Hello All,

First time on this site. Saw some good advice going around and wanted to get some for myself . I am considering purchasing a 2010 4S. Wanted to know if there were any reliability issues anyone has experienced? Any options are a must have? Anythings to consider when taking a look at one? What's the ideal mileage to purchase one with service/maintenance cost in mind? Lastly, was thinking to buy private to save $$$, good idea?

Thanks

 

Get a cpo

 

Mostly you should be aware that rear visibility is poor, so a reversing camera is a big help, as is the Lane Change Assist warning lights which let you know if someone is in your blind spot.

 

Thank you for the advice. Regarding the cpo, is it not worth saving about $5-$6k by buying private? Or will I end up spending that $$$ on repairs over the life of the cpo I would get otherwise (2-3 years). Is there significant repairs if I get one with around 30k miles? I don't drive much, maybe 7k yearly. Thanks

 

I agree with Gus about rear visibility, as it can be limited. I feel lane change assist is a must, and rear view camera is definitely helpful and in my opinion nearly necessary. I personally wouldn't buy one without both of these.

In regards to the CPO... it it CPO'd, then this means the car was inspected thoroughly by the porsche mechanics, and anything that may have needed attention was fixed. This may have cost a couple of thousand or more to do this. The CPO does add an additional $2500 to the cost of the car for the extended warranty, but it is peace of mind. In your case, since your looking at a 2010, this would only give you a warranty for about another year, so it may not be worth it (CPO extends the factory warranty 2 years, with some limitations).

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

 

On the test drive make sure the PDK shift properly especially from a stop. Mine slipped like crazy the acted like I dropped the clutch. They said it was normal and sent me on my way. I have read many others with similar issue.

Any Porsche needs to be checked out for revs. To see how it has been treated. A dealer can look at it.

 

This was the first panamera I bought. The car was great!! No issues at all. I agree with all of the other posts. I would absolutely insist on buying a CPO'd car. If you have any issues it would easily pay for itself. Also, the reduced hassle of repairs is worth it. I would try to keep the miles no higher than around 50k for sure.

 

Now I am confused on what to do . Should I go a couple years newer and purchasing a 2012 S CPO for around $8k more then what I would get for a 2010 4s. Is there a significant difference between the 4s and S drive experience and feel?

Should I go for a 2012 S CPO and spend about $8k more vs getting a 2010 4s without CPO and use the $$ for repairs plus enjoy the feel of the 4s? (Based on both having similar options and mileage of course- 30 to 40k miles and the options listed above)

Thanks again

 

Four wheel drive is going to make a difference if traction is poor, in initial acceleration on launch if you're really dropping the hammer, and in track performance if you're pushing it hard.

Your header says you're in Los Angeles, so case one is irrelevant. I think for most normal driving, even "spirited" driving, I think you'll find RWD sufficient.

The real answer, of course, is test drive both. It's one of those things where you're better off seeing for yourself.

 

Go with 2012 S if you don't need the all wheel drive. Newer always better, does it have less mileage? make sure always CPO. I think some you can buy from the dealer extended warranty as well.

 

Wait and get a newer 4S miles with the options and mileage you prefer. There are PLENTY of them out there. Search Porsche's website. It will show you most of the cars out there. I prefer the 4 wheel drive. I like the feel of the car. You should drive both and decide for yourself it it makes a difference.

 

Definitely recommend cpo. Mine had 6k in (covered by cpo) repairs within the first month. Would have thought the "inspection" would make that all but impossible but not so. Even if you saved $ and didn't get a cpo and spent the money on repairs, personally i've enjoyed feeling like i'll have any issue fixed and don't even have to think about cost. I also have a 6 year extended warranty that took a lot of shopping around to get. Definitely lowers the stress level and will help with resell.

Finally, I don't have lca and don't personally think it's a big deal. I've had loaners with it and I find that I look for the lca indicator and still look over my shoulder. So it's kind of redundant. I'd never switch lanes just based on what the lca says.

I'd say sport mode is a must have.

 

That's the point. It's not meant to replace looking over your shoulder, it's meant as an extra warning to let you know there's someone there. Given how uncertain the view is with those wide C pillars, it's possible to miss someone in both the mirrors and a headcheck. If the light warns you even once of someone there that you might have missed otherwise, it's worth it.

I've also found that it reduces the amount of work I have to do in heavy traffic. I can always see the left-hand light in my peripheral vision. Without it, there are times when I'm spending a lot of time looking in the mirror or even doing repeated headchecks, looking for an opening. With the warning light, I can keep my attention on the road ahead until the light goes off, and then do the safety checks.

The right side is the more important light, of course, but I find I can't see the right-side light without looking at the mirror. It still gives extra warning and saves me from do extra headchecks - I usually only have to do one, once the warning's off.

 

Another way to look at it: the Lane Change lights are a lot like the center-mounted third brake light. Even though cars had two brake lights prior to the introduction of the third brake light, it turns out that the third light is extremely effective at reducing rear-end collisions. Following drivers just noticed it more often.

So it is with LCA. It's not a replacement, but it makes errors significantly less likely.

 

Thanks for the input. As was said early, due to being a 2010 model, I won't get much of a CPO (only about 12 months). I will make sure to test drive both to really see if there is much of a difference and inform you all of the verdict.