Panamera Test Drive Aug 13th San Diego

[MPDano]

I found out about this late, but was able to get on the Wait List.

If your a PCA (Porsche Club of America) Member, you can sign up for it, or at least try. It was posted July 29th and it is already filled up. If they pull me from the Wait List, I'm bringing my Camera.

[MPDano]

Ok guys! I am in. They picked me out of the Wait List. Besides taking pics and being able to drive the new 928, what do you all want me to bring back to you? What should I look for, etc?

I will be test driving the Panamera on Thursday August 13th.

[vdubr928]

Just bring one back so we can all drive it>

[Danglerb]

Have fun and tell us what you think.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by vdubr928

Just bring one back so we can all drive it>

Man, if they loaned it to me, I would be glad to test drive it to Colorado

[vdubr928]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Man, if they loaned it to me, I would be glad to test drive it to Colorado

Just call it market research. Put a 1-800-dou-like sticker on the back for them

Seriously though. Get some good pics. We all want to see it close up.

[paintballer317]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Man, if they loaned it to me, I would be glad to test drive it to Colorado

what about to indiana?

[surfdog4]

ask them if it comes in a 2-door!

[MPDano]

I'm bringing my Camera and Video Camera to the Test Drive. Here's what the itinerary comprises:

The program will consist of presentations on the design and technical attributes of the new Panamera, a question and answer session, followed by 30-minute test rides/drive sessions - three PCAers to a car. Every PCA member will have an opportunity to drive the Panamera during the 30-minute sessions.

Looks like there will be a few Panameras there.

[MPDano]

Grrrrrrrr. I wanted to update my thread as I didn't want to leave you all wondering what happened. The posting of the Test Drive was posted on the San Diego PCA (Porsche Club of America) Member Forums and I assumed it was at a San Diego location, since the location (Hotel) has the same name as one here in SD. I charged my batteries, brought spares, charged my video camera and was ready to get some. Entered the address given to me on my GPS and low and behold, it was a Carmel, California address. It came up as over 450 miles from my home, an 8 hour drive. Well, not planning for this with my employer, I had to back out. It was already 9PM when I realized this.

Sorry all, as I really wanted to bring back some info, pics and vids of this 928 wannabe. My bad for not reading the fine print. I'm Bummed

[Dean_Fuller]

That is NOT a 928. I know a station wagon when I see one. May be the worse thing Porsche will ever build. Looks like a lowered Cayenne.

Just my opinion.

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by Dean_Fuller

That is NOT a 928. I know a station wagon when I see one. May be the worse thing Porsche will ever build. Looks like a lowered Cayenne.

Just my opinion.

Worse or worst thing? Have you driven a Cayenne turbo? Hell of an SUV and far better than many other Porsche's or cars I have driven or owned and that includes just about every model made.

I love how people can bad mouth something they have not seen nor driven with limited knowledge or understanding.

[MPDano]

I agree with you Cobalt. This is why I wanted to test drive it last week, but it ended up being way too far than I expected. I also hated the design of it when i first saw it, the same reaction when the Viper came out. I kinda like it now and the more i see video of the Panamera, I kinda like it now too.

We need to celebrate that more front engine V8 Porsches are being made, rather than bad mouth them. Can't we all just get along?

[MrGST]

I've driven a Cayenne TT, a 550 HP Ruf Dakara version and while it's an impressive SUV with incredible acceleration and roadholding, it's just not a fun car. Sometimes, numbers are just numbers.

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by MrGST

I've driven a Cayenne TT, a 550 HP Ruf Dakara version and while it's an impressive SUV with incredible acceleration and roadholding, it's just not a fun car. Sometimes, numbers are just numbers.

I would be curious what you consider a fun car to be?? I know my CT is nothing compared to my other Porsche's for fun factor unless you push it very hard, but once pushed it comes to life and does as much for me as my other cars. Although my other cars can't do what my CT does in 18"s of snow and boy is that fun.

I find that most of the newer cars are only fun once pushed beyond 9/10'ths. The cayman S is a fantastic platform with amazing abilities but no where near as much fun as my C2 and not even close to as much fun as my turbo it doesn't make it any less of an amazing vehicle or any less fun when pushed to its limits this also goes for the GT3 which I find is not very thrilling unless pushed hard. But once you start reaching the limits it takes on an entirely different feeling. Did you push the CT hard or just drive it? I find the CT to be very similar for fun factor as these newer Porsche's and need to be pushed to put a smile on my face unlike the older Porsche's which I always find fun at any speed. Although when I can't drive my other cars teh CT does something that nothing else on the market offers in its category.

I still can't understand how anyone can make a judgment call on a car they have not seen or driven. To just group it with a Cayenne because you don't like the looks of either says very little to me other than plain opinion and you know what they say about opinions!

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by MrGST

I've driven a Cayenne TT, a 550 HP Ruf Dakara version and while it's an impressive SUV with incredible acceleration and roadholding, it's just not a fun car. Sometimes, numbers are just numbers.

Ah, this must have been your buddy that i met at that Carlsbad Car Show last year. I also read the BMW X5 and Cayenne (NT) went head to head and the X5 won.

[rhjames]

equally amusing is when some people say "this is what Porsche would do if they didn't kill off the 928." (referring to what they have done to their own 928's)


engines for example, have come a long way since the 928 went out of production.

Porsche's current platform for big power (AND low emissions) is the 4.8L twin turbo engine in Cayenne.....

Carpet for example, isn't just a throw rug on the floor.....

Dean does have a point, that the Panamera is NOT a 928. However, it is NOT a station wagon, either. It serves a part of the market place that is not pure hotrod, but not pure grocery getter either----a 4 door sedan that is similar to the MB CLK 5 series, nothing more. A high end performance sedan that your wimpy wife can play Stepford wife in, and a performance car the you almost can tolerate--even if it has 2-too many doors.


and the future holds...?

(A good question for Porsche given their current family feud with Volkswagen.)


--Russ

[MPDano]

Heres the video of the Cayenne vs X5 by 5th Gear. Sorry, I'm a little bias with the X5 since I bought my wife a used one last year but couldn't afford a used Cayenne.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gxAaeMwc3s

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by rhjames

equally amusing is when some people say "this is what Porsche would do if they didn't kill off the 928." (referring to what they have done to their own 928's)


engines for example, have come a long way since the 928 went out of production.

Porsche's current platform for big power (AND low emissions) is the 4.8L twin turbo engine in Cayenne.....

Carpet for example, isn't just a throw rug on the floor.....

Dean does have a point, that the Panamera is NOT a 928. However, it is NOT a station wagon, either. It serves a part of the market place that is not pure hotrod, but not pure grocery getter either----a 4 door sedan that is similar to the MB CLK 5 series, nothing more. A high end performance sedan that your wimpy wife can play Stepford wife in, and a performance car the you almost can tolerate--even if it has 2-too many doors.


and the future holds...?

(A good question for Porsche given their current family feud with Volkswagen.)


--Russ

I was talking to a rep from our local dealer the other day and sales are very promising. they can't get enough on their lot to sell and teh list is growing fast. I guess you can consider the Panamera similar to the MB CLK or BMW 5 series. I find both far more hideous looking and way too common but that is my opinion and has little to do with the cars ability which is proving to be nothing less than outstanding. i have spoken to a few lucky drivers and the reports I have heard is it is like nothing else on the market for performance feel and comfort. I have also been told that unlike the CLK you can actually fit a large person in the back and feels far less cramped than the BMW.

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Heres the video of the Cayenne vs X5 by 5th Gear. Sorry, I'm a little bias with the X5 since I bought my wife a used one last year but couldn't afford a used Cayenne.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gxAaeMwc3s

We all know their disdain for the Cayenne and will do anything to undermine it. This was also the older generation S against the 4.8. So much has changed since. We ran a 4.8 against a Cayenne GTS at an ax event and there was no comparison. Even with 4 passengers the Cayenne triumphed. They also don't say how the Cayenne was equipped which can change a lot.

So as usual 5th gear fails as I find their reports to be very entertaining but far from convincing.