Just found one of the limits to the Panamera...
Discussion
As a mile muncher the car is superb; lots of poke, superb handling and all in all it's a well balanced piece of kit.
However, I've popped out to get dinner in it tonight and with about 1" of snow on the ground there's a chink in it's armour. The car is running on winter tyres on small rims; on the flat it was very good; on slight inclines it still behaved itself if you have the momentum before you start. Now the thing is, I live at the top of a hill...yes you guessed it...no can do! So the longer flatter trip home was the only option.
Now I know this car is RWD and front engined but with the winter tyres on I expected a little better. My advice to others who have these; don't spend the £k's on winter tyres & alloys....buy a cheap Nissan Micra....cos the one in front of me got up the hill without any hesitation!
I knew I should have taken the X3 LOL!
However, I've popped out to get dinner in it tonight and with about 1" of snow on the ground there's a chink in it's armour. The car is running on winter tyres on small rims; on the flat it was very good; on slight inclines it still behaved itself if you have the momentum before you start. Now the thing is, I live at the top of a hill...yes you guessed it...no can do! So the longer flatter trip home was the only option.
Now I know this car is RWD and front engined but with the winter tyres on I expected a little better. My advice to others who have these; don't spend the £k's on winter tyres & alloys....buy a cheap Nissan Micra....cos the one in front of me got up the hill without any hesitation!
I knew I should have taken the X3 LOL!
dasherdiablo1 said:
As a mile muncher the car is superb; lots of poke, superb handling and all in all it's a well balanced piece of kit.
However, I've popped out to get dinner in it tonight and with about 1" of snow on the ground there's a chink in it's armour. The car is running on winter tyres on small rims; on the flat it was very good; on slight inclines it still behaved itself if you have the momentum before you start. Now the thing is, I live at the top of a hill...yes you guessed it...no can do! So the longer flatter trip home was the only option.
Now I know this car is RWD and front engined but with the winter tyres on I expected a little better. My advice to others who have these; don't spend the £k's on winter tyres & alloys....buy a cheap Nissan Micra....cos the one in front of me got up the hill without any hesitation!
I knew I should have taken the X3 LOL!
Very surprised by that - which winter tyres are you on?However, I've popped out to get dinner in it tonight and with about 1" of snow on the ground there's a chink in it's armour. The car is running on winter tyres on small rims; on the flat it was very good; on slight inclines it still behaved itself if you have the momentum before you start. Now the thing is, I live at the top of a hill...yes you guessed it...no can do! So the longer flatter trip home was the only option.
Now I know this car is RWD and front engined but with the winter tyres on I expected a little better. My advice to others who have these; don't spend the £k's on winter tyres & alloys....buy a cheap Nissan Micra....cos the one in front of me got up the hill without any hesitation!
I knew I should have taken the X3 LOL!
I assume they are full snowflake marked and not just M+S.
The 2WD Panamera is quite lively at the back end. You feel the electronics stepping in on a fairly regular basis due to quite a lot of power (in the S) being put through the wheels. Add a bit of lateral force through cornering, a lack of downforce because there's no engine in the back and bingo.
The 4WD version has grip but can feel a bit like a coiled spring on the diffs if you have a sensitive touch and are of a sympathetic disposition. The 2WD cars feel more relaxed and natural.
As for snow, welcome to the world of supercars and their big fat tyres. When you say you're running skinny rims I assume you mean a couple of thou narrower than the 18 inches that come as standard - ok, I exaggerate but you get my point.
As has already been said the actual tyres will make a big difference, last winter I spent a day dragging people up the small hill by us in my Dodge Ram. Under normal conditions its crap, but M&S tyres - no, not from their taste the difference range you muppet, Mud & Snow, made all the difference. They found grip where others failed.
As ever, keep smiling
Henry
The 4WD version has grip but can feel a bit like a coiled spring on the diffs if you have a sensitive touch and are of a sympathetic disposition. The 2WD cars feel more relaxed and natural.
As for snow, welcome to the world of supercars and their big fat tyres. When you say you're running skinny rims I assume you mean a couple of thou narrower than the 18 inches that come as standard - ok, I exaggerate but you get my point.
As has already been said the actual tyres will make a big difference, last winter I spent a day dragging people up the small hill by us in my Dodge Ram. Under normal conditions its crap, but M&S tyres - no, not from their taste the difference range you muppet, Mud & Snow, made all the difference. They found grip where others failed.
As ever, keep smiling
Henry
I was driving a Cayenne Turbo last night through snow and on its 20" half worn summer tyres it was diabolical. My A6 on winter tyres was completely different, no surprise I suppose. I'd agree with Henry the Dodge Ram I had the last few years was great in the snow, but you still have to be aware of the sheer weight of it when braking.
I was about to take the 993 out to see how well that goes in these conditions (on winters) and maybe take a few photos, but I've just got home to find I have no water, which is more of a pressing concern first.
I was about to take the 993 out to see how well that goes in these conditions (on winters) and maybe take a few photos, but I've just got home to find I have no water, which is more of a pressing concern first.
thegoose said:
I was driving a Cayenne Turbo last night through snow and on its 20" half worn summer tyres it was diabolical.
