Test drove a Panamera today....
V-6:OK, the V-6 is slower 0-60 than the 550, (5.8 ticks), but it's other numbers, like braking, slalom and skid pad are what a P-car is about. I agree, $90K is a premium to pay for a V-6, but it is no slouch.
http://www.insideline.com/porsche/pa...ra_ot_111.html
V-8 (4S): Even when handicapped by AWD, the 4S jumps to 60 in 4.6. 0-60 seems to be important to many enthusiasts in a car forum, but there is more to the car than just that and a name:
http://www.insideline.com/porsche/pa...ra_ft_111.html
Last edited by golfster; Aug 7, 2011 at 09:04 PM.
V-6:OK, the V-6 is slower 0-60 than the 550, (5.8 ticks), but it's other numbers, like braking, slalom and skid pad are what a P-car is about. I agree, $90K is a premium to pay for a V-6, but it is no slouch.
http://www.insideline.com/porsche/pa...ra_ot_111.html
V-8 (4S): Even when handicapped by AWD, the 4S jumps to 60 in 4.6. 0-60 seems to be important to many enthusiasts in a car forum, but there is more to the car than just that and a name:
http://www.insideline.com/porsche/pa...ra_ft_111.html
Although the Panamera is certainly a sedan, it's probably not the right car to compare with a Mercedes. The Panamera was somewhat a revival of the misunderstood Porsche 928. The 928 was designed as a sports GT car and at the time it was one of the better grand touring sports sedans made. The Panamera almost even looks like the 928 (the 928 wasn't considered a good looker in it's day either.)
The difference between a Panamera and an E Class is found on the back roads. If you want a luxury cruiser, the Merc should win. But if you want the closest thing to a 911 variant with 4 doors, then the Panamera is the logical choice.
btw, Porsche will re-introduce the 928. It'll be built on the Panamera platform as a GT coupe. http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car...e_928-car_news
During my quest to try and fall for this car more and more, I figured, if the cars own Designers sentiment of the car is "We could have done better", it would be a tough car to truly get to that warm and fuzzy place with.
The Porsche looks fabulous in Hong Kong and European cities; against their architectural back grounds whereas the 212 just blends in, especially in Germany where 212 taxis are everywhere.
Interior of the Porsche simply blows the 212 completely off the radar - it is absolutely superior in every way, from the design, to the alloy buttons, to the materials and seats. A different league all together IMO
However, I was gonna mention the European thing regarding the Panamera as well. The first time I ever liked the Panny was the first day that I got to Paris. Amongst all the boring cars driving around on the streets (ugly Hatchback after ugly Hatchback), I saw a Panamera, and WOW! Ever since then, it's been growing on me. But I just can't "get there" with it fully.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
http://www.************/car-videos-11...vs-Audi-S8.htm
http://www.************/car-videos-11...vs-Audi-S8.htm
I will concede it is overpriced and that I have a certain bias because I am driving my 6th new 911 since 1983. As far as the body style is concerned, it needs to grow on you. The front end is great but the rear is something else. Would that stop me from buying the car......No!
Last edited by petee1997; Aug 9, 2011 at 04:37 PM.
However, now, I don't mind it so much, and you can't argue that it is "unique" (unique doesn't always = good, when speaking in car designs, though
). I actually do love it in many ways, but like was said above, there are things to love and hate, and the things to hate are hard to come around on.But yeah, if I was car shopping now, or anytime soon, the Panny would be on my list for sure! I doubt I'd pick it over what it'd be up against however, but you never know. That's the reason I wanted to drive it. Prices are just too high for Uses models right now though, and prices for New ones.... fuhggedaboudit!
I will concede it is overpriced and that I have a certain bias because I am driving my 6th new 911 since 1983. As far as the body style is concerned, it needs to grow on you. The front end is great but the rear is something else. Would that stop me from buying the car......No!
That's cool, two guys I see on a regular basis in my neighborhood have a Panamera, a white one and a black one. The front like you said..drop dead sexy, the rear is...well acquired taste.
I see one on Ebay for $85K with only 17K miles on it, black on black, loaded. 52 of them listed S and Turbo's.
THEN I think the Panny would be right down my alley.

The Panamera is one of the rare cars that looks better the more modded it gets. Stock just doesn't cut it, but when it starts getting tweaked, it can look even stunning, at least from some angles. The E is the opposite, too modded loses the integrity of the design, too stock is simply too stock, but just lightly detailed is just right.
Also remember that you'll be getting PDK instead of a slow and sloppy 7-G Tronic or a jerky and also slow "quasi-dual clutch" MCT. Plus the Porsche brakes are phenomenal.
Porsche has always been performance orientated first and everything else is second. Again, I don't think an E Class versus Panamera is a proper cross-shop or comparison. The E Class is more suited as a sedate comfort car to cruise around while sipping tea, whereas the Porsche is a performance GT type of experience, imho.
THEN I think the Panny would be right down my alley.

The Panamera is one of the rare cars that looks better the more modded it gets. Stock just doesn't cut it, but when it starts getting tweaked, it can look even stunning, at least from some angles. The E is the opposite, too modded loses the integrity of the design, too stock is simply too stock, but just lightly detailed is just right.
BTW, another large Sedan that I had on my list of "expensive Sedans I might consider at discounted prices if they win me over from my E-Class at some point.... While justifying the price increase at the same time" is the Jaguar XJ.
IMO it looks better than the Panamera, but has the same "hit or miss / I love this part about it, but then this part is incredibly flawed" aspect. However, it actually IS depreciating at a fast rate typical to Jaguar, and you don't get the Porsche build/engineering confidence and ownership experience, nor panache, instead you get the once-glorious Jaguar's. Their designs are quickly back on track, but the company itself is very shaky, also, the reliability/quality isn't so great via my research. All that aside, it is a MUCH better bang-for-the-buck than the Panamera.
So knows what about the XJ? 220s?
Although the Panamera is certainly a sedan, it's probably not the right car to compare with a Mercedes. The Panamera was somewhat a revival of the misunderstood Porsche 928. The 928 was designed as a sports GT car and at the time it was one of the better grand touring sports sedans made. The Panamera almost even looks like the 928 (the 928 wasn't considered a good looker in it's day either.)
The difference between a Panamera and an E Class is found on the back roads. If you want a luxury cruiser, the Merc should win. But if you want the closest thing to a 911 variant with 4 doors, then the Panamera is the logical choice.
btw, Porsche will re-introduce the 928. It'll be built on the Panamera platform as a GT coupe. http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car...e_928-car_news
Great to hear of the Return of the King (If ever an automobile came out before it's time, it was the 928. In my opinion when the last hand-built 928 GTS was built and rolled off the factory floor at the Weissach Research Plant, it was still 20 years ahead of the entire auto industry at the time.
Greatest engineering abilities and concepts ever put together by one man alone, Dr Ing Ferinand Porsche.
80 years ago or a little more, He worked for Karl Benz & Gottlieb Daimler for a short period in his apprenticeship years and built great engines for Mercedes Benz.
"Dr Ing Ferdinand Porsche"









