Hi all,

I just wanted to share my recent two week experiences in car buyer's paradise(not). Moral of the story, don't buy a Panamera Turbo if your heart is really in the 911 Turbo especially the new ones. it's a fantastic car but it will not substitute for someone who really wants a 911. It's indeed fast but you don't know how fast until you look down at the speedo. It handles but you're disconnected from the experience in comparison. Albeit PDK, it's a bit on the lazy side when responding to commands. It's big and hard to see out of. I ended up taking it back. I thought am I crazy? Then I found out about three other people in as many weeks who had traded their's in for GT3's or Turbo S's.

Don't get me wrong. They have done a marvelous job. If I needed a daily driver rather than a third car then it would be great. It's just not a car I would put the kids in to go for the Sunday stroll as I have with my 911's. it really needs a 5th seat too.

This post is not intended to bash this car. It's intended for people who are on the fence as I am/was so they don't make a mistake. I really wanted it to work. I'm just not ready for it yet I guess...

However, if this is what you're ready for you can't do any better.

 

I agree...The car is the best driver's sedan in the world period...I got out of a 911 because my wife want's children...The dealer told me it was "a big 911"...I test drove a S and a 4S...I wasn't impressed but he assured me the Turbo was going to do the trick...IT'S NOT A 911!!! It's better than a Cayman and a Cayenne, IMO...BUT it's not a 911!!!

That being said it's a great saloon...I've had a Lexus 600, BMW 760 and MB S550...It's ride is not as good as those but it's fun factor is far above those...The marketing of the car is all wrong...the V6 is a complete waste, IMO unless a girl is going to be the primary driver...It's a great daily driver...BUT it's not a 911!!! A guy stopped my in local sandwich shop...his wife wants him to get out of 911 Turbo and get a Panamera because she doesn't like the ride...I told he honestly, if wants to get out of his big body sedan then this is the car to get into...But don't get out of your 911 Turbo to get one of these...you well be disappointed...he thanked me

 

Agree. It is all relative. It all depends on what you want.

Coming from a .2RS, even the 911 turbo is too soft for me.

 

This is why I posted the thread. If you're not coming out of a 911 then it won't make a difference probably. But for all of us that have had 911's, especially modded ones, OR have had the pleasure (or curse) of driving the new PDK or "S" especially, then you had better think about it really hard... The Turbo "S" is a very special car, unprecedented in performance.

So to all of you who are considering a Panamera that don't fall in the above criteria then don't let this thread affect your decision. It's a fine car. To the rest of you trying to justify the "Big 911" theory, you had better rethink before purchasing...

As an additional comment, I really think the Pan Turbo needs the power kit being released next month, along with a reprogramming of the PDK software, BEYOND the one released a few weeks ago. The car is very heavy, needs the power. Porsche must think so too considering they are releasing the power kit so early in the game and making it retrofittable to the 10's at that, once again a move I've never seen Porsche make before.

It will be an interesting year coming up. I predict a lot of these Turbos will come back in and be traded for 911 variants. The market is already slowing down, seen quite a few cars that aren't moving which are well spec'd/colored.

Thanks! I'm glad I wasn't crazy.

We'll see...

 

Same here...came out of a C2S .2 PDK and have somewhat regretted it ever since. Hence, my avatar still shows my C2S instead of the P2S I knew practicality required more space for the family (we only have 1 child), but was hoping I could outlast the wife's urging and pay off the 911 soon enough and just get another DD. While the 911 was in for one of it's many repairs (PDK issues), the dealer offered to loan us a P2S for the weekend. I could have slapped him for offering that, but he knew what he was doing (As a sales guy, I can't say I blame him). I immediately lost any and all leverage with the wife, and we ended up in the P2S a few weeks later (during ANOTHER visit to the shop because of PDK issues).

Having said that, the P2S is incredible and I love driving it. But in my opinion, the V8 rumble just doesn't excite me anywhere near as that flat-6...

No worries...I'll end up trading this on a used Cayenne in 3-4 years, and pick up a 2-3 year-old 991 at the same time

 

I agree. I came out of mercedes S63 and this was a perfect car for me. Although the Turbo would have been a better choice for performance the 4S saved me $800 per month and the car seats fit great in the back seats.

It will be my daily driver and I will put about 15k miles per year on it and it just is more fun to drive than the mercedes - I think the quality is a bit inferior as are the ergonomics but it is a fun car for a 4 door.

 

Get both, apples and oranges. The panamera turbo is arguably the best sedan made, with spectacular sub 4 second 0-60 times, excellent comfort for 4, great storage space for trips. The 911 turbo is faster, especially in 750 hp trim, but you can't take a long roadtrip with 4 people. As the 800plus hp packages come out for the panamera, we may see it spanking the 911 since the tranny in the 911 maxes out at 585hp, and will be very difficult to upgrade. I can say I have a pan turbo on order (with powerkit) since it is such a great performance family car. It is better than the m5 and e55 I have had in the past, extremely comfortable and fast. They are in different categories, and you can't forget that.

 

I love my Panamera (despite some QC issues upon delivery). Does it share some vestigal styling cues from a 911? Well, so does a Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne, and Carrera GT. It is not a 911. It is a large sedan. Does it have the spirit of Porsche. YES! That is why I love it way more than my Maser QP. It could never be as nimble as a 911. Saying it is a big 911 is like saying a lion is a big housecat! As said, if you want a 911, get a 911. I miss mine. If you need a sweet DD, get a Panamera.

 

one does not replace the other.

 

I sure wanted it to

 

At least you gave it a shot. :/ now you're not left wondering "what if i would have gotten the Panamera?"

 

I love my Panamera, but if I thought it would replace a 911, I wouldn't have kept my GT3.