Decided to buy a used Cayenne

[unclebilly]

Yah… I know.

I’m going to sell my 2018 WRX as I think I can get what I paid for it new and replace it with an inexpensive used Cayenne.

My budget is $10k. I would consider a V6, S, or Turbo. I’m considering all years but am going to go look at an 08 Turbo tonight. I saw an 06 S last night that was rough but cheap. It had high miles but was mechanically very good.

I would like to dump the wife’s Tribeca and replace it with a Cayenne as well (possibly the V6).

Thoughts? I’ve done a ton of research and know about the Nikasil issue in some of the early S model engines, the coolant pipes, and the driveline issues.

This will be an appliance for me. We pile on the miles and I want something reliable (a Cayenne can be once the issues are sorted).

Thoughts?

[Tim Hancock]

I daily drive an '08 V6 with over 200k on the clock and my wife daily drives a '13 V6 with about 80k on it. I have had minimal issues with them thus far.

The V6 are the way to go if you want the least problems for a daily driver.

'08



'13

[unclebilly]

Tim - thank you. This is what I was hoping to hear.

How is the 08 vs. The 13 for creature comforts / road manners?

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Tim - thank you. This is what I was hoping to hear.

How is the 08 vs. The 13 for creature comforts / road manners?

My '08 came with a few options (fancier wood steering wheel and some sort of upgraded power steering). I notice the power steering only when maneuvering tightly in parking lots. You can steer using only your pinky. Other than that, they are both very nice to drive. The '13 has a neater looking dash. The '13 also has an 8 speed trans IIRC. We daily drive these things and both are plenty peppy for daily driving in normal mode. On rare occasion I will put in sport mode and then they both feel pretty quick for an SUV. Both handle awesome and feel more like sports cars than SUV's. I am not an audiophile and rarely listen to music at high volume, but the stereo systems sound nice to me. Before I bought the '08 for my wife some years ago, she had a '06 BMW v6 X5. The Cayenne is much nicer driving than the BMW. I have installed a hitch to both and have pulled our 21' boat on several occasions (maybe 4000 lbs?). Brakes are strong on both.

We have done several 500+ mile trips in both the '08 and the '13 and they are very comfy on the highway too.

[Tim Hancock]

FWIW, I am sure I would love a turbo or an S, but I typically buy all our cars with 50-80k on the clock and I would not want to deal with DIY repairing of the more complex sportier versions for another 100k miles.

If money was no issue, my wife would get a brand new warrantied turbo every two years.... and I would be driving brand new 911 turbos.

[maxnine11]

inexpensive used Cayenne

Unless you're extremely lucky, you will either pay more up front, or more after the fact.
IMO

[jhynesrockmtn]

A buddy has an 09 GTS he bought with 100k or so on it a couple of years back. His only really big issue has been water intrusion from firewall and sunroof drains. I think it spent a lot of time stored outside by the PO and him as well. Apparently these are pretty well known issues.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I just put 16K miles over the last year on my '10 GTS. It is everything I had hoped for and more, and am surprised at how much I love it. It is a phenomenal truck. Will be posting experience soon.

That said, if you are looking for an appliance, Toyota/Lexus is a much better choice especially when your budget is $10K.

[Racerbvd]

I have a 2004 S, as others have already said, there are a few v well kn, Reown issues, I have over 243K on it and she she still goes like stink. A friend borrowed my 2500 and trailer to pick something up. Well he l left his Turbo S at my house, but left his keys at home. Well, he lives at the beach and no place to park a 2500 Suburban and car trailer. Since he left his keys at home, I let him take my Cheyenne home. When he brought it back, he commented that it was surprisingly fast, even though it isn't a turbo. When I 1st bought it, I took to my mother at her condo in St Augustine. She was driving my Trans AM GTA, well, when we left, me in the GTA, her getting on the highway left me, she was doing 120mph before she realized it.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I just put 16K miles over the last year on my '10 GTS. It is everything I had hoped for and more, and am surprised at how much I love it. It is a phenomenal truck. Will be posting experience soon.

That said, if you are looking for an appliance, Toyota/Lexus is a much better choice especially when your budget is $10K.

10k doesn’t buy much of a Toyota or Lexus in this market. People are afraid of used Cayennes…

[stealthn]

I had an 06 turbo for 5 years with no issues. Bought my wife a 2012 S a couple years back and have to say it’s one of best driving SUV’s I’ve ever driven. Known for front transfer case issues, but repaired free from Porsche.

