OT considering a used Cayenne, share your input Options

[iamchappy]

I am considering a used Cayenne, I have done a few searches, but the forums I've read dont involve much do it yourself information.

I have come across piston ring breakage and water pump failures in some engines
but haven't seen any high mileage cars out there to see how they hold up.

My wife had a hard time keeping her Lexus on the road this winter, and my autistic son's favorite car is the Cayenne. I would like to get one and get a personalized plate with his name on it, if I can find the right car for the right price and there not considered piles of crap.

I would use it to tow the 914 around to events and she can drive it the rest of the time.

Any input and advise would be appreciated.

[horizontally-opposed]

FWIW, I don't own a Cayenne but have spent several thousand miles in them as a result of my occupation, andhave driven all versions, inluding all 2008 models.

I'll keep my thoughts to the eariler cars, as that is what you are looking for.

Upsides:
-Phenomenal on-road performance for what it is (just drive a Cayenne, then an X5, then an Explorer and you'll see that the jumps are equal between all three)

-Good interior space

-Perfectly acceptable ride quality (FAR better than X5 4.4i or higher)

-Comfortable seats for long drives (at least this is my opinion)

-Excellent off-road ability (so long as you swap the tires)

-A certain "Porsche" feel to the proceedings (having to do more with engineering than soul, however)

-Superb ABS and braking

-Fantastic PSM

-Cayenne S V8 is a particularly sweet-sounding engine.

Downsides:
-Heavy (5,500-5,800 pounds, at the minimum)

-Lack-luster styling (again, my opinion)

-Both the V6 and the V8S are kinda wimpy in a straight line, with both merely "adequate" around town and the V6 getting pretty borderline on any kind of a grade at freeway speeds with just me on board....

-Iffy quality in the 2003 models, probably getting better each year after that and making a noticeable leap for 2005 and 2006.

-Serious complexity. I think there's something like 53-54 computers on board, including one in each door just to regulate the power windows. And those get slammed hard every time a door hits the striker plate... Chevy V8 conversion would probably be a nightmare to integrate with OBD II and PSM. Unless you work for NASA, I wouldn't try it. And probably not even then.



A good friend and Porsche mechanic bought one and now has well over 60,000 miles on the car. I think it's a MY 2004. The only problem he has encountered has been paint chipping along the upper seams of the bumpers (gap was too tight). He loves the thing.

As for all the horrors reported in the Touareg, I'm sad to hear them and would take them as a precautionary tale at some level due to the amount of stampings and systems shared by the VW and Porsche SUVs. Then again, VWs are known for HORRIBLE electronics while Porsches generally seem to escape this fate.

So, given your son's emotional connection to the Cayenne, I think I'd go for it, buying the newest one you can get and making sure to get it CPO'd.

Hope that's helpful...

pete