New to me Cayenne purchase... V6, Diesel or Hybrid?
 

Hello All, long time lurker, first time poster.

Starting to shop for a replacement to my APR stage 1 B8.5 S4 as I need something bigger for work and something that just fits me better(6' 2" 300+ lbs)… and cause I have a little bit of Car A.D.D. and want to switch it up. Looking at the Panamera, Cayenne and A7 but keeping my budget in mind will end up with the Cayenne or A7 most likely. (past cars if it has any baring on the conversation have included ML55, E55, M3, XC90, several A4s and the current S4)

Having said that 2011-14 Cayennes make the most sense to me(~$30k and ~50k miles) but taking the V8TT/V8 out of the question I am really lost on what cars to look at or pursue on the used market. Having read several threads my understanding is that this platform is fairly trouble free with MOST issues being repaired by Porsche through recall with the exception of the transfer case and maybe some cooling pipes that seem to be popping up as of late. Transfer case becomes a non issue on hybrids and the diesels. I've read the diesels may come with their own particular issues/stigma but with the addition of a 6yr/100k mile warranty, could be a bargain purchase?

I expect to do 20-30k miles a year, mostly work miles(Event staffing, planning and security) with the occasional Vermont road trip. Short of falling in love with the car, will probably be sold as it reaches 100k miles. The plan is to do a combination of DIY maintenance(my family owns a garage) and bring it to a local Porsche specialist for more involved things.

Which models would be your recommendations? Any pros/cons to each drivetrain?

Welcome to Rennlist..

Can we assume you've read the buyers guide in the sticky section of the forum?

Is there any reason you're overlooking the V8's - they aren't a troublesome engine (including the 2011 once the Variocam bolts are replaced..) and gas mileage isn't hugely different from the V6 models. And to make a recommendation it would be helpful to know your budgetary constraints (assuming there are any..)

My resume:I am a 15+ year veteran on MBWorld and one of the top 5 posters with offtopic…. well versed in reading before posting(also your username looks quite familiar)

It looked like the buyer's guide listed a hand full of common issues that imo were either less common than posters made them out to be, or were addressed by Porsche in subsequent years with recalls. Coming from E46 M3 and A4s... these vehicles appear to be bullet proof, lol but some individual cars may be more finiky than others

I'd like to say my budget is $25-30k(however if the right vehicle came along, I would stretch. There is a TON of inventory in that range as it is… I am not really seeing any V8s or TTs in that range unless I increase the mileage or get in to questionable history vehicles. This isn't the toy so really I don't think I mind(unless someone gives me a reason) to shop for the V8/TTs

I am hoping to better understand the different personalities between the drivelines. It seems like they are all a fan favorite and 1 Cayenne turns in to 2, turns into the whole family driving cayennes

Hi. Very interesting post. Just wondering if you have some more information about - "Transfer case becomes a non issue on hybrids and the diesels."... Keen to know more about this. Thanks

This is the take away I got from reading the "Buyer's guide" sticky...

I test drove this 2011 S and it's an awesome deal - only 27K and it has a 2 year warranty. If it had some options I consider crucial, I would have bought it! ;)

https://www.porschesaltlakecity.com/...ab2a28bla42782

It's so cool that they CPO any year now...

I test drove 2 cars yesterday... I didn't realize the S was a V8... I thought only the GTS and the Turbo came in V8 trim. Having said that, I have fallen in love with the Cayenne GTS I drove yesterday... It was absolutely amazing. It had such a great mechanical feel to it, it was planted, it was comfortable when I wanted it, it was sporty when I wanted it... I got it, I understand why these are so popular now.

I priced out some decently optioned Cayenne S vehicles, and there are plenty in the sub $30k category. Would love to try the hybrid and diesel too... but seriously impressed by the two I drove yesterday...

Hybrid and diesel models are a pretty different driving experience versus the V8 Cayennes.

how so? Kinda curious

I love the V8's, but I wanted newer, so I decided t go with the diesel. I love the torque and the efficiency. Also, diesel engines seem to be reliable as heck.

do the V6 hybrid and Diesel cars drive similar?

I'm not him, but I did put together the transfer case survey.. and the reason that can be said is so far as I remember - there are perhaps 2 failures of diesel transfer cases and no hybrid cases that I can remember. That's compared to a few hundred gasoline power transfer cases. It's enough different even from the sales number differences to make those two stand out.

Can't speak for the hybrid but, the diesel is a bit more rubber band like in it's power delivery in my experience. Think old school turbo cars that take a little bit to come on boost. It has significantly more torque than the base and you can feel it in your usual daily driving situations but, it is not significantly faster because it is a bit down on HP (because diesel) and it's throttle response can be pretty awful at times. I got a diesel with plans of towing an airstream but, that hasn't happened yet. The warranty and excellent fuel mileage is an added bonus. My diesel has the air suspension which is a bit difficult to find but, it does add dimension to the drive that most diesels don't have. That said the longer I go without needing to tow anything I find myself wondering if I should have gone for a GTS over the diesel.

I think that is way overpriced. I just bought a 2014 S with 80k miles, CPO ($21k in options) for $28k.

55f:

My opinion is that both the Diesel and Hybrid versions of the 958 are great vehicles. The Diesel is the range-between-fill-ups winner but offers less performance in the acceleration category. It is also discontinued likely to its link to Diesel-Gate. The Hybrid employs an electrically assisted steering rack which some [many] believe degrades the steering feel of the SUV. The Hybrid is heavier, offers a little less cargo space, doesn't have a spare tire, requires some getting-used-to from a braking perspective and few [none?] have factory-supported tow hitches. The good news is that the lineup offers something for just about everyone.

I have left a ton of other details out but both the Diesel and the Hybrid are great cruisers, offer reasonable storage and can transport 5 adults in excellent comfort. If you are into diesels the Cayenne Diesel is a great one. If you tilt toward Plug-In Hybrids, the Cayenne e-hybrid is a pretty good one. It looks like the 2019 e-hybrid is a significantly better one with more power, torque and electric range.

Sounds like you have some fun choices ahead of you!

Hank