2004 Porsche Cayenne - The SUV for those that don't want one
The Cayenne is a great buy if you want something that handles pretty well but need something that can swallow a ton of luggage and pull trailers. The prices of used models have really cratered down to super affordable levels now. The perception seems to be that these are money pits, but with a little careful buying, you can land a really solid car. The advantage of buying a 10+ year old example is that the fairly well-known factory defects have all been fixed. As long as the previous owner had the plastic coolant pipes in the engine bay swapped for metal ones (as per a Porsche recall) and had the drive and half shafts replaced, then your major worries are done. There are some other things that crap out, wiring in the headlights comes to mind, but most of the things are small and relati...
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The Cayenne is a great buy if you want something that handles pretty well but need something that can swallow a ton of luggage and pull trailers. The prices of used models have really cratered down to super affordable levels now. The perception seems to be that these are money pits, but with a little careful buying, you can land a really solid car. The advantage of buying a 10+ year old example is that the fairly well-known factory defects have all been fixed. As long as the previous owner had the plastic coolant pipes in the engine bay swapped for metal ones (as per a Porsche recall) and had the drive and half shafts replaced, then your major worries are done. There are some other things that crap out, wiring in the headlights comes to mind, but most of the things are small and relatively inexpensive. If you're not afraid of doing a little work yourself, this can be Porsche ownership on a budget. Once you've got one in your stable, it's tough to look at anything else in the class, comparable Mercedes and Audis just don't handle nearly as well. It's pretty peppy but next time around, I'd spring for the Turbo version... or save up some pennies to bag the larger engine that was inserted later in the model's lifetime.
Soon after purchase, my wife and I were up on Hwy 2 in the evening, carving some canyons, came round a bend and saw a Space X Falcon Launch over the LA Basin.
Soon after purchase, my wife and I were up on Hwy 2 in the evening, carving some canyons, came round a bend and saw a Space X Falcon Launch over the LA Basin.
The combination of handling and utility is pretty unbeatable outside of maybe a Mercedes E63 Wagon... but you're not getting one of those for anywhere near the price of Cayennes. Having driven both the air suspension and traditional coil sprung versions, I much prefer the coils. The air system in Porsches is reputed to be more durable than in other marques, but why both when the 'base' coil system is so good. Plus, having a coil system allows for easier upgrades to the suspension.
The combination of handling and utility is pretty unbeatable outside of maybe a Mercedes E63 Wagon... but you're not getting one of those for anywhere near the price of Cayennes. Having driven both the air suspension and traditional coil sprung versions, I much prefer the coils. The air system in Porsches is reputed to be more durable than in other marques, but why both when the 'base' coil system is so good. Plus, having a coil system allows for easier upgrades to the suspension.
Some people think you're stuck up because of the badge... Other than that, fuel economy is fairly low by modern standards. Personally, I just look at how much I saved over my coworkers with brand-new trucks and the cost of gas just fades away. They can also chew through tires pretty quickly... again, I saved so much on the initial hit that I have plenty in reserve for a kicking new set of boots every 10,000 miles.
Some people think you're stuck up because of the badge... Other than that, fuel economy is fairly low by modern standards. Personally, I just look at how much I saved over my coworkers with brand-new trucks and the cost of gas just fades away. They can also chew through tires pretty quickly... again, I saved so much on the initial hit that I have plenty in reserve for a kicking new set of boots every 10,000 miles.