Buying a First Generation Porsche Cayenne
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Buying A First Generation Porsche Cayenne
I’m writing this posting very much as a thank you to all the various contributors on PistonHeads who collectively have provided some great advice regarding the purchase of a first generation Porsche Cayenne. I felt it might be helpful to provide interested readers with my recent experience in making such a purchase.
By way of background in 2003-4 I had the benefit of owning two new Porsche Cayenne 4.5S models. The first one I purchased off the shelf, and the second I was able to spec. Both were fantastic cars which between the two provided 40k plus of trouble free miles.
At the start of lockdown I decided we needed an interesting but reasonable four seater family car. It is very unusual these days for the four of us to go out together, and when we do the Merc CLK has no room and the VW Up is a squeeze! Travelling to Devon annually at Christmas time we had reached the stage of needing a large car!
So I decided that we would look for a first generation Cayenne with a maximum budget of £7k. My search began by reading every conceivable posting that I could find over the next few weeks, and studying the ads.
Which one? My heart wanted a 4.5 Turbo or an S but my head told me a 3.2. Mileage approx 80k. Everything I read about the Turbo & S reminded me that these were expensive vehicles to run. I read about the key maintenance weakness; all of which were just that:- a matter of maintenance with one major exception.
The very real worry of bore score kept jumping out at me! Even with a borescope inspection there would be no guarantee that this condition might not suddenly develop. I noted there were high mileage examples so that told me several examples had survived the bore score ticking time bomb. If I ended up with a ticking time bomb then any engine repair would be uneconomic.
In relation to the 3.2 V6 obviously there was no bore score issue and neither the dreaded failure of the cooling pipes. Of course, there were many other issues that the 3.2 shared with the 4.5. Differential failure, drive shaft, coils etc. My head told me to ignore the 4.5.
However, my heart kept on getting the better of me, and I rang up about various 4.5s & a Turbo. All the 4.5s failed at the first hurdle. Little by way of history supported by invoices in the last five years. I never would even contemplate a purchase without a history, and in fact I myself always check out the authenticity of a vehicle history.
It was then that a 4.5 Turbo hit the market. An immaculate history. I spoke with the previous owner (8 years) and the specialist independent garage that had maintained the vehicle almost from new. Both were very helpful & completely genuine. The invoices ran to literally many many £1000s, and everything was up to date. About four years ago the plastic water pipes had been replaced, together with various ancillaries, at £2500.00. The owner had given the vehicle in part exchange against a new Mercedes and it had ended up being sent to auction; then being acquired by a trader approx two weeks after the trade in.
I traveled up to north of London ready to make a purchase. I inspected the vehicle having given strict instructions that the vehicle was not to be started that day prior to my arrival. The body, interior, wheels & tyres were excellent. It even came with winter wheels & tyres! I then opened the bonnet and felt the engine. It was warm! I started the engine and immediately there was an uncomfortable engine noise. I knew something was very wrong but before walking away I recorded the engine tickover!
I knew disappointingly that this was not the car for me, but I played the recording on a visit to Precision Porsche, Sussex. The latter who I can highly recommend. They simply responded to the recording by saying ‘You have only come to us to hear what you already know!’ Too right!
And so my only focus now was to be the 3.2. The complete lack of maintenance was common to many of the vehicles I enquired about. Also in relation to at least two examples their quoted mileages were suspect. I settled on visiting three 3.2s & a 3.6.
Two of the 3.2s were completely misdescribed. One with an indicated mileage of 75k was more like 150k! I spent a maximum of five minutes looking at each. The 3.6 was tempting but the maintenance had been misdescribed. I could have had it for £7k but there was a minimum of £2k to spend, and even then there would still have been the unknowns.
I was becoming completely disillusioned to the point of giving up. Then one afternoon I noted a 3.2 coming onto the market with 102k miles. Higher than I would have liked but these engines well maintained can achieve over 150k. I rang the dealer outside Guildford. He gave me a good feel, and said he had just taken the vehicle in part exchange for a small family car. I had various detailed questions to which he said he would ask the previous keeper. Sure enough he came back with the answers.
24 hours later I was viewing the car. In fact initially I studied the history, and the dealer even invited me to speak with the previous owner. I declined at that stage, but being satisfied with the history I went to view the car. Right from the word go I had had a positive feeling about this vehicle. On seeing the vehicle, which was stored a couple of miles away, I mentally purchased it within one minute of seeing it at a distance of 10 metres away. Within the next hour I had paid for the vehicle in full.
