Panamera GTS/Turbo - Sanity check

[simong800]

Hi all,

Hoping for some advice from those with experience of the 2014-2016 facelift Pan GTS and Turbo.

I am looking to get out of a Range Rover sport having got sick of the trip to the service department every 6 weeks. As someone said succinctly in another thread, life is too short to own a Range Rover.

Having enjoyed the Porsche ownership experience with a Panamera 3.0 diesel and 991 Turbo previously my initial default thinking was get into a Cayenne (I've grown to like the size, comfort and refinement of a 4 x 4 over the sports car experience). Looking at 16/66 Diesel S with the nice sounding and quick enough 4.2, and there are some nice heavily specced options available on the market at present.

However during my searching it's come to my attention that for about the same money (let's say £50k - £55k plus a bit of man maths) I can get a nicely specced Pan GTS or Turbo (14 or 15 plate). Which kind of offers the best of both worlds!

The issue is the Panamera options are outside of the OPC network and of the age where the manufacturer warranty has expired.

My question is, would it be mental to run one of these without a Porsche warranty? i.e. after my experience I wouldn't recommend anyone gets a Range Rover without warranty, no idea what I'd have spent if I didn't have one. Am I likely to run into big bills, any known issues on these that creep up after a certain age/mileage is reached?

Many thanks in advance.

[Till135]

Hi there. You would not be mad at all. Man maths not needed. My Pan GTS 65 plate with full Porsche warranty is on Autotrader for that money. Total security. Awesome car with great spec. One start up of the 4.8 V8 with its sports exhaust will have you hooked. Easy to get great finance rates through Oracle or similar.
You only live once!

[GT4RS]

I have only owned 3 Porsche’s, all have been new and one car was kept for 4 years, I extended the warranty on this car. All cars had warranty claims, mostly small. The most expensive claim was gear lever cables around 4 years old. The bill for this work was around £1k, the warranty was similar money for the year.

I personally wouldn’t own a Porsche without a Porsche warranty, cost can add up quickly and in my opinion a Porsche warranty is not really that expensive compared to other makes.

A number of my friends own range rovers, one has had nothing but problems with his new one. He’s at the point of driving it with faults because he’s fed up of going back to the dealership.

[red997]

I've had 2 Panamera
4S & Turbo

The 4S had an issue with one of the from PASM dampers - knocked over speed bumps, but was replaced by OPC (warranty)

Turbo was faultless
only needed tyres

You could always have a warranty put on the car, either third party or OPC?
(agreed, the OPC route isn't the cheapest...)

[Mosdef]

Having had a GTS and now a Turbo S, I'd only run one with a Porsche warranty and as Till has said above, you could have his and get the remaining warranty transferred.

I tend to think the facelift cars don't have the suspension gremlins of the earlier model but it seems that sooner or later, all Panameras need the A/C condenser replacing, which is hard to get to and I understand costs around £1,500 out of warranty.

[EGTE]

I monitored all the forums (still do) before buying my Panamera Turbo. In 6 months, hardly anything went wrong anywhere.

I run mine outside warranty very happily and consequently save a fortune on non-OEM brakes, etc. If the AC compressor fails, I will get a non-OEM one of those, too.

Car has been absolutely faultless and I've saved £5K on warranty/OEM-priced parts so far.

Do it; they are WAY better to drive than the Cayenne or Macan, plus far rarer.

Pannys are lower than both the SUVs (by about 25cm!), only 1 cm wider than a Macan and longer than both, so more practical as well as better-handling.

[qwick69]

I have a 2018 Panamera Turbo. Best car I have ever head (Previous had an RS6, BMW750i, Merc E63). I also have a 2018 Range Rover Sport Autobiography. This replaced another RR that I rejected after 6 months due to being in the garage 2 of those 6 month. That RR replaced a Discovery that was rejected after 2 months due to every thing that could go wrong, did go wrong.
The current RR sport is in the garage every 6-8 weeks due to little faults, add blue top up as it uses a full tank every 3k miles.When the RR was in to the dealer last time, I arranged a demo of a Cayenne. Loved it.
Trouble is,dealer currently cant give me a date on a new Turbo, so I cant order one :-(

[Mosdef]

Just to add, my 2012 GTS was in the workshop for a cumulative total of around 10 weeks during my 2 year ownership, mostly with suspension issues (I had all the bushes replaced under warranty as well as numerous track rod ends, arms etc) but also electrical gremlins (car not starting on occasion, A/C condenser) and the odd gearbox problem. I reckon my warranty claims must have been over £8k given one bill I saw was for £5k+.

I ran mine for 2 years and 20k miles and it was fine for the first year after purchase from my local OPC...

