OT used cayenne any good for dd? Options

[mb911]

Kind of thinking about getting rid of my 07 suburban as my DD with 190k on it i am starting to notice some wear. I was looking the other day at used suvs as i never buy new and noticed how cheap these are for as new as they are a 2011S can be had for about 13k with about 80k on them.

Any feedback?

[Tom_T]

A few more things to consider:

Series 1 V8's Plastic Coolant Pipes Problem -

If you're looking at any of the V8 powered 2003-06 (no 07 MY) Series 1 955 Cayenne S, GTS, Turbo, Turbo S - then you REALLY need to make sure that the plastic coolant pipe upgrade to Aluminum Pipes TSB/WS was done already on them (& possibly on the V6 too, which is the VW VR6 - but I never researched them).

There was a class action lawsuit on this which Porsche settled in such a way that if the calim wasn't made by Dec. 2015 by the OO or a later owner with a Porsche CPO - then anything later & all subsequent owners after the above were SOL.

Porsche pulled the same sort of legal settlement stop-loss with this issue, as the pulled with the IMS problem! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Basically the pipes crack with time/heat & leak into the V8 valley, then down into the engine/trans seal - thus destroying the trans & starter & more! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

The noted trans seal leak noted in the post above - if on the V8 - may be the first tell that you have a bigger problem inside!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

IIRC it's a $5-8,000+/- coolant pipes only job that requires the engine to be dropped IIRC - if done on your own - & total engine &/or trans replacement in the $10s of 1000s if the damage is already done! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

In 2015 off-n-on we were looking for the 2006 Titanium Ed. CayS in their Iceland Silver (see pic at bottom), & had a likely candidate in negotiations in Nov. - when the seller balked at taking it in to the P-dealer for having the 100% Porsche covered fix done as the 2nd owner under a CPO (expired, but pipes covered under settlement) before the settlement stop date (12/14/15 IIRC) -& then I talked to his SM to verify, but got talked out of S1 & into the S2 `08 or later due to other issues which I noted in a prior post above. That seller in Salinas did eventuality get them done before it expired & recontacted me in Feb. 2016, but by then we were already looking at a 2010 & exclusively for 2008-14 957 or 958 CS's.

If you're looking at an `03-06.5 Series 1 Cayenne V8, ask if the coolant pipes were done, & if so when & if the trans, starter, etc. were also checked out & replaced or repaired if needed. If yes, continue with caution on the other issues, then PPI if it seems a good candidate. If not done, then unless you own a shop & get a huge parts discount - run - not walk - away IMHO!

And if you own a 955 V8 & haven't done anything about the coolant pipes, then I strongly advise that you get them replaced & have it checked for ancillary damage first - in which case pass & sell it if it's gone too far by now.

Otherwise, it's a time bomb waiting to trash your car, & the failure is known to occur with low or high miles, & at any time in age - which is why Porsche could play the settlement limiting game, claiming that age/miles by now, that the early & later owners have gotten their money's worth by now to the judge! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)
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A note on Cayenne 2007 MY -

Due to the 955 S1 V8 coolant pipe problem, rear hatch & "Ameba" headlamp unit problems, cardran shaft/mid-bearing & upper control arm bushings issues, etc. - Porsche never produced a 2007 MY Cayenne. They basically skipped it.

Instead - the produced an extended MY 2006 Titanium Edition CayS only - & only in 4 colors: Black, Red, Marine Blue & Iceland Silver, with Titanium trim & wheels, & 2-tone black-gray or black-tan interiors - which were produced for the July - Dec. 2006 half of the 2007 MY. It was a continuation of the 2003-06 S1 955, with all of the noted issues, including the 4.5L V8's plastic coolant pipes. Call it a 955.5!

Then they did an early release of the 2008 957 Cayennes in Jan 2007 - so the 2008's are a longer 18 month MY, & you'll find some "older than normal" `08s out there. However, the early & late 2008's had all of the 957 upgrades - including the switch to metal coolant pipes (mostly) on the new larger 4.8L V8s, improved rear hatch & headlight designs, etc. However, it kept the earlier 955's PCM, Audio & Nav systems. Call it 957.1!

In 2009 they upgraded to the next
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Air Suspension -

The US only requires parts support for 10 years & Germany for 15 yrs. IIRC - so at some point the early Series 1 Cayennes will lack parts & you'll be hunting for replacement bags, pumps, sensors, etc. .... then the Ser. 1.5 (957) then Ser. 2.1 (958), etc. will reach that age.

So if you're buying into 10> yrs. old ones, you may want to think on that. If you don't need the air susp. & like the steel sprung suspension's ride enough - why add complication & potential maintenance expense/complications & parts NLA issues?
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Turbo -

If you're towing, you'll get far worse mpg with that CTT, than a normally aspirated V8 - the CS is still a very fast SPORT utility vehicle! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)

I've also heard from the Cay/Treg/Q7 subgroup on Airstream Forums, that the V8 Turbo seems to hunt for shifts more while towing, possibly due to the CTT ECU & Trans control settings being more race-like. Some have said Sport mode helps.

