So I have a panamera turbo and use it for the following:

weekend fun
some midweek runs to places
occasional family outings (i have the porsche car seats, but i have another car for this purpose)

I got it for the combination of luxury and grunt.

Now I'm looking to potentially add some money to the car budget and spend mid 90's or 100K for some cpo or used car.

What cars might I consider?

I test drove the 2014 E63 amg s over the weekend because I saw some reviews that it's more fun. The interior, to me, is nice, but doesn't blow away the ptt. And the acceleration was actually comparable. Less turbo lag for sure, but didn't seem to have that "going over the top of the roller coaster" feel I like when the ptt turbos kick in.

I've been reading about an aston martin vantage v8. Seems like it might be a bit nicer in the luxury direction, but just pretty good in the acceleration department.

Also looked into a 2004 gallardo, but it feels like it'd be super impractical living in the city (curbs, etc.) and that maintenance would be way worse than the panamera.

Also, I'm 6'2" and live in downtown chicago, if that helps.

Any cars I might look at?

 

Stay away from any merc. Break down queens.

 

To be totally honest if I were you I would wait for the newly redesigned Panamera... You're at the top of the food chain with the PTT when it comes to four door luxury and performance. No where to go but down in my opinion.

 

As an owner of a 2004 Gallardo (the first I know of turned into RWD) back a ways, I can tell you this. It is not faster that a PTT, in AWD it feels like a Toyota pickup truck, Egear is terrible (so you need a gearshift) and it is not a car for city driving. The E63 is a nice car, but not as nice as what you have.

 

Downtown Chicago!! Cayenne Turbo S, !!!!

 

It's really a hard question to answer because a lot depends on your priorities. If your trying to stay with a fast AWD four door your choices are pretty limited, E63s, S6/S7/S8,RS7, Tesla P90d, Quattroporte that I can think of and even then you have to pick priorities. If all our speed is the answer you have to go with the Tesla but if fit/finish and panache come into play the PTT and Maserati are probably at the top of the heap. I've been looking for a reason to get something different than my PTTS and the only 3 cars I'm considering are an RS7, a Ferrari FF or the new Panamera. Not sure it helps but I think if you gave people an idea as to what your actual needs/wants are out of the car they may be able to help a little more

 

Any first hand experience with a newer E63? I have a 170K mile '06 E500 and it is mechanically sound aside from 1 minor repair since I've owned it.

 

Thanks for the reply. I feared this lol. Anybody got experience with the ptts vs ptt? Worth the money to sell one and buy the other? I guess it'll be a few years for the upgrade to be in my cpo price range. Are you talking about the 2017 redesign? Or 2013? I have a 2010 btw.

Thanks Emm et al.

 

Great intel about the Gallardo, thanks for your input. What makes you say the e63 isn't as nice? I was wrestling with that point all weekend. Other than the 50k lower sticker lol

 

Super helpful answer. Thanks!

I'm looking for more luxury, more acceleration, more style/brand cachet. How do you feel about the RS7 interior as a ptt owner? I haven't seen one in person, but online it looks like a downgrade.

I'll look closer at the Quattroporte for sure. The ghibli was a big let down imho. Great exhaust note and go kart racer fun, but not in the panny's league.

The Tesla would be fun between stoplights I suspect, but I'd miss the handling and interior.

Hope that clarifies some objectives.

Thanks again.

 

Exactly. I've read such conflicting reports about the newer ones being more reliable. Also, I'd be looking for a low mile cpo with 5ish years extended. And... I've had a few repairs in my first 9 months with the ptt.

 

Haha is this what you have? I have had the base Cayenne as a loner and the interior is cool the low-end acceleration is decent but overall boring. I have wondered what the turbo would be like.

 

My E63S trounces the Panamera in terms of reliability and dealership ability to service and repair. It's not even close.

Pound for pound, I cannot think of another car I'd prefer to DD than my E63S. The addition of AWD makes the car's power manageable. Though it does lack the pointiness of the Panamera.

In terms of interiors, for the most part it's a toss up. Our Porsche is heavily optioned, while the Merc is a one size fits all affair. The Merc seats are infinitely better than the Porsche 14 Ways. The Porsche interior is a vastly more appealing place to spend time, in terms of appearances. Some of the control surfaces in the Porsche feel more mid-80s Yugo, rather then six figure modern luxury car. Especially the steering wheel and control stalks.

I don't own a PTT, so I can't comment on relative performance, but published figures suggest the Merc is pretty damn beastly.

My E63S has 20K miles and it's only malady was a failed seal on the A/C compressor. Fixed in two days.

We had a W211 cdi which was totally bulletproof over the 70K miles and seven years we owned it. Actually had a bidding war when I went to sell it private party.

Our G Wagen is a total piece of crap. Probably 4 or 5 comfort/convenience-type failures in 12K miles. Seems like par for the course with that platform, though.

 

Big difference from a Cayenne base loaner to a decently equipped turbo.

 

If you want that feel in the pants ,rollercoster type and dont want to miss handling and luxury , upgrade to a 991 turbo
Same interior ,better handling and fast acceleration .