Paul O's 5 Great Years with a Gen1 Cayenne!

[Paul O]

12 hours ago, suffolkporker said:

Going looking tomorrow 😮

Good luck!! What have you found?

[EXY]

On 7/16/2020 at 1:39 PM, Paul O said:

Memorabilia

I like to collect the odd bit of memorabilia when I buy a car. 1:18 scale model cars are a particular favourite (or 1:43 if the bigger model doesn't exist), and I also like to have a copy of the brochures of each car, which I like to keep.

Porsche brochures are particularly nice and I have a few of these, so I picked up the Cayenne one on eBay recently. It is in great condition and has some nice photography in there.

 

 

 

 

Their brochures really are a work of art in and of themselves

[the baron]

On 4/4/2020 at 10:08 PM, Paul O said:

Thanks mate! I've done a quick google and Iron X could be quite beneficial for this. I've ordered the Autoglym version just now (called Magma), I like Autoglym stuff. Will let you know how I get on!

Here is your reward with some pics!

 

 

 

 

looks great just a shame he is so far away as would have him out myself for a couple of minor repairs

[Paul O]

6 hours ago, the baron said:

looks great just a shame he is so far away as would have him out myself for a couple of minor repairs

Yeah he did a decent job of it, very pleased to be honest. His Facebook is very active, with lots of new work being demonstrated each week. Think he's manchester based, so yeah I imagine Devon might be a bit of a mission! 

[suffolkporker]

On 7/26/2020 at 9:52 AM, Paul O said:

Good luck!! What have you found?

Well we went to a large secondhand dealer about an hour from us on a general 4x4/suv fact finding mission! The main reason was they had a diesel s Macan. However as nice as it was we have now written them off as they don't offer the space we need internally. Great place to be sat inside one though and in another life I think we would have walked out owning it 

The good news is the Mrs liked its bigger brother and also the ML/GL . Also happy to report that both will just about squeeze into the garage although there is not much to spare.

Now weighing up our budget and thinking it might be better adding to it to get a newer KN (diesel euro 6 anyone 🙄) or going for and ML and not caring too much.

I have looked at so much information on the different KN models and still not sure on the diesel/hybrid/petrol conundrum!

[Jonnyspin]

4 years ago, I was in a similar position and considered a hybrid Cayenne over a diesel one because it seemed like an interesting option. My reasoning was down to experience that my Boxster has cost very little over the 15 years of ownership and is clearly exceptionally well built.
There were a few around at good prices and some intriguing specifications (a metallic yellow one with beige leather never seemed to sell ) Problem is that I don’t think they were that economical. And I was a bit scared of the costs if anything did need attention.

 

In the end I bought a SQ5 (I figured Audi would be similar to Porsche build quality, but the diesel would give better mileage than either hybrid or diesel Cayenne) ...and then I remapped it to make it a bit faster.
 

Edited July 28, 2020 by Jonnyspin

[mike597]

5 hours ago, suffolkporker said:

Well we went to a large secondhand dealer about an hour from us on a general 4x4/suv fact finding mission! The main reason was they had a diesel s Macan. However as nice as it was we have now written them off as they don't offer the space we need internally. Great place to be sat inside one though and in another life I think we would have walked out owning it 

The good news is the Mrs liked its bigger brother and also the ML/GL . Also happy to report that both will just about squeeze into the garage although there is not much to spare.

Now weighing up our budget and thinking it might be better adding to it to get a newer KN (diesel euro 6 anyone 🙄) or going for and ML and not caring too much.

I have looked at so much information on the different KN models and still not sure on the diesel/hybrid/petrol conundrum!

The Mercedes and the Porsche are really polar opposites in terms of design intent e.g. the Mercs have quite a soft suspension set up so they corner quite differently.

 

[Paul O]

Service and Fixing some stuff.

As we edge ever closer to the 150,000-mile mark on my 3.2 Cayenne V6, it has given me the notification that it needs a service - unusually quite a bit earlier than expected having covered only 5,000 since December. But nevertheless, in the Paul O household, what a car wants, a car gets.

The to-do list:

This year is just the annual oil change service, so this was booked with the two Johns at Porsche Euro in Barnsley - my trusted go-to workshop for many, many years. In addition, I decided to remediate a few other niggles to make the ownership experience more pleasurable:

The service book suggests it time for: “Air cleaner: Replace filter element”. So, we'll do that, because the air con blew a cloud of something into the car a few months ago. It’s never done it since and it didn't smell, but figured maybe this filter might be due a change.

Replace LCD screen on dashboard.
A common fault with these cars is that over time the LCD matrix on the dashboard starts to fade and mine did the same. It worked fine when cold but as the car warms up, you can't see anything in the display. It has been like it since I bought the car almost five years ago now but as we're all advancing in years (man and machine!), this is the main display which tells you what is wrong so, should a warning light appear, I'd like it working. I purchased from eBay, for about £30. Plus £20 postage from America. Plus £11 import duty. Plus £8 admin fee for the duty.

The new screen is much, much brighter and looks fantastic:

 

Replace buzzer from behind dashboard.
This is the buzzer which warns you if the lights are left on, gives the indicators that tick-tock sound, and all that kind of thing. It is separate to the beeps of the parking sensors, which are still working. These are behind the dash and a common failure. I purchased a replacement online and figured John could sort it whilst the dash is out for the LCD panel. The guide suggested approximately two hours for a workshop to sort, John did it in 45 minutes - including replacing the LCD.

Metallic noise coming from front passenger wheel arch when going left (such as on roundabouts).
This turned out to be the rust on the brake disk, which was cleaned up and now largely resolved. To remediate fully it needs new disks but John said not to bother until the pads are due as there is still lots of life on the disks.

The passenger window has a draft coming in since the regulator was replaced a few years back.
This has been realigned now so hopefully no more draft for the Mrs!

John sorted them all with his usual greatness and the Cayenne is ready for Year 6 of ownership, the anniversary of which hits just a couple of months’ time! I'd highly recommend Porsche Euro for any of you Yorkshire based folk. They are very experienced guys who charge reasonable prices and only do the jobs that actually need doing.

Despite being 150,000 miles, its still looking pretty good inside (excuse the non-cleaned carpet mats!)

I look regularly at replacement cars (like most of us petrolheads do), particularly the newer Cayenne as I love the interior and exterior design of those. BUT... the seats in my car are just lovely. I've looked at the Gen 1.5 models as they have the same interior, but they all fall into the top-tax bracket, so thats out. The newer models (2011+) have different shaped seats yet the ones in my Gen1 car are so comfortable for my frame that I just don't want to pay out more money for a car that I doubt will be as comfortable. Add to that how little money these cars fetch (albeit increased in value recently), I have to admit to myself that I am actually still really, really happy with this car. And, as most petrolheads will know, admitting you are actually happy with the car you own, rather than the next one that you want, is REALLY difficult to do. 

But I have, and so onto Year 6!

Total running costs summary for the 5 years and 50,000 miles I've owned it coming in the next update.
 

Edited October 28, 2020 by Paul O

[mike597]

1 hour ago, Paul O said:

as most petrolheads will know, admitting you are actually happy with the car you own, rather than the next one that you want, is REALLY difficult to do. 

+1 to this! 

[Paul O]

Question: How many IT specialists does it take to change a lightbulb?

So... the indicator stopped working on one of the front lights. This requires the usual Porsche thing of removing the light from the car, then replacing the bulb. There is a known flaw with the design of the lights whereby sometimes the indicators will lose connection and stop working, but the bulb is still fine. The solution is to pull the indicator bulb, clean the contacts with a bit of wirewool, gently expand the prongs to help tighten the connection, light bulb back in, light back in the car.

5 minutes work. Easy.

Easy? No. Because I'm an IT specialist.

 

At the weekend I removed the light, feeling very manly with big big piece of car sat on the makeshift table in the garage. Gave it a quick wipe clean, and then had a look at the intructions on how to remove the indicator bulb. "Twist" they say. I'm twisting, but nothing is twisting. On to YouTube, "Its a very easy procedure..." says the guy, who simultanously pulls out the indicator bulb, as if by magic. Still nothing. So, I call John at Porsche Euro. "Just twist it!", he says. Still nothing. 

So now, being the genuins that I am, I decide to pull out the other light and see if I can twist that one - to make sure I'm not being a complete feeble weedling. That indicator twists fine, feeling very manly now with two light housing units sat on my table of garage manliness.

There can't be many things in life that can demasculate you quite like failed attempts at the most rudamentary and basic car mechanicing. I try twisting the broken light again, nothing. Frustrated at this point I decide to give up and resign myself to the fact that John is going to have to be paid a visit for him to sort out my fekkin' lightbulb.

