2004 Porsche Cayenne Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2016 Porsche Cayenne as a used buy. When sportscar maker Porsche entered the SUV market with the big Cayenne SUV in June 2003 many thought it would ruin the company's image. How wrong they were, the SUVs (there's also the smaller Porsche Macan) saved

When famed sportscar maker Porsche entered the SUV market with the Cayenne in 2003 many thought it could be the end of the marque. Doubters said Porsche 911 was the purest model in the German marque’s range and that diluting it could ruin the Porsche image. Yet, in many countries the Porsche Cayenne outsells the 911 and the pure sportscar’s sales certainly haven’t suffered.Porsche deliberately gave the Cayenne a family resemblance to the 911. Some have described it as looking like a 911 on steroids, saying the stylists have simply added 250 millimetres to the underfloor of a 911. We have to say that the design of the original Cayenne isn’t one of our favourites and it’s interesting to see the Series 2, launched in Australia in July 2010, has taken a different direction in style.The Cayenne Series 2 is larger than the original model, particularly in the back seat which provides comfortable space for two adults. The backrest can be adjusted for rake to further let you tailor your space. Luggage space is slightly more voluminous than before and can be significantly increased by sliding the back seat forwards to create extra length. Up to 160 mm of seat travel is available.Rather than pour huge amounts of money into the all-new Cayenne, Porsche collaborated with Volkswagen and Audi, so the Cayenne, Touareg and Q7 share some out-of-sight components. Unlike the other members of the team, who aimed for quality on-road cruisers with some off-road ability, Porsche leaned very much in the sports wagon direction. This big Porsche SUV has on-road dynamics that defy the bulk of this large wagon.The Porsche Cayenne S Series 2 no longer tries to be a full-on off-road vehicle; it doesn't have a two-speed transfer case to provide low range for extreme driving. That, and others changes have resulted in a mass reduction of about 12 per cent which not only makes it slightly nimbler, but also lowers fuel consumption and emissions.Cayenne was launched in Australia in June 2003 with a 4.5-litre petrol V8 in either naturally aspirated or turbocharged format. Even more power, 383 instead of 331 kW, arrived in a special version of this engine, called the Turbo S, in February 2006.New designs of V8s with a capacity of 4.8 litres were introduced in April 2007, again as turbo and non-turbo engines. A 3.6-litre petrol V6 became optional at the same time, though it doesn’t provide the exhilaration of the V8s it does have enough performance to suit some owners.A V6 turbo-diesel displacing 3.0 litres joined the range in April 2009. With plenty of torque, up to 550 Nm, it performs well and turbo lag isn’t too bad. Naturally fuel consumption is lower than on the the petrol V8s.An interesting hybrid option is offered in the Series 2 Cayenne S. This uses a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine and an electric motor. However, the Cayenne S hybrid costs significantly more than the equivalent Cayenne S in petrol format – and uses more fuel than the Cayenne turbo-diesel.The great majority of Australian imports have a six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission. Some six-speed manuals were brought in, but these haven’t been big sellers and may prove unpopular when you come to trade up.Porsche has had a presence in Australia for many decades and runs an efficient dealer network. These focus on major population centres so if you have any problems out back o’ Bourke you might have to get the Cayenne trailered back to the big smoke. Not a cheap exercise.Many Cayennes will have been serviced by these Porsche dealers strictly by the book. We recommend these as used vehicles; you will probably be asked to pay more, but it’s money well spent. Follow this up by keeping to the same servicing routine and you will benefit at trade-up time.Insurance charges are higher than average, but not outrageously so considering the type of buyers attracted to Porsche Cayennes. You will find quite a difference on quotes so it’s worth shopping around. As always make sure you do accurate comparisons between companies.WHAT TO LOOK FORCheck the interior for signs of rough usage, particularly in the back where bored kids can do a lot of damage. Make sure the engine starts easily and settles into a steady idle almost immediately.  The diesel isn’t quite as good as the petrol unit, but isn’t far behind them.The Porsche Cayenne has more off-road ability than you would expect, but few will have been bush bashing. If you do come across a used Porsche Cayenne that’s been on more than dirt roads it’s probably best to pass it up.Few Cayennes are used as heavy-duty towing vehicles, but if you inspect one for sale at a horse riding school, or similar, it might pay to ask a few questions.Cayennes with V6 engines were recalled in 2008 because of a possible fuel line problem that could lead to a fire. Check the problem has been rectified by talking to the seller. Or click on www.porschecars.com.au.Repairs can be expensive so make sure to get a quote on even apparently insignificant problems.CAR BUYING TIPSporting SUVs are likely to be driven harder than those bought as kid carters and probably have greatly accelerated wear rates as a result. 

