Ultimate Bargain Porsche: Why The First Generation Cayenne Is Much Better Than You've Been Told

[@andrewbaker7832]

Bought a new one in 2004, kept it 12 years and did 120,000 miles. Never let us down once, easy to drive, comfortable and an absolute tardis.

[@sanchozarchicha1064]

Liar

[@mottom2657]

@@sanchozarchicha1064 If there's a truly reliable German car today, it's nothing but a Porsche. Older Benzes used to be goddamn reliable, but they abandoned their own reliability.

[@geoffbob6267]

@@mottom2657 I mean my 2008 Gl450 is at 191K miles, regular maintenance keeps the older germans running minty.

[@letmeknow4167]

2019 cayenne s here 122,000 miles. Super reliable no issues

[@TimsRcsurgery]

2005 955, 80k owned it 5 years and use it to launch a boat, never misses a beat! (Does eat discs and exhaust is rotten from being in the sea constantly)

[@boronsniify]

These are, indeed, underrated. My first project at Style Porsche was to help finish the interior and then production use it, involving many trips to Wolfsburg to liaise with VW Design who were working on the Toureg. I later did the exterior facelift with Steve Murkett, designer of the original, correcting (IMHO) the too narrow “face” of the first iteration and reducing the CD from .42 to .35. Long time ago, but cool project! These were a huge step for SUV dynamics and the Turbo was a real giggle to drive!

[@exgtt2061]

You nailed the interior imo, especially in full sand/beige. It’s just so Porsche 👍

[@boronsniify]

That interior was a group effort, but it worked out well enough. It’s funny that these first Cayennes are now nearing 20 years old! I think their significance is that Porsche saw it could profitably extend its brand with SUVs and that this was copied by other luxury and sports car makers.including Rolls and Ferrari. My wife drives a Levante and loves it. I think the first X5 and Cayenne E1revolutionised the car market…

[@anandmorris]

At least you didn't work on the exterior! 🤣

[@WSS_the_OG]

I do like the interior. It almost exists in direct contradiction to its exterior styling. You managed a very comfortable place to sit in, which also looks good in an understated and elegant way. Nicely done. Well, except for a few odd choices on switch and controls placement ... but I don't know if you were responsible for that.

[@taotoo2]

Maybe I'm odd but I think the first version looks way better than the facelift or later models.

[@ScottJordanSeVCEO]

I have a 2006 955 Turbo S, and LOVE it. I can afford a replacement, but seems silly as I don't think there is anything on the market that is that much better to justify spending $150k+ on. I love the look of the 955 Turbo S, much more than more current models, and firmly believe that these will be collectable in time. Great review and look forward to the more detailed version.

[@Galatzo]

A first gen Turbo S is absolutely a future classic

[@supersurfer1]

looks very dated

[@boyracer3477]

​ @supersurfer1 ​@@supersurfer1 People who say that don't even know what they mean. Makes them seem smart in their mind I guess.

[@boyracer3477]

@@supersurfer1 In 10-20 years, they will look great .....

[@thebritishautochannel]

Always wanted one of these, I remember when they had just launched and one pulled up alongside then proceeded to do a passable imitation of a rocketship, at the time seeing such a big car have acceleration like that was startling, left a permenant positive impression 😁 there's quite a few of them being used as actual off roaders these days too which results in some interesting modified ones

[@youtubegarbage7876]

It is a great car if you are a shitty dad.

[@bensmithkent22]

Haha I had one do that to me. Crayford high street 2004. At the time I was in an L reg clio 1.4 rt 5 door in red 😂 so in no way shape or form trying to race it. It looked huuuuuggggeeee. Shot off at indecent pace. Was 5 youngish lads driving too laughing looking down at me. Certain car memories stick with you when you first see a certain model.

[@Beer_Dad1975]

Performance, a big yes, reliability a big no, looks - fucking atrocious.

[@nickj7215]

I have a long-lasting, deep-seated impression after witnessing an Audi RS6 pull onto the M40 and weave effortlessly onto the fast lane... such power!

[@sethborne]

We had 2 of them a 2004 s and a 2008 turbo. The turbo made the s feel slow, but to be fair, our E55 AMG made the turbo feel slow. Even with all wheel drive it was slower off the line. It had the same horsepower, less torque, more weight. The grip didn't help much.

[@MoJoAssets]

Had three Cayennes, and covered a collective 289,000 miles trouble free. Bloody marvellous. Easily the best large SUV.

[@PaulPJohnsonesq]

I have an 06 955 s. Owned and loved it for 6 years so far. I was getting ready to move on but ended up putting chunky a/t wheels and tires on it and fell in love again! Its brilliant in the snow and mud.

[@pshame4466]

Thanks for putting this video out! I bought a 2006 Cayenne Turbo S with 125k miles on it last summer, site unseen, here in the States. I had my eye on the CTTS for a few months with the plans of modifying it into a proper overlander/offroader. Since acquiring I had to do a decent amount of sorting: electrical gremlins, EVAP fault rabbit hole, rear tailgate struts, parking brake strut, etc - all the usual suspects. Now that the PCCM from Porsche Classic has been released, I'll have a working PCM again. I then did a 3" lift with 1/2" sub-frame drop, coilover conversion from air suspension, side runners, and roof rack, all from Eurowise for the E1 Cayenne. New 19" wheels and 32" tires to make it look the proper off-road part. Finished it off with an XPEL Stealth (matte) PPF over the black exterior with factory black accents (no chrome). So have in essence created what my road shop calls The Batmobile. I love it so much now that it's sorted and converted. If you're looking to invest a bit to get it all sorted, these are wonderful machines. And I for one love the looks. They have a real road presence 20+ years on from the initial release, and don't suffer from the bulbous, swoopy look of the second gen, which look like something from a Kia or Hyundai designer. Looking forward to the follow up video when you have more time with it after sorting!

[@richardfrench2863]

The Kia copied the porsche design.

[@rickmaughn]

2004 3.2V6 A great car that has turned out to be far cheaper to keep running than expected over the last 5 years! This is because almost all the parts it's needed are common to VW Touareg, Audi Q7 and various other cars!

[@dareios92]

Just bought an exact copy with 190k kms on it and I gotta say I’m pretty nervous for future issues but so far an absolute joy to drive!

[@daniel_frq]

@@dareios92 hello thinking of purchasing one, has it given you any issues yet?

[@petertaylor6384]

Any problems yet mate? ​@@dareios92

[@Giorgos_Efstatoglou]

As greek i can tell u that Cayenne Mk1 was a landmark of our golden age of ΠΑΣΟΚ. We used to buy them as business 4x4 pickups from european subsidies while we pretended to cultivate and breed our fields and goats. There was literally villages that Cayenne was the best seller while in germany i guess it was a turbodiesel vw jetta.

[@GoldenCroc]

Yolo.

[@SteliosG.]

Εξάγουμε πολιτισμό

[@EvoraGT430]

...which is why you nearly brought down the Euro.

[@Giorgos_Efstatoglou]

@@EvoraGT430 if the 1% of eu gdp brought down all Eurozone means that something is REALLY wrong with euro

[@p2p104]

Well, its disgrace what happened to Greece since then...

[@ronaldlee6115]

I have one and absolutely LOVE it!! 2006 Cayenne S. Titanium version. Grey/Black interior beautiful interior. LOVE LOVE LOVE this car! 2 years of ownership and love it as much as the day I bought it. I sold a Yukon Denali XL to buy this and glad I did.

[@Beonfly_reviews]

@@ronaldlee6115 I have the same one and I’m still in love with it bro 👍

[@Affalterbach1967]

9:39 Photo credit is a class act. You are a gentleman, JM.

[@stephenm3874]

We have a 2009 base Cayenne and absolutely love it. Bought in 2019 for $11,500 with 84k miles. Just passed 120k and is just as tight and serene as the day we bought it.

[@MikeSmith-zi3zc]

Have had a 2004 Cayenne S for 5 years now 190,000 plus miles on it still out runs most everything on the road never uses a drop of oil between oil changes drive is amazing love the Cayenne always exciting to drive were ever I go!

[@alenseven11]

I had a Cayenne S 2005 for two years, between '12 and' 14, and I loved and enjoyed every minute with it. Almost no problems, only the AC fan gave up at one point but that was it, only regular maintenance. A great car.

[@ErikWP]

I've owned a UK Cayenne Turbo for over 5 years. My wife loved it so much that we took it with us and put it on a German plate when we moved there. It's been quite reliable even though we did have the known issues like the drive shaft that needed refurbishment (EUR 300 at a specialised shop), the battery that needs replacing every year and the oil consumption. When we bought it it had 120k miles and we put another 100k on top before we sold it. It still drove fine but we wanted something a little more sensible with the gas consumption.

[@RichardBeds]

Wheeler Dealers bought a 2006 Cayenne Turbo. The coolant pipes are a known issue, as is the air suspension, but the repairs were relatively cheap. If I were in the market for a SUV, I would prefer the Porsche to a Range Rover. I do love your enthusiasm in your reviews.

[@freshjuice9801]

I have had 7 of these cars over the period of 15 years. Both new and used ones. Among all 7, I have had pretty much every single problem imaginable: electrical problems, suspension failures, engine and gearbox breaks etc. And I have spend so much money repairing them, that I can't even count that far. And what am I driving now? A 2011 Turbo with 220.000km. And I love it! And I don't care, even if it costs a lot to run. There is simply no better car for a cross-continent commute from Berlin to Marbella in total comfort, safety and speed. 20 litres per 100km on Autobahn on a long journey is well worth it. James, buy one now!

[@Cloxxki]

I'm looking for a vehicle to do similar duty. Priority is cargo space (flat floor) and length. What might be the next best thing for you, erring a bit more on the side of decent gas mileage?

[@MrLeccyt]

Get a diesel one if you want the same experience and vague economy. I have a 2010 Touareg TDI and it’s pretty good on juice on long runs. Gets 35mpg towing!

[@skelejp9982]

20 litres per 100km on Autobahn... on a long journey is well worth it.🤣

[@robertperillo8738]

Just came back to let you know that your assessment of this car was directly responsible for me going out and buying a 2006 Cayenne Turbo S the other day. It has been sitting for the better half of a decade and is an absolute rat but I very much look forward to restoring it!

[@duckie8126]

has the engine started knocking yet?

[@jaredR207]

How did that work out for you now that it's been a year, do you restore it? i got one a few years back for a price from the original owner i couldn't pass it up, i haven't had any major issues so far, have you? And if so what happened?

[@sethborne]

Why wouldn't you just get the 2008 turbo? It's just as fast and more reliable.

[@m.p.509]

First, excellent delivery as always, James. Your intro to the car with the ‘impressively through the sunroof controls’ made me laugh out loud, literally. It just built from there. Hits particularly close to home as I have test driven several Cayennes. I am still the season of life that needs an SUV…for my work and for my family. But I have been hesitant due to the maintenance…..this has been such a great video. Entertaining and informative….as always. Thank you, again, James!

[@ford890a]

You need an Estate. You want a SUV. 😉

[@marktravis]

I've owned 3 911s that I put over 400K miles on over the years. I reluctantly sold my last 996 Cab and bought a 955 Turbo when my boys couldn't really fit in the back of the 996 anymore. I love my 955. You nailed the current state of affairs. I bought it from a dealer for less than he paid at auction after I showed him all of the codes it was throwing on my computer. I replaced the air shocks, sprayed the parking sensors with WD40 (it works!), replaced the PCM2.0 with a proper Sony XAV-9500ES stereo, replaced the coils and spark plugs, replaced the power steering pump (OMG), replaced the O2 sensors, replaced the broken coolant t-joints behind the engine, replaced the starter, cleaned out the sunroof drains (bass guitar e-string works great!), replaced the back tailgate and window shocks, powder coated a set of 18" 997 BBS wheels and put Nitto Grapplers on and I am in love with this thing. (I did all of the work myself. It would have been a fortune to have someone else do it!) Seems like there was some other work, but I can't recall... oh, yeah, I had to take apart the instrument cluster to replace the color LCD screen and the two little brown transformers on the circuit board. But think of it this way.... I'm putting a $100K vehicle back to a pretty reliable and fun vehicle, and I still don't have as much in it as I would have lost to depreciation on a new one. I'm keeping mine for a long time. And the 2nd and 3rd gens look feminine to me. Hell, even the face-lifted 955 started taking on that girlish look.

[@tpskorby]

Man🔥🔥🔥have you got any pictures

[@hotrodsgarage]

I have an '06 955 S Titanium. I love it. Unlike many modern SUV's it's a very capable off roader. Porsche did a brilliant job with the Mk1.

