Friday 18th September 2009

Big Guns For Hire: Panamera Hits Rental Market

Cancel the diesel Passat dear, we’re renting a Porsche!

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As of 1st October, the dreadfully dull world of plastic wheel trims and poverty-spec models that is car rental will be livened up considerably when a platoon of Porsche Panameras arrives on hire firm Avis’s German fleet.

The Porsche Panamera S and 4S are available from 189 euros (£170) per day during the week, while a weekend sojourn to Bavaria will set you back at least 567 euros (£510).

Avis says that “the use of efficient V8 motors with direct injection, an intelligent, light construction, the start-stop system, optimal aerodynamics, the innovative Porsche PDK dual clutch transmission and additional measures have lead to an ideally low consumption of fuel.”

We’re not sure that a 400bhp 4.8-litre V8 car that weighs almost two tons could really be described as efficient or light, but the PDK-equipped Panam can at least manage a respectable 26.8mpg on the combined cycle.

Mind you, after having borrowed one to help whisk the PH team to the Frankfurt show (which you’ll be able to read all about on PH soon), we can safely say that fuel economy was more or less the last thing on our minds.

If you’re planning a trip to Germany soon - for business or pleasure – there could be few finer ways to travel.

[Not Ideal]

Awesome..!!

Better than a boggo 1 series diesel.

[dandarez]

One of these passed me as I left Silverstone last Sunday heading towards the M40.

I caught him up (took a while ).
First time I had seen one on the road - it's bloody huge!

Made my MINI (210bhp) JCW look like an Austin 7 Mini.

Too big. Don't like big cars.

Edited by dandarez on Friday 18th September 12:53

[Garlick]

I'm taking a Panam to this Sundays PH meet at Silverstone Lotus if anyone fancies a good look around one

[RB Will]

Where is the nearest place to the Ring to get one.

[LuS1fer]

You can tell a car isn't selling when they foist it on rental companies..yes? No?

[r1ch]

Quality rental car! I really like the panamera *ducks*

[oagent]

Sounds like someone in the Porsche marketing department has been reading the story of the Hertz Mustang. They dont plan to paint the ugly porker black and gold do they?

[Matt UK]

LuS1fer said:

You can tell a car isn't selling when they foist it on rental companies..yes? No?

My thoughts exactly. The order book is not full, is it.

[soxboy]

Haven't Avis in Germany been renting out Porsches for years? I recall it was under their 'fun cars' category and had Boxster, 911 and Cayenne. This also included 4x4s, S-class, Audi TTs etc.

http://www.avis.de/FahrzeugeundServices/Fahrzeuge/...

I looked at hiring one when I was at a wedding a few years ago from Stuttgart airport. In the end bottled it and ended up with a Golf Plus TDi, still fun round the 'Ring!

Edited by soxboy on Friday 18th September 14:02

[nav p]

Garlick said:

I'm taking a Panam to this Sundays PH meet at Silverstone Lotus if anyone fancies a good look around one

Boasting again...

[Blukoo]

I was invited to the unveiling of the Panamera at the local Porsche dealership last week, so I went along and had a look and I was pleasantly surprised.

Its so much nicer in the flesh than it is in the pics.

[LuS1fer]

Blukoo said:

Its so much nicer in the flesh than it is in the pics.

I've lost count of all the times I've read this sort of observation, most recently with the Nissan GTR. I can safely say it has never....ever... been true.

[sosidge]

Sales must be bad if they are doing deals with the mainstream rental firms already...

[bazking69]

Not a bad price, but shame about the car...

[lgomgf]

RB Will said:

Where is the nearest place to the Ring to get one.

here you are...

http://www.avis.de/assets/pdf/DE_Stationsliste_Pre...

bugger.. I just booked yesterday a bemer in Dusseldorf for my next trip to Germany... prepaid to be cheaper... cant cancell...

[Blukoo]

LuS1fer said:

Blukoo said:

Its so much nicer in the flesh than it is in the pics.

I've lost count of all the times I've read this sort of observation, most recently with the Nissan GTR. I can safely say it has never....ever... been true.

I thought the same about the GTR and the new Focus RS, and both were true in my eyes.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder though.

[rm163603]

RB Will said:

Where is the nearest place to the Ring to get one.

You read my mind!

[LuS1fer]

Blukoo said:

LuS1fer said:

Blukoo said:

Its so much nicer in the flesh than it is in the pics.

I've lost count of all the times I've read this sort of observation, most recently with the Nissan GTR. I can safely say it has never....ever... been true.

I thought the same about the GTR and the new Focus RS, and both were true in my eyes.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder though.

Yes, the RS was one of them too. I suspect that much has to do with the era in which you were raised. If you're raised on blocky cars covered in F1-aping plastic and spoilers, they will become your own style signatures. If I'm honest, I haven't seen a new car I've liked for many a year now and, some retro cars aside, would find it very hard to buy a modern car. I even bought the Mondeo on price, not looks, because absolutely nothing this side of an Aston (itself retro-ish) really appealed to me.

[Blukoo]

You say all that, but then you have a modern day Mustang.

[LuS1fer]

Blukoo said:

You say all that, but then you have a modern day Mustang.

Yes, a retro design based on the 1967 original.