Note that the GTS also has a normally aspirated V8, but comes with air susp. standard & the "turbo-look" front grill, & all Turbo & Turbo S models come with air susp.
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V6 -

If your primary mission will be towing (as is for ours), then the Gas V6 & Hybrid V6 will get worse mpg while hitched, than the normally aspirated V8 - & you only lose about 1-2 mpg over the V6 when not towing city/hwy/avg.

However, there are FAR more V6s out there to buy, & their price range is a bit lower.

Plus ALL engine versions have the same tow rating 7716# GTW/770# HW (2011> is a tad lower near 7000/700 IIRC) - except for the Hybrid, which is a bit lower due to extra Hybrid system wt. This is the same for Tregs, & the Q7 loses about 700-1000 off that due to it being a bit longer 3rd row seating added wt.
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V6 TDI -

Monster Torque & pulling/towing power, but suffers from "Diesel-gate" issues, & the proposed fix will probably change at least some aspects of the way it drives (the 4 cyl. 2.0 TDI already has complaints about the changes made in UK & Europe).

Everyone with a Cay TDI whom I know just loves them - especially for towing! It actually gets better mpg either towing than the V8, or unhitched than the Hybrid, & pulls on grades towing better than the CTT/CTTS.

However, be aware that the regular maintenance costs - even oil changes - will cost you much more than the gas engines.

My long time Porsche mechanic thinks they're excellent engineering, but feels that V/A/P will just wash their hands of them once the parts run out & they're in the clear of supporting them, & the enforcement folks start to forget D-gate.

VW Treg & Audi Q7 had the V6 TDI around 2011 IIRC, but the CayTDI didn't come out until 2013, & all stopped delivery with the 2015s due to D-gate.

With the settlement now pending final approval, they've started selling off the new 2015s which have been held in stock by the dealers since the D-gate news broke & Porsche halted sales, but they are pricing them very high IMHO for what is now basically an extremely low mile 3 year old used car.

V10 TDI Treg -

A monster 5.0L V10 TDI based on the Audi race engine - in fact these helped Audi homologate their Le Mans V10 TDI - with TQ at almost 1000! IIRC they were a low production sub-model Treg only during 2004-10, so they're getting up there in age & miles now. Also more expensive to maintain, but never part of D-gate.

For some eye opening fun - go google Utube for the Treg V10 TDI vs. Dodge RAM 2500 TDI pull off! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)
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Spusal Approval & Family Road Trips -

Unless you're totally spoiled by cushy magic carpet rides in Luxe cars - IMHO the Cayenne is not a harsh ride for long trips - especially as compared to any other comparable or bigger SUV by any other mfgr.

In fact, when we test drove the upper end premium & lux V8 offerings of Toyota & Lexus, we were severely disappointed. The highly optioned 2013 Lexus GX460 had seat as hard as church pews, the body lean was horrific in "S maneuvers" (as in collision or hazard avoidance), & it was a truck over the bumps - & that was within the first mile or two in town that my wife vetoed it!!

So take you wife/SO/GF out in some body-on-frame truck based SUVs from any of the US or Japanese makers first, then in the Cayenne & over the same roads - it will probably sell itself! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

If you need seating for more than 5 &/or more luggage space than the Cay/Treg offer - then the likely move is up to the 7-8 passenger 3 row Audi Q7, which also has a cushier ride than it's 2 cousins.

You can also do a cut & paste photo with your trailer or just google pix for your wife/SO to see, if she needs "selling" on the Cayenne before allowing you to look at them (Andyrew et al).

I did this one to see if my wife even liked the 2006 CS Titanium Ed. in Iceland Silver (very close to my 85 BMW 325e E30 in Cosmos Blue BTW), back before we started looking for this specific color/version in 2015.


........ our trailer is a restored vintage 1960 Avion T20 - #2 off the line, which we take to vintage trailer rallies & car shows, etc. -^

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For the BMW X5 folks on here, those are worse than Porsche Cayenne by a long shot, according to most owners that I've talked with, as well as a rousing NO! from my mechanic Hans!

In my estimation, the bigger brakes, stiffer suspension & more power of the Cayenne S - over the equivalent V8 Treg & Q7 cousins was a plus - since we're empty nesters now & will primarily be taking it on towing road trips, plus it's a fun car for Porsche Club events & drives too.

As you can tell, I've spent far too much time researching & searching for our tow vehicle/extra fun car - before settling on the 08-14 CayS, but am happy to share my findings & opinions, & that of others with them already or working on them.

Good Luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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