[@vaguestudio]

Porsche fan since childhood, 40+ years ago... owned a very early 911 for 20 years and have had 2005 cayenne s for a decade. the cayenne delivers extraordinary performance while being quiet, sure footed, spacious and weirdly understated. I live in LA where understatement is weakness. this is an amazingly satisfying car to experience. rips through tires and brakes; that is my primary complaint because those are expensive items to replace on this car. random failings with this and that but shit, what a joy to drive. your living room with a hulk-like rage potential, if you're feeling up to it.

[@chartreux1532]

I have a 2006 first Generation Porsche Cayenne Turbo which no has 168.000km (about 105k miles on the clock) and i have zero complaints. They are and have always been popular here in Germany, especially in rural Areas here in the Alps because they're really reliable and great for Offroad/Dirt. Also there are so many of them available on the German Car Market for not much Money at all. I had no idea they are hated/unpopular in the UK. Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps

[@orion2901]

Just wanted to say this video pushed me to go and buy one, and I've managed to end up with a V6 manual! I'm totally in love with it, it is just a perfect all-rounder. Thanks!

[@nabahmadi5012]

manual S was rare enough, never thought they came in the v6!!!

[@seanscott7120]

I owned a 1st gen with a manual transmission. I absolutely loved and and should have never sold it. It was super reliable and very competent off-road.

[@KTM400EXCrider]

Bought an 05 turbo for a cheap price that had not been maintained too well....once I got it sorted....I absolutely love driving it. Not cheap to repair...bur a pleasure to drive.

[@jasonlewry3307]

Great video Jay. I bought a remapped facelift 957 4 months ago. You’re welcome to drive it if you want to work along the timeline chronologically. I went into it eyes wide open and I truly believe that to maximise the “bargain” status you have to be prepared to diy as much as poss. My advice (to myself) after hours of research is to find a 4.8 as the coolant issues and bore score were addressed and the 4.5’s (non turbo particularly) are rife with this. I have worked through a huge list of jobs… I’ve added CarPlay, wheels/tyres as the 21’s were frankly stupid on our roads, repaired park sensors, boot hatch struts, condensated lights, added towbar etc etc. The stat has now stuck (open thankfully) so that’s now the next job. For an idea of cost and saving…. Each parking sensor from Porsche (or VW) is circa 115 quid. There are 6 each end. The bumper has to be removed and it will be costed at 5-6 hours at dealer. I repaired my broken 2 myself for 45 quid on my day off from eBay…..Probably over 1500 at Porsche. The stat and water pump parts are 600 quid at Porsche so another 1500 quid…. All can be done diy for 300. You get the gist. If you want one and need to send it to garages for this work I’d not bother. Mine has 570bhp and with the PDDC (active suspension) it literally defies logic how it handles. Totally flat. Never misplaces a tyre. I don’t know how Porsche did it! Drive a Touareg! They do not handle at all. The secret sauce is the Porsche brakes, suspension and of course the amazing 4.8 twin turbo V8. Subscribed for future updates. Thanks for the kindred spirited video. 😊

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks for watching!

[@frankjaeger3268]

Hi Jason, was the bore scoring issue resolved with the 4.8s? The reason I ask is because I bought 957 GTS recently thinking I covered all the grounds and then came across this potentially major issue which I couldn’t believe I overlooked!

[@exgtt2061]

Hello, it is. No need to worry about bores scoring. The timing chain is probably the biggest worry 👍

[@1ns4ne1d10t]

Watch the 957 and its water ingressey headlamps and this is from my experience of owing the 957 'Turbo'. Rainfall and constant downhill nose parking will cause this and the drivers side is the worst offender. If left untreated the water will work its way down into the bi xenon ballastes and short them out. You'll lose your headlights and yes they will need reprogramming to light back up again but you don't need PIWIS software to do this. The headlights are easy to remove. The long length headlamp release allen key should be in the boot as part of the spare wheel kit lodged in the spare wheels polystyrene. Take them out and dry them off with a cool setting hairdryer button with the bulbs removed out of the headlight. You can seal all the headlight joining work around the edge of the headlamp with a silicone gun to seal the joins but this will only work for 6 months to a year before they start drawing in water again. Mines just blown another ballaste with exactly that! Thankfully the 5DC 009 285 00 ballastes are cheaper to buy then they used to be 3 years ago. Besides Hella they do the Xenus aftermarket ballastes now which can be picked up for £150 or less each. Just dont put the cheaper D1S Mercedes 5DC 060 type ballastes in the Cayenne because you lose your radio and various other functions.

[@roomonfire99]

Your presentation style is getting better and better. Detailed, but not dull and woven in are anecdotes with flurries of creative language. All not easy to do whilst trying to drive. Hats off to you. I opted for the other money pit, l322. So far 1 year in it’s been brilliant and I love it.

[@stuf3804]

Owned a 2005 Cayenne Turbo for several years - it was mapped with a full Milltec turbo back exhaust and gave us only minimal issues. Only sold it when fuel prices got silly. Max 16mpg was too steep for a daily. Great fast machine

[@HighPeakAutos]

I agree James. I love the first gen Cayenne.

[@damirzanne]

I bought 2016 2nd gen Cayenne Diesel with 77K miles for $28K… car looks and drives fantastic , and still smells like new after 8 years … interior has virtually no wear… car is built better and with higher quality materials than my S class Mercedes … 600 miles on tank of diesel … I’ve been owning this amazing car for little less than a year , and I have nothing but praises for it… awesome vehicle all the way around

[@wmn682]

I own a 2004 Cayenne S that I bought with 32,000 miles on it. It now has 70,000 and has sat in my driveway for a year and a half because I couldn't afford another repair yet. The car drives like a dream, handles beautifully too. That being said I think it could have been built a little better to prevent some of the issues I encountered. The coolant lines that run under the intake manifold are a plastic composite that inevitably become brittle, crack, and leak coolant onto the starter. Porsche has known about the problem for years but chose to ignore it. The drive shaft couplers wear out quickly and have to be replaced, the front differential becomes very loud and has to be repaired, the power steering pump had to be replaced, and now there is noise coming from the driver side valve cover area which has me concerned cylinder scoring and piston damage. I guess I was expecting the quality to be higher than it turned out to be. Then when Porsche fought in court to keep from having to repair or recall their vehicles for a known issue I was reminded that Porsche is really just a Volkswagen which are not known for dependability or quality.