There's a steep hill to get out of my road.
Could not get up at any price (despite numerous attempts)
1) Porsche Cayenne
2) The Audi 4wd that's smaller than Q7
3) Any BMW except X5
Sailed up, no problem:
1) Nissan Micra diesel
2) Any Landy
3) My Golf R32
thegoose said:
I was about to take the 993 out to see how well that goes in these conditions (on winters) and maybe take a few photos, but I've just got home to find I have no water, which is more of a pressing concern first.
No water! Isn't that the appeal of a 993! Couldn't resist the 993 no water gag!Good luck Goose getting the services back though.
RobIpswichUK said:
thegoose said:
I was about to take the 993 out to see how well that goes in these conditions (on winters) and maybe take a few photos, but I've just got home to find I have no water, which is more of a pressing concern first.
No water! Isn't that the appeal of a 993! Couldn't resist the 993 no water gag!Good luck Goose getting the services back though.
It turns out there's no water in the whole of Knutsford or Macclesfield so nothing I can do about it and not worth worrying about.
Hence, I was able to get the car out and take these pictures. I've uploaded a small gallery with different camera settings and showing the owner's Cayenne and the landlord's Jaaag in the background. I think one or two will make it on to the pub's website (free beer for anyone who emails a pic of their car outside): www.thebullsheadpub.co.uk
The gallery of pics of at www.autoperform.co.uk
%20Bulls%20Head%205th%20Feb%202012/slides/tn_DSC00385.JPG)
%20Bulls%20Head%205th%20Feb%202012/slides/tn_DSC00400.JPG)
%20Bulls%20Head%205th%20Feb%202012/slides/tn_DSC00411.JPG)
%20Bulls%20Head%205th%20Feb%202012/slides/tn_DSC00463.JPG)
monthefish said:
OP - what are the tyres?
Sorry for the slow response... I've been out enjoying the slow with my new sled LOL.The tyres are Nokian WR. It turns out they are not winter tyres but All Season tyres. As Henry has said they are still wide...275 on rear and 245 on front but on small rims (18's) which look tiny on the car!
I forgot to mention I've not bought the car but have it on loan. It's the diesel with tiptronic. Having had a chat with the OPC today it turns out that there will not be an option to get it in PDK or 4WD; the reason I have been told is that they won't work together. Now I'm guessing this means the diesel engine uses up a much larger space than the petrol which prevents the PDK clutch and gearbox assembly or the front diff box fitting?
Now this is a shame as the diesel engine is a beauty; without doubt the best diesel engine I have ever driven. You would never know it is fueled by derv; it runs so smooth and quietly whether ticking over or under acceleration. As expected the mpg is very good too!
But the PDK is such a good box and I don't know if I can live with the Tiptronic...but the diesel is so much better that the V6....
I also own the World's Worst Car In The Snow - a BMW 330i Touring. But with Nankang snow tyres fitted and traction control Off, it plodded past various exotic 4 x 4's today, stuck up hills and down hills and a Range Rover Sport in a ditch. They were £45 per corner and now on their 3rd year. I certainly couldn't pull anyone out or tow anything though. It only just manages to get up hills but it was the first car through Ashdown Forest this morning and there are some quite steep bits there. You won't get anywhere in a rwd car with wide tyres if they're not M&S. Eees no possible.
Edited by 993kimbo on Sunday 5th February 19:30
Wozy68 said:
thegoose said:
It's RWD, correctly called just a Carrera but often referred to as a Carrera 2 or C2.
Ok C2, thanks for that. 17 Cup 2s, running either M030 or lowered? She has a lovely stance.Or is she standard ride height?
When I got the car I had it checked over by Unit 11, a few things were noted (but far fewer than most 993s they inspect) and after using it a little over a couple of months (to see if there was anything I wanted to add to the list) I booked it in in November for:
Superflex poly bushes to front wishbones (old ones had started to separate/perish)
New HT leads (bloody dear job on a varioram!)
Cat bypass pipes (and associated bits)
Minor service
Genuine Porsche alternator belts (the old Continental ones were good condition but slightly off-size which can strain the alternator)
Oil pressure switch
Gear selector shaft seal
Most importantly Danny set the ride heights and did all the geometry - I don't know to what specific settings but I asked for a fast road set up. I took it round Oulton for a few laps a week later and even on its Continental (i.e. rubbish for track) tyres it went very well, but this shouldn't have been a surprise as he really knows how to set them up. If I wanted to do track days in it all I'd change is the pads and tyres. When I first got it I had it up to 160 leptons on a motorway and it felt vague to say the least
. I've since managed 145 leptons (only done 300 miles or so since November) but with no drama at all, it felt a lot more stable. A good car to begin with but a whole lot better for spending £1500 on it.OP, apologies for the thread hijack! I have to say that the 911 on winter tyres (but standard sizes i.e. wide rears) goes ok but nowhere near as well as my A6 quattro on them (drove the same roads in both today) so I imagine with proper winter tyres the Panamera should be OK if driven sensibly.
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff