RE: Porsche Panamera Diesel: PH Fleet
Discussion
sisu said:
No question about how it drives and I think everyone is sold on the inside. But you get the same sort of vibe from a chubby mid 90's 5 door hatchbacks, the lost years of the melted look.
A bit like driving a large French car - it looks ugly. But very comfortable inside.
You could just wait until they bring this out, then not have to explain how it looks on the outside.
Noted and believe me it does get tiresome defending its looks. However, I like the shooting brake format and the current guise that's being offered, each to their own I guess.....A bit like driving a large French car - it looks ugly. But very comfortable inside.
You could just wait until they bring this out, then not have to explain how it looks on the outside.
this is what bugs me the most about the Panamera we know its ultimately a cracking car.. typical Porsche substance over style being tested to the extreme...you know its brilliant technically and a beautifully made car...but looks-wise, apart from the front, its properly hideous. It simply doesn't work as a piece of design and beggars belief it managed to get sign off from Porsche senior management....somewhat amusingly saw two of these being road tested prior to launch whilst living in Dubai, both cars were packed full of Porsche technicians.....giving me a cursory glance in my then owned Cayenne S before reverting back to their 'obsessive note taking and vigorous testing regime in Dubai traffic'...credit to that diesel motor too...they should have bitten the bullet there on the first gen Cayennes....they would have sold even more..
toppstuff said:
I'm a big fan of the Panamera.
And I like the way it looks.
Good write up , Chris.
I really don't get the dislike of the Panameras styling. It seems that some people have called it ugly and the sheep have followed.
I think it's a distinctive and handsome car.
It's clearly a great car to drive and to spend time in .......And I like the way it looks.
Good write up , Chris.
I really don't get the dislike of the Panameras styling. It seems that some people have called it ugly and the sheep have followed.
I think it's a distinctive and handsome car.
But you should have gone to Specsavers.
edo said:
E38Ross said:
cat amongst the pigeons here....
bmw 640d gran coupe.
cheaper, more powerful (MUCH), more economical and better looking (IMO)......
Having the coupe and the Cayenne, I would agree the engine is superior.bmw 640d gran coupe.
cheaper, more powerful (MUCH), more economical and better looking (IMO)......
The interior on the 6 is also lovely and it's more economical too.
As a GT car, you must ask why the porsche is more expensive as it would have to be very good to drive to not only pull it back on par but actually justify the extra cost for something you're paying more and seemingly getting less
Whilst the current BMW 6 cylinder diesels are stupendously powerful, the higher powered ones almost seem to be getting a bit grumbly now? Drove an X40d MSport (or something like that......X5 GSi D??!) and thought it was a little bit unrefined though vv fast. Cayenne on the V6 diesel was a huge surprise. Definitely punches above the on paper stats. Also integrates better with the ZF 8 speed gearbox than anything else I've driven. Fuel consumption on the Cayenne was also superb.
HOWEVER, having been told for years to buy diesels, I've recently discovered petrol again. Currently have Mini Cooper S, XKR Conv and hopefully soon a C63 coupe. I do 10000 miles per year and the petrol at 21mpg will cost around 1200 per year more than my hopefully outgoing E250d. Money well spent, nice noise and lubricates the economy(!?)
Life's too short. :-)
HOWEVER, having been told for years to buy diesels, I've recently discovered petrol again. Currently have Mini Cooper S, XKR Conv and hopefully soon a C63 coupe. I do 10000 miles per year and the petrol at 21mpg will cost around 1200 per year more than my hopefully outgoing E250d. Money well spent, nice noise and lubricates the economy(!?)
Life's too short. :-)
I'm Spartacus said:
405dogvan said:
I can only assume if it's as good as the Cayenne - the car which surprised me more than anything else I've drive - that it makes sense to wait until - like the Cayenne - they sort-out the fugly.
Early Cayennes are hideous - current ones are positively subtle - roll on the facelifts then...
Agreed. I was parked next to a new Cayenne a few weeks ago and it was absolutely stunning! The first 4x4 that I've actually stopped to take a good look at.Early Cayennes are hideous - current ones are positively subtle - roll on the facelifts then...
Either that or everything else got fatter in the meanwhile perhaps?
Kermit79 said:
I agree with the sentiments that road driving (in the UK) is becoming more about getting to a location and therefore a form of transport as opposed to a fun experience (not that I like that it has come to this). So would you rather do 38 mpg in a diesel or 25mpg in a more fun car and sit in traffic for 85% of your time where performance is meaningless.
The roads in the UK are becoming more and more clogged and fast road cars are becoming less and less relevant, unless you are lucky enough to have some traffic free roads easily accessible (lucky beggars). Track days/motorsport are becoming more and more prevalent as a result.
I have taken the crazy decision, some might say, in buying a Smart Brabus roadster coupe, for the reason that, it returns 50mpg, it is fun enough, and for people saying that they are slow, I got frustrated on the way down to Goodwood Press day because I couldn't drive above 5/10ths on the way there or back and yes I could overtake, but when you are in a queue of traffic 10-20 cars long there is simply no point.
I have driven all sorts of Ferraris, Lambos, Porsches etc, and they frustrate as much as they deliver due to the road conditions that we all have to deal with.
I think that Toyota/Subaru with the GT86/BRZ are moving in the right direction, realising that driving enjoyment is as much about feel and interaction, and the act of physically driving as opposed to willy waving headline figures for performance that if attained in front of many parties would be frowned at, let alone what Plod would think.
Efficient, light weight, involved driving machines are becoming more and more relevant(for some), fuel is going one way, a car that can achieve early 20's in mpg will render itself impossible for most to run in the next 10 years due to the aforementioned fuel prices.
Classic car ownership is a release from the some of the problems above, as many of these cars can be driven at 7/8 tenths on the road safely, giving a level of feedback modern cars can not hope to provide.
The more and more I think, the more a Lotus Elise S1 looks like a winner for a long term investment.
Great post and spot on in every way. Ive found over the past two years that although my 135i is a great thing to drive and smokes tyres at will, its power is realistically nowhere usable on the road. Not everyones cup of tea but now ordered an A1 1.4. Far less power and torque but most likely far more fun to drive.The roads in the UK are becoming more and more clogged and fast road cars are becoming less and less relevant, unless you are lucky enough to have some traffic free roads easily accessible (lucky beggars). Track days/motorsport are becoming more and more prevalent as a result.
I have taken the crazy decision, some might say, in buying a Smart Brabus roadster coupe, for the reason that, it returns 50mpg, it is fun enough, and for people saying that they are slow, I got frustrated on the way down to Goodwood Press day because I couldn't drive above 5/10ths on the way there or back and yes I could overtake, but when you are in a queue of traffic 10-20 cars long there is simply no point.
I have driven all sorts of Ferraris, Lambos, Porsches etc, and they frustrate as much as they deliver due to the road conditions that we all have to deal with.
I think that Toyota/Subaru with the GT86/BRZ are moving in the right direction, realising that driving enjoyment is as much about feel and interaction, and the act of physically driving as opposed to willy waving headline figures for performance that if attained in front of many parties would be frowned at, let alone what Plod would think.
Efficient, light weight, involved driving machines are becoming more and more relevant(for some), fuel is going one way, a car that can achieve early 20's in mpg will render itself impossible for most to run in the next 10 years due to the aforementioned fuel prices.
Classic car ownership is a release from the some of the problems above, as many of these cars can be driven at 7/8 tenths on the road safely, giving a level of feedback modern cars can not hope to provide.
The more and more I think, the more a Lotus Elise S1 looks like a winner for a long term investment.
Re the Porshe, as mentioned, in a few years time its going to be a very good value, practical and economical car to own..
i have to say this is the next car on my shopping list - have to wait 12 months though! - I must admit i was only going to look at petrol versions (not turbo!), but having read this I will take a look at the diesel - despite my total dislike of oily fuel pump hoses!
Great review... and in London yesterday saw about 6 of them in Portman square alone within about 30 minutes - although all of them were blinged up in some way with dodgy wheels and the such like which IMHO made them look worse than the stock version.
Great review... and in London yesterday saw about 6 of them in Portman square alone within about 30 minutes - although all of them were blinged up in some way with dodgy wheels and the such like which IMHO made them look worse than the stock version.
E38Ross said:
cat amongst the pigeons here....
bmw 640d gran coupe.
cheaper, more powerful (MUCH), more economical and better looking (IMO)......
My brother bought one a couple of weeks ago - not bad looking for a modern Bee Emm but there is no headroom in them for anyone over 5'10", the transmission tunnel is enormous and consequently the interior felt very cramped and uncomfortable to me. bmw 640d gran coupe.
cheaper, more powerful (MUCH), more economical and better looking (IMO)......
motoroller said:
Personally I'd take a £10k Phaeton with a similar engine. Same comfort level IMO, at 1/6th the cost.
I don't usually agree with comparing new V used but here I agree, the whole purpose of a diesel is to be economical...this car isn't particularly economical, demands a huge premium to buy it, will be more expensive to tax , insure,service and it isn't even particularly fast, even as diesels go.What exactly is the point of this car?.....the badge is the only reason I can see for buying this car.
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