Quote:
Originally Posted by petevb
So the question everyone is asking is "what was Porsche thinking"... I'll give you my $.02:
In Germany companies don't own many corporate jets. Why would you, when the country is small and you've got an autobahn? Many of the top brass own a Porsche, but they don't drive it on business. Instead the company has a big, fast S class or whatever, with a driver, and the guy works from the back seat while going from A to B at 155++ mph. Make no mistake- these are some of the fastest things on the autobahn, and when you see one flash from behind you'd better move over regardless of what you're in. Using one of these you can be anywhere in a few hours, and of course they'll notice what you're in when you pull up.
Cue this thing. Nothing says "my time is more important than yours" louder when you arrive. Of course it's got a comfy back seat- that's the guy the thing was designed for!
Of course we're not all german businessmen so they figured they better widen the market appeal with some other stuff, but at its core Porsche execs were pissed that everyone pulled up to their factory in someone else's car. So they went one better.
Hence the test on the autobahn, all the talk of top speed and the funky speed limiter, etc. It's a tool designed for a very specific job, and it sounds like it does that job very well...
One small problem: We don't have that job in this country. The job we do have for an expensive 4 door (involves much going slow, looking cool and parking) it doesn't do very well. So now what the hell do you do with it?
-Pete
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Interesting observation.
The Panamera seriously intimidated others on the Autobahn. BMW, Mercedes, and Audi limit nearly all of their cars to 155 mph (250 km/h). The sight of a new Porsche in the mirror had everyone pulling over to make room for me hundreds of yards ahead of me.
Funny thing, when it started raining I'd move over a lane or two and slow down. As a Yank, I just wasn't comfortable doing 100+ mph in the rain. The Germans were downright confused by the Panamera being driven slowly. I could see them apprehensively come up behind me and gingerly pass me on the left. The unwritten rules of hierarchy on the Autobahn are very interesting.
- Mike