2016 Jaguar XF S Vs 2011-2015 Porsche Panamera Diesel

[jonindorset]

Planning to buy one of these in 2019.
Have any of you driven both? How do they compare as drivers cars on British roads? How does the steering compare? Feel, feedback, handling?

Many thanks!

[Phil Dicky]

Driven neither but sat in both, the Panamera imho is the nicer place to be....far more rare on the roads too.

[fatboy b]

Owners of mk2 XFs seem to need to defend their cars in the presence of the mk1. Perhaps they are trying to convince themselves that the elephant hide seat and dash coverings used in the mk2 really are superior to the proper leather used in the mk1

[steve-5snwi]

I've driven a couple of diesel Panameras, they are nice and a great motorway car, the only XF i've driven is a 2.2 Sportbrake, they seem lighter and more nimble. I doubt you would be disappointed with either.

[J4CKO]

How about a Mercedes CLS of the same era as another potential choice ?

[anonymous-user]

Panamera is an XJ competitor and as such it'll be better than an XF in every way that matters. Not least because the new XF is kind of... well.. mediocre.

[jonindorset]

Thanks for the comments so far, just to clarify, I'm comparing MK1 gen 1 Diesel Panameras (circa 2012 with 250bhp) with MK2 Diesel XF S (300bhp 2016/2017). They are very similar money.

I appreciate that the Panemera will be more expensive to run and more luxurious and I'm not so worried about that. While it will spend quite a bit of time plugging motorways, it will also spend quite a bit of time on b roads. I'm sure they would both be more comfortable and suitable than my current cars but am most interested in just how good they are as (compromised) driver's cars.

[akadk]

I’ve got a 2019 MY XF S

It’s great.

I also had a 2015 MY XF S (gen 1)

I actually prefer the gen 1

Not sure how it would compare to a Porka

But if you go for a ex JLR management car you will get a year old near £55k spec car for half price as they come fully spec’d

[jonindorset]

I've driven CLS in the past and once owned an older XJ. They are both luxury barges rather than drivers cars. I've passengered in a Panemera but never driven one.

I suspect that the Panemera will be a cut above in terms of handling and feedback for a luxury car of its size and weight. I'm just curious how well the XF compares back to back as a drivers car as I do not need any more space than the lighter XF. While at £55k new the XF might be mediocre, I'm not so sure at £25-27k at less than 2 years old...

[jonindorset]

Acadk, thank you, what was better about the MK1? I had a weekend loan of one when the 3.0 litre first came out, a 240bhp luxury I seem to remember. It seemed very 5 series like and was a pretty nice car but maybe somewhat lacking in the feel and feedback I'm looking for

[Big GT]

I've driven a few Mk2 XF's inc the S and they are the best in class to drive. Great balance to the chassis and steering feel compared to similar from BMW's, Audi etc. The V6 diesel is a peach.

You will not be disappointed with the XF.

I've never driven this Porsche model but understand its a very good car. BUTT its UGLY! Not subjectively UGLY just UGLY.

[akadk]

The interior of the gen 1 2015 MY Portfolio S was far superior to the current gen (technology aside)

I also found the seats nicer and the ride was more comfortable.

The gen 2 has much better tech, make sure you get the widescreen InControl Touch Pro and TFT screen for dials and you can ask the Retailer to update the Software to have the latest version to include Apple Car Play.

The gen 2 is a sharper handling car. I’ve done a couple of road trips with much faster focused cars and the XF S easily keeps up.

Certainly if you want a drivers car the XF S is the one, and get a full spec one and it’s incredible VFM at £27k for 18 months old / 10k miles.

[No ideas for a name]

akadk said:

The gen 2 has much better tech, make sure you get the widescreen InControl Touch Pro and TFT screen for dials and you can ask the Retailer to update the Software to have the latest version to include Apple Car Play.

