Then absolutely not a Turbo. Really sounds like its purpose is to be "family" car. Out to dinner with friends, to school, shopping etc. I could see it if you were driving it as much and didn't have another car that was fun to drive. It would need to satify your need for speed. Sounds like its not an issue. Even Leno bought his wife an Accord. Sits parked in front of his house proudly. [at times alongside his Mclaren F1 or Miura]

 

This shows how much I'm out of my element, $30k for alot of people is a nice car by itself. As much as I like the panamera I should probably stick with something reasonable like an M3 sedan.

I'll have to remind myself when my kids get to college age to come back here and ask what occupation everyone is in so I can give them some ideas (of course if they like those carreer fields of course. Need to like what you do first.)

 

He did? An accord in the mix of his steam engine fire truck and Carrera GT? Are you in Southern Cal? But you have a good point. This is purely a family car, no arrival factor etc . This will have to go everywhere. Unless I get a third car to for home depot run. The fun car is an 09 R8.

 

Yes, $30K can get you a very nice car. That is why I am having the debate. It is not exactly spare change in my book. BTW, I also love the M3, not crazy about the back. But the front is very attractive. if I am 15 to 20 yrs younger, I wouldn’t mind an M3. I just hate to have kids coming next to me and want to race me. Too old for that.

 

That is annoying although I’d assume anything with the Porsche name on it might get similar results. My next car (few years from now) will probably be my “best car” as in it will be the one I spend the most on and plan to keep for a long time so I can make sure to cover college for the kids (they are very little now).

The problem for me is I don’t really want to have two cars as they would both wind up being older (maintenance for both, insurance for both, etc) when I could get one nice new or CPO car but I need a car to do it all. I need four doors, I need practicality, I want a lot of performance, I want some luxury and I’d prefer to have AWD. The closest thing out there is an RS4 and now the Panamera. If they had the RS4 wagon or RS6 wagon in the US they would be top contenders for me.

An M3/M5/CTS-V sedan would be close as they have nice performance and a good price but RWD even with snow tires still suck IMO (yes it’s doable it’s just a lot nicer with AWD and snows) and a sedan just can’t match a hatch or wagon for practicality. And 10-12” taller SUV can match the agility of a sedan/hatch/wagon.

While not something a new buyer of a Panamera would want to hear I really hope the Pan sells well but depreciates like a Chrysler Crossfire. Now if they could only make it as pretty as a Cayman or R8 and put in proper shift paddles.

 

Nor and So Cal. Need to be in both locations. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting an Aston at Ralphs on PCH. So I know the pressure to be unique. I get it with the kids coming up to you at the lights. They'll will try to race you if you're driving a Veron. Problem is they are usually driving something like an Evo that will kick your butt in the M3. My son has one. Damn is that thing fast. Now theres a four door rocket. If Porsche does sell a lot of Panams I'm sure there will see 20 of them in Ralphs parking lots at any one time. They'll be lined up at the car wash on Santa Monica Blvd with all the DB9s and Lenos Accord. Right? Then what? An M3.

 

Neo. Sound as if there was a match to the Panam its you. You have the best reasons for ownership of this car that I've heard so far. I think its value will drop like crazy. Look at every other 4 door sedan. Remember this is Porsches premium product. Typically these have largest depreciation. Name one that hasn't. Maser, S Class, BMW 7, Bentley, RR, Jag. [ even ferrari four passenger cars] I could go on. Like I said earlier, I think this is going to be a lease car and when the leases are up I'd grab one. They'll be a best buy.

 

Im hearing from dealers the Panamera isnt selling well at all.....So i wouldnt worry about seeing too many until Porsche offers up incentives to sell it....

Lou