Yes, your eyes are not playing tricks on you – this is an original ‘E1’ Porsche Cayenne you see before you.
While we primarily focus on new cars here at CarExpert, Porsche Cars Australia gave us the opportunity to test drive this very special first-generation 2003 Porsche Cayenne Turbo. The purpose was to showcase the Porsche Tequipment accessories range by Porsche Classic.
More than two decades ago, this exact vehicle was one of the first Cayenne Turbos sold through Porsche Centre Melbourne. It was purchased by a meticulous owner who maintained it for 16 years at Porsche’s Australian head office site.
In 2019, the vehicle was sold privately to its second owner, who was also a client of Porsche Centre Melbourne. The car then made its way to Queensland, where it continued to be exclusively serviced at Porsche Centre Brisbane.
Porsche Centre Melbourne was then tasked with creating a classic off-road build, and this specific vehicle was chosen due to its full Porsche service history and rare options, such as the tailgate-mounted spare wheel carrier.
Porsche Cars Australia revealed that a minor restoration was done on this well-maintained example before it was transformed into this rugged off-road show car. The restoration work focused on the suspension, engine, and other perishable components to ensure optimal performance. Additionally, an 111-point inspection was carried out by the Porsche Classic team at Porsche Centre Melbourne.
Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the accessories and upgrades that have been added to this classic Porsche Cayenne:
- Porsche Roof Tent: $8705
- 146 x 140 x 33cm – folded
- 258 x 257 x 118cm – unfolded
- 56kg – approx. weight
- 190kg – payload when stationary with rails
- 130km/h max speed with roof tent mounted
- Roof Rack and Rails: $519 / $2463
- Adventure Decal Set: $1359
- 18-inch Offroad Wheels (4): $3732
- Stainless Steel Skid Plate: $885
- Engine Guard: $449
- Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus: $2924
- 7.0-inch touchscreen
- DAB+ digital radio
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto – wired
- Integrated USB interface
- PCCM Plus navigation software for Australia: $422
It’s quite fascinating to revisit this first-generation Cayenne and see how it has held up over the past two decades. The vehicle offers an interesting opportunity for Porsche owners who want to enhance their older model with modern accessories while retaining the manufacturer’s warranty. The original Cayenne is also an affordable used car buy at the moment, making it a great candidate for building a luxury bush-basher with manufacturer-backed parts.
For those interested in purchasing a new Porsche Cayenne, feel free to reach out to one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers for more information.
For more information on the Porsche Cayenne and other Porsche models, visit CarExpert’s website.
