) buy lower miles, I'd say that going the "A" route is throwing your money away. Cayennes have frightfully steep depreciation curves for the first few years; any extra money you put into buying a newer model will evaporate in months. The same money put into a lower mileage, better condition vehicle will not (assuming you keep it in similarly good shape and/or use it average or less-than-average mileage yourself).

Just a thought. New isn't always better. In fact from a strictly financial standpoint, it never is.

gprsh924 · 12-21-2010, 09:35 AM

The base cayenne can be had with a manual, which adds to the fun factor.

McLovin · 12-21-2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

x2 on the article in Excellence, good read.

That was an interesting article. Those things sure seem to have a lot of problems, many of them significant, esp. when out of warranty. Seems like a lot of the mechanical engineering, design and parts choices (plastics, etc.) were poor.

Seems like a lot of headache (and potential for $$$) for a transportation appliance.

island911 · 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gprsh924

The base cayenne can be had with a manual, which adds to the fun factor.

meh... The Cayenne isn't like that. ... it's no 911. It's more a vehicle that confidently consumes whatever "road" and conditions in front of it. Its really brilliant, IMO

And from what I've read the manual makes it drive more like a truck.

I opted for a 2004 S with PASM (active/air suspension). I passed on a similar miles/ optioned 2005 Solely due to condition. (read: +1 to PoP)

kaisen · 12-21-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I'd question the wisdom of this based strictly on depreciation. For the same dollars to either (A) buy a newer year or (B) buy lower miles, I'd say that going the "A" route is throwing your money away. Cayennes have frightfully steep depreciation curves for the first few years; any extra money you put into buying a newer model will evaporate in months. The same money put into a lower mileage, better condition vehicle will not (assuming you keep it in similarly good shape and/or use it average or less-than-average mileage yourself).

Just a thought. New isn't always better. In fact from a strictly financial standpoint, it never is.

He said low to mid twenties $$$, so they're a little farther down the depreciation curve by that point.

To clarify my point: Don't pay $25K for a low mile 2004, when you could buy a higher mile 2006 or even a 2008 for similar money.

kaisen · 12-21-2010, 10:05 AM

More the point: The earliest units had issues that were corrected in subsequent production. This was an all-new vehicle for Porsche and VW. There were bugs. Fewer bugs in newer trucks. This isn't a 'mature' production model where you're really just buying year and miles. The newer ones are better. Thus, I'd rather have a 70K mile 2006 than a 35K mile 2004.

Both will be worth $5K in eight years. But the cost of ownership for the 2006 might be less than the 2004.

s_wilwerding · s_wilwerding's Garage

Can someone who owns one speak to reliability? I've heard the coolant pipes are an issue, but if those are fixed, are there other significant issues? I've heard I probably want to stay away from air suspension, as that is notoriously unreliable, but they seem pretty solid otherwise - not a lot of niggling things go wrong like a lot of other cars (windows regulators, dash switches, seat motors, etc.).

island911 · 12-21-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLovin

That was an interesting article. ....

Seems like a lot of the mechanical engineering, design and parts choices (plastics, etc.)

like what? I'm always critical of mechanical engineering, design and parts choices -esp. plastics.

The only bad design that comes to mind is the back-lit audio controls on the wheel. -women and their hand lotions and sharp nails will breakdown and scratch the first surface of those buttons. This exposes the white of the backlight. -looks like crap, when worn.

island911 · 12-21-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_wilwerding

.. I've heard I probably want to stay away from air suspension, as that is notoriously unreliable....

Not true.

PASM is Standard on all turbos. Both the Touareg and cayenne have great air suspension. ... you must be talking to people with Audi all-roads

island911 · 12-21-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_wilwerding

Can someone who owns one speak to reliability? I've heard the coolant pipes are an issue, but if those are fixed, are there other significant issues? ...

We do have a Cayenne forum here. Its fairly quit-- Not a lot of complaints.

fwiw I have yet to change the coolant pipes. Its not like its a guaranteed problem. As I understand, they will give warning (light leaking) before big spillage.

kaisen · 12-21-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911

like what? I'm always critical of mechanical engineering, design and parts choices -esp. plastics.
.

Like plastic coolant tubes under the intake on V8's. That fail. Regularly.
They later updated to aluminum and that seemed to help

McLovin · 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911

like what? I'm always critical of mechanical engineering, design and parts choices -esp. plastics.

The only bad design that comes to mind is the back-lit audio controls on the wheel. -women and their hand lotions and sharp nails will breakdown and scratch the first surface of those buttons. This exposes the white of the backlight. -looks like crap, when worn.

I don't recall the specifics of the excellence article, b/c I wasn't all that interested. I normally wouldn't read a Cayenne article at all, but this one seemed like such a train wreck, I could not, as they say, avert my eyes.

The design things are not things in the interior, but from what I recall things like the coils, the coolant pipes (they way they are made and they way they fail, and what happens when they fail - leak and take out the transmission (??)), stuff like that. I just remember reading and thinking several times, "That's a silly way to build it."

As SUV is, by it's own definition, an appliance (a "utility vehicle"). I like my appliance to run with the minimal amt of fuss. At least based on that excellence article, way too many problems to justify having one of these out of warranty, at least to me. The modern porsche badge just doesn't carry much panache to me.

kaisen · 12-21-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911

fwiw I have yet to change the coolant pipes. Its not like its a guaranteed problem. As I understand, they will give warning (light leaking) before big spillage.

Not the anecdotal info I've heard, even from my Porsche mechanic. They can burst, losing about 4 quarts like *now*, even when not running.