Hello guys,

In the next 4-5 months i need to get a family car as my SO will be bringing in the world my son. So i am in the market for a DD. Curently i have an Alfa Romeo Spider 2007 for that. I will be selling this in the next couple of weeks as I have some interest from people.
I currently own a 996 C4S as a second car/toy and I really like the feeling of the Brand so I was thinking of a Cayenne. My commute will be aaround 30 km (20miles). And the distances here are really small (Cyprus).
I was thining for a 958 facelift diesel of 2015, but i stumbled upon a 957 turbo with 49k miles, air suspension, PDCC, in excellent condintion inside and out with all the services in the dealer up to 2016 where it stops. Then there was only a change of brakes in an indy.
I drove the car and was really nice, but I am afraid that such a move will destroy me financially :P
In the plus it's price is the half of a facelifted 958! And it's condition is really nice. Of course if i was to dod such a move i would get a PPI at the Porsche dealer here.

But should the fact that the car was mostly not getting driven in the last 3 years put me off? I know it's mpg is low, i see htat the trip computer was saying 12.1 mpg (UK) but I guess i can work that to around 15 with sensible driving.
I should find and drive a facelifted 958 diesel to check on the difference but i believe i will be dissapointed from the engine, but be happier about interior. Exterior i do not mind either,

Should i forget about the 957 and go to 958 diesel and be a bit more care-free? I am used to stress about my cars. You know all the stories about Alfa Romeos and 996s eventhough both have been great in my ownership (AR i have it for 10 years!)

 

Daily driver = No, not if it's your only car unless you have lots of $$$ or turn your own wrenches. And with a new baby, reliability is the key.

 

Until I read the bit where you said you are in the UK, I was going to respond saying that under no circumstances should you buy that turd of a car... and that you should private message me the contact information of the dealer.

 

Also it is black on black leather with a moonroof.
But am not in UK. Rather in Cyprus.

Not really being able to turn my own wrenches except for simple stuff. Eventhough i would like to learn more, I guess this is not a car to learn on . And not that rich either! Surely reliability is the biggest issue, maybe I should check for a 3-4 year old A6 avant or allroad!

 

You like adventures (have a baby to prove it) so I'd say go for it! And you can always improve the gas mileage well into single digits

Anyways, if it's going to be your only DD and you count on it to perform every day, I'd get a toyota yaris as a hotspare, you can buy it with the money saved from not buying a 958.

 

Actually i was reading that huge thread of yours about your wife's 957, which made me think even more about the maintenance and probable issues!:P
Btw currently i am in Slovakia. I come here for 1-2 weeks per month for the last 2 years! Working in a tech company and we have a big client with offices here in Bratislava!

 

Lots of people on here DD their Cayenne Turbos. One with only 40k miles should be good for a while. I assume your wife also has another car which will handle the new child duties much of the time, and if you keep the 996 as a backup, you should be OK for a while.

If you wanted a 958 diesel, you should never have driven a 957 Turbo with PDCC - everyrhing else is now going to feel anemic and sloppy.

The shape of the 957 rear hatch allows it to hold more gear than the 958 and IMO the lines and design cues are more masculine. The teardrop rear lights, the rounded tailgate, and pointer nose of the 958 generation are less SUV and more minivan in appearance to me, though it still drives nothing like a minivan. The 958 interior is a bit nicer, but also having a 996, you'll appreciate the similarities in look and feel to that car, though the 957 generation is really more similar to the 997 interior which is also one of the reasons I like it, also owning 2 997s.

If the price is right, I say go for it.

 

^^THIS^^ Well said, Pete.

 

My wife DDs her 957 Turbo, and while it has not been trouble free, it's been a good car overall. Having a backup car certainly makes it much easier to deal with maintenance items.

 

The world is really small Shoot me a PM when you're in Bratislava, I'm there at least once a week, lunch is my treat.