Not driven a Panamera, but have had both Gen1 and 2 of the XF. First the SV8, then a petrol XF-S gen 2.
It has all the technology, and the InControlTouchPro - which gives the virtual instruments and the navigation screen in front of the driver.

My gen1 was the better car.
Gen 2 has a lot of tech, but I have had a lot of problems with mine.
Short version;
So far we have had;
Poor performance
Adaptive cruise slamming on the brakes with NOTHING in front.
Rear door mobile pond.
DAB radio drop out
Rear camera stuck on whilst going forwards.
Rattly V6 engine at start up.
Cracked B & C post trims.
Rusty brake discs.
Drivers seat rocking
Drivers heated seat failed
Seat crushing the driver in to the dash when it randomly 'adjusts' at startup.
Boot eating in to the bumper, to be replaced by boot not shutting when the seal was changed.
Front door switch pack fell out.
Aircon running at 38 degrees centigrade when set to 19.5
Adaptive headlights repeatedly 'flashing' the car in front.
Navigation refusing to update
SIM connection seems to have died.
Remote start not reliable
The famous stop-start mess.
Handbrake switch not always working
Taking the outside edge off the front tyres when the alignment appears to be correct.
Oh, and some of the options that show on the build sheet, not actually being fitted to the car.

If you get a good one all should be fine.
I still like the Jag though - considering swapping mine for an XJ at the moment.

[fatboy b]

dme123 said:

Panamera is an XJ competitor and as such it'll be better than an XF in every way that matters. Not least because the new XF is kind of... well.. mediocre.

The gen 2 is very mediocre. A big step down in quality. Yes it has a better screen and supposedly has better tech, but that doesn’t make a good car. The gen 1 was right in so many ways. JLR seem to have just thrown all that good away to make a more mainstream car hoping for a bigger customer base with the gen 2.

They didn’t achieve it. Instead it has less sales than the more special gen 1, and there’s a lot more poverty spec cars about due to the stupid price increases.

[Jag_NE]

akadk said:

The interior of the gen 1 2015 MY Portfolio S was far superior to the current gen (technology aside)

I also found the seats nicer and the ride was more comfortable.

The gen 2 has much better tech, make sure you get the widescreen InControl Touch Pro and TFT screen for dials and you can ask the Retailer to update the Software to have the latest version to include Apple Car Play.

The gen 2 is a sharper handling car. I’ve done a couple of road trips with much faster focused cars and the XF S easily keeps up.

Certainly if you want a drivers car the XF S is the one, and get a full spec one and it’s incredible VFM at £27k for 18 months old / 10k miles.

I just got an early 2018 530d for just over 26k. It’s better in every way than my 2016 XF though it’s a close call on the handling. XF interior is pretty crap, the 5er feels like a generation ahead. I had a mk1 XF for a brief period and I would concur with the others in that it’s a nicer car than the mk2.

[TheAlastair34]

why not look at the XJ that a rival to the Panamera?

Ive been looking at both of those, i like the Porsche but prefer the looks of the Jag to be fair although i suspect the Porsche will be a better drivers car

[anonymous-user]

fatboy b said:

The gen 2 is very mediocre. A big step down in quality. Yes it has a better screen and supposedly has better tech, but that doesn’t make a good car. The gen 1 was right in so many ways. JLR seem to have just thrown all that good away to make a more mainstream car hoping for a bigger customer base with the gen 2.

They didn’t achieve it. Instead it has less sales than the more special gen 1, and there’s a lot more poverty spec cars about due to the stupid price increases.

The original XF was a much more convincing "premium" car at launch; it looked great and unique inside and out, and all the engines were smooth and refined. They watered it down with that truly awful four cylinder diesel when they started chasing volume and carried steadfastly down that path with the new one. It doesn't seem to have worked, sales are weak and what few you do see are poverty spec so not much margin in them.

[fatboy b]

TheAlastair34 said:

i suspect the Porsche will be a better drivers car

Don’t be too sure about that.