Early Cayenne Advise

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andye30m3

Original Poster:

3,472 posts

261 months

Thursday 6th June 2019
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As happens every time I have an issue with my 7.5t truck, I'm thinking of selling it an buying a 4x4 for general commuting that can also tow, Ideally rated at 3.5t although in reality will probably rarely actually tow more than 3t with and enclosed trailer and race car.

I find the Japanese offerings a bit uninspiring so have been looking at Range rovers and X5's, X5 doesn't have the best tow capacity and the range rover sounds like a bit of a liability.

So that brings me to looking at the early Cayennes, Turbo is almost definitely off the list due to MPG and purchase cost of a good one. So i'm left looking at the N/A petrol cars.

Is anyone able to offer advise on what to look for on these? 4.5 sounds like it has more issues than the V6. I think if I'm honest reliability would come first on the list of considerations. Are there any serious issues with the V6 that I need to be aware off other than being a bit slow? I'm more concerned with things that will actually stop it getting me to work/ a race meeting than annoyances like minor electrical issues.

Also is it realistic to assume somewhere around 20mpg on a steady A road run is achievable? My current Megane R26 only achieves around 24 on super unleaded so hopefully wont be all that different.

PH01

820 posts

175 months

Friday 7th June 2019
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Don't discount a 4.5S. Any that are still going will be good ones. There's plenty of very happy owners out there but they don't tend to shout as loud as the unhappy ones !
Mine is a 2004 v8S, currently on about 150,000 miles and has the approximate value of a half eaten bag of Golden Wonder crisps.
I've owned it for a loooooong time, it has given good service. Only broken down and left me stranded twice. Once was when the serpentine belt snapped when I first owned the car, a scary experience losing power steering and the other time was at 140,000 miles when the in-tank fuel pump packed up.
I've had all the usual faults, Cardan shaft bearing and water pipes in engine vee.
If they still made it I'd buy another tomorrow.
The air suspension is amazing, makes for a supreme ride.
Fuel costs aren't much different to a smaller engine, 15/16 around lanes locally, 21/22 mpg on the motorway. Towing a trailer makes no difference, hardly notice it's there.
When I first owned mine I used to run it on Conti Sport tyres, £700 for the 4. Now I use the car as a van I run el cheapo ditchfinders £60 a corner ! Brakes used to cost £1500 an axle at Porsche, now the local garage does front and back pads and discs for £500 total.
Interiors are incredibly hard wearing, if you find one that's worn inside, run !
Lovely old things that can be run sensibly with a surprising turn of speed and a luxury ride.

jonny996

2,638 posts

224 months

Friday 7th June 2019
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I ran a early 3.2 V6 for nearly 5 years, which is unheard off for me! it has a reputation of being a bit slow but in real term it was completely fine. In the 5 years I had it it only cost me a prop shaft (£350 fix).
if it wasn't for the fuel I'd have another.

jakesmith

9,463 posts

178 months

Friday 7th June 2019
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I wouldn't discount Turbo for MPG, my understanding is they are all terrible and within a few MPG of eachother although I have not owned one
The big ticket items are the coolant pipes which I think are about £2k fitted, and the air ride if it has it, and the prop shaft in common with the Toureg and Q7 which is about £1k
I honestly wouldn't put one of these above a Range Rover in terms of reliability based purely on what I read on here


andye30m3

Original Poster:

3,472 posts

261 months

Friday 7th June 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies.

by chance I bumped into a local Porsche dealer who is a friend of a friend who wasn't all that complimentary on the 3.2, he suggested looking at the 3.0 tdi Touareg which in a way might be a more sensible option.


PH01

820 posts

175 months

Friday 7th June 2019
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jakesmith said:
I wouldn't discount Turbo for MPG, my understanding is they are all terrible and within a few MPG of eachother although I have not owned one
The big ticket items are the coolant pipes which I think are about £2k fitted, and the air ride if it has it, and the prop shaft in common with the Toureg and Q7 which is about £1k
I honestly wouldn't put one of these above a Range Rover in terms of reliability based purely on what I read on here
Coolant pipes less than £400 fitted, mainly labour.
Prop shaft (Cardan) £350
Air suspension super reliable.


jakesmith

9,463 posts

178 months

Saturday 8th June 2019
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PH01 said:
Coolant pipes less than £400 fitted, mainly labour.
Prop shaft (Cardan) £350
Air suspension super reliable.
That’s inflation for you!