I test drove only a '16 V6 (base) and a '10 4S.

It's the first modern V8 I've every driven and will probably be the last with the way things are going in car technology. The 4S in standard mode is very capable and a normal driving car, however when you put it in sport plus it becomes a completely different car, the sounds of the V8 are intoxicating.

I bought the '10 4S, no regrets.

 

GTS torque: 384 ft-lbs at 3500 rpm
970.1 Turbo torque: 516 ft-lb at 2250-4500 rpm
970.2 Turbo S torque: 553 ft-lb at 2250-4500 rpm (604 ft-lb at 2500-4500 rpm with overboost in use)

I'm not sure why you and others have indicated that the GTS has more torque. It obviously does not.. at all.

obviously this can all be optioned onto any Panamera, other than the intake noise pipe.
However, the 18 way seats can most definitely have ventilation. My car does. It's the seat material that limits whether ventilation is possible or not.
Most 970 GTSs I've seen for sale have 14 way seats, for what it's worth.

for what it's worth, most suspension failures are on the 970.1, so far. The design is supposedly updated for the 970.2, and I've spoken with a few Porsche mechanics who have also said that these later cars don't have failures as often. It's still a concern though. I paid for an extended warranty and explicitly made sure that what I paid for covers the air suspension.

 

All valid points.

Regarding torque, the way I saw it wasn't about the peak number, it's what I've read from those that have driven both. The delivery between the two is noticeable, so I suppose since I haven't driven one it's misleading to bring it up as though I have.

As for the seats I stand corrected, yes the 18way can have ventilated but if you're not optioning a new one, finding a used one with it is rather difficult. I mean I spent 6 months hunting the used market (in 2018) for my GTS with the options I wanted and didn't find a single one with 18way ventilated, I had only seen photos of it online. The same can be said about the Sport Design bumper, as very few Turbos were optioned with it, though one could do a conversion which several people here have done. If one has the patience, sure you'll find a Turbo + SD bumper + 18way ventilated... But honestly that's like finding a unicorn at this point. A quick Cars.com search has zero with those 3 options (2010-2013), granted that's just one website.

 

I have driven a 970.2 S and a 970.2 GTS back to back on the road and on track. Even the S clearly has more mid range torque than the GTS. The GTS ultimately felt slightly quicker at the top end of the rev range and I prefered the character of the GTS to the S. I eventually bought a 970.2 Turbo S which, as noted above, has vast amounts more torque (and power) than the other models in the range. It's the no compromise solution if you can find one.

 

While you do not "need" the power of the Turbo S, it mostly stays latent until you hit the throttle for some acceleration therapy. I had looked at the GTS but could not accept any car, these days, that cannot do a quarter mile under 12 seconds since everything else with a performance pedigree seems to be able. Even a Stelvio QV will outpace the GTS. But, the driving dynamics of the GTS or Turbo S are about as close to perfect as you will find.

 

Great thread, and excellent information. Thinking about a Panamera in the near future myself. (Leaning towards the turbo).

 

I have a 4S (V8) my friend has a Turbo S (chipped) the 4S will pull hard and push you back in your seat until 75-80ish, the Turbo S pulls hard and pushes you back in the seat well north of 100( he let off the gas before it stopped pulling)

The 4S is a lot easier to work on in the engine bay, a whole lot less crap in there.

 

I've driven a 970.2 4S, GTS, and Turbo S, and a 970.1 Turbo.
I'm confused why anyone would say the GTS feels like it has a lot of torque. It has a revvy motor that is fun to drive and the car feels great, but it does not have a lot of low end torque. The Turbo hits its peak torque much earlier than the GTS, and holds it long after the GTS torque has dropped back off, and it has 130 or more ft-lbs at peak.

The GTS is a great car to drive, but the Turbo's torque is easily more obvious than the GTS's torque.

Indeed.. I spent about a year looking for my car across the US. There were a few cars with 18 way ventilated seats (including mine) during that time.. but not many. I largely used cargurus to watch cars come up for sale, and then vinanalytics to check options.