So I put the 'broken' light back in, and that goes in fine. Now to put the good light in... there is a reassuring 'click' from the top, but with it the realisation that the bottom is completely wonky. It won't go in. It won't come out. I try more pressure, and nothing. I try maximum wiggling, up, down, left, right. Nothing. Its stuck.

Half in. Half out. Stuck. So now I have one light that has no indicator, and one light that is only half in the car.

 

For

F**KS

SAKE!

Over the next few days I continue to try to rag the thing out of the car, even to the point where the wing was flexing, but nothing!! It was having none of it.

A reluctant call back to Porsche Euro, who I'm sure were struggling to contain their laughter at my imbicilic nature when it comes to me and my car abilities, and I was booked in for this morning.

And now its all fixed. I had done a great job of getting it stuck as it took John some serious ragging about to get it loose, but he won in a way that I wouldn't have dared in the space of maybe two or three minutes. After about half an hour or so both lights were fixed and back in.

Cost to me? Zero, with a merry christmas. He's a really nice guy is John.

Crisis over... and I can be 'proud' of my failed attempt at even fixing a bulb! A bulb!! 🙈

Some happy news that whilst I was there, my Uncle showed up wanting a new battery in his Panamera! I've not seen him since before lockdown so it was great to catchup whilst the two Johns sorted both of our cars!

Porsche Euro in Barnsley is the place and I'd highly recommended. 

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

Edited December 11, 2020 by Paul O

[Scubaregs]

Why didn’t you try switching it off and on again?

[Menoporsche]

Damn that's EXACTLY what I was thinking!

[Paul O]

Happy new year! Doesn't time fly!! Here is an update as we've just nudged past the 150,000 mile mark on our 15 year old Cayenne V6, completing 5 years of ownership here in the Paul O household, later this month!

COMPLETE COST OF OWNERSHIP FOR FIVE YEARS

The car was due a service when I bought it which started things off:

• 2016 - Minor service, wiper blades and brake fluid: £254
• 2016 - Number plates for my personal registration: £20
• 2016 - Valet to get rid of the smoke smell (can't remember the cost, lets say £80)
• 2016 - New key fob (it only came with one and I wanted two): £239
• 2016 - Alternator refurb and refit: £216
• 2016 - 4x budget tyres (Top-notch stuff isn't really required for our use): £350
• 2016 - Annual / Oil Change service: £118
• 2016/17 - MOT: £88
• 2017 - Window Regulator and new rear glass micro switch: £330
• 2017 - Major service including spark plugs and brake fluid, plus a new rear wiper blade and front side light bulb: £394
• 2018 - MOT: £44
• 2018 - Replacement of driver side Window regulator: £258
• 2018 - Oil Change service: £120
• 2019 - MOT: £44
• 2019 - New front headlight bulb from Porsche: £18
• 2019 - Front Tyres: £195 (Black Circles)
• 2019 - Tracking for tyres (they were wearing unevenly: £30
• 2019 - Rear Tyres (Black Circles) £188.50
• 2019 - New wiper blades and fixing of the fuel flap switch (which broke so I couldn't open it). £90
• 2019 - Minor Service £174
• 2020 – New front brake pads and sensor £208
• 2020 – MOT - £45ish
• 2020 – Gear Leaver plastic bush replacement (Safety Recall): £0
• 2020 – Repaint of front and rear bumpers to repair scrapes: £270
• 2020 – new LCD screen and buzzer (parts only) £61.13 and £42 + £19 duty and fees
• 2020 – Oil change service plus air filter, fitting new sidelight bulb and fitting LCD screen and buzzer £258
• 2020 - Changing the light bulb fiasco: £0

TOTAL RUNNING COSTS FOR 5 YEARS OWNERSHIP: £4153 (£69.22 per month)
DEPRECIATION (Purchased at £7k, I think it is now worth perhaps £3500 – a slight increase from previous years due to Covid-19 doing weird things to the car market): £3500 (£58.33 per month).

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP (not including tax, petrol or insurance):  £7653 (£127.55 per month).

Average MPG for reference, I'd say is around the 19-21mpg mark.

This year will be a big service for the Cayenne, but that won't be until towards the back end of the year. But the age (15) plus the milage (150k), plus the Major Service that it will be due next means quite a lot of service items will need refreshing in 2021! 

