off road / SXS's ???? Porsche

[sirbob]

With the winter season coming (not giving up on boating season yet!) I have been talking to people about some SXS trips and heading to the desert. This weekend is the Sand Sports show and of course Dave had his night time run in his Ranger a week or two ago...

All these things have had me thinking - I would love a new SXS but, DAMN are they costly!!!

I could get an old jeep or a used SXS - But a few things I've seen lately have me thinking of going a different way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_h4poQA9RY#action=share

If a Porsche 356 can do a rally ???

Then I saw this and it really got me thinking.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/videos/a30722/off-road-porsche-cayenne-turbo/

So my question is why wouldn't I buy a 10 year old Porsche Turbo for less than $15k that I could drive around when I wanted to but the real intent to to convert it to a fully off road vehicle???

I would love to get one of these and put some off road tires on it - lift it - put a set of big rally lights across the top or front grill and use it for off roading as I would a SXS.

I realize I'm not going to go rock crawling etc but most of what I would want to do is hit the fire roads and 2 track trails to go shooting and beer drinking in the hills.

What do you think - could I go most places that the SXS crowd or Dave in his Ranger would go?

For half the price of a new decked out SXS I could have a off road Cayenne that I would not worry about beating up or scratching!

 

[HgH Vltg]

Even with the mezger in the 996tt, I'd be scared of a $15k turbo. Hell I haven't seen one, and I want one haha.

Something more cost efficient would be a 356 replica that runs, doesn't need to be anything special. You can drive it while collecting parts for the build. I'd check Leh Keens safari builds, to see parts and specs. Different chassis, etc. But still gives you a head start on what's needed for a fun build.

I'd say an 80's 911 would be the best, but that's not cost efficient these days with sky high prices.

 

[pronstar]

Porsche has a long history of rally racing.

But IMHO the costs to maintain a used Cayenne Turbo "the way I like to off-road" would be killer.

It really depends how far off the beaten path you're gonna go, methinks.

 

[Backlash]

You can buy a well built VW Baja for WAY less than a SXS and then have something you most likely won't break. And IF you did break something, you could prolly fix it for less than a $100.

That's what I'd do. All it takes is money!!

 

[hallett21]

while the SXS is a lot you also are getting a warranty. A 10 year old Porsche just sounds expensive with things breaking. Im pessimistic with used anything i guess, it always seems to be too good to be true. With a new SXS you know how it was maintained from day one. A 10 year old Porsche would be a crap shoot at best especially since it was probably a soccer moms grocery getter.

 

[Fabhouse]

My Cayenne S goes off road! I feel the same way about the SxS, and can't justify the purchase price. As for off-road in the Porsche, it works amazingly well with a center locking diff, and low range (all stock). I have a Land Rover LR3 that I much prefer for off-road trips. The air suspension has some great features, and the locking center and rear diff, with low range and the computer traction aids makes it go most anywhere the mildly built jeeps go. You can buy one for under 10k. Also, I have yet to find a SxS with Air conditioning.

 

[sirbob]

Even with the mezger in the 996tt, I'd be scared of a $15k turbo. Hell I haven't seen one, and I want one haha.

Something more cost efficient would be a 356 replica that runs, doesn't need to be anything special. You can drive it while collecting parts for the build. I'd check Leh Keens safari builds, to see parts and specs. Different chassis, etc. But still gives you a head start on what's needed for a fun build.

I'd say an 80's 911 would be the best, but that's not cost efficient these days with sky high prices.

Those a really cool rally cars!

I know Porsche has done rallys for the long time - the old Paris / Dakar Martini 959's were amazing.

I know the old/newer cars have a ton of electronics that could/will go bad and lots of stuff that cost a shiton to fix but I kind of like the idea of having having something like that that I could really beat up and use the hell out if it - the cross over SUVs have 4 wheel drive and never get used.

I would just love to use the shit out of it!

 

[sirbob]

My Cayenne S goes off road! I feel the same way about the SxS, and can't justify the purchase price. As for off-road in the Porsche, it works amazingly well with a center locking diff, and low range (all stock). I have a Land Rover LR3 that I much prefer for off-road trips. The air suspension has some great features, and the locking center and rear diff, with low range and the computer traction aids makes it go most anywhere the mildly built jeeps go. You can buy one for under 10k. Also, I have yet to find a SxS with Air conditioning.

I have a classic Range Rover that I know will do everything I want but I really don't want to use it for rallying down a gravel road picking up rocks etc. Its a "classic" and I really want to keep it nice for long term ownership.

But an old LR3 might be the ticket...:cool

Slamming down a graded road with the stereo and aircon blasting to the top of the hill - then hopping out for a beer stop while we shot some beer cans...

That sounds like fun!

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

You can buy a well built VW Baja for WAY less than a SXS and then have something you most likely won't break. And IF you did break something, you could prolly fix it for less than a $100.