The vehicle met all my requirements:-
1. Full history.
2. Accompanying invoices.
3. Coils & plugs recently replaced.
4. Transmission fluid replaced.
5. Drive shaft replaced.
6. Discs & Pads perfect.
7. Tyres almost new.
8. Wheels unmarked.
9. Bodywork & Interior unbelievable.
10. Strongly suspect garaged all its life & cherished by its two former keepers.
11. Later after purchase spoke with the previous owner I had even more confidence.
Does this mean I purchased the perfect vehicle. No! Precision Porsche dealt with some immediate issues including all fluids plus an annual oil service. A vacuum leak developed but resolved. The fact is with any luck I have acquired the foundations of a good vehicle. Long term the front differential will require attention and there are sure to be other issues; but such areas of high mileage maintenance are to be expected. For the mileage of 3k to 5k per year we intend to cover the vehicle should serve us perfectly.
My advice to any prospective purchasers. Buy a 3.2 or a 3.6 with a full detailed maintenance record. They are around! Just be patient and check everything out.
I’m writing this posting very much as a thank you to all the various contributors on PistonHeads who collectively have provided some great advice regarding the purchase of a first generation Porsche Cayenne. I felt it might be helpful to provide interested readers with my recent experience in making such a purchase.
By way of background in 2003-4 I had the benefit of owning two new Porsche Cayenne 4.5S models. The first one I purchased off the shelf, and the second I was able to spec. Both were fantastic cars which between the two provided 40k plus of trouble free miles.
At the start of lockdown I decided we needed an interesting but reasonable four seater family car. It is very unusual these days for the four of us to go out together, and when we do the Merc CLK has no room and the VW Up is a squeeze! Travelling to Devon annually at Christmas time we had reached the stage of needing a large car!
So I decided that we would look for a first generation Cayenne with a maximum budget of £7k. My search began by reading every conceivable posting that I could find over the next few weeks, and studying the ads.
Which one? My heart wanted a 4.5 Turbo or an S but my head told me a 3.2. Mileage approx 80k. Everything I read about the Turbo & S reminded me that these were expensive vehicles to run. I read about the key maintenance weakness; all of which were just that:- a matter of maintenance with one major exception.
The very real worry of bore score kept jumping out at me! Even with a borescope inspection there would be no guarantee that this condition might not suddenly develop. I noted there were high mileage examples so that told me several examples had survived the bore score ticking time bomb. If I ended up with a ticking time bomb then any engine repair would be uneconomic.
In relation to the 3.2 V6 obviously there was no bore score issue and neither the dreaded failure of the cooling pipes. Of course, there were many other issues that the 3.2 shared with the 4.5. Differential failure, drive shaft, coils etc. My head told me to ignore the 4.5.
However, my heart kept on getting the better of me, and I rang up about various 4.5s & a Turbo. All the 4.5s failed at the first hurdle. Little by way of history supported by invoices in the last five years. I never would even contemplate a purchase without a history, and in fact I myself always check out the authenticity of a vehicle history.
It was then that a 4.5 Turbo hit the market. An immaculate history. I spoke with the previous owner (8 years) and the specialist independent garage that had maintained the vehicle almost from new. Both were very helpful & completely genuine. The invoices ran to literally many many £1000s, and everything was up to date. About four years ago the plastic water pipes had been replaced, together with various ancillaries, at £2500.00. The owner had given the vehicle in part exchange against a new Mercedes and it had ended up being sent to auction; then being acquired by a trader approx two weeks after the trade in.
I traveled up to north of London ready to make a purchase. I inspected the vehicle having given strict instructions that the vehicle was not to be started that day prior to my arrival. The body, interior, wheels & tyres were excellent. It even came with winter wheels & tyres! I then opened the bonnet and felt the engine. It was warm! I started the engine and immediately there was an uncomfortable engine noise. I knew something was very wrong but before walking away I recorded the engine tickover!
I knew disappointingly that this was not the car for me, but I played the recording on a visit to Precision Porsche, Sussex. The latter who I can highly recommend. They simply responded to the recording by saying ‘You have only come to us to hear what you already know!’ Too right!
And so my only focus now was to be the 3.2. The complete lack of maintenance was common to many of the vehicles I enquired about. Also in relation to at least two examples their quoted mileages were suspect. I settled on visiting three 3.2s & a 3.6.
Two of the 3.2s were completely misdescribed. One with an indicated mileage of 75k was more like 150k! I spent a maximum of five minutes looking at each. The 3.6 was tempting but the maintenance had been misdescribed. I could have had it for £7k but there was a minimum of £2k to spend, and even then there would still have been the unknowns.
I was becoming completely disillusioned to the point of giving up. Then one afternoon I noted a 3.2 coming onto the market with 102k miles. Higher than I would have liked but these engines well maintained can achieve over 150k. I rang the dealer outside Guildford. He gave me a good feel, and said he had just taken the vehicle in part exchange for a small family car. I had various detailed questions to which he said he would ask the previous keeper. Sure enough he came back with the answers.
