panamera
- Thread starter dodgydal
- Start date
sawood12
New member
It is clearly still a market that is still developing - There are alot of 4door/4seat luxury cars about now and coming onto the market - the Merc CLS, Masser Quattroporte, the new Lambo and AM and it could even cut across the luxury saloon market- S Class, A8, Phaeton, 4door Bently Continental as though these are 5 seaters the middle seat is not really a proper seat. Porsche have been the first to build a really focussed and expensive car in this market, but they've done a good job of it. It could even steal some of those who might normallygo for a big luxury 4x4 - i.e. those who feel the need to have such a big rediculous car but want something more car like.
In anycase the sales figures so far are speaking for themselves, Porsche have sold a stack of them amidst one of the worst economic downturns in recent decades - and without the help of the scrappage scheme! and sales can only improve as the world pulls out of recession.
In anycase the sales figures so far are speaking for themselves, Porsche have sold a stack of them amidst one of the worst economic downturns in recent decades - and without the help of the scrappage scheme! and sales can only improve as the world pulls out of recession.
I am surprised by Marks comments on the rear seat space. Everyone I have spoken to has said it is exceptional. I thought it was extremely good and, aside a long wheelbase XJ, the biggest rear seat area I have experienced. The luggage space might be a bit less than one would consider ideal for four adults going on a ski trip for 3 weeks but otherwise it is pretty spacious. The demonstration Porsche do with the 4 cases doesn't do it justice as the boot area is much wider than the hatch back opening so far more voluminous than is initially apparent.
I have already posted on how good I thought the Panamera was. The Turbo is a driving experience beyond comprehension.
If I had £100K, and could have only 1 car, it would be a Panamera without hesitation.
From the driving seat the analogue speedo is completely useless (as per most modern Porsches) but the digital readout is very good. The rest doesn't distract and is there as an aid to driving. Everything seems to be where you would expect it to be without having to look for it.
The sun roof (or letter box in head lining) is something of a waste of time and vision through the rear window isn't great but you can see cars behind you which is all you need it for. The excellent centre console proximity display means you don't really need to look out of the rear window when reversing any way.
I have already posted on how good I thought the Panamera was. The Turbo is a driving experience beyond comprehension.
If I had £100K, and could have only 1 car, it would be a Panamera without hesitation.
From the driving seat the analogue speedo is completely useless (as per most modern Porsches) but the digital readout is very good. The rest doesn't distract and is there as an aid to driving. Everything seems to be where you would expect it to be without having to look for it.
The sun roof (or letter box in head lining) is something of a waste of time and vision through the rear window isn't great but you can see cars behind you which is all you need it for. The excellent centre console proximity display means you don't really need to look out of the rear window when reversing any way.
georgethackray
New member
I've seen a couple on the road lately. I too think they're much better looking than the photos suggested, and there are far worse cars on the road - for instance, BMW X6 and Audi Q7 in my opinion.
morris944s2john
New member
I've looked round a few Panamera's at the Tonbridge dealership and I have to say, I think it looks a fantastic car! Not at all ugly. Superb design.
But then again I was one of the few people on this board who several months ago liked the pictures. Having drooled over a metallic black Panamera Turbo at the dealership, I have to say my dream lottery car has changed. Used to be a black 911 turbo, but not now!
Even Top Gear when they drove one (racing a letter) have changed their minds about the car, nothing but praise for even the slowest "base" version. It is only Clarkson that still doesn't like it, the other two said the Panamera's looks have "grown on them".
Well, I thought it was a good looking car all along and I said on this board it would look even better in the metal, and indeed it does.[
][]
Ugly- look at the BMW M5 for ugly or the squared off lambo 4- seater. Possibly the only Panamera competitor that looks better is the Maserati quattroporte.
I WANT ONE!!!!!!!
Hmnnn, if I start saving now, maybe when one is five or six years old.........[]
But then again I was one of the few people on this board who several months ago liked the pictures. Having drooled over a metallic black Panamera Turbo at the dealership, I have to say my dream lottery car has changed. Used to be a black 911 turbo, but not now!
Even Top Gear when they drove one (racing a letter) have changed their minds about the car, nothing but praise for even the slowest "base" version. It is only Clarkson that still doesn't like it, the other two said the Panamera's looks have "grown on them".
Well, I thought it was a good looking car all along and I said on this board it would look even better in the metal, and indeed it does.[
][]Ugly- look at the BMW M5 for ugly or the squared off lambo 4- seater. Possibly the only Panamera competitor that looks better is the Maserati quattroporte.
