Removing roof rails and strips on an '08

[geoff]

We're looking to buy a new Cayenne S (in large part for our new dog). The new Cayennes drive great, until you drive an S, then the decision is all over. It's been next to impossible to find exactly the car we want (meteor gray S with black supple leather, HIDs and various other options), but have found one that's really close, except it's black with beige interior and has the roof rails with protection strips in black (option code 3S5)

I can live with the black/beige color scheme, but don't really want stuff on the roof. From the older Cayenne parts book, the rails come off by unscrewing, but I think I'll need to buy the covers for the screw holes. How do the protection strips come off? I'm guessing they're just stuck on with adhesive tape like the model designation script on the back, but just want to confirm. Also, anyone have the part number for the roof piece to cover the screw holes? If this doesn't work out, we'll just order one and wait several months

It looks like a Cayenne will soon be joining our garage (no way we'd give up the Boxster and Carrera, though) :D

[Bill_SoCal]

Hi Geoff,

:thumbup:

We bought the 2008 Cayenne S back in July...once our dealer got it on the lot, we had to have it! Oh wow is it an awesome driving experience. We got the olive green metallic green with terra cotta interior. We absolutely love it! Rails were an option...they seemed to be easily removed from the existing rail guides that come standard on the Cayenne. I don't believe you need to cover any holes as they rail guides slide and tighten into the existing inserts in the roof if I recall correctly. We have both a '06 and '08. We too have a large dog, actually, a lab...buddy. We purchased the Porsche cage assembly and plastic liner for the back in install it when we need to travel with the dog. It fits both Cayennes...will, actually, the '08 is my wife's and she won't let Buddy in the back (yet).

I just took some pictures of our '08. Hopefully I'll attach them correctly.

Roof assembly where rails mount:

'08 Cayenne Pics:

Unfortunately, my '06 Cayenne and Boxster are stuck in the driveway...my wife and daughter have claims to the garage.

Our '06 is the black/beige color scheme...love it!

Good luck and happy shopping! What a great ride.

Best regards,

Bill

[Bill_SoCal]

Here's a couple interior shots:

[Bill_SoCal]

And the sad part...the cars I drive are in the driveway...

:beer:

[geoff]

... We bought the 2008 Cayenne S back in July...once our dealer got it on the lot, we had to have it! Oh wow is it an awesome driving experience. We got the olive green metallic green with terra cotta interior. We absolutely love it! Rails were an option...they seemed to be easily removed from the existing rail guides that come standard on the Cayenne. I don't believe you need to cover any holes as they rail guides slide and tighten into the existing inserts in the roof if I recall correctly. We have both a '06 and '08. We too have a large dog, actually, a lab...buddy. We purchased the Porsche cage assembly and plastic liner for the back in install it when we need to travel with the dog. It fits both Cayennes...will, actually, the '08 is my wife's and she won't let Buddy in the back (yet).

I just took some pictures of our '08. Hopefully I'll attach them correctly.

Roof assembly where rails mount:

...

Bill,

Gorgeous car! Thanks for the pictures - I didn't pay any attention to Cayenne roofs when we were out looking, and didn't feel like going out today in the rain to see how Cayenne roofs look. I'm surprised Porsche doesn't have the rail guides covered like they do on the Carrera, given their attention to aesthetics. I'll have to take a look at some older ones and see how they hold up in the elements, as the Cayenne won't displace the Boxster and Carrera in our 2 car garage.

If you don't mind my asking, did you get any kind of discount on your '08 Cayenne? We haven't started talking price with the dealer, but having any current model year sales information from So Cal always helps

Was terra cotta a special color? It looks great in your picture, but I didn't see it in the sales booklet. Is it the same as sand beige (one of the colors we're looking at)?

[Bill_SoCal]

... We bought the 2008 Cayenne S back in July...once our dealer got it on the lot, we had to have it! Oh wow is it an awesome driving experience. We got the olive green metallic green with terra cotta interior. We absolutely love it! Rails were an option...they seemed to be easily removed from the existing rail guides that come standard on the Cayenne. I don't believe you need to cover any holes as they rail guides slide and tighten into the existing inserts in the roof if I recall correctly. We have both a '06 and '08. We too have a large dog, actually, a lab...buddy. We purchased the Porsche cage assembly and plastic liner for the back in install it when we need to travel with the dog. It fits both Cayennes...will, actually, the '08 is my wife's and she won't let Buddy in the back (yet).

I just took some pictures of our '08. Hopefully I'll attach them correctly.

Roof assembly where rails mount:

...

Bill,

Gorgeous car! Thanks for the pictures - I didn't pay any attention to Cayenne roofs when we were out looking, and didn't feel like going out today in the rain to see how Cayenne roofs look. I'm surprised Porsche doesn't have the rail guides covered like they do on the Carrera, given their attention to aesthetics. I'll have to take a look at some older ones and see how they hold up in the elements, as the Cayenne won't displace the Boxster and Carrera in our 2 car garage.

If you don't mind my asking, did you get any kind of discount on your '08 Cayenne? We haven't started talking price with the dealer, but having any current model year sales information from So Cal always helps

Was terra cotta a special color? It looks great in your picture, but I didn't see it in the sales booklet. Is it the same as sand beige (one of the colors we're looking at)?

Good morning Geoff,

Thanks! We really love the car. When we purchased our Cayenne, the dealer only had two S's ready for sale (back in July); a black one and a metallic green. There was no discount offered at the time and someone else was at the dealer trying to purchase the one we bought. It was one of those "let's just buy it...gotta' have it today" type of decisions. Pure emotion and no financial due diligence. The Cayenne's seem to be very popular in So Cal, so I think the dealer does pretty well. Our dealer is Pioneer Porsche in San Diego. I've attached a link below for you to review the current 2008 S models and MSRP's.

2008 Pioneer Porsche Inventory and MSRP

As far as the interior, you are correct, it's the sand beige leather. It just looks like terra cotta in color so we've been calling it that when it in fact the sand beige. More of hue of orange though. It is a really beautiful interior. The one thing we did was purchase black floor mats the first week...the other ones were just showing the dirt way too quick. In our '06 we have the black interior and it's been great. For style and beauty though, that sand beige is really nice.

Look forward to hearing what you end up getting! ;)

Best regards,

Bill