Porsche Cayenne 955/957 Buyers guide (2003-2010) Avoid buying a broken Cayenne (TDI, V6, V8, Turbo)

[@outdoorzilla1301]

Missed out the most important thing that means your choice of best buy is wrong - the 4.5 litre cylinder coating wears out, possibly in colder climates or when doing more shorter journeys but means a replacement engine and is sooo common. Happened to me, would never buy one again. Turbo may be better as it has another type of coating but still happens occasionally. For this reason, go for the 4.8

[@themilesdriven]

You're absolutely right, an oversight on our part, oddly it was on our original script, but didn't get in to the final cut. Anyway we'll pin you comment so others car see. Although our advice was for the VR6 engine, and the 4.5 if you wanted more power (as the budget options), and the GTS (4.8 litre) for higher budgets, so it looks like we actually agreed on which is best to buy 👍

[@outdoorzilla1301]

Apologies, you're right, you said 4.8gts which is a good choice and was a good video otherwise I

[@oliverm8489]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but I was under the impression this only happens to pre-2005 4.5L V8's?

[@outdoorzilla1301]

@@oliverm8489 not heard about a change in 2005 but maybe. No one is 100% sure of the cause as it seems likely its a mixture of engineering process and the effectiveness of the engine oil. Its believed its the coating of the cylinder wall left on after manufacture whereas the turbo engine is forged using a different process but it still does happen to both but less likely on the turbo. I don't know if they changed much in 2005 but I do know it can still happen to engines after 2005 - maybe like the turbo though its less likely if they did make alterations? Still lovely cars and many go over 250,000 miles but mine went at 85,000 with fsh! Maybe regular use or longer journey averages is better than low mileage looking at cars now as it could be the cold oil or uncirculated oil on start ups (and in colder climates some say its more common)

[@oliverm8489]

@@outdoorzilla1301 i also belive the 3.5 was coated in inconel, and that was deemed the culprit. But honeslty im not 100% sure with the facts

[@MichaelIp]

I just picked up an 09 GTS 6 speed MT. Absolutely love it. It's a completely different experience driving it vs a cayman or 911 though. Still very fun!

[@themilesdriven]

GTS is a great choice, all the best with the car 👍

[@Belgianmalinoisk9-p9f]

I bought a GTS 08' with a mileage of 310,000 km. he's driving and doing well. Greetings from Poland :)

[@Wisniovy]

Odważnie "opie" 😉 dawaj znać jak eksploatacja po lecie

[@kwadrat76]

Witam,jak Porsche?

[@zombie4034]

I'm watching this because I found a clean 09 turbo S but NVM, thanks for the video.

[@themilesdriven]

Clean Turbo S is hard to find, I still remember driving one 14 years ago, incredible experience of power at the time. A well kept Turbo S with the coolant hoses sorted would still tempt me today 👍

[@zombie4034]

@@themilesdriven you're tempting me bro, it only has 65k KM, but the air suspension and turbo is worrying tbh

[@themilesdriven]

Yeah I know what you mean, but to be honest anything powerful and luxury will have its risks of bills. All you can do is buy the best one you can find, know what problems to look for, treat it well, and have a fund set aside in case the worst happens, then just enjoy the drive 👍

[@zombie4034]

@@themilesdriven I really appreciate it man, thank you

[@yosoy-steve]

I've got an '09 GTS and a '10 Transsyberia, and I absolutely love them. Also, my understanding is that Porsche planned to make 600 of the Transsyberia, but only actually produced 285.

[@randominternetuser2888]

I also have a Transsyberia and my understanding is there were 600 per world region (3) were produced. I also heard Porsche factory outfit a couple hundred 955 Cayenne for rally racing previous to and the reason for the 957 Trans special edition. Because Porsche loves special edition cars about the same as they hate being the car manufacturer many famous actors die in. What livery is yours? Mine is black over silver. But I've wrapped it in 3M "shadow camo" with the sticker but not the caps on the bumpers. I love it, but my woman drives that mostly.

[@shamwow316]

I love my 3.2 ❣️once you drive a cayenne you just fall in love with it

[@amannoonelistensto8615]

Sounds good, especially if you cut 2 tubes and install inside your exhaust + the throttle controller, makes it pick up revs really quick and gives you fuel efficiency in eco mode, haven’t tried drag race mode yet 😊

[@thefreedomguyuk]

Nowt wrong in buying a broken 955. Just make sure you pay the right amount of money for it. They can be cheap as chips !

[@koehnboy]

Great video. I've been looking endlessly for one with an off-road package... No luck so far 😢

[@themilesdriven]

Thanks for the comment, yes we have heard that owners with it hold onto them, but we hope you find the right one soon 😁

[@emirbenaissa3441]

Makes me wanna get a Turbo (957)

[@ml1krr]

thank you so much for this video. please don’t use music though it’s so annoying.

