If you believe the advertising; unfortunately the sensors do not pick up low curbs in close, nor narrow objects like stakes and if you have "expensive" 20,22 inch wheels better buy insurance. As for turning your head, that doesn't make too much sense since you can't see a damn thing unless it's a telephone pole.

As for the stakes, they are used to anchor curbing blocks and they do come up to bite occasionally.

 

In this case, the proposed driver of the new Panamera is a woman who is coming out of a VW bug, and the poster mentioned the camera option in the original post.

There is a very limited rear view, even if you turn your head... The camera is a good thing, and there are no negatives to having this added view.


So, why are you trying so hard to teach the rest of us that we are wrong about something which we find to be so useful? The camera delivers much more information than the sensors. I am not sure why anybody would not want this on a car like the Panamera..

 

A few considerations (1) there is almost zero visibility out of the back or along the sides of the vehicle, (2) the sensors do not catch curbs or irregular objects like metal posts, (3) the camera's guide lines make parallel parking quite easy. I would wager that anyone who gets the car w/out the rear camera will be replacing or repair their rear bumper every few months (probably around $2K per patch job.)

 

I obviously think the camera is silly and unnecessary. It is my opinion. The OP was concerned about buying a car without the camera, I dont think it matters. I do think it is a mistake to count on the camera view and face forward while reversing. This is the same logic as stability control and ABS...if you just let the computer correct your mistakes then you will never learn how to control the car properly. Several posters think the camera is a must have and I completely disagree. One thing the camera is great for is lining up a trailer hitch and the panamera has a nice retractable hitch option.

You know the sifi crowd says that one day computers will drive the cars all by themselves and in order to not freak out the passengers there will be no windows. No thanks! There is a reason I bought a Rossion. No ABS, no traction control, no computer controlled transmission...three pedals, a directly connected steering wheel, full cage and six point harness. Yes, please.

 

You have clarified that you are a guy who likes things raw and simple...but you also appear to drive an Escalade land yacht on a daily basis?

 

Ahh....you are referring to the luxo barge my wife drives. Yes, she likes to haul the kiddoes around in it. It has a rear view camera, but she doesnt use it.

I like to drive the Rossion but the Panamera is really the ideal daily driver....especially when it has over 700 ft/lbs.

 

I would not buy the demo and the fact that they are offering such a poor deal on it implies that they won't hesitate to overcharge on a new car .

I never had a car with a camera but on the Panamera I would get it .

At 80K or more he has to get things right . Any option he forgets or overlooks he will want down the road .

Has he even looked to see if the exact car he wants is available somewhere nearby ?
If not .. and he must buy the car from this particular dealership because he wants the convenience then if he has to pay more .. he might want to spec and order the car .

 

you can retrofit a backup cam that works right through the factory Nav system:

http://www.navtv.com/product/164/pcm3-1-cam.html

if I remember right someone on this board has done the retrofit on their Cayenne.