24 hours later I was viewing the car. In fact initially I studied the history, and the dealer even invited me to speak with the previous owner. I declined at that stage, but being satisfied with the history I went to view the car. Right from the word go I had had a positive feeling about this vehicle. On seeing the vehicle, which was stored a couple of miles away, I mentally purchased it within one minute of seeing it at a distance of 10 metres away. Within the next hour I had paid for the vehicle in full.
The vehicle met all my requirements:-
1. Full history.
2. Accompanying invoices.
3. Coils & plugs recently replaced.
4. Transmission fluid replaced.
5. Drive shaft replaced.
6. Discs & Pads perfect.
7. Tyres almost new.
8. Wheels unmarked.
9. Bodywork & Interior unbelievable.
10. Strongly suspect garaged all its life & cherished by its two former keepers.
11. Later after purchase spoke with the previous owner I had even more confidence.
Does this mean I purchased the perfect vehicle. No! Precision Porsche dealt with some immediate issues including all fluids plus an annual oil service. A vacuum leak developed but resolved. The fact is with any luck I have acquired the foundations of a good vehicle. Long term the front differential will require attention and there are sure to be other issues; but such areas of high mileage maintenance are to be expected. For the mileage of 3k to 5k per year we intend to cover the vehicle should serve us perfectly.
My advice to any prospective purchasers. Buy a 3.2 or a 3.6 with a full detailed maintenance record. They are around! Just be patient and check everything out.
Many thanks for your comment. Appreciated. If you need any advice please don’t hesitate to make contact. I’m no engineer but have some understanding of the buying process. As an aside I established that an important selling point is the presence of Sat Nav & heated seats! Neither really mattered to me but clearly important to others.
Seems like to you set yourself up well to find a good car. As you say, it can be exhausting and frustrating on older cars. When I was looking for a 2.5 986 Boxster I eventually gave up because of this.
Surely you now need to post some pics of the fruits of this labour!
So, has the car delivered on the "fun 4 seater"? I always understood the 3.2 to be very compromised from reading around.
Thanks for your reply. Whether I have really found a sound 3.2 Cayenne remains to be seen. The next few months will be telling, and in particular our forthcoming annual New Year trip to Devon:- subject to COVID-19 restrictions.
Make no mistake I would have jumped at a 4.5s or Turbo. The 4.5s is much the same money as a 3.2, and the Turbo is only marginally more. I have an old 4.6 P38 RR, and nothing beats the power & sound of a V8.
I remember finding a 4.5s that sounded wonderful. With the owner’s permission I rang the last service independent agent. From the information received, and the MOT records, I knew there was an immediate £2500 to spend plus no record of the cooling pipe modification. I could have been facing £5000 plus the bore score issue. I remember explaining to the owner why I couldn’t come and see the car. He was amazed, but I wished him luck.
In my view the performance of the 3.2 is more than adequate, and in fact I was pleasantly surprised. In reality those that own a first generation v8 will drive it no faster than those that drive a v6. The ultimate compromise would be a 3.6 v6 but these are £2k to £3k more expensive. On a separate note I deliberately avoided the air suspension which in fact is very unusual on a 3.2 or 3.6. Yes, it’s a bit bumpy with coils but avoids a major maintenance expense.
Sorry to hear that your search for a Boxster 986 2.5 proved to be fruitless. I have been lucky enough to have had the benefit of 15 Porsches over the last 35 years plus an association with numerous Porsches owned by family & friends. They are wonderful cars, and in fact a Boxster 3.2s circa 2000 is on my future bucket list.
The Boxster of this era, much like the 996 (with the IMS modification before or after purchase) represent excellent value for money, and are completely underrated. Just keep looking and the right Boxster will appear. Yes, very hard to find a low owner full history model, but every so often they pop up. In and around this period you will also avoid the bore score issue. It was only later that Porsche introduced the revised cylinder coating:- approx 2003 onwards. The problem appearing on Boxsters & first generation 997s & v8 Cayennes.
Porsches often are accompanied by a long list of previous owners. I avoid cars that have had multiple owners and the last owner is selling after a year or so. Minimal owners with the last owner having had the car for five years plus is a positive. The reason is simple. Porsche maintenance is expensive. The first two owners will have had the financial resources to maintain the vehicle whereas by owner number five or six the financial resources will be probably, but not always, more limited.
Keep searching!
Must have been lucky to pick up a 4.5 Cayenne S with 73,000 on the clock for less than £6k in July then.
Just passed its MOT with no advisories and the only maintenance I’ve had is changing the brakes, which I had done for a very reasonable rate. I’ve swapped two parking sensors in the rear bumper and that cost me a total of £26 for the two new parts.
Loving the V8 sound and how much torque is on tap.
Just passed its MOT with no advisories and the only maintenance I’ve had is changing the brakes, which I had done for a very reasonable rate. I’ve swapped two parking sensors in the rear bumper and that cost me a total of £26 for the two new parts.
Loving the V8 sound and how much torque is on tap.
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