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4.3

Porsche Cayenne

Starts at:
$42,900
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4dr 4dr S 4dr Turbo Shop options
New 2004 Porsche Cayenne
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4dr 4dr S 4dr Turbo Shop options
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Key specifications

Highlights
Gas V6
Engine Type
15 City / 19 Hwy
MPG
247 hp
Horsepower
5
Seating Capacity
Engine
228 @ 2500-5500
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
247 @ 6000
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
3.2L/194
Displacement
Gas V6
Engine Type
Suspension
Multi-link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Double Wishbone
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Independent
Suspension Type - Rear
Independent
Suspension Type - Front
Weight & Capacity
0 lbs
Total Option Weight
N/A
Curb Weight
N/A
Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
26 gal
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
Electrical
N/A
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
N/A
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
Brakes
Not Available
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
13.00 x 1.10 in
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
13.00 x -TBD- in
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
Yes
Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Notable features

Low-range AWD gearing
Bi-turbo V-8
Tiptronic transmission
Offroad capability
Seat-mounted and side-curtain airbags

Engine

228 @ 2500-5500 SAE Net Torque @ RPM
247 @ 6000 SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
3.2L/194 Displacement
Gas V6 Engine Type

Suspension

Multi-link Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Double Wishbone Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Independent Suspension Type - Rear
Independent Suspension Type - Front

Weight & Capacity

0 lbs Total Option Weight
N/A Curb Weight
N/A Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
26 gal Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
N/A Maximum Trailering Capacity
771 lbs Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
7,716 lbs Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
500 lbs Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
5,000 lbs Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
N/A Maximum Payload Capacity
N/A Curb Weight - Rear
N/A Curb Weight - Front
4,784 lbs Base Curb Weight

Electrical

N/A Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
N/A Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

Brakes

Not Available Drum - Rear (Yes or )
13.00 x 1.10 in Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
13.00 x -TBD- in Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
Yes Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Disc - Front (Yes or )
N/A Brake ABS System (Second Line)
4-Wheel Brake ABS System
Pwr Brake Type

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
10 years
Powertrain
4 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
4 years / 50,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
13 Years / 124,000 miles
Basic
2 years / unlimited miles after new-car limited warranty expires or from the date of sale if the new vehicle limited warranty has expired
Dealer certification
111-point inspection

The good & the bad

The good

Superlative handling
Abundant Turbo power
Comfortable, supportive seats
Porsche reputation for sport
Premium luxury fittings of Turbo

The bad

Price, especially the Turbo
Automatic-transmission hesitation
Fuel economy
Occasional rattles and squeaks
Some wind noise

Consumer reviews

4.3 / 5
Based on 52 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.6
Interior 4.4
Performance 4.8
Value 4.1
Exterior 4.5
Reliability 4.1

Most recent

W car

This was an amazing vehicle to own. It's currently at about 180k miles, and it runs perfectly! It really only needs regular maintenance, to be honest. It's never broken down once.
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 4.0
Interior 3.0
Performance 5.0
Value 4.0
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 5.0
15 people out of 15 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Just the best suv ever very very reliabile

Nice car i love it is very reliable its very sporty for an suv it has very good handling its value is very very good for the money you shuld buy it
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 4.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 5.0
12 people out of 12 found this review helpful. Did you?
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2004 Porsche Cayenne review: Our expert's take

By

Ritzy Porsche Cayenne SUV is cool, but not hot

German sports-car maker Porsche drew heavy criticism from purists last year when it introduced the brand’s first-ever sport utility vehicle, a close cousin to the Volkswagen Touareg dubbed Cayenne.

But the Cayenne has boosted the Stuttgart, Germany-based company’s fortunes, especially in SUV-crazed North America, where the “off-road” Porsche competes with high-priced machinery such as the Mercedes-Benz G500 and the Range Rover.

We tested a 2004 Cayenne S with a base price of $55,900 and more than $10,000 in options, including leather upholstery and air suspension.

The bottom line: $67,970 — which puts this Porsche out of the reach of all but the most affluent consumers.

HE: I think I’m in the minority of people who not only like the Cayenne, but also think Porsche did a good job in designing an SUV that actually looks like a Porsche. On the other hand, Volkswagen, with the Touareg, did a better job of building an SUV that is not only a demon off-road, but looks and feels like a luxury product that’s also just right for everyday driving chores. For the money, I prefer the Touareg. But if you’ve gotta have a Porsche the Cayenne is not a bad choice.

