Porsche Cayenne Buyer’s Guide – Should You Buy A Used One?

Quick Answer on buying a Used Porsche Cayenne

Should you buy a used Porsche Cayenne? Unless you’re a car enthusiast or have deep pockets, probably not. The Porsche Cayenne is arguably the best SUV that can do it all, but be prepared for expensive maintenance and repair bills. If you decide to buy a used one, we recommend you buy an extended car warranty and find a good independent Porsche mechanic.

Introduction

The Porsche Cayenne is the 911 of SUVs. Brand new, top of the range Cayenne models cost over $100,000 and have over 500 horsepower. Today, you can pick up a used Porsche Cayenne for less than 20% of its original MSRP, but should you? In this article, we’ll walk you through the ownership considerations for each Porsche Cayenne generation.

Let’s start with a simple test. If you answer yes to the following questions, then the Porsche Cayenne could be right for you.

1. You want a great looking SUV with a premium feel.
2. Whether its hauling groceries around, carving canyons, or taking a serious trip off-road, you want an SUV that can do it all.
3. Fuel economy? If you cared, you would buy a Toyota Prius.
4. You’ve never towed anything in your life, but knowing that you “could” is cool 😎.
5. Occasionally spending $3,000 on repairs is not a big deal for you.

Now let’s cover the different Porsche Cayenne generations.

Porsche Cayenne 955 (2003-2006)

Porsche 955 Cayenne S (“Yvcyn_1b” by gvgoebel is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

History

In 2003, Porsche began selling the very first Cayenne in the United States. The Cayenne marked uncharted territory for a sports car manufacturer. While Lamborghini released the LM002 in the 1980s, no sports car manufacturer had successfully developed a mass-market, premium SUV. With Porsche sales starting to recover in the late 1990s after the release of the Porsche 986 Boxster and 996 911, Porsche made a bold bet that it could extend its brand to the growing SUV market. To make the project financially viable, Porsche and Volkswagen co-developed the PL71 platform, which was used for the Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg, and Audi Q7.

Now you might be thinking that the Porsche Cayenne is simply a rebadge Volkswagen Touareg. However, Porsche developed its own V8 drivetrains, suspension tuning, and exterior and interior designs. In 2003, the Porsche Cayenne made up 45% of Porsche’s U.S. vehicle sales. As a result, Porsche would eventually become the world’s most profitable automaker.

Porsche Cayenne 955 Trims

The 955 Cayenne was offered in 4 trims: Base, S, Turbo, and Turbo S. All trims came standard with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed Tiptronic transmission with a two-speed transfer case and locking center differential. Also, all 955s are rated to tow up to 7,716 lbs. As a result, the 955 Cayenne is a rugged SUV that is extremely capable off-road. So if any Jeep owners give you crap on the trail, just ask, “Dear sir, can your Jeep tow seven thousand, seven hundred and sixteen pounds?”.

Porsche Cayenne Base (V6)

The base 955 features a 3.2 liter V6 with 247 horsepower and 228 ft-lbs of torque. Due to its weight of nearly 4,800 pounds, the base 955 requires 9 seconds to do 0 to 60 mph and 16.5 seconds to complete the standing quarter-mile. You might think the V6 gives the base 955 decent fuel economy, but it only achieves 14 MPG (city) and 18 mpg (highway). On the upside, the base 955 is the only trim that you could get with a manual transmission, but good luck finding one 😊.

Porsche Cayenne S

The Cayenne S features a 4.5 liter V8 with 340 horsepower and 310 ft-lbs of torque. It also received larger 350mm brakes up front. If you want an SUV that won’t be a slouch to drive around town, the S checks the box. It can do 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 15 seconds. Despite the V8 engine, the S only takes a small hit in fuel economy over the base. It’s EPA rating is 12 MPG (city) and 17 MPG (highway). In 2006, Porsche offered a special version called the “S Titanium”. This package included many standard options such as 19 inch wheels, special exhaust tips, aero rocker panels, and two-tone leather.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo

