The performance car of the future very well could be the SUV. It might not, as the future is still unwritten, but when even Ferrari offers an SUV, it’s an avenue of thought worth investigating. Should that happen, it’s worth keeping a few icons of the 2000s around as a reminder of where everything came from, so when a manual Porsche Cayenne GTS with nigh-on moon mileage came up for grabs on Cars & Bids, you know I had to write about it.
In the decade of technological progress that was the 2000s, you could get a manual transmission in two German midsize luxury SUVs: The BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne. While the manual Bimmer SUVs were all six-cylinder cars, the Cayenne GTS marked the pairing of a six-speed manual with a fire-breathing 4.8-liter naturally-aspirated V8. It’s not the rarest Cayenne to ever make it to North America — that would be the manual S Transsyberia — but it’s damn close and most definitely the keen driver’s SUV of the 2000s, even if it doesn’t have the best shifter in the world.
To create the original Cayenne GTS, Porsche took a Cayenne S, pushed the horsepower total up to 405, added the fascias from the Turbo, wheel arch extensions, specially tuned suspension with a 0.79-inch drop, yards of Alcantara, and the option of that oh-so-intriguing manual gearbox. The result? An all-weather family hauler that sounds like Cocaine Bear and corners far better than a 5,000-pound mechanical hippopotamus should.
Speaking of semi-aquatic mammals, it’s time to brush on the Cayenne’s looks. Maybe it’s the dramatic 21-inch alloy wheels, or the fact that black paint usually makes cars less ugly, or the fact that modern car design has only grown further overwrought, but I don’t think the 2008 to 2010 Cayenne looks that bad. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it handsome, but it isn’t grossly offensive, and it might even be coming into its own given the E1 Cayenne’s historical importance for Porsche.
So, what’s the catch here? Well, this particular manual Cayenne GTS has 202,700 miles on the clock. Yeah, someone really enjoyed this thing. As a result, it isn’t perfect, rocking evidence of touch-up paint, a little bit of curb rash on the wheels, and a couple of scratches on the body. The front seats have their fair share of wrinkles and creases, the leather steering wheel and shift knob are patinated, and since this is a New York car, you can see some corrosion on this Cayenne’s underbody fasteners, control arms, and subframes.
However, there’s a chance that all this mileage may be reflected in the final hammer price. Although a high bid of $10,000 with three days left on the auction leaves plenty of wiggle room, nice manual Cayenne GTS SUVs generally start at $25,000 and go up north of $50,000 for top-of-the-market examples. If this one sells for say, less than $20,000, someone’s getting a good deal.
(Photo credits: Cars & Bids)
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You can buy a mechanically-good E53 3.0 X5 for maybe $5000 max. It will have the ubiquitous stout M54 engine, parts are still easy to find and many are shared with the E39 5er. There will usually be one at your local pick-yer-part yard along with other badly-maintained BMW/MBz/Porsche/Jag/other lux brands ending their lives from 4th/5th-owners who have no idea what they’re in for.
I drive a 2001 manual 5spd with almost 200,000mi on it and the engine starts within half a crank, no smoke, and nothing leaks. Find a 2004-6 LCI model with a 6-speed if possible because the final drive gearing is super-low for towing and lacks a selectable hi/low range so the engine in mine is spinning around 3500rpm at 75mph. But that gearing means this 4500lb thing can accelerate a lot better than you’d expect for a 3.0 NA six that puts out around 225hp.
Manuals are scarce esp. the LCI 6-speed, and the 5-spd GM automatic in the pre-LCI models is not good. I think the post-LCIs used a 6-spd ZF box for both types. Weak areas are power door lock actuators, power window regulators, droopy headliners, and peeling clear-coat aside from any M54-specific issues of which there are a few.
Yeah, off-topic, but Hundal started it.
Someone should overland build that thing! big tires and a roof rack with a spare on it would be epic! Fender flares would help with the plain looks and some KC lights on a bull bar would finish it nicely.
The holy grail of 1st gen cayennes! I think if mine was a stick I’d be willing to put up with its number of stupid small problems ( Oops I mean quirky charms ) instead of having it up for sale.
Please, please someone don’t ruin this with an #overland build and enjoy it for what it is-a delightful historical oddity (especially with the stick) that was one of the first enthusiast go anywhere do anything cars.
BrB, going to FB marketplace.
Tbh, moon mileage isn’t super rare on early Cayennes these days. Now, a manual and being well kept are fairly rare, but 200k on the clock is reasonably commonplace from what I see at work.
This is promising.
Signed,
Needs a Cayenne
Buy this one, sell the big one, problem solved
There’s no big one to sell. I need…a Cayenne.
My 2004 Cayenne S has 192,000 miles. Purchased for $6k, maybe $3k in repairs and upgrades. It’s been a delight. Comfortable, fast enough, handles nicely, hauls when desired. When sorted out, these things are “unkillable” “holy grails” in the best Autopian meanings of those words.
This is good parsh.
Aren’t they all?
Yes.
*Laughs in 914*
The 914 is EXCELLENT VW-by-parsh.
If I were to join the club, I would absolutely be 914 Awkward Squad.
Whenever I see a V8 first gen for sale, I assume it’s because the cylinder scoring symptoms have started showing
1st gen cayenne’s are hot right now to chop up and make into off-roaders. I can think of worse ideas, but not many. I think its part counterculture or something.
I love a bad idea.
I deeply love [other people’s] bad ideas.
I was at an offroad event in VT where two of these showed up. I’m not sure how they did on the trail (I’m guessing pretty well, actually), but they sounded GLORIOUS. These and the LS swapped 80-series were by far the best sounding vehicles in a sea of 6cyl Toyotas and Jeeps.
My old 2008 Cayenne S V8 who I bought new is still fully operational at a neighbour’s house with 210,000 miles on it-original engine and transmission. Had camshaft lifters replaced ( expensive) , A/C compressor and a part of the muffler, but otherwise continues to be bulletproof. Had done 50,000 miles towing another car on a trailer, been afforded in Arizona and lives in Canadian snow.
The thing is a tank.
A friend has a 2008 Cayenne Turbo with over 200,000 miles on it and it is an absolute beast. It’s had parts replaced, but the drivetrain has been remarkably bulletproof. My friend is also very good about taking care of his Cayenne (and even more his Boxter), so that likely contributes to its longevity.