DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a Cayenne, probably looking for something on LPG to reduce the blow of the horrendous fuel consumption. I've started doing my research but would welcome any advice from 'those in the know' on DDK.

I am not looking at anything too expensive, just a 04/05/06 plate to run over the summer. I'm leaning towards a 4.5S rather than a 3.2 or a turbo. Anyone offer any advice on the pros/cons, best specs to look out, danger areas, and what I can expect from the car?

More info on the car itself please as opposed to the LPG aspect, as that is not a definite.

Thanks in anticipation.

Best regards,


Kevin

This might be useful: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1234584

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Speaking from no experience whatsoever regarding Cayennes or LPG but surely going for the biggest fattest engine is best. I'd imagine all are sub 20mpg anyway so you may as well go for something with some guts.

Thanks for the replies fellas.

shoestring7 wrote:This might be useful: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1234584

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Interesting read, many thanks.

Nige wrote:Speaking from no experience whatsoever regarding Cayennes or LPG but surely going for the biggest fattest engine is best. I'd imagine all are sub 20mpg anyway so you may as well go for something with some guts.

Agreed Nige, but apparently the 4.5 turbo, with all it's intercoolers and other 'gubbins' doesn't have (or has very little) space to fit the LPG kit, hence my preference for the 4.5S which does. I'm still learning/researching though

Keep the info coming guys.

Cheers,


Kevin

Ignore the 3.2 - no more economical than the 4.5.
Have run an '05 turbo for the last couple of years and unless the 'red mist' decends or your hell bent on loosing your licence it can be as economical as the 4.5. Averaging 18+ and seeing 20+ on a run. Big advantage is the spec - everything desirable especially the air suspension. Ran a 4.5S some time ago - great car but prefer the turbo.
Don't know if any of this helps! Thought I'd seen a conversion on a turbo sometime ago. You could always take the turbos off - enough s/h parts these days to get a 4.5 ecu etc

Tony

in terms of LPG expect fuel costs to be around 65% of running on petrol in my experience, not the 50% some people (and companies) claim! thats for a well set-up electronic sequential injection system

Buy a VW Toureg – same platform, save money, less 'conspicuous'. Find a V10 TDI if you can!

KS wrote: Find a V10 TDI if you can!

And carry around the extra 100+kg - that is a very heavy engine for the gain sure doesn't drive like a Cayenne

Tony

But the TORQUE! Sorry, did I mention the TORQUE! Come to mama!

Buy an L322 Range Rover. Much more elegant.

misteralz wrote:Buy an L322 Range Rover. Much more elegant.

and a nicer place to sit for hours whilst you're in a layby waiting for LR recovery to come & get you

smallspeed wrote:in terms of LPG expect fuel costs to be around 65% of running on petrol in my experience, not the 50% some people (and companies) claim! thats for a well set-up electronic sequential injection system

Tony wrote:Ignore the 3.2 - no more economical than the 4.5.
Have run an '05 turbo for the last couple of years and unless the 'red mist' decends or your hell bent on loosing your licence it can be as economical as the 4.5. Averaging 18+ and seeing 20+ on a run. Big advantage is the spec - everything desirable especially the air suspension. Ran a 4.5S some time ago - great car but prefer the turbo.

This is pretty much what I could add after owning one and contacting a couple of LPG firms.

Our Cayenne Turbo is currently for sale after an easy year of ownership.
(A Cayenne GTS is lined up or a slim shot at a trackday 911SC)
If you look at the other 4x4's in it's class the MPG's it gives are not to bad.
You are bringing 2 tonnes of Porsche with you everywhere!

I also looked at the VW with them being a family favourite
The Toureg doesn't match the Cayenne interior by a long way IMHO and the V10 Diesel I drove for a week was too torquey for damp ole' blighty and spun up to easily when pushing on.
Our Turbo just grips and goes...

OEM parts make the servicing costs bearable and the luxury feel makes the extra coin worthwhile

(all IMHO of course )

No personal experience (other than I run a Smart Fortwo on LPG) is that AFN told me that the new Cayenne is a very different beastie to the original "which drives like a tractor"

This when I was sitting in a shiny showroom as he tried to sell me on the 9month waiting list.

If you are paying for the conversion , that's £2k+ in fuel that you need to save to cover the conversion cost. And you can't go on the Chunnel...

Tosh wrote: the new Cayenne is a very different beastie to the original "which drives like a tractor"

something of an exaggeration - the new on is more car like to drive certainly - but much less competent off-road the saving in weight is significant - but has had to come from somewhere!!

Tosh wrote: If you are paying for the conversion , that's £2k+ in fuel that you need to save to cover the conversion cost. And you can't go on the Chunnel...

Yep that's why we bought an older Turbo!

Tony

LOL @the tractor comment.
I've been driving our MK1 Turbo and our proposed MK2 GTS back to back.
There is not much in it, the Mk2 is better at conveinence Bluetooth/Ipod/Phone etc out of the box.