Thinking about buying a Cayenne, opinions please.

[rash_decision]

Hi all. After recently getting rid of my E92 M3 for another 996 C4S, going out with a few friends has become difficult again. So, I was thinking about buying something relatively cheap, but nice to use for nights out, running around, etc etc, and keeping the 996 tucked up in the garage when of no use.

I've had an X5 before, and started looking at those, but then thought I'd have a look at the classifieds for a Cayenne and turned up this one. There are a few to be had with decent mileage and spec for good money these days. I was looking to spend around £8k, no more than £10k!!

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/3894520.htm

I wouldn't be using it all that much due to working away from home, so fuel wouldn't be a big concern. Does anyone have one, or have owned one before, that could offer a first hand opinion on such a vehicle please? I assume they are fairly reliable and built well??

Thanks in advance.

[tyeo86]

I have the same situation as you. I had an E92 m3 and now have a 996 c4s. I bought a 4.5 S for £11950 with 45k on the clock. I love it does the job, fun to drive and looks good. make sure you get air suspension. cant fault it buddy

[rash_decision]

tyeo86 said:

I have the same situation as you. I had an E92 m3 and now have a 996 c4s. I bought a 4.5 S for £11950 with 45k on the clock. I love it does the job, fun to drive and looks good. make sure you get air suspension. cant fault it buddy

Thanks for that. I think they look good, and have a bit of class attached to them. Is it brisk enough or does it feel slow? I'm not up for traffic light GPs in one, but purely from a driving point of view?

[sportsandclassic]

Hi, We had one for three and a half years.... just replaced it with a diesel version as fuel was getting silly.

Average of 16MPG and less if driven properly!

They can cost a small mortgage to keep on road:

• Front bulkhead drains block up and fill car full of water.
• Tyres go around 10000 miles
• Brakes around 13000 miles
• Coolant pipework in centre of V block can crack and leak coolant. There is modified aluminium pipes available around £1K job
• Centre prop shaft bearing support is weak and fails around 60000 miles on V8 cars (Maybe more if driven normally)

As for performance mine would see off most big things and some smaller ones too! Range rover sports are not a patch on them.

Diesel version is just in a different league and performance is not bad either.

From 2005 they modified the Sat nav systems to DVD base and a few smaller issues were addressed.

Good luck, remember buy cheap and you may buy twice.

Mike

[rash_decision]

sportsandclassic said:

Hi, We had one for three and a half years.... just replaced it with a diesel version as fuel was getting silly.

Average of 16MPG and less if driven properly!

They can cost a small mortgage to keep on road:

• Front bulkhead drains block up and fill car full of water.
• Tyres go around 10000 miles
• Brakes around 13000 miles
• Coolant pipework in centre of V block can crack and leak coolant. There is modified aluminium pipes available around £1K job
• Centre prop shaft bearing support is weak and fails around 60000 miles on V8 cars (Maybe more if driven normally)

As for performance mine would see off most big things and some smaller ones too! Range rover sports are not a patch on them.

Diesel version is just in a different league and performance is not bad either.

From 2005 they modified the Sat nav systems to DVD base and a few smaller issues were addressed.

Good luck, remember buy cheap and you may buy twice.

Mike

Thanks Mike, a good write up.

I'm not necessarily buying cheap, per say, but if buying a second car this would be my budget. I might have a look at some other options than, i.e. other manufacturers. Tyres and brakes would take me 2 years to go through with the mileages I cover, and I've replaced the centre prop bearing for a friend on hid 4.5 coincidentally, which was straight forward enough. Is the coolant pipe DIYable by a very competent home mechanic, or are there speacial tools involved??

[jonny996]

Sell the C4S, put the £10k in the pot and but a Cayenne Turbo.

Cayeene Turbo with 4 of your mstes in it would see off a 996 C4S.

[sportsandclassic]

rash_decision said:

sportsandclassic said:

Hi, We had one for three and a half years.... just replaced it with a diesel version as fuel was getting silly.

Average of 16MPG and less if driven properly!

They can cost a small mortgage to keep on road:

• Front bulkhead drains block up and fill car full of water.
• Tyres go around 10000 miles
• Brakes around 13000 miles
• Coolant pipework in centre of V block can crack and leak coolant. There is modified aluminium pipes available around £1K job
• Centre prop shaft bearing support is weak and fails around 60000 miles on V8 cars (Maybe more if driven normally)

As for performance mine would see off most big things and some smaller ones too! Range rover sports are not a patch on them.

Diesel version is just in a different league and performance is not bad either.

From 2005 they modified the Sat nav systems to DVD base and a few smaller issues were addressed.

Good luck, remember buy cheap and you may buy twice.

Mike

Thanks Mike, a good write up.

I'm not necessarily buying cheap, per say, but if buying a second car this would be my budget. I might have a look at some other options than, i.e. other manufacturers. Tyres and brakes would take me 2 years to go through with the mileages I cover, and I've replaced the centre prop bearing for a friend on hid 4.5 coincidentally, which was straight forward enough. Is the coolant pipe DIYable by a very competent home mechanic, or are there speacial tools involved??

I can't see why it could not be done by a competent person, only problem is all the wiring and palstic breather hoses that can break and actually extracting the broken off plastic pipes out of the aluminium castings on engine. We actually had to replace the rear coolant housing bridge which got broken by another garage trying to replace the pipework this almost needed the engine removing but we were able to complete the repair with engine in car. The rear coolant bridge is very thin walled aluminium and could break if you were clumsy.

Mike

[rash_decision]

sportsandclassic said:

I can't see why it could not be done by a competent person, only problem is all the wiring and palstic breather hoses that can break and actually extracting the broken off plastic pipes out of the aluminium castings on engine. We actually had to replace the rear coolant housing bridge which got broken by another garage trying to replace the pipework this almost needed the engine removing but we were able to complete the repair with engine in car. The rear coolant bridge is very thin walled aluminium and could break if you were clumsy.

Mike

Hmm, I'll not disregard the Cayenne just yet then, although I might look at the 3.2 as an option.

Thanks Mike.

[rash_decision]

jonny996 said:

Sell the C4S, put the £10k in the pot and but a Cayenne Turbo.

Cayeene Turbo with 4 of your mstes in it would see off a 996 C4S.

Great idea, but £20k + £10k = £30k, if it were not for the Cayenne Turbo being worthless in a year's time I would consider it! Lol.

It also really defeats the purpose of my purchase!! Lol.

[tyeo86]

rash_decision said:

Thanks for that. I think they look good, and have a bit of class attached to them. Is it brisk enough or does it feel slow? I'm not up for traffic light GPs in one, but purely from a driving point of view?

I had a Range Rover Sport TDV8 and that felt quicker of the mark but prlly because it was turbo charged. The cayenne can be quick too. In normal drive mode the tip box sets the pull away gear as 2 but tip it into manual and 1st gear will see you fly.
I am having some probs though with my suspension atm. I did get a warranty though and hopefully that will sort it. A lot of vibration coming up through the car.

[rash_decision]

tyeo86 said:

I had a Range Rover Sport TDV8 and that felt quicker of the mark but prlly because it was turbo charged. The cayenne can be quick too. In normal drive mode the tip box sets the pull away gear as 2 but tip it into manual and 1st gear will see you fly.
I am having some probs though with my suspension atm. I did get a warranty though and hopefully that will sort it. A lot of vibration coming up through the car.

The vibration could possibly be the propshaft centre bearing??

[tyeo86]

rash_decision said:

The vibration could possibly be the propshaft centre bearing??

should find out on thursday.

[hope2421]

Turbo all the way, if you can live with the fuel usage there is no substitute :-)

[bigee]

I might be a BIT biased,but....has to be the turbo.Bugger all in it fuel wise anyway,if you are going to have one get a big one!

[bigee]

I might be a BIT biased,but....has to be the turbo.Bugger all in it fuel wise anyway,if you are going to have one get a big one!

[sportsandclassic]

bigee said:

I might be a BIT biased,but....has to be the turbo.Bugger all in it fuel wise anyway,if you are going to have one get a big one!

I have had both a Turbo and V8... There is certainly something in the fuel ! Less than 13MPG in Turbo and if really pusing on I was getting 9MPG.

Worst in V8 was 15MPG

Mike

[gasguzzlingV8]

I'll second all of these shouts for a Turbo!

I bought a Turbo the middle of 2011, and dispite a few little issues, have not looked back. The fuel economy is not that bad, it's quick enough, nice and refined and nice to drive.

Go for a Turbo, I think the 3.2 will be too much of a slug, and every time you see a turbo in a S (V8) you'll wish you'd gone for one!

Chris

[bigee]

sportsandclassic said:

I have had both a Turbo and V8... There is certainly something in the fuel ! Less than 13MPG in Turbo and if really pusing on I was getting 9MPG.

Worst in V8 was 15MPG

Mike

If just general driving (NOT pressing on!) i see above 18mpg all day long in my Turbo,agree if booting it though! When alls said and done though,whats 5 or so MPG to someone posting on Pistonheads?? Get one bought!

[sybilpoon]

I had a 3.2 Cayenne, can't get rid of it quick enough, got a Cayman S now. My friend has the turbo but he complains spending too much time at petrol station forecourt. Good luck to whatever your decision is.

[majordad]

Mike I'm in a similiar situation to you, I've a V8 4.5 and it does 16mpg - 22. I'd love a diesel but the purchase cost is crazy and I can buy a lot of petrol with the difference for a long time. And of course the V8 engine is sublime.