Get the 4s if you want to have fun. I started with the 4 and once I drove the 4s there was NOOO way I was going to get the 4. Ended up getting the turbo lol.

 

moral of the story is forget the 4s too and just get the turbo. Very funny feel

 

If you went the crowd here, you’ve probably made your decision and gone with the S – but couldn’t help weigh in any way with a contrary view. I had a similar decision when I replaced my totaled turbocharged 420 HP Audi S7. I went with the V6 P4 for the lower mileage/cost and am thrilled with it. True it does not have the thrust of the S – or my old S7. But it’s surprisingly quick. And for me, there’s a diminishing return on the extra grunt. Yeah its’ fun for those moments when you can really use it. But those moments are fairly rare and fairly ephemeral. For me excitement of the Porsche is less the raw power than the precision of the drive – which is why I didn’t got back to an S7 . (Full disclosure: my first car/love, back in 1967, was an 850cc Mini when my friends were all into muscle cars, so obviously I ascribe to the old idea that what matters is not how fast it goes but how it goes fast. (And I’m equally obviously no teenager)). But the snarky idea that going with a V6 means you’re just into the Porsche cache reveals a very narrow view of what a good driving car is all about. Sure, all things being equal, the more power the better. But worth the cost? Certainly the Porche salesforce want you to think so. But even at a wimpy 300 hp, this is a helluva machine that looks, & drives like nothing else, feels completely balanced, responsive, nimble and quick, and is incredibly practical to boot. No, I wont be snapping my neck as I rush to the next stoplight. But driving my P4 is a thrill every day. Whatever you choose (chose?), you’re into for a great car experience.

 

That's not the tradeoff here, though. From what he's said, they're priced the same, which means they're charging a bit of a premium for the slower car. The only thing the 2013 has going for it is a not terribly meaningful difference in mileage, which is something that diminishes with time.

You ask "is it worth the cost" for the higher HP - but in this case, it's the same price.

 

Addressing this separately so as not to dilute the important point.

How much acceleration you need to enjoy driving really does vary from person to person. 300 HP is actually kind of a lot in the grand scheme of things from my point of view, but it's strongly offset by the sheer weight of the car. I've driven cars with a similar power / weight, and found them underwhelming.

Wanting more power than that is not about "snapping your neck," it's about feeling like the car is responsive. On the other hand, my wife doesn't push her Cayman S nearly as much as I do when I'm driving it - I think she's be perfectly happy in a base Cayman, when I know I would not.

Whether paying extra for a 4S over a 4 makes sense really depends on the driver, though I want to emphasize once more that he's not talking about paying more for the 4S.

As for the Panamera being a thrill to drive, I can't really agree. I loved my Supra Turbo, and I love my wife's Cayman S, in a way that I simply do not love my Panamera. Maybe if I'd come to the car from driving a sedan, I would, but I'm coming from a 2 door sports coupe.

On the other hand, if you absolutely need the room, and something with nearly zero cargo space like the Cayman is not an option, I don't know that there's a better option. The Panamera's one of the few sedans that really emphasizes performance beyond engine size. While it's not nearly as nimble as a Cayman, it's still head and shoulders above an Audi.

 

Both good points. I come from a 4-seat perspective (from mini to Jag XJR to Audi S& and lots in between) so my sense of thrilling is admittedly more sedate. And while the cash may be the same, the cost is arguably not when factoring in longevity and warranty life - though you may be right that that is a diminishing concern. The one thing I think we can all agree on: nice problem to have. from V6 to S to Turbo, what a magnificent hunk of car.

 

4S.

Close thread!

 

You make a good point. 300HP is sufficient. However if you can get 400HP for the same price, why not? Oh wait they have 500HP and 560HP too. But the price goes up. So the argument would be if you buy the 4 and drive for a while, would you second guess yourself 6 months into ownership - "Oh shoot, for the same price I could have gotten more thrills.." and then try to undo what you did, would you be willing to pay more after 6 months to get out of the 4 to buy the 4s?

So the OP should consider this question carefully, cause my personal experience states, these cars hook you in big time and you wonder what next...Maybe its just me ...

 

playing the devil's advocate:

Advantages of the V6:
-lighter, more nimble handling, especially the front end
-better fuel efficiency
-potentially lower cost of maintenance (12 spark plugs, etc.)

Advantages of 2013:
-better PDK (I've driven Panameras from 2010-2014 and each year the transmission has improved, particularly in getting going from a stop)
-? potential improvement in electronics and bug fixes (check for hard disk based music register, HD radio)
-longer warranty

having said that, no one who bought a Turbo (or S) ever said, "wish I'd gotten the base 6-cylinder instead!"

 

Nope and well said lol...

 

I agree get the damn turbo!!

 

In reality most car reviewers will say best value per dollar on Panamera is the 4s Or GTS. Can't go wrong.