I WANT ONE!!!!!!!
Hmnnn, if I start saving now, maybe when one is five or six years old.........[
]
pauljmcnulty
Active member
Maybe Mark's Chauffeur needs the seat pushed back a long way? [
][][]I watched a repeat of TG today where they ran the Panamera from Land's End to the Orkneys. I thought they summed it up pretty well, a very nice place to munch millions of motorway miles and able to perform better than the opposition on the odd occassion that you actually want to throw a 4-door drawing room around.
To me that's the key thing. This isn't a car to be compared to a 911 or Cayman. You have to compare like-with-like, so the market would be a bit above M5 but below Phantom. Is the Panamera better than a 4-door Bently? Well, it's a better drive and certainly no more ostentatious. Would you, seriously, put your own money into a Porsche 4-door saloon or an Aston? When it comes to the thick end of £100K head has to play a part over heart and I don't want it to break down. Quattroporte? It's a bit tacky and Piers Morgan drives one. Enough said. [
]Regarding the looks, it's like the Cayenne. I think even Porsche were surprised to sell many here as they aren't designed for western European roads, or tastes. Think emerging markets, accept that there's nothing wrong with a business designing a product for those markets, and accept that you probably don't want a car styled to appeal to a Russian oligarch or a Chinese factory owner. You probably wouldn't dress like them either, and you might decorate your house in a more "English" style. That doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with Porsche designing a car that we think is less than beautiful in our eyes, too big for our roads, or irellevant in the UK for any reason. It's as silly as an African President moaning that the Boxster doesn't have enough seats for his entourage, is too low for the roads and isn't bulletproof.
And that's the problem. If you could afford a car that costs £100K you'd not want one car to do everything. For a start, you'd need it for work. Then how does Belinda get to Bicester to use your Club discount in the Gucci outlet? And, does Mostyn get to sit in the back after rolling in fox poo? [
]Personally I like having a van for work, a battered Legacy to carry the dogs in and a 944 to have some cheap fun in at the weekends. You could, I guess, have a 944, a Defender and a Jag instead. And save £80K in the process. [&:]
MarkK
Well-known member
I am not a negative person,and really love everything Porsche,but i stand by what i said and i reckon for such a massive car aiming at the Luxury market the rear legroom sucks plus it is not easy to get into and feels claustraphobic,the 4S felt really quick so can only imagine how quick a turbo is....i was amazed at the way it gathered pace and the lack of any noise no rattles,wind,road roar nothing.There i said some positive stuff.[]
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pauljmcnulty
Active member
That's certainly a caveat to my post. I've not been in one, but from what the TG team said I guess there's been a sacrifice of rear headroom for a low centre of gravity, they said best in class. Also, they said it had perfect weight distribution, which always means compromising cabin space as we know. There would have been more passenger room if they'd put the gearbox up front and made it FWD, of course.
I'd suggest that they've sort of made a 928 replacement, with rear doors, not a Phaeton. The interesting thing is that I don't see the Pan as a car for the businessman who needs a 2+2 occasionally for his small kids, but more for the emerging markets where the buyer will always be sat in the back with his driver up front. If it's that awkward to get out of, I can't imagine a slightly arthritic gas baron buying it over the alternatives.
Either way, is there any news on Herr Piech's plans to phase out the Panamera and Cayenne in favour of smaller, lighter sports cars?
sawood12
New member
The two best gadgets i've read about it are the sat-navigation display in one of the 5 instrument clusters - inspired and far better than having a screen in the middle of the dash or a box stuck on the windscreen somewhere. And they do an electronically retractable towing hook which has got it the accolade of 'Towing car of the year' at some caravanning get-together somewhere. I must say as someone who is starting to consider caravaning, this seems like a great idea! I can fit a removable towing hook to my S-Max, but I would need to get on my hands and knees to fit it and remove it - how inconvenient!
Copperman05
New member
I too saw this for the first time at the NEC over the weekend, and as said before it looks better in the flesh, I was impressed by its size, seems so big for a porsche, cayenne excepted. Not as ugly as some have made out thats for sure, porsche could have so easily gone for the Aston/Jaguar look but didnt and went for something different. It must be difficult for a primary sports car manufacturer to make a 4 door saloon that still looks like a porsche. Perhaps not the prettiest thing out there but at least they didnt copy the competition...
Edd
Edd
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