Is the Panamera Diesel fast enough you asked. Chris Harris finds out once and for all...
There were many interesting topics of discussion generated by the first report on the Panamera Diesel I’m running at the moment. And some tedious ones.
To support my statement that the Panamera Diesel was fast enough for my everyday needs, I had no evidence, and people didn’t seem inclined to believe me. I had no intention of ever taking a diesel Porsche to Milbrook to see how fast it is, but this seemed like the only way to glean that information.
For me, the results were pretty surprising. You’ll have to watch the video to find out what they are.
By coincidence, the very same day that I attempt to justify my support for this V6, 250hp diesel, Porsche has announced a 4.2 litre V8 oil-burner for the Cayenne: it boasts static numbers most people would want and expect from a Porsche: 382hp and a crazy 627lb ft, but sadly it won’t fit under the Panamera’s low bonnet-line.
It’ll be a stonking package, but the claimed 34mpg on the combined cycle does seem to support the notion that, using diesel, there is a dramatic drop-off in fuel economy once you reach a certain performance point. My family ran a 535d for four years, it was a very good car, but driven hard, as it tended to be, it would average mid-20s. At which point you might as well have an M5, no? Driven the same way, the Panamera Diesel is knocking on the door of 40mpg. Last week I had 45.6 mpg on a quick cruise back from London.
So the question is: would you sacrifice a quarter of the economy for a load of extra grunt? Right now, I wouldn’t because for my everyday driving, I just wouldn’t see much reward for the extra performance, and getting 650 miles from an 80 litre tank, and still being able to travel very quickly is a pretty compelling set of attributes.
not sure about others, but i certainly never said it wasn't quick enough.
the only thing i wasn't sure of, was that is it as quick as you'd expect for over £70K? as i said, i'd personally expect 740d speeds (which, incidentally, is quicker and more economical) but as you say, it's certainly quick enough for UK roads. it's just what you'd expect for the price, and a porsche.
Chris you really genuinely looked like you were impressed with it, a good allrounder then in your opinion, the figures are certainly acceptable, but we all seem so power hungry nowadays, would you have one over the V8 if it was your own money.
Great cruiser but I agree with your Diesel comments. Driven hard a large diesel engine will return those low 20's figures and that's into proper petrol V8/V10/V12 car category so it's just pointless.
I like the video but I get an aura of plucky underdog, a car that punches above its weight despite its humble start in life but these things are seventy grand !
As a motorway mile muncher you probably couldn't do much better than this car. Comfortable, efficient, long range, practical, and pretty nippy. I think going for outright pace is missing the point when they offer a V8 petrol.
Problem is, you could say exactly the same thing by saying "it's a barge". £70k is a lot for that.
Great cruiser but I agree with your Diesel comments. Driven hard a large diesel engine will return those low 20's figures and that's into proper petrol V8/V10/V12 car category so it's just pointless.
I ran an E350 CDI last year and returned an average of 27mpg over 15k miles but my daily commute is 28 miles (each way) along fairly twisty A roads. If I drove it really hard I'd get 15-18mpg without too much trouble. Big diesels are great if 90% of your miles are on the motorway but you want some power for the odd occasion where it suits or fun is to be had.
Porsche was forced to make this car to attract customers. Personally, I think that they have done a good job as people want this type of car and want to have high mpg to keep costs down.
For the love of god stop writing on this. In the right hands you can make anything go fast - pointless line of thread. Worthy of comment on the most vile cars of all time website, but not on a site that calls itself pistonheads!
After hearing that vid, the summary goes something like this:
I'm not friends with Ferrari but as sure as hell I'm not going to fall out with Porsche. The only car anybody needs is a Porsche diesel (because it will do 150+ with an old Audi engine).
Or:
Better a small brown envelope from Porsche than none at all from Ferrari.
