Okay, Im probably not going to endear myself to Porsche owners, but my wife wants a Porsche Panamera and I find the purchasing process extremely troublesome. From what I've been able to garner Porsche touts the fact that with so many customizable options everyone's car is unique. While in theory that is great, in practice it's impractical. You decide on the car you want, pick out the options, and that car doesn't exist. So you have three options. Order the car which takes from three to five months, buy a car with fewer options than you want, or purchase a car with more options than you want (and maybe not even all those you do). None of these choices are appealing.

I am now looking for a little advise. I've read the threads on this forum and others regarding colors. I find it difficult to pick a color because none of the local dealers has any assortment. For the most part, all the dealers carry are black, white, and silver. Occassionaly someone might have a red. How do you pick a less common color without being able to see it? You can't tell online because the colors on the configurator don't remotely match the actual color (ruby red for example looks red on the configurator, but is considerably darker in person). Is there a way to see the real colors other than travelling around the country to different dealerships?

With that being said I've been thinking about the Platinum Silver Metallic with all leather interior in the black/platinum grey two tone. Has anyone seen this and have an opinion?

Finally, my wife also likes the Basalt Black Metallic, but I'm really hesitant as black cars get incredibly hot to the touch and we live in the Los Angeles area. I went to a dealer the other day and they had a black and white car next to each other on the lot. The black car was too hot to touch for an extended period of time, while the white car was cool to the touch. I was curious whether all those who own black cars find this to be an issue.

Thanks a ton for any opinions and input. I'm really trying to sort out the purchasing experience. We love the drive of the car, but getting the one we want, with the options we want, has not been easy.

 

Use this Forum! There are lots of photos of the available colors, search is your friend. I have owned 4 Porsches, ordered everyone of them. Like most Porsche customers, I love the idea of getting it built exactly as I want it, its one of the things that make Porsches special. The waiting is part of the fun, you either find that exciting, or you don't.

 

A couple of comments; first on the color. Does it matter how warm the outside of the car gets? I live in SW FL and have had slate gray and black cars that are very comfortable with the air on.
You can go on the Porsche website and check inventory around the country to find what you are looking for. You buy it from the dealer that has what you want and have it shipped to you.
Otherwise spec your car with a local dealer and wait.

 

I have owned cars of just about every color - here are my observations for what its worth

• Silver - the best in my opinion - good resale, doesnt show the dirt easily, doesnt absorb heat, looks good when clean and dirty
• Black - the best looking when clean, but only lasts a day, then shows the dirt immediatley - only for someone who loves cleaning their car or who doesnt mind the car showing the dirt.
• White - practical, cool, suits certain cars, others not, also shows dirt easily, never looks as sharp as a clean black car
• Red, blue, green, yellow and other colors - fine at first then you lose interest in them - red suits certain models incredibly well - if you have ever seen a red black Series AMG CLK you will know what I mean. Seen a blue Panny - looks stunning.

Regarding heat absorption, with AC you will never know what color car you are in, get the color you like. Was surprised that white works so well on the Panny - thought it would accentuate the fat ***, but I have seen several white Pannys and they all look good.

I have the Carbon Gray - its a bit brown for my tastes, it looks black from certain angles, but it really hides the dirt very well, and I do not have to clean it nearly as much as a black car. Definitely never looks as sharp as a newly cleaned back car.

As to buying Porsches - take the one they have that is closest to your list of options and start negotiating - there are some really good deals to be had - especially if you take a 2010 model absolute bargains abound.

hope this helps

 

That is normal car purchasing; if you want a tailor made Panamera, you have to order. No surprise there.


I might be mistaken, but where else in the country barring New York can you find more Porsches than California? You should be able to to see a rainbow of colours there.

Good luck, its a fine car -- try to keep the options at a minimum; the only real must have option is the back up camera, maybe lumbar support; rest is all fluff.

 

Thanks to all who responded. Ended up ordering the car. Went with the Dark Blue metallic with Luxor Beige leather and the Burr Walunut interior package. Didn't go crazy on the options. Major ones were the Turbo wheels, 14-way Power Seats (for lumbar support), BOSE audio package, and ParkAssist with Reversing Camera. Dealer was great. Gave me a good deal when we were going to buy a car now, and promised the same deal contingent on the residual and money factors when we get the car. Looks like we caught a break with the order as he's predictiing the car will be here by the end of March, which is not bad from what I've heard. Thanks again for your comments.

 

Might want to sit in a car with the beige interior as the dash is also beige and some think it reflects off the windshield too much.

I almost bought a carbon/luxor combo but went with silver/black due to the reflection.

 

Tarkus - congrats on your order - you're a better man than I - gonna be a long wait - I wish you luck
DHH - I had the same experience - I test drove a Panny 6 with the light dash and light interior, and it reflected badly off the windshield. Got the black interior on my S. Personally I even dislike the chrome bezel on the sport chorno clock on my black dash. The reflection is always in the windscreen, really annoying - will black it out at some point.

 

great choice. i saw the blue color in person and it nearly changed my mind (i ordered the basalt black). great choice on interior as well. congrats on your new car. enjoy!

 

Congratulations. Sounds like a very nice luxurious car.


Although I dont think a back up camera is a must have.

 

Agreed

 

I bought the 4S in Topaz brown metallic with the Luxor Beige/Cream interior with Walnut trim and wheel, the combo is spectacular in my opinion. It's a combination that I haven't seen around.

 

Very rare indeed - first one I have seen - congrats