Thanks for reporting back.

Good luck!

 

I have a '11 4S and mine does the same exact thing. When pulling out of my parking stall in the morning, it makes a really bad skipping, binding noise..."clunk, clunk, clunk." I feel like mine is coming from the rear of the car.

My car is at the dealer now and when I took it in, my dealer automatically told me that its normal and that all the Porsche's do it from Boxsters to 911s. I've had everything from a Bosxter to a 911 (996 TT) and none of my cars did it. Basically gave me the line that it's a high performance car built for the track and the autobahn. Again, I've had way more high performance cars to full blown track cars and none of them make this noise.

I called Porsche North America customer service and let them know my dissatisfaction with the noise. I encourage you to call them and let them know that you are unhappy with the issue and it continues to be unresolved.

I don't buy this tire size and alignment BS. I've never seen a case where tire/wheel packages will affect suspension geometry. Only in extreme cases but I don't see a +2 size upgrade as one requiring alignment. They're just running you in circles...

 

Car has been at the dealership for a week now. They were able to reproduce the problem. They tell me they are going to "re-set the PDK software". They gave me a loaner 2011 Panamera. I can say that it feels like it shifts a bit more smoothly than my 2010.

 

At least you got a Porsche loaner. I have an Equinox in my driveway as the loaner from my dealer.

 

Here is the story I got today from the service manager at the dealership:

My Panamera had two problems. Recall that at the beginning of this topic I described how the car "hopped" while backing straight up, and how it also hopped during low speed turns. They just re-set the PDK software and claim that it had not been releasing the clutch properly, causing the car to "hop" when driving off from a dead stop. I do notice that the PDK shifts more smoothly now.

The "hopping" during low speed turns is now being explained by the fact that the Panamera (and the new 991) use "Ackerman steering geometry" in the suspension design. See this explanation in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ackerma...ering_geometry

The service manager claims that the 991 model and the Panamera use that steering geometry which will make the car "hop" sometimes in very low speed turns. This is said to be "normal". He says that some 991 owners are experiencing the same thing.

Given that Panamera production began in April 2009, I am amazed that it took almost four years for this service manager to become aware of the explanation for the issues I have been having with my car during low speed turns.

 

If it truly is partially the result of a steering design characteristic, why aren't all Panamera owners experiencing it? I have never had the problem you describe in our P-car! I don't think I am buying the explanation. I can't imagine Porsche engineers and designers accepting an undesirable "hopping" car!

 

I share your skepticism.

 

Read his last post carefully. There were two problems, one solved, one explained. Resetting the PDK software supposedly solved the "hopping up" when in a straight line reverse or slow takeoff. The second "problem" was explained as the Ackermann steering geometry. Actually it is reverse Ackerman geometry in the Panamera and the 911. It is designed to keep the tires cooler at high speed cornering maneuvers at the expense of low speed turns. Summer tires mask this low speed disadvantage with greater grip and more compliance. This compliance is reduced in cooler temperatures and every fall or early winter this forum and the 911 forums are full of people asking what this "skipping" is or why their car feels like it is slipping or jumping, especially when cold or when backing or at slow speeds. Whether the technician used the term Ackermann or some other lay term is unimportant. It is more pronounced in the Panamera and 991 than it has been in previous models. Winter tires can alleviate some of it.