Test Drive: Porsche Panamera 4S

[kahmed79]

@kahmed79 right then,... please supply me with your home address so i may fly over to you and kill you!!! excellent write-up, i felt a real connection with the panamera,... still have to see one in real life though to pass my final verdict but i'm sure i'll not be disappointed.

LOL! Are you coming to the U.S. anytime soon? I really appreciate your feedback on the review, it helps me improve.

[kahmed79]

Glad to see you'd choose it over the Quattroporte. I guess if I were given the choice, it'd depend on my level of maturity at the time. The QP is obviously for a more grown up market segment, while the Porsche... is a Porsche.

Don't get me wrong though, I love the QP. It's one of the sexiest sedans out there and it's a true Italian sports car. Also, I will always prefer the version with the performance oriented transaxle rather than the new torque converter equipped cars.

[MominHaq]

Kahmed79: I moved the rest of the five pictures to the main post and deleted the bottom ones.I hope you don't mind.

[kahmed79]

Very nice review. Panamera sounds a great car after reading your review. Thanks for sharing. (Y)

Thanks buddy! I'm glad my impressions of the car came through loud and clear.

[kahmed79]

Kahmed79: I moved the rest of the five pictures to the main post and deleted the bottom ones.I hope you don't mind.

No prob at all, that's what I originally intended. I've got a few more pics coming soon.

[MominHaq]

Oh yeah... great review.Very well written(Y)

[ToofaneBatameezi]

Never mind me...But QP Collezione Cento had this new Ivory color which left me breathless at the sametime...

Why would I go to the track with this master piece?! No! I will rather take that chick beside the car for a good long drive!!

I highly dislike to drive this QP like a Panamera or M5 or AMG!!

[agent47]

@ toofane
lol @ takin da chick

[MominHaq]

kahmed79

Added the pictures to the main post for you

[AmmarFaiz]

hot ride! must handle like a dream.. im still not feeling those looks though... I think with this kind of car you can just expect it to grow on you like the cayenne..

[sami_voodoo]

Kamran

Wonderfully detailed review as always! Here's my last of Uber sedans (in no particular order I might say):

1. Maser QP
2. CTS-V
3. IS-F
4. RS6
5. E63
6. Panamera
7. M5? (it's getting a bit long in the tooth, soon to be replaced)
8. Jaguar XFR

Of these, only two are AWD. At the power levels these cars are going, I'd like to have AWD. This would at least assure that I'll stay on the black stuff. On the other hand, the RS6 weighs a lot, and thus abuses its tyres if pushed to the limit. I think that all these cars will chew through rubber quickly if forced to go fast on curvy roads.

What will I chose? I'd probably be split between the XFR and the CTS-V, slightly tilting towards the CTS-V. One reason is that it's the only one with manual. The second reason is that its a slap in the face of the establishment. I'm not sure about its longevity though, the last generation CTS-V was a bit problematic.

Kamran, have you driven the RS6 and the ISF? Your impressions would be welcome.

[ToofaneBatameezi]

Though the word Uber reminded me off the E46 M3 by Craig named Uber M3 which had a widebody kit ...and Unconfirmed sources said there was chaos everywhere upon its revealing, one of the most beautiful after market job it had! Khair,

Nice list Prof. Sami!! Inclusion of IS-F amazed me, The japs failed at successfully targeting the IS-F towards the M5 but everyone compared it with the M3 and it lost!

And why isnt the M3 sedan in your list?!

[asadsj]

I personally liked the panamera looks wise..as far as performance goes, you can't go wrong with a porsche. Where'd you test drive it by the way? SoCal?

[jz]

dsnt ook but looks odd to c a 4 door porche

[spectra]

Great review mate and respect for the porsche but QUATROPORTE for me please

[sami_voodoo]

Though the word Uber reminded me off the E46 M3 by Craig named Uber M3 which had a widebody kit ...and Unconfirmed sources said there was chaos everywhere upon its revealing, one of the most beautiful after market job it had! Khair, Nice list Prof. Sami!! Inclusion of IS-F amazed me, The japs failed at successfully targeting the IS-F towards the M5 but everyone compared it with the M3 and it lost! And why isnt the M3 sedan in your list?!

Hmmm. Going back through the list, you're right, I'll take the IS-F out. Unless toyota come out with a "GS-F", no Japs here.

As for the lost against the M3 bit, I'm thinking it's still a worthwhile effort on the part of the japs. They should bring one out with a proper 6-speed manual, only then will it have a chance to challenge the M3 sedan. At least now lexus is offering a proper viscous limited slip diff. It does look pretty "fat" doesn't it? Right now though, of the two, I'd chose the M3 sedan in a heartbeat.

[ToofaneBatameezi]

Though the word Uber reminded me off the E46 M3 by Craig named Uber M3 which had a widebody kit ...and Unconfirmed sources said there was chaos everywhere upon its revealing, one of the most beautiful after market job it had! Khair, Nice list Prof. Sami!! Inclusion of IS-F amazed me, The japs failed at successfully targeting the IS-F towards the M5 but everyone compared it with the M3 and it lost! And why isnt the M3 sedan in your list?!

Hmmm. Going back through the list, you're right, I'll take the IS-F out. Unless toyota come out with a "GS-F", no Japs here.

As for the lost against the M3 bit, I'm thinking it's still a worthwhile effort on the part of the japs. They should bring one out with a proper 6-speed manual, only then will it have a chance to challenge the M3 sedan. At least now lexus is offering a proper viscous limited slip diff. It does look pretty "fat" doesn't it? Right now though, of the two, I'd chose the M3 sedan in a heartbeat.

[/quote]

I must say the Japs started out awesome with GS300 Back in '97! I fell in love with that car...I saw its unveiling back in Jeddah when Toyota hosted the Motorshow! The 2jz in the GS300 was great the car was perfect super sedan...I still llove it!

German's excelled towards V blocks and Japs did not - And now when they did give it a shot I recon it is too late to do that! M5 already Experienced the V8 with the E39 and went towards V10 and now coming back towards the V8 - Note the Japs have now brought the V10 to their super sedan when everybody is going back - Rumors speak that M5 will even have the Straight six in the near future . Too late to start to compete with the performance sedans from the west I'd say!

Re: Fat: Which jap does not look fat these days? The Prado, LC, GS, Legacy, etc! Its like the cars are swollen from different ends!!

[kahmed79]

Never mind me...But QP Collezione Cento had this new Ivory color which left me breathless at the sametime...

Why would I go to the track with this master piece?! No! I will rather take that chick beside the car for a good long drive!!

I highly dislike to drive this QP like a Panamera or M5 or AMG!!

Nevermind the chick cuz she'll drive off in your car :P.

[kahmed79]

Kamran

Wonderfully detailed review as always! Here's my last of Uber sedans (in no particular order I might say):

1. Maser QP
2. CTS-V
3. IS-F
4. RS6
5. E63
6. Panamera
7. M5? (it's getting a bit long in the tooth, soon to be replaced)
8. Jaguar XFR

Of these, only two are AWD. At the power levels these cars are going, I'd like to have AWD. This would at least assure that I'll stay on the black stuff. On the other hand, the RS6 weighs a lot, and thus abuses its tyres if pushed to the limit. I think that all these cars will chew through rubber quickly if forced to go fast on curvy roads.

What will I chose? I'd probably be split between the XFR and the CTS-V, slightly tilting towards the CTS-V. One reason is that it's the only one with manual. The second reason is that its a slap in the face of the establishment. I'm not sure about its longevity though, the last generation CTS-V was a bit problematic.

Kamran, have you driven the RS6 and the ISF? Your impressions would be welcome.

Thanks Sami! I haven't driven the new RS6 because it's not available in the U.S. I did drive the IS-F a few months ago and I did post a some impressions somewhere, not sure where though :D.

[kahmed79]

I personally liked the panamera looks wise..as far as performance goes, you can't go wrong with a porsche. Where'd you test drive it by the way? SoCal?

Yep, drove it in SoCal.