[@Waikiki1976]

I had same one. Coolant lines were not covered by Porsche class action bc the car was over by 100 miles. LAME. 3k USD out of pocket, then the engine at 105k scored a piston and I gave away my car for free bc the engine replacement was same as new used same year. I took care of that car for 5 yrs bought used at 95k mileage and it only lasted me 10k miles. Two rounds of 4 Perelli all seasons each. Coolant pipes 3k. Transmission replacement can't remember cost to replace...but it was $$$$. Replaced alternator. LEMON. My first ever car I bought by myself, cash, no loans. Now Im dealing with my mother's 2006. Im amazed by this video and that so many ppl had such good luck.

[@wmn682]

@Waikiki1976 There are a large number of people who ended up like you and I. Porsche knew of the issue but still used the same design for many years. From the looks of the used car prices, the Panamera, Macan, and Cayenne drop in value like a lead balloon. The fact that Porsche is okay with poor quality products, aware of the issues, and will fight customers in court to keep from having to correct the problems is sad. Maybe they should make only the 911. If they didn't, their business would tank

[@damirzanne]

It’s called “maintenance “ , you’re supposed to service and fix things when they break ,as much problems as you have it seems that car wasn’t in the shop once , if you can’t afford regular service and maintenance for Porsche, don’t buy a Porsche … people buy those exotic and luxury cars because they depreciate so much , and then can’t afford to keep them running, they don’t do any repairs or service , and when car breaks down, it’s somehow cars fault

[@rodrigo_realestate]

*Had one of these 7 years ago, I used it to drive from the UK to Portugal when we moved to the Algarve, we drove it alot! also half used it as a van when renovatimg out last home, I even had a palet of bricks loaded in to the back with a forklift and it drove like a dream (even with a ton of bricks inside) this was actually my wife's favourite car, it never gave us a single problem but end up parking it for a year just because we had other vehicles so ended up selling it last I heard its still going strong.*

[@benjamincheshire30]

Your still in algarve i sell cars in the Loulé area

[@rodrigo_realestate]

@@benjamincheshire30 yes I am in Lagoa

[@benjamincheshire30]

Ok cool do you get any cheap part excange vehicles, i buy foreign cars that have finished inspection and sell for parts

[@alainm.3378]

What engine?

[@phemelomonamodi8706]

Stories i like to hear regarding love and reliability of the Cars. 😊

[@markhines8213]

I've had my Cayenne turbo for nearly 5 years, it's currently at 184000 miles!!! I've done all my own maintenance, parts are relatively cheap and it's soooo easy to work on. Can't see me ever selling, it owes me absolutely nothing and it's such good fun to drive. With proper winter tyres it's a beast when we get some of the white stuff.

[@pictlandpickers1171]

Still got it? How are they for rust?

[@ETube37]

What year?

[@damirzanne]

and there it is , the key word “MAINTENANCE “ …

[@jimfacebinface]

I have had a first generation Cayenne S for around 6 months now. I wanted a "cheap to buy" luxury off-roader that was both capable and interesting. Coming from Land Rover, I wasn't scared of big bills but to my surprise, they are not as bad as you might think. They share the platform with the VW Touareg and Audi Q7, so you are never short of spares or replacement parts, new or used. A replacement front diff for example - £40 on ebay. It's a great way into Porsche ownership if you need something more practical than a Boxster. I love my 955 and will continue to do so

[@rosettedsouza7265]

When the Cayenne was first launched and nobody got it, or indeed wanted one, I was living in Dubai and the local Porsche General Manager called me and said he would pick me up for a test drive in a new vehicle. Turned out to be a Cayenne Turbo and we proceeded at 160 k kms per hour on the highway. He turned off onto a dirt road at 160 and it was amazing how well it rode on such a dirt track, at that speed. A while later, my wife and I were invited to a Porsche day at the Dubai Autodrome race track and were taken for a ride with a young German rally driver at the wheel of a Cayenne S. We will never forget that experience ever, an SUV that can handle that well on a track was unbelievable. My wife and I rode 1000cc sports bikes so we know speed well, but amazing vehicle and a 2005 Cayenne Turbo S, modified to around 750 hp, might be all one needs.........thank you for the video, brought back many memories of friendly police and no speed limits in the UAE back then. ❤🎉

[@beemer1111]

I have a 2005, and have owned it 6 years. I only have 56,000 kilometers on it, as I use it mostly for occasional highway excursions where I need the extra luggage room, compared to my 911. I have to say, I absolutely love my 955, and other than coil packs, it has performed flawlessly. I have upgraded the interior with CF and a new infotainment unit. It is an S version with Fabspeed front pipes, it sounds great and has plenty of power for such a versatile, roomy SUV. I don’t think I will ever sell it. I may do the aluminum coolant pipes, and go 1” larger on the wheels with the next set of Michelins, but that’s it. I would highly recommend this version if you can find one with low miles, and in excellent cosmetic / mechanical condition.

[@chrisbrown2039]

I paid $4500CND for my 2004 955 Turbo S did the rear Cardiff shaft and the coolant tank myself. loved it so much I got the wife a 2010.

[@darrylscott740]

You are so correct ! I have a 2006 Cayenne S and I absolutely love it! I bought it a year ago, turned it up myself, K&N air filters, some Liqui Moly oil, and I’ve been chewing up pavement ever since! I will get the 2006 turbo S

[@bostonbikebits6539]

I have a 4.5 v8 twin turbo, owned it for just over a year now. It is absolutely fanblinkintastic. About the only thing it has needed is a water pump, everything else has been both fine and dandy. I put an upgraded head unit in so I have up to date sat nav, phone integration, sd card, dvd and reverse cam - all that stuff that sounds great on a spec sheet. It is comfortable, amazing to drive and as fast as any normal person could desire. I have had about 35 cars now, this is still my favourite.

[@ugonwogwugwu7988]

I had almost the exact same experience, 1st gen naturally aspirated cayenne S with 150k km on it… turned me into a likely lifetime cayenne fan. It is such a pleasure to drive, outstanding performance, beautiful to look at, timeless really. Only real issues since purchase, roof liner damage from the shop that put in a backup cam for me, also slight roof liner damage at the driver door from my head when getting into the drivers seat. Also trunk hatch hydraulics got weak, had to get a replacement pair for about 70 bucks. I also installed an after market head unit that is custom made and flush fit for the gen 1 fascia, full android, huge touchscreen with built in tablet SIM card slot - phone not required. Perfect.

