Hey guys,

Thinking about adding a Panamera Turbo to the good ol' Porsche family.

Any insight on meaningful differences (if any) between say a 2010, 2011 and 2012 Panamera Turbo?

Thanks in advance,

Marlon

 

I'm certainly no expert, but I did look at PTT's for a little and the PDK seems to have been improved from 2010 cars. the 10's can be a little jerky and not as smooth/intuitive as the newer ones.

I'm sure there are other differences. I went with a GTS.

 

Thanks Michael_s,

I started to read up on the jerky PDK coming out of 1st gear and it might sway me not to get a Panny after all. The main reason to get one is so I have a smooth, more comfy alternative to my 997S, which I love but the manual tranny is a drag in LA traffic. Also I could use some more cargo space.

I'll have to test drive one to feel it myself.

 

I have a 2010 PTT and have absolutely no complaints on the PDK. It's actually been nothing but spectacular. In 'normal' mode you never feel the shifts at all. It feels like its all one long gear. The only time you feel any kind of shifts is within the first 30 seconds or so of driving the car. I'm guessing the tranny is still warming up and the shifting can sometimes be felt slightly. Then turn on sports plus mode, and every shift feels like a hammer.

As far as your 1st gear worries.... I think the person that told you this might have been confused or spreading propaganda they have 'heard'. Our cars start in 2nd gear. They never start in 1st gear unless you manually put it there or your in sports mode. If your in sports mode, its still not jerky, its just fast and hard shifts, which can be mistaken as jerky shifts by someone unaware of the auto world. The sports mode shifts can be considered jerky, to the same extent that a launch would be considered jerky driving by my mother. So you should never have any issues with the pdk, unless your particular one has something wrong with it.

As far as 2010 vs 11 vs 12... I know that there has been alot of software updates to the PDK and many parts of the car in general. However, this doesn't mean the newer years are better. When you bring your car into the dealership, they can flash the newest software on there and your good to go. So maybe the 2010 pdk was clunkier when it just came out, but its all been retroactively updated and fixed since then.

From my understanding, all the years are essentially the same. There are just very small, mostly unnoticeable changes. For example, the 2011+ have a 'lateral G' readout that can be displayed in the speedo. (I'm talking about in the menu that shows car voltage, boost, compass etc..). As far as I'm concerned, the biggest upgrade in those years was that they added a hard drive to the audio system. However, in reality its only a marginal upgrade. USB sticks are just as large these days and very cheap. Put it in the USB port and forget it.

I've only had mine for a couple months, and I'm also no expert on porsche. These are just my opinions, so maybe someone else will come in and shed a different point of view on it.

 

Timelinex got up to speed rather quick. Everything he said is inline with me and I've had it for over 2 years and still scares me at times. I have a 2010 as well and I don't like the PDK because is toooo smooth, there is no other tranny like SMG III, but that's another subject.

The only reason I would go to a '12 is for the PDK sport on the steering wheel and the stupid icons on the newer PCM, completely subjective.

Either way it's a one of a kind motor experience.

 

I'm on my third panamera - I have zero complaints. Get the PTT and enjoy it.

 

from 2010 - 2012 the updates were minor, little refinement here and there. Not enough to sway you from one year to the next most likely. I have a 2012 PTT and love the car and the utility. I have 35k miles and use it DD for hauling kids and sports gear after commuting to the office. It is not a 997 and does not drive like one, but for what it is, it has no equal in its class. I think it is the perfect blend of handling, speed and utility!

Focus first on the "must" have options for you. A few I would not want to be without are Lane Change Assist (I believe this became an option in mid 2011, so you won't find it on early cars), PDCC, Burnmeister Stereo, sport chrono, power steering plus, seats you like best and steering wheel of your choice (I got the paddle shifters and prefer it, but find I don't use them very often). Once you figure out what you like then focus on price and miles and I think you will see that the price difference between a 2010 and 2012 is not enough to "not" get the newer car. Used Panny prices vary $10k +/- but the the MSRP on the cars vary from $130k to $175k (add another $18k for a PTT "S") so you will see pricing all over the map. If you are patient you can find a very nice high MSRP car at a "substantial" discount to what it cost new. If you can buy a CPO car from a dealer that is an advantage as well to get the extra miles and time on the warranty.

As a DD you will not be disappointed with a PTT, especially if you keep the 997. Good luck with your search.

 

FWIW, the CPO coverage also transfers between private party, just not from third party dealers to private parties.

-- DavidV

 

I agree with Timelinex, the 2010 is very smooth when sorted out. Mine was a bit jerky with shifts for a bit, a new HP fuel pump did the trick. Lane change alert would be nice; i read that the 2014 has a bit bigger rear glass, but it's the rear pillar that hurts the view. I have all the options supercup listed otherwise - i waited a bit and found a low mileage version