At the time of its release, the Cayenne Turbo was the fastest production SUV in the world. It uses a twin-turbo, 4.5 liter V8 that puts out 450 horsepower and 460 ft-lbs of torque. As a result, the Cayenne Turbo can do 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in around 14.0 seconds. Despite the big power increase, the Cayenne Turbo is still rated at 12 MPG (city) and 17 MPG (highway). In addition, the Cayenne Turbo came with air suspension, a full leather interior, and revised front and rear fascias.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

The king of the 955 range is the Turbo S, which features a modified version of the Turbo’s engine. This increased horsepower to 520 and torque to 530 ft-lbs. The Turbo S also received the biggest brakes in the range featuring enormous 380 mm brake rotors up front and 358 mm brake rotors in the rear. The additional power allows the 955 Turbo S to shave half a second off its 0-60 mph and 1/4 mile times.

Reliability

If you’ve read this far and are convinced you want a 955 Cayenne, please be warned that you should read this section before making up your mind. Porsche Cayenne was wildly successful for Porsche’s first attempt, but it wasn’t without its faults. Let’s take a look at all the common issues.

Value – FAIR

The 955 represents a fair value overall. While it’s cheap to purchase, it’s expensive to maintain and operate. Expect to budget around $7,500 per year for maintenance, operating costs, insurance, and registration. Let’s take a closer look at the expenses you can expect.

Purchase Price & Depreciation

Porsche Cayenne 955 Used Prices from www.cargurus.com

According to CarGurus data, the average 955 price ranges from $8,000 to just over $10,000. While the 955 has depreciated by ~20% in the last two years, most have already lost 85% of their original values. The 955 still has room to depreciate further, but you won’t lose more than a few thousand dollars over several years of ownership. The data isn’t broken out by trim, but expect to pay the following prices for a 955 in good shape:

However, don’t fixate too much on prices. A 955’s mileage, condition, and service history will drastically impact how much it is worth. Given one or two “minor” repairs on a Cayenne can set you back a few thousand dollars, we recommend buying a 955 with verifiable service records even if it means paying a little bit more.

Maintenance

Maintenance is the next big expense item when it comes to owning a 955. Parts and labor are expensive and, given 955s are all nearly 15 years or older, a 955 will require frequent repairs. Expect to pay your independent mechanic $250 for an oil change. If you have a mild issue, such as a failed ignition coil, expect to pay at least $1,000. Despite the ability to purchase a 955 for less than $10,000, you’re still maintaining a car with an original purchase price of over $60,000 (in today’s money).

Operating Costs

Operating a 955 isn’t cheap due to the cost of consumables. Let’s break down the main operating expenses:

For the main consumables alone, you can expect to pay around $3,600 per year. You’ll also need to factor in car insurance and registration. However, these costs should be pretty reasonable given the 955’s age.

Porsche Cayenne 957 (2008-2010)

2008 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

“EXPERIMENT MOTORS GOIANIA 2010 – SEGUNDA EDIÇÃO” by João Paulo Fotografias is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

History

In 2008, Porsche released the 957, which was actually just a mid-cycle refresh of the 955. Across the entire lineup, the 957 received new direct fuel injection (DFI) engines. The 957 also received revised front and rear fascias with more angular headlights and LED tail lights.

Porsche Cayenne 957 Trims

Porsche Cayenne (V6)

The Cayenne Base received an updated 3.6 liter V6 engine that pushed power and torque up to 290 horsepower and 273 ft-lbs. Despite the power increase, the new DFI engine also improved fuel economy to 14 MPG (city) and 20 MPG (highway). While rare to find, Porsche did continue to offer the base model with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Porsche Cayenne S

The S received a new 4.8 liter, DFI V8 with 385 horsepower and 369 ft-lbs of torque. Fuel efficiency increased slightly to 13 MPG (city) and 19 MPG (highway). The extra power allowed the 957 S to sprint 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds and complete the standing quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds.

