Jakpro1

Okay, first off, let me say that I just hate Fifth Gear with a passion. At least Top Gear TRIES to keep things a bit even with drivers etc (stig driving all of them) , Fifth Gear just throws it out the window with different drivers in each car etc.

THAT BEING SAID, couple things stand out in this vid. The Porsche Panamera beats the CL63 from a standing start by a few mph. Not right for a car with nearly 71 more HP and a mountain of torque. Let's chaulk that up to the rain and lack of traction.

Then on the handling course the driver really REALLY dislikes the AMG. Just says it feels dead and is very frustrated with it.

Gotta make AMG a tick nervous as they have worked so hard on handling past few years.

Rest is all crap in typical Fifth Gear fashion.

First negative review of the new twin turbs handling. Bummer.

http://www.zercustoms.com/news/Porsc...AMG-Video.html

Vid is down in the middle.

220S

I don't think it's just a 5th Gear thing. It seems most reviewers seem to feel the same way when comparing to the Mercs.

e.g., here's from C&D:

"I’d have preferred an S-class’s comfort, but the Panamera feels lighter and more agile—it dives into corners and feels smaller than most luxosedans."

Edmund's Inside Line compared it to the S65:

"Slalom: Very Porsche-like here. Quick, immediate response. Very little yaw delay. Goes where it's pointed with little protest and with more confidence than any other four-door in the world. Skid pad: Won't transition to oversteer by simply opening throttle. Drop throttle, however, rotates Panamera effectively, allowing for precise line adjustments at the limit. Very nice."

But they were "surprised" that the 'big Benz' handled pretty decently.

LZH

These "tests" they put the cars thru are for entertainment value only - they serve no real world purpose at all and should be taken with a LARGE grain of salt. Especially when you consider one is a 4 door all wheel drive and the other is a heavy RWD luxury cruiser. To compare them on the track and in the rain is simply ridiculous and of no value whatsoever.

Karlson

ditto

Speedriven1

Agreed. Plenty of Panamera experience with Switzer and Porsche North Olmsted and, while the car is significantly "sportier" than the CLs, I don't agree that it is such a world ahead of the CL.

LZH

Yup - and I'd much rather drive that beautiful CL or S class than a confused looking wagon that looks like a hatchback.

MB_Forever

+1.... and that is one of the best descriptions of that car to date

GHAZAN

Panamera is hot...and I test drove the E63 at the performance day. The seats were disappointing. Slip and sliding all day, body roll, felt sluggish. It was my least favorite driver out of the 3 - C, SL, E.

timeToy

I watched that episode, to me the biggest difference is indeed the drivers:
in the Porsche: Karun Chandhok: Current F1 driver (he was 4 wheels drifting the Panamera; easy)
in the Merc: Johnny Herbert: his last F1 race was more than 10 years ago and the last he drove was a Honda Civic in BTCC, hell his F1 back in the days might had less torque than the CL with the performance package.

TopGun32

new CLS63 -5.5TT is the real competition to the P -Panamera TT.

Until then.. S and CL are just GT's with looks and fast. Not a real threat in the handling department.

W212 with the 5.5TT should be just as good as the CLS as well.

mikey33

The CL65 FTW!!! That interior is so sexy mmmmmmmm