Kain

I know these two cars are very different from each other but here in Dubai, they are roughly the same price with the Porsche being slightly cheaper.

They both have roughly the same hp but the S500/S550 has more torque. From a highway-roll, would the S500/S550 beat the Panamera GTS? I know from 0-62 mph the Panamera GTS will win.

Other than that, I am assuming the Panamera GTS will destroy the S500/S550 in terms of "fun-to-drive" factor?

LETO

In the US a S550 with average options:

Premium1, Driver Assistance, some form of rear seat enhancement via rear seat pkg or warmth and comfort pkg and a couple discretionary items.

will be around $110K

A V8 panamera. ie. Panamera S starts at $300 more. Hence I will use it as a comparison. The porsche is quite ill equipped in base form as porsches tend to be. However, some basic necessities like full leather seats will start driving up the price. Besides you have to pay over 2K for a Bose audio system! If you equip the Panamera S to the same level of equipment as the S I state above you will be pushing US S63 prices.

I completely agree that the Panamera S will be a more engaging drive. But the S is not a car you buy for canyon carving at all. Sure you can drag race an S but IMHO it would be in bad taste.

Porsche is offering a lwb panamera in the future. It typical porsche fashion, it will carry it's rightful premium in price and then more.

My point overall is that comparing a panamera to a S, 7, A8 etc is futile. The panamera will always be the better drivers car. But the S is a limo and the panamera a sport sedan to porsche or to me a wagon.

K-A

The Panamera GTS will be FAR funner and sportier to drive than the S550, as they're positioned very differently based on brand values in that regard. One is a large precision scalpel and one is a large personal-limo of sorts.

As far as straight line speed, especially at higher speeds, I'd put my money on the GTS.

hyperion667

you just have to ask yourself what you rather look at......the Panny is one hideous **** car......I just had one as a loaner and hated it......

LETO

you know, it has kinda grown on me. The GTS is kinda attractive.

NO! I have not been drinking!

hyperion667

haha! I'm sure you haven't
it's not even 9 yet

GTS is higher performance too eh?
still does not make up for such a looker.......
strange cockpit, hard to see out of the back.....then the spoiler deploys
much prefer the look of the W222

cookstar

I love Porsche but dont love the FACT that pretty much any fully loaded Porsche will add at the very minimum 1.5 times to the price of the base car in equipment.

The Panamera V6 is around 70K in Canada but fully loaded it pushes well north of 130k , it makes no sense, they nickle and dime you for everything. I got a fully loaded GL350 for aroune 115-120k, a Cayenne Diesel would have cost me 30-40K more if it was fully loaded. I have heard from many sales reps that get Porsche people switching over that those customers on average spend 30K on options regardless of the model

That being said the build quality and fit and finish of the Porsche is usually better than MB.

LETO

I will totally agree on the quality/fit and finish of porsche. It is quite bespoke. However, as customizable as it is and for the very high quality of materials the interior is still very clinical and sterile.

Hugo Boss makes a nice suit for example. May even use high quality fabric among their higher grades. However, it will never be a Brioni/Turnbull & Asser/Lanvin will it?

I love the 911 & even the newer boxter and Cayman. The panny however there are many other cars that stir my soul compared to it.

interiormagic

Totally 2 different car, if you wanna drag, get a sport car or get the S63 for about the same price as half loaded Porsche panamera than compare performance. The S550 is truly an amazing vehicle,best car in the world,why? Because,it does everything beter than the cars in its league, yet, performance is not its best character.Just keep in mind the S550 is a pure luxury car, not a sport sedan,because,it is that great of a car,people are trying to throw it into the sport sedan class, frankly, I think we need to come up with the High end Limo class.

leapingpoint

i used to love the panamera GTS, but with the 2014 facelift, porsche has destroyed the look (IMHO).

the new S (W222) on the other hand is beyond my expectations! the exterior is nice, and the interior just has me blown away! the new S interior is more inline with that of bentley or rolls royce now, even the standard one without the designo option!

right now the S550 doesn't seem to have the 4MATIC option yet, but that will change soon i'm sure. like everyone upstairs have stated, these are very different cars you're comparing, and for me personally the new S really comes out on top over panamera, and i had been a big fan of the panamera GTS for years!

Wolfman

Different cars for a different audience and less comparable for that reason. Both are well made...

I personally don't care for the Panamera; looks to me like a 911 "stretch-limo" similar to the Aston Martin Rapide. I wish both both makers would come up with an actual different car designs for a 4door sedan.

AZBENZ-CTSV

i thought so as well when it first came on the market.
i've changed that opinion 100%
a "pimped" out panamera turbo is one of the best looking/unique cars on the road
IMO
they also have a very STRONG resale as 4 year old models with MSRP of 150k are still bringing 90k

K-A

Yeah a modded Panamera is one of THE most exotic and aggressive looking cars on the road. It's one of the rare cars that NEEDS to be at least slightly modded to look its full potential, opposite of M-B/BMW's IMO who look best with their highest factory kits and just very minimal clean-up mods.

Panamera resale value is unreal, they barely depreciate, from the Base V6 models all the way up. There's no modern M-B or BMW in history that sells in volume that holds a candle to such resale value, which is yet another charm of the "Porsche prestige".

URnext

I was asking myself the same question trying to choose between the two cars. I originally decided to go with the 14'MB S550 (due to being loyal to the brand) and placed my order on the first day orders were allowed back in May. I had a planned decade in September. Long story short, I grew tired of waiting and the lack of information (back then). The dealer informed me the car would not be built in Sept after all due to some options back ordered. Needless to say I cancelled my order.

I ended up getting 2011 PTT with only 7k mi on the dial over the 14' GTS due to the fact I was going to mod the car and install the Vorsteiner kit on it. I should get my car back next week looking like this:







I got to spend a little bit of time with the car before I dropped it off at the shop and it was very clear to me that I made the right choice for myself. Not take anything away from the S but the Panamera is a great car. Never thought I would actually buy a Porsche having owned several MB's over the years but I am glad I did. Good luck on your choice

tc1728

GTS if you like to drive, 550 if you like to be driven. I personally would take the GTS all day. TC

Kratos-TM

Wow, great pics of the Porsche. My uncle bought this car when it first came out, and I thought it was hideous. But seeing how people have fixed it up really makes it look a lot better. I need to show him these pics, so that he can transform it to that!

oswiff

I owned a 2013 GTS which I promptly pre traded for my incoming s63. I had owned a 2012 s63 but traded it in for a g63.

I loved the s63 for its comfort and the power it had if you wanted it. I live in NYC so s classes are a dime a dozen. Mostly livery or chauffeured cars so it was nice to sort of blend in with all the s classes but know my car was just a little different. It doesn't shout hey look at me like some other AMG models do

I am in the minority in liking the panameras look. I finally bought a '13 GTS and I loved the car. The only reason I traded it in was because of the new s63. The panamera was a blast to drive but for stop and go traffic and driving where I go every weekend it got to be a little uncomfortable.

I would choose an s class over the panamera for my driving purposes.