Anybody have experiences with a Porsche Cayenne? (92A/958?)

[Vovchandr]

Recent garage thread got me thinking again about my next daily.

 

I'm considering getting a new one and I have found myself always attracted to ~10 year old depreciated European cars as my comfort spot.

 

Ideal model would be a pain in the butt just enough where I can work on it myself or pay to fix a few things but not looking for a complete headache (Range Rover would be in the running otherwise)

 

I'm currently likely to get a W212 Mercedes E350 Wagon (~2011) for mid teens but the value proposition on a Cayenne is intriguing especially considering it can tow well which is a plus for my occasional needs with all the trailers.

 

I've seen a number of them in the teens with high miles, which isn't a problem for me as long as the seller was proper with maintenance. If anything high miles is reassuring as I'm used to my generation Volvo hitting 300k often without problems other than maintenance.

 

So far my research suggests timing cover leaks, valve cover gaskets and air suspension issues as big items along with a few other smaller typical replacement items such as water pumps etc once you get into miles.

 

I know its a VW platform but I believe the engine work is all Porsche especially with a V8

 

Pictures for references

 

 

 

 

2012-Mercedes-Benz-E-Class-FrontSide_MBECLASSW111_505x375.avif

[wdb]

I have the S212 in 2013 flavor. It's roomy, comfortable, reliable, safe as a house. It gets 30+ MPG highway, which combined with the 21 gallon fuel tank means it goes a llooonnnnggggg way on a tankful. It is festooned with clever thingies that enhance practicality. It can swallow astoundingly long stuff. It's not a sports car though. It's competent and confident, but it's not something that begs to be tossed. 

 

If ease of ingress/egress is on your list of needs, definitely consider the S212. Nonagenarians have a pretty easy time of it in my experience.

[7Westfield]

A friend tows a vintage racing 912 in an enclosed trailer with a cayenne

[SENC]

I bought a 2007 Land Rover LR3 about 2 years ago with similar thoughts in mind.  130k miles, 2 or 3 owners all in the South, and a service record.  The trump cards over other vehicles were towing capacity (just under 8k) and price.  With a purchase price under $6k and setting aside $7-8k for potential maintenance in the first 12 months, I was comfortable total cost would be 20% lower than the others and I'd have a better towing and off road vehicle.  I think I ended up with a total year 1 cost of about $11k.

 

It has been a brilliant vehicle I really enjoy driving.  The downsides are it is slow and drinks gas, relative to the others you mention - but the first is irrelevant to me in a daily driver and tow vehicle.  The extra $800ish in gas per year is offset by lower taxes and lower insurance costs, so immaterial.

 

I've found the LR3 to be relatively easy to work on, and have done about 50% of the work to date myself.  I use a good independent LR mechanic for bigger/more technical stuff or when I just don't have time.  The LR3s and LR4s (and UK cousins Discovery 3 and 4) have huge followings and active communities so advice, parts etc. are very readily available.

[FE07]

Recently bought a '16 Cayenne Diesel with 95K miles which was CPO'd.  That means 2 years of extended warranty from Porsche.  I previously had a Touraeg TDi which went back to VW with the diesel recall.  Both tow great and and the diesel gets close to 30 mpg.  Should last for quite a long time.  I'd look for a VW Touraeg TDi as well.  Will be less expensive than a Porsche, drive similarly and with the higher end models, be just as nice inside.  BAT has had quite a number of Cayenne diesel's within the past 1-2 years.  Touraeg TDi's as well.  Can at least get an idea of what's out there.  

[Vovchandr]

2 hours ago, FE07 said:

Recently bought a '16 Cayenne Diesel with 95K miles which was CPO'd.  That means 2 years of extended warranty from Porsche.  I previously had a Touraeg TDi which went back to VW with the diesel recall.  Both tow great and and the diesel gets close to 30 mpg.  Should last for quite a long time.  I'd look for a VW Touraeg TDi as well.  Will be less expensive than a Porsche, drive similarly and with the higher end models, be just as nice inside.  BAT has had quite a number of Cayenne diesel's within the past 1-2 years.  Touraeg TDi's as well.  Can at least get an idea of what's out there.  