[@themilesdriven]

Thanks for the feedback, we have dulled the music to be much quieter in our newest videos, but we have been thinking of removing it all together 👍

[@atrain132]

Nothing wrong with some background music! You can't please everyone.

[@emirbenaissa3441]

Funny thing the turbo and turboS get better mileage than the GTS and S

[@themilesdriven]

Yes its an interesting one, the lower stress of the turbo engine on mild acceleration and cruising likely helps 😁

[@emirbenaissa3441]

@@themilesdriven indeed, power available earlier, no need to rev as much to do the same amount of work.

[@outdoorzilla1301]

I'd this really true coz I'm looking at either a 4.8 turbo or 4.8 gts and thought the gts should get better mileage. I thought that with possibly slightly less maintenance with no turbo or complicated air suspension maybe the gts is the sensible option but if mileage is better on the turbo or even the same on the turbo maybe the turbo is the way to go with the slightly higher spec and acceleration?!!

[@themilesdriven]

GTS would still be a super purchase. The main thing is how you drive, the turbo is less stressed when cruising and the low down torque means you don't need to push as hard to get moving (although the GTS is no slouch), the end result being less work for the engine. However if you would just drive the Turbo/Turbo S faster because of the extra power you would see the lower range of fuel economy and as you mention, driving faster on a more complex engine may then lead to higher maintenance costs. Hope that helps 👍

[@VMD1286]

I am getting one car resale, should I buy this ? 2005 model with 8000usd

[@PoodleMcCobb]

the first time i ever though of the porsche cayenne as something more than just a phat azz SUV was when i went cruising through the hills in my POS honda pilot. some dude pulled out of his drive way in his cayenne and thought id be funny to troll him into a race and sure enough he did. one corner two corner three corner, and he was gone and my breaks were barbequed.

[@e28forever30]

So you had some barbecue on your lunch break? Nice..

[@piedpiper1172]

I want to do something very dumb: Swap the V8 manual into a Veloster. I have been looking to AWD swap my car for two years, gearing up, researching meticulously the various AWD Hyundai cars… only to discover two days ago that there is a AWD Porsche drive train that will pass smog at over 400hp for less than the cost of buying a clapped Hyundai Tuscon to take parts from… Can the low range gear box be deleted from the manual versions? I’m seeing some of these in salvage yards with mostly cosmetic or suspension damage (irrelevant to me) for under 5,000…. Is this V8 one that was in other cars, are there other sources for the manual transmission to swap in? Shaving the bay and mounting the rear dif is enough for me, I don’t want to get into the rabbit hole of custom mating plates and all that. I just want a cayenne that isn’t unforgivably ugly and is approximately 20,000 pounds lighter than this monster. SUVs are a crime against motor vehicles and should be purged.

[@_J.P._]

I can't shake the feeling the Cayenne looks like a boat :D I know it is a Porsche but I also know it shares the same VW platform for other VW models and adding the boat look makes it not attractive to me at all :)

[@carlatashkadeh5890]

The back is ugly but the front is timeless. And it packs like a boat too.

[@carlatashkadeh5890]

(Talking about the 957 in terms of front looks)

[@thegiant6795]

Looks like a frog 🐸

[@definitionXrp]

one youtuber mechanic says the v8 engines were always in shop for repairs...says the 08 base model v6 is most reliable

[@themilesdriven]

The VR6 engines fitted do appear to have good reliability due to their long life before going into the Cayenne. Interestingly the VR6 engine lives on in the VW Talagon (Chinese market only) today in 2.5-litre capacity 😁

[@groggysword33]

I was talking with a Porsche Technician yesterday. He told me the 4.8 is the most reliable of the cayenne engines. Another opinion, but thought I would add it. :)

[@Belgianmalinoisk9-p9f]

I bought a GTS 08' with a mileage of 310,000 km. he's driving and doing well. Greetings from Poland :)

[@irfanbk]

Consider adding Lokasil vs Alusil block info.

[@jperes889]

I am thinking about buying a first-generation Cayenne here in Germany. There are tone of them on the market for good prices. Just worried about the reliability and wondering which variant is the most reliable in general. Anyone has some advice?

[@j2s77]

I do about 30-40 miles London driving Monday to Friday what is the best 957 model do you think? I’d love a turbo but wary of the fuel economy

[@themilesdriven]

The Turbo and naturally aspirated motor will probably use similar amounts of fuel if you are just commuting around London. The maintenance/repair costs will be higher on the Turbo though 👍

[@krizz6674]

How is The Cayenne 2008 3.6 with 185.000 km on it ?

