First-Gen Cayenne Turbo May be the Best Bang for Your Buck
With a 450 horsepower turbocharged V8 and a luxurious interior, the original Porsche Cayenne Turbo is a phenomenal deal right now.
Upon release, the Porsche Cayenne was not universally loved. In fact, it still isn’t to this day. Though it sits at the top of the food chain in terms of Porsche sales today, many Porsche and sports car enthusiasts turn their back on the performance SUV. We, however, don’t. Sure, the styling didn’t quite age like fine wine, but what you get with an early Cayenne Turbo or Turbo S is a phenomenal ride for the money. Furthermore, the Cayenne is a pretty reliable car so long as it’s been well-maintained.
Take, for example, this 2004 Cayenne Turbo that just sold on Cars and Bids. It’s got relatively high mileage at 81,000. Furthermore, it has aftermarket wheels with low-profile tires and some extremely dark window tint. What it also has, though, is a price point you’re not likely to find with any other turbo Porsche. This car very car just sold for $17,500.
Porsche Luxury for the Whole Family at a Modest Price
Inside, you’ll find an interior to the standard one could expect from Porsche. Beautiful carpets, leather upholstery, and high-quality wood materials. Of course, it also includes power and heated seats, a Bose speaker system, and automatic climate control.
Much like the rest of the vehicle, the steering wheel design and a few other interior cues show the vehicle’s age. However, that need not be a deterrent, considering it was the pinnacle of design upon its release nearly two decades ago. We love the interior of the early Porsche Cayenne for the same reason we love the interior of 996 911s. Not because it aged gracefully, but because it is a significant landmark of the time it came from. Furthermore, it’s still a wonderful place to be all these years later.
Turbocharged Punch Matched with All-Wheel-Drive Traction and Handling
The Cayenne Turbo is certainly no slouch, either. With 450 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque on tap via a six-speed automatic transmission powering all four wheels, this Cayenne Turbo has a blistering zero to 60 times of just 5 seconds. That wasn’t just fast for an SUV in 2004. It still is! In fact, it’s about the same 0-60 time as a 2022 Cayenne S. Furthermore, the Cayenne will continue to a top speed of 161 miles per hour. It may not be the most sporty handling thing out there, either, but it certainly does quite well for an SUV.
Of course, the question of reliability will come into play with a vehicle of this vintage. However, save for the commonplace cracking plastic coolant pipe that is common on these 4.5-liter V8s, these cars do not have many issues outside of general maintenance. Higher mileage examples may need some love given to the PCV system. However, this particular model had a whole mess of recent history, including valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, a water pump, front driveshaft replacement, engine and transmission mounts, and much more to keep it happily on the road.
So, while your chance to purchase this Cayenne may have come and gone, there’s plenty more out there. What do you think? Is there a better Porsche bang for your buck out there? Let us know on the Rennlist Forums!
Photos: Cars and Bids