RE: PH Fleet: Porsche Panamera Diesel

[GranCab]

Guvernator said:

I really cannot fathom why they've sold so many of these, they really are one of the ugliest things on 4 wheels available at the moment. Proof if any were needed that with the right badge on it, you can sell just about anything.

You might need a tin of this too ...

[Amirhussain]

kambites said:

Of all the ugly things about the Panamera, how on earth did you single out the tail-pipes?

lol

[sisu]

You know this Griswold 7 seater, LS7 V8, hotchkis suspension would make solid camera wagon scything its way thru a B-road.


Oh and you need to get one of these

[edo]

It has become very tyresome (pun intended) how every thread about a car is inundated with people who hate that car.

Let me remind you all that A) if you don't like a car, you don't have to go into that thread and, B) the world would be a boring place if we all drove/liked the same cars...

To the poster who thinks all season or winter tyres melt in the summer, you are an idiot...

I personally applaud the Panemera for being different, but then my wife and I have a Cayenne with the same engine (on all season tyres god forbid), so what do we know.

The fact that this car can do 38mpg is simply icing on the cake.

Chris, what are the winter tyres?

[KM666]

So winter tyres left on a car when it become warmer are really just like very expensive budget tyres?

[W124]

I know it's been said before but, the thing is with the Panamera is that you can't loathe it once you've driven it. It's such an excellent car. And the economy, with the cruise on, at 100, is just amazing...

[edo]

W124 said:

I know it's been said before but, the thing is with the Panamera is that you can't loathe it once you've driven it. It's such an excellent car. And the economy, with the cruise on, at 100, is just amazing...

Yes, but this is PH, where opinions based on no experience whatsoever matter...

[sm34uk]

This is a classic Panamera thread; it's so ugly etc yet Monkey is obviously a fan and he's driven/had some pretty fantastic cars so is probably not a bad judge. When you look at the "knockers" to see what's in their garage I have seen a 350Z, a Skyline and an Impreza. I think it's fair to say, they are in a position to judge a fugly...

[drchris]

winter tyre thread again?

Personally, I found that my worn (3mm) winter tyres last year were total arse once the weather got warmer in the spring time... you remember, it was for 3 days in March...

BUT on my 3 series, winters were the only chance my car had of even moving on lightly frosted roads.

A more useful discussion IMHO should be why are modern RWD cars just so terrible on slippery surfaces? If the answer is runflats, low profile, wide tyres and open diffs etc then why oh why are the manufacturers getting away with it? If my car could drive on ice/snow as well as my wife's Polo then I wouldn't need to fork out for separate wheels.

Chris

ps on topic! Panamera diesel; I'd have one if I could afford it.

[Mr Gear]

Impressed by 38mpg and the ability to carry a mountain bike in the back? Then you'll love the Vauxhall Corsa!

You can't even see the ugly exhaust on those, so it sounds like the ideal car. 5-seats too, I st ye not.

[SunDiver]

I've ran winter tyres for the last ten years or so. I've ran them all year (a couple times) and swapped them on spares too (just done it again this year). I've ran them on 4wd RS Audis and Land Rovers and various other cars. I've driven them in England and in the Scottish Highlands/Alps.

The statement that they're dangerous to run in the summer is interesting. In a UK summer, running winters is IMO significantly less dangerous than running regular tyres in winter. I seem to recall a 10% longer braking distance for winters in summer vs 100% longer for regulars in winter. The former is somehow seen as outright dangerous but the latter seen as some kind of indulgence for tyre nerds? Then there's the traction benefits to winters and just how much better they feel when it's cold, never mind snow/ice.

In the UK if one was forced to run with one set all year round, I'd personally go with winters.

I also don't buy the will-wear-out-in-five minutes statements either. I really haven't noticed any difference, not in the UK, but I admit I've not gone to lengths to track it diligently. The only difference I do notice again having just put Wintrac Extremes onto my disco4 is they are slightly louder.

Edited by SunDiver on Thursday 20th December 00:02

[cslwannabe]

They might be ok to leave on all year round if you have a 4wd car or even a fwd car, but on warmish days in a reasonably powerful (and torquey) rwd car it is like you have fitted budget tyres, as someone described earlier. Put it this way I won't be leaving them on the 640d come April/ May time.

Completely agree about the way they deal with standing water though.

[edo]

Monkey, you mentioned Winter tyres, so that's this thread f*cked. You may as well delete it now.

[Agent Orange]

Chris Harris said:

Two unsolved questions for me right now. Why can't Porsche make a 5-seat version of this car? Why are the exhaust outlets so ugly? And why does the low coolant light come on in fast right-handers? And what the hell can replace this car for me? I can't think of anything.

Is the 5th seat such a big deal? I know we all want our big cars to have 5 seats but I've often found 3 across the back uncomfortable.

I don't like reading these reports as I'm starting to quite like the Panamera. It's starting to sound an almost sensible proposition to run one. I still find it ugly but maybe in sympathy I'm starting to like them.

Off to classifieds....

Edited by Agent Orange on Thursday 20th December 08:49

[Bladedancer]

List of extras is amusing. You'd think if you're paying well over 60 grand you'd get things like metallic paint included but no, not with the Germans.

[patmahe]

Panamera, seems a good machine all round, any reviews I've read have been positive. Its a real pity they couldn't have made it half decent looking, its not too bad in the flesh, but its still no oil painting.

I wonder if we'll be able to buy these in 20-30 years for under 5k like you can now with a 928 ?

[umRacing]

The Panamera could just well be the best all round car in the world.

Here's a guy who has driven all extremes of cars from the fastest to the slowest and cant seem to let this one go. Surely that must mean something

[AyBee]

FisiP1 said:

Isn't the transmission tunnel in the way of a 5th seat?

Great looking Duster btw.

Yes, but I'm sure the transmission tunnel can't be so big that 5 seats is a complete no-go?

[Guvernator]

edo said:

It has become very tyresome (pun intended) how every thread about a car is inundated with people who hate that car.

Let me remind you all that A) if you don't like a car, you don't have to go into that thread and, B) the world would be a boring place if we all drove/liked the same cars...

So people aren't allowed to have negative opinions about a car any more? Wow I'd argue the exact opposite, I like to read opinions and experiences both good and bad as I believe it gives a more balanced view. It would be very boring if there were no contrasting opinions and it just turned into all the fans having a circle jerk about what a great car it is.

For what it's worth I love the idea of a practical 4 door, well engineered Porsche and I know it's fantastic once your sat in it and driving it, unfortunately the fact that I feel a little sick in my mouth as I see it before I've got in, leaves a bad taste in the mouth (pun intended). I just wish Porsche had been a bit more imaginative with the exterior design rather than grafting a massive bum onto a 911 which isn't very cohesive at all IMO. Sorry if my contrary opinion offends

[Ocellia]

Liking the looks is subjective. I'm a longtime Citroen DS/CX lover (and C6 is nice too).
But have had 2 Lexus LS cars now.
I don't much like their looks, but they're great to drive/be in!
Same with the Panamera? Great to drive?