SHE: Sorry, I can’t warm up to the Cayenne. And I’m even less inclined to fall for it after reading the ludicrous Porsche ads touting the 450-horsepower turbo version of the Cayenne as the perfect vehicle for people who need to get diapers in a hurry. Sounds like the fantasy of an ad writer who has neither children nor brains. The Cayenne is not a good compromise vehicle for a sports car-loving dad and a school-car pooling mom. It’s not a good SUV choice for families. It’s too nice on the interior to handle the ravages of the toddler set and it’s just not flexible enough for growing families — especially with the lack of a third row.

HE: That diaper line was totally tongue-in-cheek, Ms. Serious. The Cayenne isn’t exactly about family transportation. That’ll have to wait for the new four-seater Porsche that’s supposedly in the pipeline. And I’m surprised that you totally missed the real target female audience, what the New York Times called the “affluent oppressed” — those women “with everything and yet not nearly enough.”

SHE: My grandmother would call that particular demographic “spoiled rotten.”

HE: But you have to admit that the Cayenne provides a brawny, feature-laden package with great performance for people with a lot of money who love the Porsche brand, but don’t want to compromise on space or functionality.

SHE: I’ll admit that the cabin of the Cayenne is pretty slick, with shiny metal controls and optional stone/steel leather upholstery. The driver is outfitted with a steering wheel that has push button transmission controls that let you shift manually, in addition to audio controls. The rear-seat passengers are well cared for, with a storage console, cupholders, vents and temperature controls. In the cargo hold, you get power outlets, cargo hooks and a tonneau cover to hide packages. Oddly, the audio controls on the instrument panel have too-tiny buttons, a puzzling design, given that the Cayenne, like all others Porsches, is really aimed at men.

HE: The buff magazines have all raved about the 450-horsepower turbo engine, but the standard twin-cam 4.5-liter V-8 in the Cayenne S that we tested is no slouch. It makes 340 horsepower, and packs a pretty good wallop in a vehicle this heavy.

SHE: You can talk about power all day, but I give Porsche credit for loading up the Cayenne with an impressive list of standard safety features. You get everything from stability control, which helps to keep you from fish-tailing on slippery roads, to dual side curtain air bags that protect all the outboard occupants. Porsche has done a superior job in the Cayenne of providing enough equipment to keep o pants safe and secure.

HE: I still have a few beefs. As good as the engine is, there is still some noticeable throttle lag, and the fuel economy is dismal — 14 miles per gallon in city driving and 18 on the highway. And Porsche-philes may be disappointed by the truck-like handling. But, hey, this is an SUV, right? So what’s not to like?

SHE: They may have to coin a new buzz phrase for guys who are attracted to this vehicle — the affluent obsessed.

2004 Porsche Cayenne S

Type: Front-engine, all-wheel drive, five-passenger sport-utility vehicle

Price: Base, $56,665; as tested, $67,970

Engine:

EPA fuel economy: 14 mpg city/ 18 mpg highway

Key competitors: BMW X5, Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac SRX, Infiniti QX56, Lexus LX470, Lincoln Aviator, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz G500, Mercedes-Benz ML500, Range Rover, Volkswagen Touareg

12-month insurance cost: $2,074

Where built: Germany

1: Includes $765 destination charge; 2: Estimated by AAA Michigan. Rates may vary depending on coverage and driving record.

Rating system: 1- unacceptable; 2- subpar; 3- acceptable; 4- above average; 5- world class

Anita’s rating: 3 out of 5

Likes: Comfy ride, with adjustable suspension settings. Good rear-seat controls. Great safety features, including stability control and side-curtain air bags for front and rear occupants. Surprisingly good visibility.

Dislikes: Not crazy about the bug-eyed styling. Optional leather seat package costs $3,200. Difficult to park in a tight space. Have to remove headrests to lower rear seat. Radio control buttons are too tiny.

Paul’s rating: 4 out of 5

Likes: Looks like a Porsche, at least on the outside. Lusty V-8. Extremely capable off-road — if you really want to take your Porsche off-road. Good headroom. Steering-wheel shift controls for automatic transmission.

Dislikes: Cabin is not as ritzy as VW Touareg. Noticeable throttle lag, especially when accelerating from rest. Mediocre fuel economy. Not enough rear-seat legroom. Porsche-philes may be disappointed by the truck-like handling.

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