[@doughanna]

I owned a 2003 Cayenne S for 9 years and drove about 100,000km in it over that time. I towed a 2 ton boat regularly and carted my family of 5 with 3 late teens boys and all our luggage on holidays. It drove only like a Porsche does, with amazing performance. I only had two breakdowns in 9 years. The plastic coolant pipes gave way within the first few years (known problem) and the steering column controller died. Otherwise it was pretty much just oil, tyres, brakes. They’re thoroughly well made and engineered. I loved trying out the low ratio on steep gravel roads but never really needed it. But I liked knowing it was there. When I sold it it looked almost as good as the day I bought it. They hold their looks well. These days I drive a Q5 and it’s not nearly as good to drive and doesn’t handle a patch on as the gen 1 Cayenne.

[@jeremybarker672]

James, I had a 3.2V6 Cayenne and it was fantastic. Apart from a coil pack and blocked sunroof drains ( thats your water issue ) it performed faultlessly and to be honest the V6 was more than enough pull it around and saves any concerns over slipping liners in the V8 cars.

[@urugvajchernamazyj6240]

You only need to worry about the slack in a chain at the end of the engine.

[@winrotliche7487]

I had a 2006 S and owned it for 3 years before I sold it to my cousin. He literally forced me to give up the car😂. That was 3 years ago. Now, I am a very happy owner of a 2009 turbo. It’s very cheap here in Dubai, I got mine, with 80 miles on its dial, for the equivalent of £2,300. One I really like about owning this car, at least this part of the world, is the availability of both cheap OEM/aftermarket and Used parts.

[@KRAM-zb2vc]

4.5 and 4.5 turbo may look the same but the 4.5 turbo uses a different block so it doesn’t suffer as bad as the normally aspirated 4.5 from the dreaded bore score issue 😌

[@loaded2820]

I've never had a problem with either, but I had heard this rumour as well.

[@alexwillard9696]

I have a 958 Turbo with the optional sports suspension and black pack. Other than the transfer case which it ate at about 65k miles, it's been awesome. It's now at just over 100k miles. Never intended to have it this long (nearly 5 years now) but it's a good old stick and goes like a train.

[@stockfit5578]

While you're at it. The car has some nice little features that some don't know about. Hidden nest eggs if you will. If you still have access to the car check the back window wiper. It has a button centre bottom which feels like a handle. It opens the back window which turns it into a split tail gate. I have one and I love it.

[@MMScaleModels]

My experience - I own a 3.2 vr6 Cayenne. Perfectly adequate power for normal road behavior. It needs revs. Air suspension is great, compared to other brand it is reliable. If you can work on your car it is not bad in terms of repairs and maintenance (especially the vr6). Certainly cost me less than my previous car - e39 530D and is immensely more practical... especially here where we have real winter and bad roads :)

[@aproapemasini6066]

i just ordered an 3.2 Cayenne. How is the air suspension? I heard that they are pretty much lifetime but I need an actual owner's review. Thanks alot!

[@MMScaleModels]

@@aproapemasini6066 for about 30K km I only had a small issue with a pressure relief valve but it only took some time and wd40 to fix it.

[@pjrebordao]

Bought an 2003 S just a year ago and I love it. It was quite a surprise in fact. I was lucky to get a fairly well maintained one and with a good LPG conversion on top. Maintenance so far has been reasonable... disks, pads, a bearing, plugs and a MAF. Of course, it helps you can do some minor annoying jobs, like changing the small screen betweeh the speedo and the tacho yourself...

[@GoldenCroc]

Did you get the turbo one? At least the complete cluster can be retrofitted, from what I know.

[@R-Tap]

A neighbour of mine had a Gen1 GTS back in period, guards red I think, great presence and the correct colour for the big bus. Looked great.

[@panzeralienofficial]

Owend a low mileage first gen Cayenne for almost 3 months. Drives so good!

[@Timothyboland1995]

Owned a 955 Turbo for about 3 years, been fantastic! everyone thinks they are money pits, but with the right knowledge, good maintenance and a Durametric, They can be a reliable and amazing car. I have no lights or warnings with over 200,000kms with everything working. I will say, it was not like this when bought, it had shot front shocks, failed ABS and Traction control modules and was missing. last owner had given up on it.

[@chox2001]

Just 3 weeks into ownership of an 07 techart1 cayenne twin turbo 550 hp. It’s awesome. I guess I’m the most considerate porche owner. Because I enjoy driving my car. Never wanted a porche but needed a big V8 before they are gone. I’m just ticking boxes on a bucket list but found an amazing car that puts a huge smile on my face. My previous car was a Ford Focus ST3 revo tuned to 280 bhp.

[@kevinjekyll1521]

Yes, I made the insane choice and brought a 955 Cayenne turbo, 2005, have only had it for 3 months, I love it for what it is. I do have a 928 s4 which I've has for 12 years. Both are what the Porsche elite consider only to be looked down on. Mine was quite cheap and very dirty, just used, but everything was serviced / repaired. After weeks of cleaning and detailing it revealed how well built it really was. It drives like a Porsche should, being originally sold new in Japan it has a weird set of options. Looking at everything as a whole, you get a lot of vehicle for the money, but there is a lot that could go wrong. As a weekend driver you can roll the dice, and being in New Zealand where we don't put salt on the roads and don't have huge temperature swings, these do make a kind of weird sense, well at least to a car nut who has asperations, but not always the means to achieve them. Thanks James for sharing your revised thoughts on this, I do think we are in a golden era between ICE and EV and ?... enjoy it while you can.

[@thefreedomguyuk]

I'm with you. I've got a 986 which I love, and bought a 955 yesterday. Cracking cars!

[@SH-66]

I've had an 05 Cayenne Turbo for 5 years now, and I love it. I'm more of the sports car type, previously owning 911's. The DNA of the steering feedback and handling is all Porsche! In 40k km of driving, I've only had to do oil changes with no major problems. Find a good indy mechanic, and maintainance should be manageable.

[@vp2777]

I own one and can vouch for all the positives. This is the man's dream car which can also be a bit of a project car then you can DIY and smile everytime you get to fix it :)

[@Tential1]

Covering the car I've been eyeing nonstop. If this recession is real, I will buy this ultra ultra cheap.

[@javiserra2050]

This cayenne is my favourite looking cayenne, it has a classic vibe that I love

[@paulfitzpatrick8449]

Bought my second 4.5 n/a recently for £2800. It has steel linered engine. Otherwise just needed a big service. Truly brilliant car. Yes, it needs odds and ends doing, but it is so good to drive. No sunroof or air suspension to worry about. Not too slow either and on LPG does an equivalent of 30+ mpg. James, you ought to try this. Or my BMW engined 2cv van or Bentley turbo r track car.......