Porsche Cayenne GTS

The GTS is very similar to the Cayenne S, but features numerous upgrades. The GTS features the same 4.8 liter engine from the S, but Porsche tuned the engine to make 405 horsepower. Additionally, the GTS came with the following options as standard: sport design exterior package, 21 inch wheels, sport seats with Alcantara inserts, air suspension, and Porsche Sport Exhaust (PSE).

The GTS also could be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC). PDCC provides hydraulically controlled sway bars that can keep the Cayenne virtually flat while cornering. It also simulates disconnected sway bars to provide more suspension articulation in off-road scenarios. PDCC is a great option, but does present one more complex system that you’ll need to maintain.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo

The 957 Turbo received a twin-turbo 4.8 liter, DFI V8 which increased output to 500 horsepower and 516 ft-lbs of torque. With the extra power, the 957 Turbo can do 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and complete the 1/4 mile in 13.5 seconds. Fuel efficiency improved slightly to 12 MPG (city) and 19 MPG (highway). The Turbo also received larger brakes, a full leather interior, and air suspension as standard.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

The Turbo S uses a tuned version of the Turbo’s engine and puts out 550 horsepower and 553 ft-lbs of torque. As a result, the 957 Turbo S can do 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and the quarter-mile in 13.0 seconds. In addition, the Turbo S came with the following options as standard over the Turbo: PDCC, PSE, 21 inch wheels, sport design appearance package, and larger 380mm brake rotors up front.

Reliability

The 957 is slightly more reliable than the 955, but still has some of the old issues along with new ones. Let’s take a look at the issues you can expect.

Value – FAIR

The 957 represents as good of a value as the 955. While 957s are more expensive than 955s, they have depreciated a little less than the 955 in the last 2 years (~17% v.s ~20% respectively) because of the 957’s slightly better reliability. However, we still recommend budgeting around $7,500 per year for maintenance, operating costs, insurance, and registration.

Porsche Cayenne 958 (2011-2018)

958.1 Porsche Cayenne Turbo (“Porsche Cayenne Turbo” by CFlo Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

958.2 Porsche Cayenne S (“File:Porsche Cayenne S IMG 0627.jpg” by Alexander Migl is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)

History

In 2011, Porsche released the completely redesigned, second-generation Cayenne. Porsche carried over the 957 engines into the first generation of the 958, but upgraded the transmission to an 8-speed Tiptronic unit. From the exterior, the 958 received a more sleek and urban look. Porsche also was able to cut the Cayenne’s weight by nearly 400 pounds thanks to the use of a single-speed transfer case and lighter materials. The 958’s towing capacity remained unchanged at 7,716 pounds.

The 958 interior received a full redesign. The cabin design made the 958 feel much more modern and upscale. The 958 also marked the shift to Porsche’s “Panamera” interior style which features the center console that angles up towards the dashboard. Porsche never has been on the cutting edge of infotainment, but the 958 did give owners the ability to stream music via Bluetooth.

In 2015, Porsche released a mid-cycle refresh that featured revised front and rear fascias and new turbocharged V6 engines for the S and GTS models. In the next section, we’ll explore the main differences between various Cayenne versions.

Note: 958.1 refers to 2011 to 2014 model years. 958.2 refers to 2015 to 2018 model years.

Trims

Porsche Cayenne (V6)

During the entire 958 lifecycle, the base models featured a revised version of the 3.6 liter, DFI V6 engine from the 957. Power was bumped up to 295 horsepower and torque increased to 295 ft-lbs. In 2016, the base model received a 5 horsepower increase. Due to the lighter weight of the 958, MPG increased to a more respectable 19 MPG (city) and 24 MPG (highway). 0-60 mph also improved to around 7.5 seconds.

Porsche Cayenne Diesel

In 2013, Porsche introduced the first diesel version of the Cayenne in the United States. The Cayenne Diesel has a turbocharged 3.0 liter, V6 diesel engine which put out 240 horsepower and 406 ft-lbs of torque. The Diesel achieves a respectable 20 MPG (city) and 28 MPG (highway).

