Should I buy
 

Ok fella's,
I am not wanting to hijack someone else's "Should I buy" thread so starting my own.

I have always loved Porsche and this board ever since I had my 951. I sold it years back and now really wanting another Porsche. I need a 4 door and the Cayenne looks AMAZING. Now the reality. From what I read I should stay away from 03/04 so 05/06 prices for a non-S looks realistic. That puts it at the 20k mark for an inexpensive 70-90 thousand miles model. Since my budget does allow for an S in those model years should I not even bother getting one at this point? I know you all will tell me like it is so thoughts?


Thanks
Thom

The plastic pipes are the thing that scare people away from the V8 03, 04, 05's. IMO you just do the math - there's a cost either way. And often, the 03-05's have had the pipes upgraded by now.

Do you know if there is a way to quickly verify that they have been replaced?

Thanks
Thom

you would have to ask for maintenance records. There is no way of telling without pulling the intake.

Reality! Naturally this car is too expensive but if you're a car fan - you can try to afford you this wonderful Porsche...while the life with it will be perfect!

I bought one. Absolutely love it. The only thing I have an issue with is the radio reception. Started a new thread for it.

VBoone, Of course it is too expensive. But it is a Porsche....
Thanks
Thom

Get an '05+ at least.

Our '04S kinda sucks. It's fun to drive, but there is a long list of things wrong.

And I'd probably also just hold out for an S, I can't see it being remotely as fun with that much less power.

I bought an 04S, oh well. Loving it so far. So hopefully mine won't kinda suck....


Thanks
Thom

I have an 05 Turbo and it's been a really good truck. I haven't had the pipes go, but I am waiting to see what happens with the class action suit.

It's sad to see the depreciation on these unit though, glad I didn't buy new, if I did I would have lost $100,000 by now ;)

Bob

The biggest problem with ours is that it leaks like crazy and we haven't figured out why yet, the interior is out, but it's non-obvious, and we're going to have to drop the whole sunroof cartridge to get at anything.

It has an idle stumble, presumably because of a clogged oil screen internally that causes the cam timing on one bank to not react at the proper speed.

Haven't had the pipes or driveshaft issues yet, but waiting.

The passenger wiper sucks and misses a big section in the middle even with brand new blades, so it needs a new spring probably.

Hatch shocks need to be done.

Water leak shorted the sub, so it's toast.

Both the CD changer and the in-dash act up a lot and make a bunch of noise (this might be read problems due to humidity though, maybe it'll clear up)

The driver side headlight likes to fall out just enough to get disconnected, this is super annoying. Apparently some of them where manufactured just a touch too short and it causes this. (and they had a recall on the new body style for the same type of problem)

And then there were the things we already fixed......

But, it is still fun to drive. A local shop has a guy that has one with 200k+ miles on it. Has required about $30k worth of work in the shop since new, but has never left him stranded or anything, and he drives it hard and offroads it. So I figure buying one used for half price and then putting that much into it is a wash. Feel bad for people that bought them new though.

I am glad I got mine for 25% of the original purchase price, but even so, I am tired (after 3 years of ownership) of the odds and ends of this truck. Nice, no doubt. I have driven newer vehicles (anywhere from 2011 BMW X6M to 2009 Range Rovers HSE) and nothing compares to the performance of a Cayenne Turbo, but as long as you are willing to live with a monthly issue, get a Japanese truck (think Infinity). Like the performance (handling), hate the day to day reality (miscellaneous warning lights, crazy prices for parts, wondering "what is next to fail", etc). Even at the discount I got it at 3 years ago, I will lose about 50% of what I paid just to sell it. Like it, but if something is going to give me this much trouble, it better be an Italian mistress from Modena....

ppi
 

Get a ppi, check those plastic pipes,and driveshaft upgrade,but always a risk with these new ones.

FWIW, I think the 04 thing has become internet lore.

The simple fact is that they produced almost twice as many 04 units than 05 and 06 COMBINED! So the perception of issues is skewed greatly. For example if the same percentage of Cayennes have an issue, twice as many 04 will be in the shop for it simply because there are twice as many of them.


Now add in that an 04 on average will have more miles on it than anything newer simply because of its age and it compounds the perspective issue. Especially in the early years of the model. When the 04 was 2-3 years old and the 05-06 barely had any miles on them.

Many of the early issues were corrected with warranty and normal maint. Many of the issues like coils, control arm bushings, coolant pipes, driveshafts, etc effected ALL years of the early Cayennes. The odds of an 04 having the latest part numbers at this point are pretty good. Even newer than part numbers that came on 06s. (for example, I just put on new control arms and they are the 8th revision of the control arm, so were the coils.

The DVD nav is really the only big reason to look for an 05.5+ Otherwise it really is all the same.

Geeze..almost............BILLIONS !

It really boils down on how the car was maintained... 04 or 05 or... A maintained car will last longer!

I bought an '04 Turbo a couple of years ago with about 50K miles. I paid around $30k and it had been almost $90k new. I drive it pretty hard and have almost 90k on it now and have only had to have it repaired once where it was something I couldn't do it. Cost me about $1k to find a vacuum leak of some sort. The car is great and a real bargain used. Mine has the wide, 20 inch tires/ wheels, so tires are pricey. Other than the great performance and styling, great towing ability, poor nav system, and the relatively poor gas mileage...it is like a Toyota. The paint still looks like new and the interior looks almost new. IMHO, it is a great car.