Edited January 2, 2021 by Paul O

[Paul O]

Short update, MOT day today. All passed with no advisories. 👍 In the past 12 months, we only did 3,800 miles together - and I suspect most of that will have been in the first few months of 2020 before the first lockdown!

[Paul O]

The Final Update 😵

And so here it is, the Cayenne has now been sold, after just under five and a half years of fabulous ownership. I've absolutely loved owning this car and it has been my favourite ever car purchase. The seats were by far the most comfortable that I've ever sat in and the driving position is perfect for a tall bloke such as myself.

It has taken us all over the country on holidays and shopping trips, it has carried everything in its carnivorous boot, from moving house boxes, to tip runs, to garden centres trips and everything in between.

A phenomenal car which has been incredibly reliable and for what it is (a prestige SUV with true 4x4 capabilities), it has been a cheap car to run too!

COMPLETE COST OF OWNERSHIP FOR 65 MONTHS AND 51,000 MILES:

The car was due a service when I bought it which started things off:

• 2016 – Minor service, wiper blades and brake fluid: £254
• 2016 – Number plates for my personal registration: £20
• 2016 – Valet to get rid of the smoke smell (can’t remember the cost, lets say £80)
• 2016 – New key fob (it only came with one and I wanted two): £239
• 2016 – Alternator refurb and refit: £216
• 2016 – 4x budget tyres (Top-notch stuff isn’t really required for our use): £350
• 2016 – Annual / Oil Change service: £118
• 2016/17 – MOT: £88
• 2017 – Window Regulator and new rear glass micro switch: £330
• 2017 – Major service including spark plugs and brake fluid, plus a new rear wiper blade and front side light bulb: £394
• 2018 – MOT: £44
• 2018 – Replacement of driver side Window regulator: £258
• 2018 – Oil Change service: £120
• 2019 – MOT: £44
• 2019 – New front headlight bulb from Porsche: £18
• 2019 – Front Tyres: £195 (Black Circles)
• 2019 – Tracking for tyres (they were wearing unevenly: £30
• 2019 – Rear Tyres (Black Circles) £188.50
• 2019 – New wiper blades and fixing of the fuel flap switch (which broke so I couldn’t open it). £90
• 2019 – Minor Service £174
• 2020 – New front brake pads and sensor £208
• 2020 – MOT – £45ish
• 2020 – Gear Leaver plastic bush replacement (Safety Recall): £0
• 2020 – Repaint of front and rear bumpers to repair scrapes: £270
• 2020 – new LCD screen and buzzer (parts only) £61.13 and £42 + £19 duty and fees
• 2020 – Oil change service plus air filter, fitting new sidelight bulb and fitting LCD screen and buzzer £258
• 2020 – Changing the light bulb fiasco: £0
• 2021 – MOT £45

 

• TOTAL RUNNING COSTS FOR 5 YEARS OWNERSHIP: £4198 (£64.58 per month)
• DEPRECIATION (Purchased at £7k, sold for £4350): £2650 (£40.77 per month).
• TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP (not including tax, petrol or insurance):  £6848 (£105.35 per month).

Why sell? I've had it for so long now and could easily keep it forever more. I had a good one and I kept it well maintained, but I have other cars on my to-do list that I really want to try - one of those being a Boxster 987 (which I now own). However,  this meant that in keeping the Cayenne, I had three cars, plus my wife’s car. I now work from home permanently, and the wife doesn't work that far away either. Four cars is just too many as they are all hardly getting used. Unused cars quickly become broken cars and I do not like to have broken cars in any shape or form and the level of maintainence required owning a mini fleet without justified purpose really pecks at my head. So, sensibly, but reluctantly, the Cayenne has said its farewell  today, being snapped up by a very nice gent who will be using it for similar family duties as I did. We'll be replacing my wife’s Puma as well, combining the two cars to form a Jaguar E Pace as the family car all being well, with the Boxster as my 'daily' and the Camaro as the weekend toy.

A friend of mine likes to say that when it comes to cars, depreciation means you can "Live like a millionaire from ten years ago". A brand new Cayenne will cost you more than £750 a month, with a £7,000 deposit. Big numbers! But I bought mine outright for the same price as just that deposit when it was 11 years old. Awesome!

The Cayenne still turns heads, even today at 16 years old, and to my biased eye it still looks great too - very different, very striking, and I hope the new owner gets as many reliable and fun miles out of it as I did.

Edited May 7, 2021 by Paul O