Porsche Cayenne S

From 2011 to 2014, the Cayenne S used the same V8 engine from the 957, but power increased to 400 horsepower. As a result of the 958’s lighter weight and slight bump in power, it can do 0-60 mph in ~5.5 seconds and the quarter mile in 14 seconds. Fuel economy also improved to 16 MPG (city) and 22 MPG (highway).

In 2015, Porsche gave the Cayenne S a new turbocharged, 3.0 liter V6 engines that put out 420 horsepower and 406 ft-lbs of torque. Thanks to the big bump in torque, the 958.2 Cayenne S can do 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.5 seconds. Fuel economy further improved to 17 MPG (city) and 24 MPG (highway).

Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid & S E-Hybrid

From 2011 to 2014, Porsche offered the Cayenne S Hybrid model which used a supercharged 3.0 liter V6 paired with an electric motor. It put out 380 horsepower and 428 ft-lbs of torque and could achieve 20 MPG (city) and 24 MPG (highway).

In 2015, Porsche released the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, which was Porsche’s first plug-in model. The S E-Hybrid has an all-electric range of up to 22 miles and a 47 MPG-equivalent fuel economy rating. Additionally, Porsche bumped power to 416 horsepower and torque to 435 ft-lbs. This allows the S E-Hybrid to do 0-60 mph in around 5.5 seconds and the quarter mile in the high 13 second range. Not bad for a family hauling hybrid!

Porsche Cayenne GTS

The 958.1 and 958.2 GTS use the same engines as their S equivalents. However, they received slight power bumps. Power and torque on the 958.1 increased to 420 hp and 380 ft-lbs. The 958.2 GTS received 440 horsepower and 443 ft-lbs of torque. Like the prior 957 GTS, the 958 GTS came with many options as standard over the S such as sport design exterior package, larger wheels, sport seats with Alcantara, PSE, and air suspension.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo & Turbo S

The 958 Turbo and Turbo S models utilize updated versions of the twin-turbo, 4.8 liter V8 engines from the 957. The 958.1 Turbo (2011-2014) came with 500 horsepower and 516 ft-lbs of torque. In 2015, Porsche bumped the Turbo’s power and torque to 520 horsepower and 553 ft-lbs.

The 958.1 Turbo S (2013-2014) received 550 horsepower and 516 ft-lbs of torque. Later, the 958.2 Turbo S (2015-2018) received 570 horsepower and 590 ft-lbs of torque. As a result, the range topping 958.2 Turbo S can do 0-60 mph in 4 seconds flat and complete the quarter mile in just 12.5 seconds.

Reliability

The 958 gave Porsche a chance to learn and address issues from the prior generation. While Porsche improved the 958’s overall reliability, the 958 still has its fair share of issues.

Value – Poor

The 958 Cayenne represents a poor value. At face value, you can buy an amazing SUV that can do-it-all from anywhere around $20,000 for an early year base model to $60,000 for a relatively new Turbo S. However, just like on the 955 and 957, expect to lose money on depreciation. According to CarGurus data, in the past 2 years, 958 Cayennes have depreciated by ~30% across the board. In addition, the 958 Cayenne will be just as expensive to maintain and operate. If you do decide to buy a 958, factor $6,000 to $9,000 per year for gas, maintenance, repairs, insurance, and registration.

Our Recommendation on Buying a Used Porsche Cayenne

A properly maintained Porsche Cayenne is an amazing SUV that can do it all. However, if you’re looking for a low maintenance SUV, the Porsche Cayenne is NOT RIGHT for you. On the other hand, if you have the interest and ability to do some of your own maintenance and repairs, a used Porsche Cayenne is actually a great value for what you get. If you do decide to buy a used Porsche Cayenne, we recommend you budget around $7,500 per year to cover maintenance and operating costs. We also recommend that you purchase an extended car warranty and find a good independent Porsche mechanic.

To see how you can save money on maintenance, check out our detailed maintenance guides. While we encourage Porsche owners to do-it-yourself to save money and get the full Porsche ownership experience, we understand DIY is not for everyone. Check out our service center recommendations to find a highly rated, Porsche mechanic near you. Thanks for reading and subscribe to eCarGuides to get the latest information for all of your car ownership needs.