Why did the Panamera Sport Turismo die?

[RDMcG]

Of course I am aware of the normal Panamera dislike...ugly etc.

Full disclosure- I have a Panamera ST Turbo that I bought new.

I was always surprised that they did not outsell the saloon though as I thought they looked a lot better. Of course, SUVs are the market now, high stance, easy to enter and exit, theoretically good for impossible trails etc, but I was surprised it did not do better.

Still, I was surprised how rarely I came across one and issue that there will be fewer to see. Bought one new and specced it exactly the way I wanted.Still a single generation Porsche product. I will hang onto mine.

[RDMcG]

I think you have nailed it.
Also a Cayenne and ST owner and I agree with your remarks on the difference between the two. I knew when I ordered it that it was a minority taste. It was even less popular than I expected but the. market for any kind of station wagon is shrinking as the SUV market dominates.

I did not think it is a slow ponderous car as some have remarked here. However, obviously not a popular choice but no regrets about buying it and will hang onto it.

[RDMcG]

No doubt it was too expensive for the market. When I ordered mine I got the Turbo and did a pretty heavy spec. Not cheap at all, and I was well aware it would likely depreciate like crazy.

Yet, I wanted a big long distance car for whacking around Europe and the US and it filled the bill well. I would respectively disagree with those who think it is slow and ponderous though.

I did put on torque vectoring etc in the build, and acceleration at 3.6sec to 60 seems adequate. I also drove it at 180 MPH on the autobahn and it was rock solid during a 5000 km tour.

I even tracked it- not of course like a proper sports car, but was surprised how well it did apart from almost wearing out the brakes. I will keep it and just drive the thing. I am about to drive from Toronto to Scottsdale Arizona and it is an ideal choice, proper winter tires and will do it effortlessly.

Coming up from Eau Rouge:

[RDMcG]

Discombobulate said:

Charlie_1 said:

Well the fact you actually want a Taycan says a great deal about your taste , Panamera everyday

That's it different to yours I can live with that.
And I have driven both. Neither is a sports car, obviously, but I much prefer the Taycan as a daily lugger. Quiet, refined and very fast. And, to my eyes, better looking. But good thing we are not all the same.

I certainly agree that the Tacan is a better-looking car and it is indeed quick and quiet. My bias is for a V8 personally but understand your preference.

[RDMcG]

Milemuncher said:

Just shows how different we all are. I think the Taycan is hideous but quite like the Panamera ST. And as others have said I definitely didn’t find it slow and heavy - if anything I thought the pace and handling was physics-defying for such a big car.

But each to their own!

Of course I agree with you. However , there is a bit of variation on engine choice. I chose the Turbo at 550BHP though there was a Hybrid with 680bhp as well as some smaller engines too. For me personally the Turbo was enough and have no idea why it would have seemed slow and heavy.

Not meant to be a sports car or an off-roader though I have tracked it at Spa and the NS where it was not as nimble as my GT cars but surprised me how well it handled. Would have been better with ceramics I expect. Hit over 300km/h on the autobahn.

Have driven plenty of desert trails and again it is no Jeep but good as most road-oriented SUVs. It is much lower than a Cayenne or the like so OH much prefers the Cayenne for sitting up higher, a very common reason why people buy SUVs apparently.

Clearly those who did not fancy it vastly outnumbered those who did, so the market has spoken. Fair enough.

[RDMcG]

dimots said:

I was initially convinced I would be buying a new Panamera Sport Turismo as soon as they became available, but once I actually saw it at the dealership it was a no from me. Good looking, nice interior, but huge and the deal-breaker...a tiny impractical boot.

I had imagined a useful four seat tourer with estate levels of space. It's not that at all. It's a reverse tardis with a very cramped rear and token estate styling. I was pretty disappointed.

A few years later and they did the same thing with the Taycan. I don't get it, there's barely any functional upgrade over the saloon.

EDIT: Reading through comments I see someone else mentioned the 'inverse tardis'. Can't agree more, it is a genuine head scratcher when you go from the outside to the inside, like...how have they done this?

Edited by dimots on Thursday 7th December 15:12

Absolutely the weak point which is why I also have a Cayenne. It is fine for a weekend for two, but not really a family hauler.
Before I bought it I actually asked my dealer of the height of the rear deck as I was not sure my Great Dane would find.
I suppose I should have bought a Dachshund. Still fun to drive.