RE: Chris Harris video: Panamera Diesel

RE: Chris Harris video: Panamera Diesel

Thursday 13th September 2012

Chris Harris video: Panamera Diesel

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.

 

 

Enjoy the vid.



Author
Discussion

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,176 posts

179 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
I like the idea of these, but not sure diesel is the way especially when they do a nice 4.8 V8.

E38Ross

34,941 posts

211 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
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.

Ross.


cvega

402 posts

158 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
haha, love the GT2 RS diesel mix smile

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,176 posts

179 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
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.

gaz1234

5,233 posts

218 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
tractor gt, hmm..

Tonberry

2,078 posts

191 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
Love it.

If you're doing big miles it makes sense. Why pay a premium to be stuck in UK motorway traffic with the rest of the numpties.

Contigo

3,113 posts

208 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
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.



J4CKO

41,279 posts

199 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
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 !

zeduffman

4,054 posts

150 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
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.

leon9191

752 posts

192 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
Bit odd get last weeks mx5 vid when i click the link, just me?

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,176 posts

179 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
leon9191 said:
Bit odd get last weeks mx5 vid when i click the link, just me?
Click on the play sign on the video front & yes the link is for the mx5! smile

kbird

1,036 posts

206 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
Looks more fun than a 599!

JohneeBoy

503 posts

174 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
Contigo said:
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.

JayTee94

10,974 posts

156 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
leon9191 said:
Bit odd get last weeks mx5 vid when i click the link, just me?
Nope, me aswell.

Ray Singh

3,045 posts

229 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
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.




Johnboy Mac

2,666 posts

177 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
contango said:
Sorry Chris, struggled with that one....Drifting 2 tonnes of diesel Porsche saloon with an Audi engine!

Of course you like it, they have lent it to you for months and they let you drive their race cars.

To think you once waxed lyrically over your sublime kermit Porsche project...where did it all go wrong? smile
+1



snorkel sucker

2,662 posts

202 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
I seem to recall Richard Meaden stating one of these would be in his two Porsche garage in a Porsche magazine he writes for. I would agree.

At that price point, it offers the owner a car that will handle well, seat the family and not need refuelling every other commute.

Given the weight of the car, I think 0-60 in 6.5 and 100 in 15 is mighty impressive.


LayZ

1,619 posts

241 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
I think Porsche lending you this car might have just sold a few, so job done.

I'm not a fan in silver, but in dark blue it looks proper menacing.

JS100

221 posts

156 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
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!

Johnboy Mac

2,666 posts

177 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
quotequote all
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.


Maybe, the above is harsh & incorrect but...