Porsche Panamera- I don't like it, sorry.

[Normy]

Listen folks, at the age of 43 I think I have been acquaintened with various cars with internal compbustion engines. I don't drive a Lamborghini Gallardo, but at the same time I understand how a V10 engine runs, especially one that has the bore spacing of the the 1977 VW Golf [in the US it was a VW Rabbit] of the the first car I ever owned.

-Whenever I watch some rich bastard drive past in his V10 Gallardo [these are more common than Mustangs in Fort Liquordale], I sneer and remember my '77 Golf.

-that car was a hoot: 1800 pounds, 80 hp, and 80 ft/lb at 3000 rpm. It was a road-going "bottle rocket"; I drove it in college and the occasional friend remarked to me "dude...I thought it was the clutch. This thing is all engine!

FOURTY feet [40] of rubber were typical when some ******* in a big Buick or old Oldsmobile wanted to give me a "run". That little car showed its tail-lights to so many cars it was a legend in my high school.

-The Panamera? I'm sorry, I'm going to alienate a bunch of you now, and I have followed the histrionics of the Porsche/Pieche combine on the London Financial Times, but I cannot find a way to like the new Panamera. I like the fact that it will support the company, but that car?

That car, the Panamera....is UGLY!

Sorry. They needed to add a real rear end on the thing. They keep talking about a "new 928"; A good idea, as long as they don't call it a "928". The short rear- end of the existing Panamera [oink...] could make a great coupe.... but I don't hold out hope that Porsche can pull it off. Especially since they forced out the genius Wendelin Weideking.


N

[Oh Haha]

I WANT to like it but I just can't get past the ugly styling. It sounds like it is a fun, rrewarding automobile worthy of the crest but it's just so fugly.

The Cayenne was not a headturner for me at it's debut but now I think it really is pretty cool, for a big ol' SUV.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

The Cayenne was ugly then and it's still ugly now. I understand why Porsche made it though. They needed the bucks. Unfortunately they had to whore out the marquee to get them though...

I wouldn't mind picking up a Turbo Cayenne in a few years, ripping the drivetrain out and mating it up to a 914. That would be a hell of a machine.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

The Cayenne was ugly then and it's still ugly now. I understand why Porsche made it though. They needed the bucks. Unfortunately they had to whore out the marquee to get them though...

I wouldn't mind picking up a Turbo Cayenne in a few years, ripping the drivetrain out and mating it up to a 914. That would be a hell of a machine.

I have seen them as low as $27K...

[Aerkuld]

It looks awkward at the rear in all the photos I've seen, yet when it was on Top Gear the other night it looked half reasonable on video. Hammond and May actually commented that photos don't do it any justice and it looks better in the metal. They didn't say it looked good though, just better. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt until I see one in person.

Right now, If I HAD to have a four door, four seat car, I'm sure I could live with it.

[campbellcj]

I saw one in person today for the first time, at the Monterey Historics. It is the safety car - an "S" model. I do not care for the looks much but it certainly hauls-a$$ and the interior looks really sweet. Maybe it will grow on me? The latest Cayenne GTS sort of has done that...

[mossguy]

It's a great looking car and I want one!

Best,
Tom

[pwd72s]

Speaking of exotic 4 doors...bumper to bumper to Salem on I-5 today...going up to play pool. I mean...slow traffic both lanes. For a while I couldn't figure out what kind of car I was following. 4 doors, a beautiful blue...four pipes out the back, nice meaty rubber...she-yet, it was the Maserati 4 door! Seeing this poor guy slog along eased the frustration I was feeling in a mere Bullitt Mustang...

Tell ya tho...if I was looking for a status 4 door? I'd sure give the Maserati a look see...it's gorgeous.

[450knotOffice]

Hell yea! I love that Maserati! The Italians sure know how to design beautiful cars.

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I wouldn't mind picking up a Turbo Cayenne in a few years, ripping the drivetrain out and mating it up to a 914. That would be a hell of a machine.

Believe it or not, there was actually a guy who was in the planning stages for build a Street Mod class solo car using a 914 with a Cayenne v8 swapped in the rear. Unfortunatley it doesn't fit without significant modifications to the unibody, which is prohibited by SM2 rules.


However, if the rear of the rear of the car was tube-framed, it could be made to fit. This would put the car in X Prepared.



My solo enthusiast friend and I have talked about this in detail over beers many, many times.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yeah, I kinda' figured it would require some significant chassis work - kind of like the Kelly Moss 944/928 conversion (bummer a 928 V8 doesn't just fit into the 944 engine bay). I bet the Cayenne turbo engine can be hopped up quite a bit and man, can you think of anything more fun than a 914 with about 500 hp at the wheels? It'd be sickeningly fast. With handling to match.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by Aerkuld

Right now, If I HAD to have a four door, four seat car, I'm sure I could live with it.

If I needed a premium four-door, I'd be headed to the Aston Martin dealer.

[TGTIW]

I would still lean towards an Audi RS6.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

There's always the Ferrari 456 if you've got money to burn. I think there were a few 4-door versions made.

[island911]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

The Cayenne was ugly then and it's still ugly now. I understand why Porsche made it though. They needed the bucks. Unfortunately they had to whore out the marquee to get them though...

I wouldn't mind picking up a Turbo Cayenne in a few years, ripping the drivetrain out and mating it up to a 914. That would be a hell of a machine.

Porsche made it because Ferry Porsche wanted to. He actually wanted to make it back in the 80's (IIRC) but the 'outside' management Porsche had brought in said no.

I had shared your POV. Assuming that you want to keep your POV, don't drive one.

As to putting a 955 motor in a 914; not going to happen. You would be better off using a 928 V8. (w/ blowers)

[KaptKaos]

I think this might be the first time I agree with you Normy. =D

[island911]

Panamera styling - Not quite Maserati, way better than the big BMWs. And, I like that it's a bit of under-stated.

But what I think people miss is the driving experience that Porsche seems to always deliver, well above it's competitors.

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by mossguy

it's a great looking car and i want one!

+1

[austin552]

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/porsche?ref=mf

[onewhippedpuppy]

My take is that it might be great to drive, but it's fugly. For the same money or less, you can get a car that drives just as well but is beautiful inside and out. At least the Cayenne is the absolute pinnacle of SUV performance. The Panamera is outgunned by the competition for the same or less money.

As for sound, I think we know who does that best.