I realise you are talking about post facelift cars, which I think have fewer niggles but thinking back, not only has my 2015 Turbo S had a new A/C condenser (part not expensive but most of the front apparently has to come off to access it) earlier this year it had to have a new PDCC unit as well.

I can't remember what the 2 year warranty cost is exactly but think it's somewhere in the region of £2.5k and when mine runs out, I would be minded to renew it, just in case the car develops some similar problems to the ones that developed on my last car. I suspect £2.5k over 2 years might not be bad value given I have never had any Porsche warranty claim rejected and know that any parts fitted to my car, have another 2 year warranty.

[simong800]

Thanks chaps, for the insight and anecdotal evidence. The Porsche forums are always full of helpful advice...

So a bit of a split opinion but the majority have tended to make me agree with my gut feeling that running one of these out of warranty "could" get expensive. Suppose there are always exceptions (someone replied in my Range Rover thread saying he'd had one that was trouble free ). I think I'd feel more comfortable knowing it's in warranty.

Thanks for reference to the GTS on Autotrader that looks like a steal. I'd be after a very specific spec if I went GTS - I actually like the Turbo look so would want the full leather interior, turbo alloys etc. There's actually one of that spec for sale but out of manufacturers warranty (one of the few cars that prompted the thread).

It seems looking at the market today my options are;

1. GTS out of warranty and get an after market warranty or pay for a checkup and warranty from Porsche.
2. Turbo from approved used Porsche, but the ones in price range are the wrong colour or wrong spec (no sports exhaust )
3. Get a really highly specced and much newer Cayenne Diesel S for about the same money

The tricky one is I don't know what timescale I am working to as my car is on SOR so no idea when it'll sell! But when it does I will need to move quickly....

Lots of thinking to do about it on the weekend, it's a nice problem to have I suppose.

Cheers!

[Phooey]

Cayenne V8d is stonking for a 2+tonne diesel SUV but pre ad-blue (late 2016?) is the better sounding engine. Ad-blue versions sound a bit muffled.

[simong800]

Phooey said:

Cayenne V8d is stonking for a 2+tonne diesel SUV but pre ad-blue (late 2016?) is the better sounding engine. Ad-blue versions sound a bit muffled.

Good intel, I had no idea this was a thing. Thank you.

[Phooey]

si800 said:

Good intel, I had no idea this was a thing. Thank you.

Pleasure. pre ad-blue sounds fantastic. Post ad-blue sounds ok, but not great. Bit of a kafuffle aswell pissing around with ad-blue - I think some users were only getting little milage out of it before refilling too.

[5to1]

si800 said:

Thanks chaps, for the insight and anecdotal evidence. The Porsche forums are always full of helpful advice...

So a bit of a split opinion but the majority have tended to make me agree with my gut feeling that running one of these out of warranty "could" get expensive. Suppose there are always exceptions (someone replied in my Range Rover thread saying he'd had one that was trouble free ). I think I'd feel more comfortable knowing it's in warranty.

Thanks for reference to the GTS on Autotrader that looks like a steal. I'd be after a very specific spec if I went GTS - I actually like the Turbo look so would want the full leather interior, turbo alloys etc. There's actually one of that spec for sale but out of manufacturers warranty (one of the few cars that prompted the thread).

It seems looking at the market today my options are;

1. GTS out of warranty and get an after market warranty or pay for a checkup and warranty from Porsche.
2. Turbo from approved used Porsche, but the ones in price range are the wrong colour or wrong spec (no sports exhaust )
3. Get a really highly specced and much newer Cayenne Diesel S for about the same money

The tricky one is I don't know what timescale I am working to as my car is on SOR so no idea when it'll sell! But when it does I will need to move quickly....

Lots of thinking to do about it on the weekend, it's a nice problem to have I suppose.

Cheers!

We've had our Cayenne for almost 3 months now. It really is a fantastic drive and feels very well put together. The Mrs loves the higher driving position and finds it easier to drive then our previous car (BMW 6 GC) despite it being bigger. And I still get to fling it around after dropping the kid off to school I think the RR interior is more luxurious, but the Cayenne offers a far far more engaging and fun drive.

We've just had our second child and the first is only 3, hence the foray into SUV land. Easy to get the kids and associated paraphernalia in and out of the Cayenne. But, if I didn't need the practicality, I'd take the Panny or equivalent all day long

[EGTE]

Wouldn't a new, high-spec Cayenne Diesel lose a lot more in depreciation, than an older Panamera ever could in repairs?

Let's not forget that the Panamera is a much better-handling car than the Cayenne, too.

p.s. Sports exhaust on a Pan.Turbo really doesn't do much.

[h0b0]

Till135 said:

One start up of the 4.8 V8 with its sports exhaust will have you hooked.

I was sat outside a bar in Chamonix last year and someone started up a Pan GTS. The noise rumbled around the streets and off the mountains. Sounded incredible.