 

I DD my TTS


Smiles per gallon off the chart

 

A couple points:

Keep in mind that this is a high-en luxury SUV. It retailed for something around $100k USD when new. Parts and labor to maintain it will reflect that price, not what you can get them for (a lot less).
It is not unknown for an issue to pop up that requires a couple thousand dollars to remedy. It may take some time for a shop to get the parts.
So if you don't have the means to pay for that sort of thing, and another vehicle available if the Cayenne goes down, it may not be a good choice.

It eats tires, brakes and gas in enormous quantities. Plan on 11 liters for your daily 30km each way trip (if the quoted 30km was round trip, then figure 5 or 6).

Personally, I prefer the overall look of the 955/957 to the 958. It has more room, a better transfer case (low range) and better access to the back (glass lifts separately if you want). Those are my preferences. Yours may be different. The interior on the 958 is certainly better.

My 955 (05 Turbo) is my 'go to work' car in the summer and my daily in the winter (928 & 944 don't see snow/salt).
And it's pretty freaking cool.
I haven't had any really major issues, but I know they can happen (usually at the worst possible time). But that's true of any car.

I haven't seen anyone suggest reading the "Thinking About Buying" sticky. Lots of good info on the potential trouble areas in there.

 

Yes i get what you are saying about the price of maintenance being correlated to the price of the car new and not used today! The 996 is always available if anything goes down!


I have the same opinion as you, I prefer the exterior of the 957 but the interior of 958 is certainly much better and modern. Also, I will have to change stereo and all.

My commute will be 30 km per day in total not just 1 way so I would think around 5-6 liters would suffice. Tires I see that they last around 20k miles? From the different threads here. And they seem not that expensive compared to smaller ones. I was quoted around 600 euros for 235x50x18 for SO’s GLA, and seem I can get 295x35x21 fitted for around 900 euros (https://www.reifendirekt.com/cgi-bin...n&typ=R-239388).

Which is not too bad if we put into consideration the size of them and their performance!

As you mentioned is the major issues that concern me, but then I hear horror stories for all the cars on the road, even for new RAV-4s, which really confuses me on what to do in general!

It’s the price that is very right and it’s condition, usually at the price this is you find really worked diesels (100k+ miles) in average condition! I think I ll arrange a PPI for it and try to haggle down a bit more!

 

I have used my 03 CTT as a daily driver for the last 2-3 years, which is madness if you believe everything in the internet.
I’ve done 40k miles and it’s not let me down once.
I’ve spent a lot of time and money keeping it going - from glovebox and sunglasses holder catches that break to door locks that wear out and horns that fill up with water, I’ve done lots of little things to keep it looking good, but none of them are essential. And the newer the car the less likely they will be broken! There are drains to keep clean, and, like any car, things wear out. Suspension bushes, brakes etc none too difficult or expensive.
I’ve probably given it the kiss of death now, but what I’m saying is don’t be afraid of using it as a DD. And get the turbo, not the diesel. You only live once.

 

Great advice to read the sticky!
From my experience on my '05 CTT w/ E81- 198K miles, 150K miles by me since 2007 it doesn't seem to eat brakes worse than any other but the E81/ CTT-S brakes are RIDICULOUSLY expensive to maintain. $750-900 for the front rotors, per side (!). Tires I run DWS06 which go about 30K a set, then I change them out so that I have some traction when I drag my sleds up by Joe. It will indeed ask you to stop for gas VERY often but your commute isn't bad. In almost 200K miles it's never left me stranded but it has limped home a couple times.
I prefer the 955/957 too, more to the 957 end since I added a manual '09 GTS and an '08 CTT to my assortment based on my very favorable experience with the '05 CTT- which I drove today (rainy here) and it still amazes me. Still tight AF after almost 200K miles with a fun sense of urgency. It's a transcendent vehicle for sure.
The 955/957 transfer cases are quite robust and you won't hear of them needing replacement like you do on 958's.
If I were shopping I'd look for an '09, I think the best of the platform before the revision and a much better PCM.
My .02...