[@wigs1098]

Great, mine has over 200000km and still going well. My 996 911 also has over 220k on it and also going great. Look after them and they do fine.

[@elmafudd9703]

To the nerds of the net, s it fact that up to 2010 these were fitted with a low range gearbox. Then from 2011 they removed that so they are not as good off road?

[@vemundr9263]

Yes, they removed that since no one took them off road.

[@michaelmontes9820]

So which one is the best to purchase 4.5 na / 4.5 Turbo , or 4.8L , or 4.8L turbo or GTS?

[@michaelmontes9820]

Early 2010’s with the 4.8 turbo?

[@GU_WOP_O]

08-10 gts if you can. Regular S if not. I'd avoid the turbo models just more stress on the engine and more parts to fail at higher miles. I have an S and only thing I did wrong was choosing it over the GTS because of the pano roof which you should avoid at all costs. The GTS I had a chance to buy was a manual and I let the dumb pano roof talk me away from it. Biggest regret in a long time.

[@michaelmontes9820]

Wow , bummer. Those MTs are hard to come by and also being a gts.

[@GU_WOP_O]

@@michaelmontes9820 to top it off it was a GTS in the red color with peanut butter interior. I was one dumb 20 year old and just wanted the pano roof

[@eddherring4972]

@@GU_WOP_OI don’t get what you’re saying. I have a 2008 TTS with pano roof and full GTS styling it’s a beast of a car and there’s no downside. Having said that, non model specific I had to replace leaking headlights and ballasts at a cost of £3600 but as I say that’s a Cayenne issue rather than a turbo issue. I also needed to clean out the pano roof drains which I did with a £6 trombone cleaner no problem. Reliability wise I’ve had one issue which was a misfire on cylinder 2 which was caused by a cracked coil pack, it turned out that 7 of the 8 were cracked. Other than the headlight and coil pack issues I’ve replaced budge tyres for Pirelli P1’s and a ceased front caliper for a genuine new one also brembo discs and pads all round including E brake plus trans fluid and standard oil & filter obviously as part of regular servicing. No turbo model specific issues at all. Cleaning roof drains is a regular maintenance job which took around 10 minutes per side including parts removal and refitting for access.

[@tonyfoxxbuilds1920]

There's a 2006 cayenne turbo near me for under $4500. Mentions a trans solenoid issue. I haven't asked seller any questions yet. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't know the answers to questions you or I would ask. I'd like to swap the motor into a different vehicle. Are there quality engine rebuild kits? What should I budget for a 4.8l to get another 60k miles out of it? I think the motor has 179k miles now. Although I may be burning tires so if I get 10k miles I'm sure I'll be happy still.

[@themilesdriven]

Yes you can get rebuild kits that provide all new seals and gaskets as one package, but depending on your application you may want to go for a more thorough overhaul, are you planning on taking just the motor or motor and transmission?

[@tonyfoxxbuilds1920]

@The Miles Driven motor and trans just to make it some what easier so I don't have to create an adapter plate. The vehicle I want to put this in will make people made haha. I may also be talking out my a$$ with this project. My driveway and climate would make this way too difficult. My town is nicknamed flood city for a reason. Where can I find a good rebuild kit? When the cylinder wall is scored is there a sleeve or will it need to be honed? What happens to a 4.5 when everyone says it's scored?

[@themilesdriven]

@Tony Foxx Builds The idea sounds great, but whether it will work is always the challenge when starting a project 😁 you can get a kit on Ali express if you aren't worried about genuinely parts and want to keep costs down. There is the option for forged pistons and a nikasil lining at the standard diameter. However, for peace of mind you may want to send the block to a Porsche specialist or well respected engine builder and the project cost will be rising steeply. As a better option you could find a wrecked Cayenne turbo, take a bore camera, check the cylinder walls are in good shape and start with that 👍

[@tonyfoxxbuilds1920]

@The Miles Driven I'd rather pay more than to use Ali express. Unfortunately there are no porsch specialists any near me. The cayenne turbo near me seems to have a good motor just bad solenoids in the transmission. But I will for sure use a scope now that you mention it.

[@MoparWaz]

I’m looking at a 2010 Turbo S, he says engine mounts and full rubber block on both front suspensions needs replacing. Done 190,000km and selling for $6,666, should I go for it or ?

[@hectorespinal1010]

Fuck yes!! Go for it, budget 5-10k and replace the common issues.

[@scappel]

Here’s a tip don’t buy one

[@Alex-Williams17]

Why ? I want to buy an old one ? What model & engine u recommend ?

[@morecowbell235]

Reliability - get a Toyota / Lexus or Honda. If you love wasting money on overpriced repairs and having a lot of repairs, get a german car.