I have a Cayenne GTS and only get chance to enjoy the sound on the streets in, and around, NYC. The noise is addictive.

[simong800]

EGTE said:

Wouldn't a new, high-spec Cayenne Diesel lose a lot more in depreciation, than an older Panamera ever could in repairs?

Let's not forget that the Panamera is a much better-handling car than the Cayenne, too.

p.s. Sports exhaust on a Pan.Turbo really doesn't do much.

The Panamera is depreciating too though....

The balloon payment on a 4 year PCP for a £54k 66 plate Cayenne is £21k

Over the same term on a £54k 15 plate Panamera GTS it's also £21k

So sadly I can't use man maths to justify it

[Mosdef]

OP, I have a Dec 14 Turbo S which I will probably look to move on later this year. It's got 50k miles on it but is in excellent condition with Porsche warranty until Dec 2019.

The spec is great and the only things it doesn't have are massage seats, lane assist and rear wiper. Otherwise, it has 18 way ventilated and heated seats up front, 4 zone a/c with heated rear seats blinds in the back, Burmester, PCCBs (standard), tvs in the back, chauffeur package with 8 way memory rear seats, full carbon pack with illuminated door sills, soft close doors, even a leather trimmed rear view mirror etc etc. It's black with black wheels and black interior.

The mileage might be too high for you but if this could be of interest later this year, please drop me a PM.

Edited to add, it has the sports exhaust system, which makes a big difference on the Turbo S...never tried it on the turbo but on the 'S' it really roars.

[aeropilot]

si800 said:

EGTE said:

Wouldn't a new, high-spec Cayenne Diesel lose a lot more in depreciation, than an older Panamera ever could in repairs?

Let's not forget that the Panamera is a much better-handling car than the Cayenne, too.

p.s. Sports exhaust on a Pan.Turbo really doesn't do much.

The Panamera is depreciating too though....

The balloon payment on a 4 year PCP for a £54k 66 plate Cayenne is £21k

Over the same term on a £54k 15 plate Panamera GTS it's also £21k

So sadly I can't use man maths to justify it

Man maths......how about, add the fact that there is currently no new Cayenne diesel on the horizon, well not for another 18 months probably, and Porsche have said it definitely won't be a V8 diesel if they do........plus some indications that in many ways last of old shape Cayenne maybe the sweet spot for the Cayenne, a last of the line diesel S, maybe quite a good buy at the moment.

[5to1]

aeropilot said:

si800 said:

EGTE said:

Wouldn't a new, high-spec Cayenne Diesel lose a lot more in depreciation, than an older Panamera ever could in repairs?

Let's not forget that the Panamera is a much better-handling car than the Cayenne, too.

p.s. Sports exhaust on a Pan.Turbo really doesn't do much.

The Panamera is depreciating too though....

The balloon payment on a 4 year PCP for a £54k 66 plate Cayenne is £21k

Over the same term on a £54k 15 plate Panamera GTS it's also £21k

So sadly I can't use man maths to justify it

Man maths......how about, add the fact that there is currently no new Cayenne diesel on the horizon, well not for another 18 months probably, and Porsche have said it definitely won't be a V8 diesel if they do........plus some indications that in many ways last of old shape Cayenne maybe the sweet spot for the Cayenne, a last of the line diesel S, maybe quite a good buy at the moment.

Normally this would be a very good time to buy the previous model. But the factory shutdown due to WTLP/etc means there is a bit of a lag. Personally if I were going to buy the previous gen I'd wait until next year when supply of the new one is in full flow. And as a result the previous one will have taken the customary hit due to the emperors new clothes syndrome (which I clearly suffer from having bought the new one ).

[simong800]

Mosdef said:

OP, I have a Dec 14 Turbo S which I will probably look to move on later this year. It's got 50k miles on it but is in excellent condition with Porsche warranty until Dec 2019.

The spec is great and the only things it doesn't have are massage seats, lane assist and rear wiper. Otherwise, it has 18 way ventilated and heated seats up front, 4 zone a/c with heated rear seats blinds in the back, Burmester, PCCBs (standard), tvs in the back, chauffeur package with 8 way memory rear seats, full carbon pack with illuminated door sills, soft close doors, even a leather trimmed rear view mirror etc etc. It's black with black wheels and black interior.

The mileage might be too high for you but if this could be of interest later this year, please drop me a PM.

Edited to add, it has the sports exhaust system, which makes a big difference on the Turbo S...never tried it on the turbo but on the 'S' it really roars.

Sounds like a superb car and perfect spec! Not quite the right timing and slightly higher mileage than I'd like, but I am sure it'll sell in no time. Will keep my eye on this thread if I am still in the market later in the year, thank you