When Porsche uncorked the Cayenne it promised it would pop to the top of the four-wheel-drive world.It hasn't worked that way. Sales are good-ish in Australia, and have doubled the numbers at the company's local division, but it hasn't been a total breakthrough.The arrival of the look-alike and drive-alike Volkswagen Touareg, as well as a massive lineup of potential luxury rivals, has made things tough for Porsche.In short, it hasn't been a champagne spray.And we also found the fizz had turned flat when we tasted a Cayenne V8 for the first time last year.Things are different this time, as we're looking at the Cayenne Turbo and the car has been snitched from PCA boss Michael Winkler for the drive.He says there has been no special tweaking, but confesses the car is a lot better than the squeaky Cayenne S we lumped to Bathurst last October.The promise of the car is reflected in everything from its twin-turbo V8 engine to the hi-tech air suspension, electronic assistance package, fully loaded cabin and price tag soaring beyond $200,000.But, most important of all, are three words from Winkler:¿Remember the 928.¿That won't mean a lot to younger fans, but the 928 was Porsche's first trip into the world of V8-powered family cars.It was built in the 1980s before the four-wheel-drive boom, but anyone who has driven a 928 will remember the machined-from-solid feel, easy driving and V8 thump.We felt exactly those strengths in the first few kilometres with the spacious Cayenne Turbo.It's an impressive machine, starting with the twin-turbo V8 and its all-wheel drive system and electronic air suspension.Porsche says it has liberated an easy 331kW of power and 620Nm of torque from the hi-tech alloy engine, and that it's more than enough for a 0-100km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds, and a top whack of 265km/h.The car comes with everything from satellite navigation and a super-classy CD system to alcantara leather, electric sports seats, a multi-function steering wheel, DVD entertainment for the rear seats, a tiptronic six-speed automatic with switches on the wheel, and a sunroof.Even so, there are lots of rivals with smaller price tags and badges that are just as impressive as the Cayenne.Mercedes has the raunchy but rowdy ML55, the Range Rover is great if you can afford the fuel, the Lexus LX470 is still the off-road king, and the BMW X5 with 4.6-litre V8 is still our favourite, and undercuts the Cayenne with a starting price of $152,300.Still, the Cayenne Turbo is the king of the quicks and a stop – or two – beyond the reach of the clone-car VW Touareg which shares so much of its engineering and equipment.Porsche Cars Australia's recent decision to reject a V6 Cayenne in favour of a proper prestige attack has protected that position and given the brand a better chance to continue its early sales success.ON THE ROADOur first run with the Cayenne, last October, was not good.We only got two blocks from the Sydney dealer before it started squeaking and rattling.We were appalled that a car as costly as the Cayenne could feel so crappy.It bounced and jiggled over Sydney's broken bitumen, but the cornering grip through the twisty bits to Bathurst provided plenty of compensation.The first few kilometres in the Cayenne Turbo were a total contrast. It felt tight, eager and well-balanced.It was a lot like a 928, at least to someone who had driven one before, and still has it on a ¿classic garage¿ shopping list.And colleague James Stanford had already given his approval to the Cayenne Turbo's potential as an Outback rally machine after some sideways sprinting near Alice Springs in 2003. It only needed a tickle on the throttle to move with the traffic, while a full-on attack from the lights was rewarded with a thundering growl and a slingshot start.We have no doubt, despite the Cayenne's size and two-tonne-plus heft, that it could continue to hunt all the way to the claimed top speed.It handled corners easily, the six-speed automatic was smooth and discreet, and the steering feel was good.There was some movement in the front suspension, and even the air shocks couldn't give it the hunkered-down feel you would expect in a 911 or Boxster, but it was certainly more like a Porsche than a Proton.We also enjoyed the roomy back seat and boot – all the luxury you usually get in a top-line BMW or Benz – and the easygoing cruising ability.But it was tough to park, it was a little too keen on fuel during our test – though Stanford reported 10 litres/100km from the Geelong freeway – and it never felt as sporty as we would have liked.If you consider the Cayenne as a full-sized Porsche family car, and you have the dollars to put one in the drive, it is the closest thing to a born-again 928.And we know from experience that it can – if you can handle the scratches and dirt – tackle tough off-road conditions.But we still don't think the Cayenne is as good as it should be, or that it is as far ahead of the Touareg as Porsche buyers have every right to demand.Did we get it wrong on the first run through the Cayenne? No.Have we been converted by a week with the Cayenne Turbo? No. But we now have a much better understanding of what Porsche was really trying to do with the Cayenne, and we can now appreciate its many strengths without being overwhelmed by its weaknesses.