i need help as nobody close to me can help me decide.
The first is a 2008 turbo with 65k miles. white on black leather. seller says timing is due soon but thats it. the car is very far (8 hours ride) and would be buying "sight unseen" but would be picking it up in person so i could always cancel when i see it but thats 1000 miles a full day lost. this one is 10k cad. seems to be a regular private seller. i would maybe have to have it repaired before i pick it up and i could be a bit complicated.

the other is a 2010 gts, white on tan alcantera, 110k miles, seller says only small exhaust leak nothing else needed. this one is only 2-3 hours aways instead of 8 so ill go see it tomorrow probably. seller is a used car salesman but this seems to be is own personnal car. i would pay 12,500kcad for this one

Both car are extremely clean in pictures, id say the turbo is a bit cleaner.
i read the "cayenne go boom" thread and i saw the post about the engine codes being better than other ones, is this true? i already asked to get a picture of the white label near the spare tire to see it.

 

What does “timing due soon” mean? These have timing chains, not belts, and only require replacement when they fail (which happens occasionally as is likely very expensive).

Have you looked into a mobile pre-purchase inspection like lemon squad? That might save you a lot of time.

 

isnt it like "any" other timing chains, they have tensioners? when the tensioners fails its expensive but when you do it as preventive maintenance before it fails, its less expensive to repair,no? the seller told me its ticking and, 8/10 on a "its due" scale lol.

 

What are you mainly buying it for? They drive completely different. The turbo will be heavier but have monster torque and the fun of the boost kick. And is way faster. GTS will be sportier, lighter (relatively), sound different, etc. Possible manual trans, great car in its own right.

 

I'll save you from doing your own research...
Go for the 2010 GTS, unless you can find a 2009 Turbo.

2008 model years and newer are at a much higher risk of engine cylinder bore scoring -- a quick rennlist search will tell you that there are no engine failures from this from 2009 and up.

I would avoid anything 2008 or earlier.

 

im doing an offroad build. it will be a "daily", and my 3rd car.

 

i know i know i saw the cayenne go boom survey. i think im gonna listen to your advice lol
thanks

 

In my humble opinion if you are going to do an offroad build I feel the turbo as mentioned 2009 and newer is the right vehicle. The torque and boost come in very handy with taller tires. I am very bias though. I am running a lift and 32" MT wheels with no issues. Good Luck

Cheers, Mike

 

The timing chain tensioner is not a maintenance item. By that, I mean that it doesn’t have a replacement interval like a timing belt tensioner. If it’s failing, it’s possible (or likely) that the chain and/or guides may also be an issue. That’s a much bigger job obviously. Between those two options, the GTS is likely a safer bet.

 

I'll second (or third) the recommendation to go for a 2009 or 2010. The "ticking" the seller of the 2008 Turbo described could very well be bore scoring. The 4.5 and 4.8 engines do not have a reputation for eating timing chains or guides. Since you're in Canada, both of those Cayennes probably were exposed to cold weather throughout their life, which ups the potential for scoring. Between these two, go with the 2010 GTS, or hold out for a 2009 or 2010 Turbo.

 

overly broad, I object

 

Skip the one that's already making noise. Being a 2008, which is the year with the highest incidence of bore scoring, the fact that's it's a cold climate car (Canada) which makes the odds even higher, and the fact that's it's already making noise all point to it already having engine scoring.

The turbos are way more exciting and a turbo S even more so with the extra 50 HP and PDCC for handling as a standard feature, but a GTS is nice too and has the best sounding exhaust - like a muscle car SUV.

If those are the only 2 choices, the GTS. That one is getting to the mileage where it's going to need stiff like front control arms, new cardan shaft if not done already, etc so add a few thousand to your purchase price to get up to snuff after purchase.

Being in Canada, check the lower side sills and other areas for any signs of rust. Seems like some Cayennes are very prone to this and others aren't, but if driven in the winter, not rinsed off frequently, and kept in a garage (that speeds up the chemical reaction of rusting) it's possibly quite rusty underneath.

The small exhaust leak is probably the flex joints on the exhaust failing - replacing those is not easy or cheap as there's very little room to work in there and less so on a turbo.
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are you a car flipper and holding onto 2008 or earlier?
object all you want. 2008 and earlier (957.1 / 955) avoid at all cost.

 

Don't be so hyperbolic, if every 2008 and earlier V8 was a ticking time bomb, the cars would have disappeared from the market given the cost of an engine replacement. There are plenty of early V8 models running on the original engine with over 200k and several over 300k miles. How much life is expected out of a modern car engine? Getting a well-maintained example with a good service history and timely oil changes seems to be a reasonably safe gamble.

 

Seriously. Also the 955 CTTs aren’t as problematic with bore scoring as the 08s from what I recall. The broad brush here is ridiculous

Also what’s with the paranoid accusations?