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.

---

[cerb4.5lee]

I like the idea of these, but not sure diesel is the way especially when they do a nice 4.8 V8.

[cerb4.5lee]

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.

[cerb4.5lee]

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!

[cerb4.5lee]

Cobnapint said:

Can we get rid of this ridiculous myth that everybody who buys a diesel must only be doing so to get better mpg!?

Quite ridiculous.

They do so because sometimes, in certain vehicles, in certain circumstances, they drive (thanks to the torque) quite a bit better than petrol cars do. On top of that variable, you also get something called 'personal choice' thrown into the mix.

Alot of the time, mpg has fk all to do with it.

My mrs can relate to this totally she swapped her E90 330d for a Audi TT-S & she misses the torque of the beemer loads, the audi is so laggy, fine once its going, dont get me wrong the beemer had a hint of lag but nothing compared to the TT, the beemer was an auto & audi S- tronic.

The audi is alot quicker on paper but the beemer had nice usable power & she feels short changed in the audi so its an interesting diesel vs petrol situation.

[cerb4.5lee]

Spoof said:

Seriously, anything that won't do 100 in under 10 isn't quick?

I also agree with Dave aswell, 10 secs to 100 is the same benchmark i use & i think he is right, my old Cerb is supposed to do 0 to 100 in less than 10 secs & my new Z4 M does it between 11 & 12 secs to 100 & believe me i think the Z4 is reletively slow in a straight line, fine in the bends its just lacks ultimate power on the straights especially compared to the Cerb.

For me you can never have too much power, for most people 15 secs to 100 is quick, for me it isnt.

[cerb4.5lee]

tyrewrecker said:

cerb4.5lee said:

my new Z4 M does it between 11 & 12 secs to 100 & believe me i think the Z4 is reletively slow in a straight line

Glad i made you laugh! they are quite porky for a sports car though, i am glad they do a remap & delimit for it though that might help a bit!!... compared to my 520d it feels nippy...

[cerb4.5lee]

vinnie83 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I also agree with Dave aswell, 10 secs to 100 is the same benchmark i use & i think he is right, my old Cerb is supposed to do 0 to 100 in less than 10 secs & my new Z4 M does it between 11 & 12 secs to 100 & believe me i think the Z4 is reletively slow in a straight line, fine in the bends its just lacks ultimate power on the straights especially compared to the Cerb.

For me you can never have too much power, for most people 15 secs to 100 is quick, for me it isnt.

Maybe that is down to the power delivery?

The Cerb is a big engined and light car, whereas the M is a revvy and peaky engine.

I think the power delivery can have a huge effect on the way a car feels - my old E55 AMG had brutal power delivery - and to me my 997 turbo feels slightly slower, which it clearly isn't.

I agree, not much low down pull compared to the cerb but when you really chase the redline the zed does get up & go nicely, there is a massive power to weight difference with the two cars & you cant hide that, side by side the Cerb would batter the zed.

Its one hell of an engine in the Z4 though i dont think i will ever get bored of wringing it out, i love it!

[cerb4.5lee]

vinnie83 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Glad i made you laugh! they are quite porky for a sports car though, i am glad they do a remap & delimit for it though that might help a bit!!... compared to my 520d it feels nippy...

I doubt it... it's a very highly tuned N/A engine, so a remap won't offer much increase.

I had a remap, de-cat supersprint exhaust, induction kit with pipes from ducts where the fog lights were on my 3.0 M3, and whilst it probably made a difference on the rolling road, or VS another M3, it didn't really feel any faster.

I thought DMS did a chip for 370bhp so not a bad increase, but as you say turbos are the way forward when it comes to tuning, lovely 911 by the way Vinnie i bet that shifts nicely!! & puts a big smile on your face!