[911 Rod]

After reading this I did a search on sub $15,000 Cayenne's. Some bargains out there.

[berettafan]

I just did a search on cars.com and was actually a bit surprised at how high some of the prices are.

Cayennes are like bikes to me. Every so often i get a bug and start researching them and cruising the classifieds.

[unclebilly]

Well I did it... but there's a story.

In 2005, I got my son a bambino kart when he turned 5. This was a GX35 (weedwacker engine) powered race kart. He ran that thing for 2 years and mastered it completely, then my daughter ran it for a year.

I traded it for a KX65 dirtbike for my son. He rode that bike all of last year and I gave him an early birthday surprise last Saturday for his 12th birthday (this Sunday) - a KX85 dirtbike.

This morning, I traded the KX65 and $500 for a 2004 Cayenne S... it needs some work but is a great, inexpensive entry to these. I plan to do some minor repairs (including the coolant tubes) and use is as a daily driver and for farm chores.

This has 230000 kms on it and the engine doesn't appear to have a knock or tick so I think (hope) it has a good block.

[oldE]

Way to go, Billy. Sounds like a new set of tires would double your investment.
Keep us posted.

How is your knee doing?

Best
Les

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

10k doesn’t buy much of a Toyota or Lexus in this market. People are afraid of used Cayennes…

Exactly

It is a Porsche, so it is exotic, so it is complicated and expensive to run

Lexus RX 350 is way less scary than a Cayenne. Fear drives people, come on man.


I need to buy a used cart for my grandkids

[911 Rod]

I did a search for sub $10,000 Cayenne. Talk about a rabbit hole. Even the Turbo is ridiculously low.
Does the "all Porsches are $20,000. Pay now or pay later" still apply?

[unclebilly]

Based on what I see, all pre 2010 cars are painted with a bad brush because of the nonrepairable engine problems of SOME of the Cayenne S cars.

The V6 had no engine problems.
The Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo were plagued with the same plastic cooling pipes that cost under $300 in parts to fix and 6 hours labor. Most of these have already been sorted out.

The early cars had a driveshaft bearing issue that is fixable.

The early cars had a $600 transmission problem as well.

Everyone is scared of them because of a problem with a subset of them. Uninformed buyers seem to get hurt the worst. There are some real nice ones for sale with an engine that runs fine but is ticking or knocking. The one I got is in the other end of the spectrum, the engine seems OK but the body is far from perfect.

If I like it, I may buy a nice one with a bad engine and do a swap… time will tell.

[WPOZZZ]

Have fun with the Cayenne! Any probs with the Subie? I just bought a 2022 WRX as a fun daily.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Based on what I see, all pre 2010 cars are painted with a bad brush because of the nonrepairable engine problems of SOME of the Cayenne S cars.

The V6 had no engine problems.
The Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo were plagued with the same plastic cooling pipes that cost under $300 in parts to fix and 6 hours labor. Most of these have already been sorted out.

The early cars had a driveshaft bearing issue that is fixable.

The early cars had a $600 transmission problem as well.

Everyone is scared of them because of a problem with a subset of them. Uninformed buyers seem to get hurt the worst. There are some real nice ones for sale with an engine that runs fine but is ticking or knocking. The one I got is in the other end of the spectrum, the engine seems OK but the body is far from perfect.

If I like it, I may buy a nice one with a bad engine and do a swap… time will tell.

I love my 2004 TT. It is pretty close to200K and looks and runs like new. It had about 50K when I bought it.

I recently replaced a coolant overflow reservoir. Leaking ones are supposedly common (seam in plastic comes unglued over time). The part was about $80, but took a couple hours work. Oxygen sensors are a bear to replace on a turbo...unless your arms are spaghetti thin and you are a contortionist...but the part is under $100. I tried and could not do it, but a local (local nonPorsche shop where I get my inspections/alignments did it fairy cheap). Window regulators are pretty challenging as well. A bigger job than one would expect. Make sure you get a genuine one from our host. The cheap ones are flimsy and trash IMHO. Tried to save some money on one and threw it away and reordered from PP.

I replaced the coolant lines on mine. Had to because I had a massive leak. Porsche paid me back some of the cost (contacted me because of a class action suit)...so most are likely done through that campaign as noted. I also fixed the driveshaft for less than $10 (jimmy mod?) and it has held up for over 50K miles so far.

Any details on the "$600 transmission problem?"