[@thedevhow]

how do you know yours has the better of the 2 engine variants?

[@djforrestfunk]

Got a Cayenne Turbo 2004, for 4 years now. We bought it and took it straight to the garage to get the motor out. Did everything that was needed. Never had any problem after that till now. It’s such a joy. We’re rather take the cayenne then the brand new q3 of my girlfriend.

[@maxknox007]

I bought a 957 S and now I'm watching everyones review... I'll admit, all it takes is one freeway experience and you're hooked.

[@deon246dgt]

I am on my 2nd Cayenne Turbo for the 1st and 2004 and now a 2008 I bought both with around 30,000 miles. I’ve done well over 200,000 miles combined. I’m in Arizona so I use it on the freeway, mountain roads, snow, sand, dirt roads all over the place and I have actually to used the lockers a few times it's got all Terrain tires on it and can pretty much do everything except rock crawl in comfort. Its amazingly capable and the ride on the dirt roads is so excellent. It handles my roof tent and 4 mountain bikes on the back and 4 strapping lads just fine. So, it is true to say a few things go wrong but not often however cost $000’s as can servicing, my most expensive was the steering lock at $4,500. When people ask me if they should buy one, I say yes if you can afford the repairs, have the mindset of adding $10k to the price of the car and keep it in reserves for the repairs. Now I would only buy one that’s been looked after because that $10k can be used up quickly, and I think that’s the problem, finding a good one. Even a good one will have the Air Suspension fail, Prop shaft failures, brakes + others over the life of the vehicle. I have never owned a Range Rover I would love one but the mechanical failures on that scare the begebees out of me.

[@Escygt]

I've got a 957 Cayenne S with the ultra rare off-road package (adds a rear locking diff). They are a great drive and like you say, so much car for your money. The running costs are spicy though.

[@johnathonmcalister6645]

Thanks for the video! I'm always looking for 955/957 information... I bought an '09 GTS (957) with 83k miles on it a couple years ago here in the US - it's still my daily driver with another 40k miles. I try to keep it from putting me in the poor house by doing as much work myself as I can (replaced water pump and stuck thermostat a while back, and just finished replacing CV axle when I missed a tear in the boot). I can tell mine is bit older than the one in the video, as the dash display is monochrome - but the good news is all of my electronics are working (including radio, backup camera and "quirky" navigation system). I still love the car, and am one of the rare drivers to take it both to the track and off-road to places where I had to use the low-gear range and extra height in the air suspension. The heated seats and steering are wonderful during the winter here in Montana, and the 4.8L V8 produces plenty of heat. The poor gas mileage is my biggest complaint (if I throw it off a cliff, it might get as much as 14 mpg on the way down). The GTS is more sports oriented, with stiffer suspension (even in "comfort" mode) and sports seats - I will grant that my daughter's XC90 is a bit more comfortable for a drive across the US, although it's quite doable in the Cayenne. My advice to anyone looking to get a great deal (because they have depreciated so much) is to plan for issues (first gens are about 20 years old), budget time/money for repairs, and shop around for one that was not abused too much.

[@84FordMan]

My first Porsche was a $14,000 118,000 mile 957 GTS, 2 owner and just like you said, the original owners didn't care about it, mine had apparently baked in the California sun for it's entire life, clear coat failed all over the roof and hood. I would own another one in a heartbeat. The air suspension was over 12 years old and still worked perfect, even offroading, handled driving on the beach and dunes wonderfully. Of my own volition I chased down a lazy cold start and ended up replacing both in tank pumps, fuel filter, pressure regulator, high pressure pump and follower. Beyond that, I drove it over 25,000 miles and spent nothing more than oil changes and spark plugs before I found a great deal on a Macan Turbo that I traded it for.

[@chir0pter]

Great review. I have a 957 GTS 6MT PDCC/air suspension car that I'm building into a bit of an offroader, with a retrofit locking rear transfer case, lift, control arms, winch-ready front bumper, underbody protection, and a few others. Unfortunately this added a bit of weight, although I've tried to drop some with a lithium starter and a titanium exhaust that should go on at some point. But even with the lift, all-terrains and added weight, it is a revelation driving on road. I recently took it to a twisty mountain road at about 8:00am on a Sunday morning, no traffic, and it was shocking how much speed I could comfortably carry through corners. I have to say I actually am coming to appreciate the 955's styling more and more. It was hugely influential in that it was the first vehicle to really combine car-like styling on an SUV. I think the front end works slightly better than the 957's, and I like the 955's taillights as well, reminiscent of the Carrera GT's. It's a well executed example of 90s roundedness that also carried car-like design language into SUVs, which is where the rest of the industry went in the late 2000s and into the 2010s. For that reason I wonder if there might someday be a minor Gen 1.1 Cayenne backdate trend 😆, since the ".2" 957 was mechanically a better car. Also did you have the ride height on "Normal"? I think it looks better in "low" Edit: As far as repairs, great point about these needing the wear items done. I preemptively replaced the clutch, power steering/PDCC pump, engine torque arm, suspension bushings (well, replaced as part of the offroad build), air struts, and a bunch of other wear items; I still would like to do the high-pressure fuel pump and clean the intake valves. Also it did do the classic 957 V8 thing and spit the coolant distributor pipe's glued-on-barb, dumping all of its coolant on the highway 😆 This is not a cheap fix, some will quote you to drop the whole engine/transmission to replace the pipe Ultimately, this car's final boss is bore scoring. You can repair the block, and essentially rebuild the engine better than factory, but you can guess how much that costs, especially if you're not doing it yourself.

[@johnhouston2287]

I love mine!! 2006, 181,000 trouble free miles!

[@vasyaadamov8304]

As 955turbo owner for more than 5 years. It will send you a message long time before something will truly bad can happen. So if you able to hear, everything will be great. Not a cheep car to have, but in all aspects universal. Find a good service for him and be happy if you plan to buy one. Thanks for video and sound. Always wanna hear how it feels outside.

[@augustortiz]

I have been in a GTS, it is truly amazing for what it is. And the sounds are amazing.

[@tonyhilliarduk]

I’ve got a 2020 “E3” Cayenne S (with the same engine as an Audi RS5) and it’s the best car I’ve ever owned and that’s including an E46 M3 and a 2005 Boxster S. It delivers genuine driver thrills and defies physics. It’s also a lesson in engineering that no Range Rover can match (and I’ve had 4 of those).