That's what I'd do. All it takes is money!!

This is the way to go. All used Porsche's are expensive (I have a 911). Even if the entry price is low, the maintenance will eat you up. They are amazing cars but not cheap.

If you want a buggy then I'd recommend the above.

If you want a cheap but very capable and readily modifiable SUV, it is hard to beat a Jeep Cherokee (XJ, ZJ,WJ). For the price of a Cayenne, you could have a fully built Grand Cherokee with 6" lift on long arms, fully armored and locked up and if it breaks parts are cheap.

I've had several of them including the black built ZJ below.

I now have the green WK which is a Hemi powered Overland model so fully loaded with every option as well as QDII which is their limited slip diff/TC system. It sits on 31's.

The blue one is a 2000 WJ with the 4.7 and a 242 TC. I'm going with a 4" long arm kit on it soon.

Toyota land Cruisers are another good option that are very capable rigs that are reasonably priced.

I prefer Jeeps over SxS's mainly because you can use them as a car even though the SxS's are appealing.

Don't get me wrong, Porsche's are amazing cars and a joy to drive. And a lifted Cayenne on big meats with grill guards and racks, all done up would look bitching, just don't think it will be a low cost alternative. Not only would everything have to be custom built but you'd end up with way more money into it than a fully tricked out SxS.

If you do decide to go with the Cayenne, please post photos because I'd love to see it! :thumbsup

 

[sirbob]

I guess I'm just more fascinated with the idea of something out of the box.

I know there are a lot of things I could buy that might be more suited for off roading.

Jeeps
Baja bugs
Old 4 wheel drive trucks
Etc

But ya, a lifted porsche with light bar and stuff would be bitchen !

 

[HgH Vltg]

 

[Flying_Lavey]

All those options will likely get ya to where you want to go but, they aren't going to do it very fast at all and they will all ride MUCH rougher at any kind of speed than a decently built SxS. Then again, you just make sure you have the only, or all the ice chests with you and you will never be left anywhere. Lol!

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Go buy an older Subaru WRX. Raise it and throw some off-road tires on it they are very good off road rally cars with simple mods

 

[pwerwagn]

I'd second the grand Cherokee suggestion. I've had tons of zj's and wj's and loved every one. They're dirt ass cheap, and damn reliable. And you can get wj's with vari lock diffs which are super capable.

I just sold a fully loaded 2002 WJ limited 4.7ho with quadra drive and 150k miles for 2700$...like I said, they're cheap.

 

[28skater]

Id shop for a well equipped CJ Jeep check Pirate 4x4 I picked up this 100k build for pennies on the dollar.

 

[HB2Havasu]

Your not going to go 60mph thru a whooped out 2 track trail in a Jeep, Subaru, Porsche, etc... Your going to need a long travel SxS for that. If you just wanna putt putt through the dez on a poleline road or fire road then go the Grand Cherokee route. They are great for that! FYI - There's a lot of used RZR XP1000's on the market in the 15K range now that the XP Turbo's are out.

 

[sirbob]

That's cool!!!

 

[pronstar]

Seen this guy in Ocotillo at Shell Reef a few times

 

[sirbob]

Seen this guy in Ocotillo at Shell Reef a few times


View attachment 511883

I wonder if he had any skid plates under there. It looks like he just took a left hand turn off the highway and started hauling ass!

 

[brgrcru]

Seen this guy in Ocotillo at Shell Reef a few times


View attachment 511883

Porsche Gods have been brought to there knees.

 

[Demoman]

Considering what those air cooled cars are selling for now I bet he wishes he would not have destroyed that one!

 

[spectra3279]

You may be able to buy a Porsche cheep. But when it breaks, not if, but when it breaks you will pay . So a cheep Porsche and a few repairs, you be at the same price as new sxs

 

[sirbob]

Speaking of Porsche rally cars...

 

[sirbob]

Cayenne ...

 

[HgH Vltg]

Here's a combo rally RS from
Europe. I advise all automotive fans, find a nice place to crank up the volume.

[video=youtube;hdkoJiZ7OGI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdkoJiZ7OGI[/video]

 

[pronstar]

The Porsche 959 was designed to compete in Group B Rallies before the series ended.

 

[Enen]

I got my daughter a 10 year old Cayenne when she started driving. Just went with a V6. I wanted her in something safe, and its a tank.

Brakes will run you minimum $2500. Transmissions are a known issue in these cars. They are an Aisin transmission, and when they go it is big dollars.

Do you really want to run in the desert with a turbo engine? I'd think it'd take some major filter upgrades to keep dirt from going in that engine. Off roading is hard on parts, and Porsche's are expensive. The cost to get in the Porsche game is one thing, the cost to stay in the game is quite another.

 

[28skater]

The electrical components are big bucks too! Just spend 5k on a gauge cluster because of a small intermittent electrical problem on a 997 with only 25,000 easy on road miles:grumble: