2008 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. 

Porsche has expanded its popular Cayenne lineup by introducing a new variant tagged the Cayenne GTS that sits between the Porsche Cayenne S and the hot Cayenne Turbo.

The Porsche Cayenne GTS is the closest thing yet to a Porsche sports car in a full-sized family wagon, thanks to all sorts of tweaking in the body, engine and suspension.It could also be the vehicle that finally justifies the overused Sports Utility Vehicle tag spawned in the US for heavyweight four-wheel drives to make them more acceptable as suburban runabouts.The Cayenne still asserts itself as a luxury soft-roader, from its 2225kg heft to a respectable 194mm of ground clearance, fuel consumption of 13.9 litres/100km and the impressive 3500kg towing capacity.But it's all front.The only soft aspect of this beast is the Alcantara-and-leather upholstery, and a glance at the 295/35 rubber mounted on 21-inch alloys is proof the GTS is intended to leave the tarmac only on forays to the beach.Not for use on the sand.The GTS has inherited the front and rear spoilers from the Cayenne Turbo, but the wheel arches have been flared 14mm and it rides 24mm lower than the base Cayenne S to give it a more muscular stance.The 4.8-litre V8 has been sourced from the S with modifications to the intake and throttle-mapping freeing up another 15kW.That translates into a mid-range surge that propels the GTS from 80-120km/h in 7.8 seconds — a full second quicker than the S.Porsche expects the $153,500 GTS to lure some Cayenne S buyers upmarket, but doesn't believe it will steal sales from the range-topping Turbo.It also sees the GTS muscling its way onto the short list of prospective performance-wagon buyers — think Audi RS4 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.Self-levelling air suspension will be standard on all Australian-specification GTSs.So will the Tiptronic S automatic transmission, though Porsche Cars Australia spokesman Paul Ellis predicts 10 per cent of GTS owners will specify the manual six-speed gearbox.The interior features sports front seats with 12-way adjustment.You don't sit on them so much as contour them around your body — and you'll need all that bolstering when you give the GTS its head.On the roadThe Turbo still rules straight-line fight in the Cayenne hierarchy — 368kW against 298kW is a one-sided fight — but will lose ground to the GTS in the twisty bits.Which is where a Turbo S model is a distinct probability in the not-too-distant future.The GTS suspension is teamed with an array of electronic aids for a flat, fast ride. Flick the centre-console switch into Comfort mode and the GTS will cruise over corrugations as the Porsche Active Suspension Management softens the damping.A flick back into Sport mode activates the full arsenal, with the engine, exhaust and throttle settings remapped for (even more) performance, as the ride height drops automatically and the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control loads up the anti-roll bars to keep the body level through turnsThrottle lag is non-existent, and — as the Porsche hurtles from hairpin to hairpin on the Portugese back roads used for the world press previews, you are grateful the six-piston 350mm brakes don't fade under repeated punishment.There is some tyre noise on coarse bitumen, but that's easily addressed by flicking the Tiptronic shifter down a cog to coax more bark from the V8.It's easy to forget you are sitting in a soft-roader — in fact, it's hard to believe anything other than a dedicated sports car can corner as well as the GTS. And that, ultimately, is the newest Cayenne's true appeal.Paul Ellis says many buyers use their Cayennes as a quick and comfortable means of towing their boat, car or horse float and — with its 540-litre luggage capacity — it's practical transport for the affluent and ambitious.Unhitch the trailer and the GTS will scare other drivers (and you) with brakes, power and poise that few cars and few other soft-roaders can match.BMW does a strong job with its X5 V8, and its forthcoming X6 will provide the closest competition, but for now the Cayenne is the one to beat in the sports utility market.