[@christophereasley9511]

I have a 2006 turbo s absolute monster love driving it. Owned it for 5 years. Check for a vacuum leak on the break booster. I also had a head leak that I fixed. Yes it needs things. But it always goes even wounded. I keep thinking maybe I should sell it before something big goes however, I don’t think it will. Very well built. Never worry about merging into traffic.

[@MrLackLanda]

I bit the bullet and bought a gen 2 958 3.0d in black with black leather interior. It is the best thing I have bought in my life. I moved from a E83 X3 3.0d which I loved and was in the market for another Beemer, but my daughter persuaded me to go for the Porsche as I had always talked about getting one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🚘

[@fatrambo73]

i have a 2014 V8 diesel and i love it so much fun to drive, feels like endless torque, it can go much faster than i would ever drive it. and i get around 36mpg avg

[@thespectralsorrows]

I picked up a 2006 Cayenne Turbo S last year with 123K miles on it, only put 5K miles on it so far, but it's a great driver.

[@giorgosnikolopoulos7708]

I am thinking of doing the same, found one turbo s 2006 with 90.00 miles for 16K, I will use it as a second car aprox 5k miles/year. I am wondering if lpg works on it.

[@robertandrews6555]

Great video, i was hoping you'd eventually do a video on them, lve had a 2009 cayenne for five years now, still only on 71k, immaculate black inside and out n still feels like new..... Im starting to yearn for a 5.0 mk6 mustang (since your video) but like you said its annoyingly good, , fast and far more agile than it looks, its been faultless and I still love it as much as the day i bought it..... oh and i let people out, just to see the shock on their faces 🤣

[@RobBeMe]

Spot-on > 2nd Gen 2011 Cayenne S V8 here ....bought in early 2017 with 65K miles > been through a recall or 2...1 major which Porsche was very good about in 2018 > care for these cars as required & unless the rare event of a Lemon (which ALL Manufacturers have), these cars are by far best bang for Your high performance luxury ride imo

[@stevelaming9223]

Great video James. I had one of these, a Cayenne S 2004, a few years ago to scratch an itch and as a stop gap car............I kept it 18 months ! When you drive one, you cannot believe how well they handle for such a big car. As an all round car it's excellent value at this price point. I got mine from a Porsche specialist and they did a bore check for me. Mind you, there was always the whiff of coolant after a run. The coolant tank never went down and the dealer couldnt find a leak, so kept on driving it. I think (as you state) the running costs are a bit high. 15mpg average for me, just over 20mpg on a run. Front brake pads were expensive from memory, £200 upwards if memory serves. Plus random electrical issues, like the tailgate not opening everytime and the central locking failing to open the O/S/R passenger door. Only found that when I opened the door and the alarm went off. Then realised the rest of the car was locked! Would I have another? Yes, definitely, but a later model 957 GTS or 2011 onwards as that has a better inside. But thats £££££ more. Keep up the great videos P.S. I still have a 986 I bought 6 years ago and it still feels special when i go out in it.

[@rcnmoto1548]

Bought a 957 turbo about 9 months ago and my primary mission was to "make it mint" I think the car stood me at around 8k and so far we are at about 55K in the afore mentioned "making it mint" If this seems strange then look at how much brand new turbo would depreciate in just the forst 18months!! Plus I think the 957 has a beautifully classy look to it so for me its worth the effort and dollars. I live in Dubai so certain things simply dont get old in this climate.

[@benpenagonzales6014]

Oh Lordy! I get it. If its not rusty I see the utility relative value. And they do play a part in automotive history.

[@aaryeshg.6526]

Speaking of Dubai, I think that pic at 7:48 is a prototype on Dubai export plates.

[@strongbowism]

Too much money to waste you you Northern Monkey🤑😁

[@chir0pter]

That's an awesome project. Was kind of my goal with mine as well, but I haven't gone to that extent yet (although a lot has gone in to some mild offroad mods). Did you do the LN Engineering engine treatment or similar? What were the most expensive jobs? Would be really cool to see a video or post on it..

[@pauldavey6433]

Mines got 220,000 miles on it now, fantastic car & was Porsche’s fastest car they sold in 2003, does everything you need on road or off-road, mine has over £10k of extras & I only paid £4750 nearly 6 years ago , so if it blows up one day I think I’ll just leave it on the side of the road & go & buy another. Can’t rate it enough, funny thing is all the other manufacturers are now copying the front styling with the big grill etc. road tax is still cheap on the 2003-2004 models even the Turbo.

[@johnreed3576]

Strangely entertaining vid about a car I don’t like! Well done James!

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks! I enjoyed making it

[@ratsliveonnoevilstar1]

I’ve got a 957 cayenne GTS. Love it, even through the energy crisis. What motor. But yes, it’s a little on the costly side. You just need the right contacts to service

[@paulsparrow6981]

I had a 2005 Cayenne S. I really liked it and couldn't complain about the fit and finish -- very Porsche like. It was comfortable to drive and handled great. At times it was hard to believe that I was in an SUV. I only had it for about a year and it never gave me any problems. It had about 50k miles on it and had been well cared for. I loved the refrigerated glove box! One strange quirk was the placement of the battery -- under the driver's seat. That wasn't an issue, but only a Porsche Service Center could swap it out because of the unique bolts it used, so roadside assistance couldn't help if your battery died out on the road. Great vehicle all in all.

[@Sydneywide1]

Changing the battery is not hard at all. You only need a torx driver. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6eumKGGjLiml7M&ab_channel=Motors%2CMegabytes%2C%26Mods

[@plastbestikk]

I have the 957 turbo and maintain it myself, the best car I’ve owned and worked on. I am used to Volvo, bmw and Audis. But this thing is just made to last! Parts are not even expensive. As a guy with two kids that don’t fit in a 911. This is a great compromise.

[@adrianevans1076]

Bought one just before Christmas, had a RRS and Vogues ect. Saw a 2005 4.5 S at sensible money, I absolutely love it and very underrated

[@pizmo75]

Owning a 2008 957 turbo for about 4,5 years. Really a great car. Had an issue with the coolant pipe, but got it fixed for only 2700€. Besides that it likes fuel and tires, really a great car to drive and own.

[@benjamincheshire30]

Where did you buy that ?thanks

[@dylandavies9637]

Hi Jay, I bought one last year, a fixer upper to tinker with and I now love it. So much so, I sold our other family wagon/dog car (a Mercedes E-class) as I was always jumping in the Cayenne 😂

[@jonnyronnyroker]

Interesting, which model did you get?

