RE: PH Fleet: Porsche Panamera Diesel
Discussion
seawise said:
fluffnik said:
Yes I do, on occasion 5. 
Planes only really work if you can keep a car at each airfield or only go city to city.
See my garage...
ok, i doubt many people do, but there will be exceptions i appreciate. but i would strongly believe that say starting from the s.e.of england if you needed to go to Paris or Edinburgh with four people you are most likely to take a train, if Geneva or Frankfurt you are most likely to go by plane, i accept for shorter journeys you would use a car. for me the idea of wedging several children into a trip over 4 hours by road is not appealing. my children hate it, thus i hate it. Planes only really work if you can keep a car at each airfield or only go city to city.
See my garage...
i rarely take more than 4 in a car so it wouldn't bother me much, though for group outings it could be a bit of a pain....i'd say i use all 5 seats 3-4 times per year.
seawise said:
fluffnik said:
Yes I do, on occasion 5.
Planes only really work if you can keep a car at each airfield or only go city to city.
See my garage...
ok, i doubt many people do, but there will be exceptions i appreciate. but i would strongly believe that say starting from the s.e.of england if you needed to go to Paris or Edinburgh with four people you are most likely to take a train, if Geneva or Frankfurt you are most likely to go by plane, i accept for shorter journeys you would use a car. for me the idea of wedging several children into a trip over 4 hours by road is not appealing. my children hate it, thus i hate it. Planes only really work if you can keep a car at each airfield or only go city to city.
See my garage...
But on the other hand, I will drive as I find it much more convenient. It means I can pack all the kit for the sproggs in the boot, we can stop at interesting/educational places en route and once there have use of a car. There's no rush or panic because if you miss your crossing on the Chunnel you just get the next one etc. So a nice big, lazy tourer with a nice environment to be in and a good drive is very handy.
Yep I thought they were excellent also and had a Panamera Diesel in a slightly blingier spec for a few days recently - http://www.fastgerman.com/forum/?p=451
Just returned from a road trip in my 997 C2S and covered 2k miles in a week - wished I was in the Panamera a few times!
Just returned from a road trip in my 997 C2S and covered 2k miles in a week - wished I was in the Panamera a few times!
This engine is as fast as you need for day to day driving. Ok you dont get that satisfying initial throttle response but once you ride the wave of torque it quickly becomes apparent that you are in a suitably brisk car.
The general public seem to have more a problem with this car than the people who have had any short or long term contact with one. Its about as photogenic as a buffalo but in the flesh, its quite an elegant piece of kit.
I saw a 640d gran coupe listed at 84k in a BMW showroom, the Panam makes it look supremely over priced. And that also had only 4 seats.
The general public seem to have more a problem with this car than the people who have had any short or long term contact with one. Its about as photogenic as a buffalo but in the flesh, its quite an elegant piece of kit.
I saw a 640d gran coupe listed at 84k in a BMW showroom, the Panam makes it look supremely over priced. And that also had only 4 seats.
umRacing said:
This engine is as fast as you need for day to day driving. Ok you dont get that satisfying initial throttle response but once you ride the wave of torque it quickly becomes apparent that you are in a suitably brisk car.
The general public seem to have more a problem with this car than the people who have had any short or long term contact with one. Its about as photogenic as a buffalo but in the flesh, its quite an elegant piece of kit.
I saw a 640d gran coupe listed at 84k in a BMW showroom, the Panam makes it look supremely over priced. And that also had only 4 seats.
That the 640d which has at least a bit more schnell? The general public seem to have more a problem with this car than the people who have had any short or long term contact with one. Its about as photogenic as a buffalo but in the flesh, its quite an elegant piece of kit.
I saw a 640d gran coupe listed at 84k in a BMW showroom, the Panam makes it look supremely over priced. And that also had only 4 seats.
I also think the 6 is overpriced, it's as much as a 7.
Kolbenkopp said:
Simple questions: would anyone buy one with one's own money? For private use? Why?
Yes, I really think so. I always wanted a proper GT some day, and this so far the best car because:- whenever I'm traveling, I often have the need to carry passengers with me.
- the boot is decent size.
- I like to drive more than filling up.
- the interior is lovely to my eyes.
- 250 hp is enough for me, I'm not spoiled with power.
It lacks the romance of a 2-door, 2-seater GT, but the above upsides are good enough to make me still want one. If it had five seats I would want it more!
Besides, if it's good enough for Chris Harris and Harry Metcalfe, then it's surely good enough for me.
I'm quite interested to hear more about why the diesel Panamera is better than the hybrid. Reading the Autocar review doesn't really help as the diesel hadn't been launched - I agree with their logic that the Hybrid is aimed squarely at the US market where petrol would be far more popular/practical.