 

Yeah I've been keeping an eye in BaT auctions as well as C&B which seems to be better deals due to being smaller auction house.

 

I haven't quite figured out which motor combination I'd prefer. It wouldn't be for performance but rather reliability. There is the V8, the V6 which I think is the VR6 and obviously the diesel.

[Vovchandr]

3 hours ago, FE07 said:

Recently bought a '16 Cayenne Diesel with 95K miles which was CPO'd.  That means 2 years of extended warranty from Porsche.  I previously had a Touraeg TDi which went back to VW with the diesel recall.  Both tow great and and the diesel gets close to 30 mpg.  Should last for quite a long time.  I'd look for a VW Touraeg TDi as well.  Will be less expensive than a Porsche, drive similarly and with the higher end models, be just as nice inside.  BAT has had quite a number of Cayenne diesel's within the past 1-2 years.  Touraeg TDi's as well.  Can at least get an idea of what's out there.  

 

What made you want to pick a diesel? I'm reading these didn't have the transfer case issues others have had. At premium cost of gas that the gas ones would need, Diesel doesn't seem to be much of a problem especially considering it will get better MPG. Touraeg won't be on my radar for a few reasons, one of which being future resale, especially if most of the parts are the same, I'd rather have something that keeps value better.

 

Seems like diesel might be the front runner. About 15,000 total imported for 958 and I wouldn't want a tan interior. Expected budget likely around $20k for one.

[Vovchandr]

I see @Croc has considered it a long time ago

 

  

On 6/18/2013 at 8:27 AM, Croc said:

 

Or $5k Porsche badge. I am very closely looking at the Porsche cayenne diesel....if I can get a demonstrator version not too heavily loaded that has some initial depreciation. Either that or the BMW X5. Both come in reds and blues

 

 

@Kitcat liked his diesel Touareg too. Time to do more digging.

[Croc]

45 minutes ago, Vovchandr said:

I see @Croc has considered it a long time ago

 

 

 

 

Would not recommend.  I ended up going to the the BMW X5 route for three SUVs in a row and now the current X7.  A friend plus a work colleague ended up with Cayenne diesels.  For both of them they were dogs.  Spent more time in the workshop being repaired under warranty than being driven.  Engine and transmission issues on both.  One eventually got rid of it under the NJ lemon laws and bought a BMW SUV.  He never had a problem since.  The other sold the Cayenne after two years and bought a Range Rover and loves it.    

 

Putting aside the family 1971 VW Beetle, I have never had a reliable experience with a VAG product I have owned.

 

However, a lot of people on this forum have had great experiences with their VW Toerags.  Luck of the draw I suppose?

 

 

[FE07]

Guess just luck of the draw.  I had multiple problems with EGR coolers and catalytic convertors on my Touraeg.  All covered under warranty however.  I know multiple people who have owned Cayenne diesels without those issues.  Who know's?  Engine is the same as the VW although the trans is different and have never heard of any issues with that on the Cayennes.  It pulls my trailer and 7 like they're not there.  Probably about 4,500 lbs.

[Kitcat]

My diesel Touareg was great. I put 130K miles on it, many were towing miles.

 

i replaced it with the gas version when VW bought back all the dirty diesels they had sold under false pretenses.

 

 I have put 90K on the gas version. Both have been very reliable and easy to live with. However Consumer Reports gives each version poor grades on reliability. Maybe I have been lucky?

 

Both are comfortable cruisers and rated to tow 7,700lbs. Obviously, the diesel towed much more effortlessly and got better mpg.

[SENC]

Not sure if you've found what you want, but if not you might add the LR Discovery 5 to the list to consider.  Had my LR3 in for some planned suspension work and they gave me a D5 for a couple days.  I was unexpectedly impressed, really a nice vehicle with lots of space.  Drove it both in town and for a few hundred miles on the interstate.  A V6, but rated for about 8k pounds towing.  Had a long conversation with the indy shop manager - they have found them quite solid mechanically, in fact he'd bought one about a year ago for his significant other.