[@veeco3110]

I’ve owned a 957 cayenne s for 10 years now. It’s one of the best vehicles I’ve ever had. Never left me stranded or caused any financial problems. I had a small oil leak which lead to a rear main seal being replaced. A very rare issue. It ended up being a engine out service which was a bit pricey at $4000 but in 10 years I believe I’m about maybe 7000. Oil changes are done by my local shop for $120 and brakes I did once. All that for a Porsche. That’s not bad in my book for what I have

[@astramk3786]

I have a 957 gts.....such a lovely car.....deleted the secondary cats....sounds so much better.....the earlier cayenne were problematic....from my knowledge.....

[@AlbertoMera]

50k kms in a first gen and loving it. Live in the mountains so its pretty handy and surprisingly fun off road too. Only had normal maintenance to do so, yes, expensive but normal. Bought it for 13k with 100k

[@ripppking]

bought one back in aug for an insanely good price outside shows heavy wear outside but drives amazing especially in the snow and the interior is very nice, i agree its like a jaguar and range rover but slightly better compared to a rover within the same year, its definitely worth keeping the maintenance and work needed

[@rajivsingh1999]

I just purchased a 06 turbo s for 2500$ today. 110k miles. Lovely, lovely car. My first Porsche. Still glaring at it sitting in the garage. Lol. I can’t believe the seller let it go so cheap. (Cel on for an air injection issue) but this and my s55 amg lead to a great drive to work everyday.

[@howardvenning5069]

About time Jay - We have owned a Cayenne 4.8S since 2017 when we bought an 08 plate with 39k miles. Today it has 64k and have just changed the plugs and coils. During that time its been very reliable and a joy to won. OK it failed the last MOT (a first during our ownership) as it had a broken front coil spring, but that was easy to fix. Also the entertainment system went intermittent / stopped working, but £200 later I had a replacement thanks to a guy selling one on eBay. Easy fit and all sorted. Regarding the flat battery - now that did need the AA. Woke up one morning and it was flat - checked it with a multimeter and it was reading around 4V - now that is FLAT. This is where you find one major design fault with the first gen Cayenne. The battery is under the front passenger seat. Relatively simple procedure - move seat forward, undo some bolts and cover catch. Move seat back and undo more bolts and remove the battery. One problem - moving the seat relies on electric motors which rely on a good battery , which is where we started. We did think of selling it about a year ago and after two days of washing / polishing / cleaning everything and posting it on-line, a prospective buyer came and offered £1k under my asking price. At that point I thought "you must be mad" - not the guy who wanted to buy the car but me. At that time I also has a Jaguar XJR with 220k on the clock which had turned into the Jaguar disco machine. Every trip became a light show with various red and yellow lights lighting up. So, I told the prospective buyer, thanks for the offer, but no thanks, and decided to keep the Cayenne and sell the XJR. And that is where we are today, still have the Cayenne after 6 years of ownership and will almost certainly still be driving it 6 years time.

[@kriskringle3164]

How I bought my Cayenne... I drive about 3 hours a day. My jeep was hurting my back real bad for months. I decided to get a new car with a better seat. I went to the car lot and sat in dozens of cars. When I sat in the Cayenne my back pain immediately went away. I've been driving it every day for 10 years now with zero back pain!!! Best car I ever bought.

[@Punisher9419]

Nice to know I'm not the only person who also things Jaguar cars are warm to sit in. They just make you feel at home inside them.

[@stephentiller1385]

I got a v6 955 2005 .. its a brilliant car.. i do all the repairs myself . Its used as our family car and daily driver.. yes it has little niggles and problems but nothing that makes me want to get rid of it.

[@Tential1]

Ya, it's between a newer gts, and a first gen turbo s for me. Leaning more towards the newer gts for the chassis upgrades since it's basically similar to old turbo s

[@ckm-mkc]

IRC one of the issues with these was the biodegradable wiring harness, one of the reasons I stayed away from it.... But I always liked them, even when everyone was dissing them. A proper off-road SUV, more of a do it all than a Ranger Rover and more reliable as well.

[@T.E.S.T.E.T]

I have with my Porsche Cayenne 955 2004 V6 3.2 301.000KM and it‘s running very well with first chain.I do every 10.000KM oil change 10W60👍 The new cars have more problems in 80.000km with chain, leaks, misfires and any more. 😊

[@kriskringle3164]

I have one... I love it but keep in mind if you haven't done the plastic cooling pipes the labor is 16 hours, it will cost about $3,500 to fix and always will go out as its a factory defect. The starter costs $1,500 and its under the cooling pipes in the middle of the engine, may as well swap out the starter when you do the pipes. At that point you'll have about half of the value of the car in repairs. Big money for repairs but if you keep up and spend the money its a great car.

[@RichardDeVahlRubin]

I've had a 4.5 turbo 2004 for ten years. The big stuff is pretty indestructible and it just keeps going. Only changed ceramic brake pads once. Small stuff like the rear TV or cabin lights or the remote for gates, or the rear hatch though are usual for a car of this age and actually the big stuff like gearboxes etc are a fraction of the VW Taureg. I love it, faults and all, but you do need to get used to the really shocking turbo lag though. It's really bad. Take a shaving kit!

[@porscheoffroad]

I own the ultra rare 955 S optioned with additional rear diff lock and detachable sway bars. I take it overlanding in beautiful New Zealand and obviously love it.

[@jaredR207]

I have an '04 i bought it from the original owner with less than 90k miles in 2022. Great car, i had to get a new control module for the suspension (5 minute fix with one part for $100 off eBay, it's in the back behind a clip on panel and has literally one plug) and I replaced the small struts for the lift gate and rear glass (she has been using a 2x4 to hold it up) on the test drive the husband said Porsche quoted him $8000 to fix the suspension, that's why he wanted to get rid of it, she wanted to keep it. The suspension actually worked fine it was just in a safe mode (height stayed normal, couldn't manually raise or lower) and showed a red service light. I wasn't scared off by that because i had experienced a familiar system with the air suspension on the W220 S500 Benz which is actually about the same, both use Bilstein struts and a Wabco compressor. Anyway for anyone that picks one up, don't be afraid to fix it yourself, get your own diagnostic software and Google the trouble codes, somewhere there is a video to fix anything and there are plenty of parts online that you don't need to buy from Porsche, half the parts under the skin are just made by Bosch anyway so when you replace the part you can get one for a fraction of what the dealer would charge you for an identical part with the Porsche logo.