Hoping to sit in a Panamera at the PH Sunday Service, with any luck. Will CH be in attendance with the diesel by chance? (pretty please?) A comparison to a Rapide a week later should prove interesting.
Hoping to sit in a Panamera at the PH Sunday Service, with any luck. Will CH be in attendance with the diesel by chance? (pretty please?) A comparison to a Rapide a week later should prove interesting.
Kolbenkopp said:
Simple questions: would anyone buy one with one's own money? For private use? Why?
Yes, I really think so. I always wanted a proper GT some day, and this so far the best car because:- whenever I'm traveling, I often have the need to carry passengers with me.
- the boot is decent size.
- I like to drive more than filling up.
- the interior is lovely to my eyes.
- 250 hp is enough for me, I'm not spoiled with power.
- two extra doors are great for passengers getting in and out of.
It lacks the romance of a 2-door, 2-seater GT, but the above upsides are good enough to make me still want one. Just wish they could squeeze in an additional rear seat, and it would make a lovely daily driver some years down the road.
Besides, if it's good enough for Chris Harris and Harry Metcalfe, then it's surely good enough for me.
Pr1964 said:
Those dimensions don’t give the full picture as the visibility and low seating position combine to make the Panamera a complete nightmare when parking in town even at the supermarket it feels the size of a truck you need to straddle two spaces.
The Panamera was designed with the American and emerging markets as its primary target it’s destined for the countryside or cities like Beijing and LA. Porsche had little choice to build it that way for the overseas markets it’s aimed at.
I still don't get why it feels so small on the inside though it’s the opposite of the (Tardis).
Conclusion
535d = Sensible choice.
Panamera = Poser’s choice.
Based on my experience of having driven both, I couldn't disagree with you more. If found the panamera felt really spacious inside. Yes, it is a big car, but manageable. The Panamera was designed with the American and emerging markets as its primary target it’s destined for the countryside or cities like Beijing and LA. Porsche had little choice to build it that way for the overseas markets it’s aimed at.
I still don't get why it feels so small on the inside though it’s the opposite of the (Tardis).
Conclusion
535d = Sensible choice.
Panamera = Poser’s choice.
Stuart said:
Based on my experience of having driven both, I couldn't disagree with you more. If found the panamera felt really spacious inside. Yes, it is a big car, but manageable.
It's more 'chunky' than big. Like the new 1-Series, the ratios in design make it look bigger than it really is. jhoneyball said:
Do sone research, and you will find that power is a meaningless fiction of the marketing people. Then be my hero by writing about it *properly*.
It's flywheel torque that's meaningless without knowing the gearing...What matters is the area under the curve, either torque or power, it matters not.
seawise said:
fluffnik said:
Yes I do, on occasion 5.
Planes only really work if you can keep a car at each airfield or only go city to city.
See my garage...
ok, i doubt many people do, but there will be exceptions i appreciate. but i would strongly believe that say starting from the s.e.of england if you needed to go to Paris or Edinburgh with four people you are most likely to take a train, if Geneva or Frankfurt you are most likely to go by plane, i accept for shorter journeys you would use a car. Planes only really work if you can keep a car at each airfield or only go city to city.
See my garage...
A diesel Grand Tourer makes a great deal of sense; in rural France or Scotland it's easy to go more than 50 miles without a fuelling opportunity which makes extended range a most compelling feature...
seawise said:
for me the idea of wedging several children into a trip over 4 hours by road is not appealing. my children hate it, thus i hate it.
Tick the double-glazing box, you'll not regret it. I'm on the verge of buying a Panamera Diesel, having test driven one and an A7, a CLS and a Gran Coupe.
A7 was dull as dishwater. (I currently have an S5)
CLS was better but didn't excite me.
Gran Coupe very nice but I found the instrumentation and controls a little too teutonic - very effective but no real theatre. Oh, and horrible artificial steering that ruined the whole experience despite the lovely engine.
Panamera 'won' due to its stunning interior, better handling (especially steering) and, because I'm shallow, its presence and badge appeal. Its looks have grown on me since I first saw one at a dealer launch event for it.
A7 was dull as dishwater. (I currently have an S5)
CLS was better but didn't excite me.
Gran Coupe very nice but I found the instrumentation and controls a little too teutonic - very effective but no real theatre. Oh, and horrible artificial steering that ruined the whole experience despite the lovely engine.
Panamera 'won' due to its stunning interior, better handling (especially steering) and, because I'm shallow, its presence and badge appeal. Its looks have grown on me since I first saw one at a dealer launch event for it.
Stuart said:
fluffnik said:
nestreet said:
I'm on the verge of buying a Panamera Diesel, having test driven one and an A7, a CLS and a Gran Coupe.
You need to try an ALPINA D5...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff