12-28-2013, 11:05 PM | #1 |
Lieutenant
62
Rep 422
Posts |
Well, test drove the 2013 Panamera GTS
As the title states, drove the new Porsche Panamera GTS.
Unreal car! First thing I noticed upon start up, is the amazing sound it produces. The interior, while it has a ton of buttons, becomes all very easy to understand, and very easy to access while on the go. Other than that, great materials, great fit and finish. It has that feeling of a 100K + car, just when you sit inside the car. What really interested me, was the air suspension ride, and how it lowered the ride and works with the car to keep it stable, and great fuel economy, and comfort. Seriously, if there is a GTS near you, go and try the suspension, it has been wonderfully engineered and makes the ride very comfortable. Driving the car in comfort mode, its really just like any other sleeper car. Its quiet, nice and comfy. Now in sport and sport plus, the sport exhausts are turned on, and the ride transforms into this controllable missile. Not as harsh as the M5 ride, and even though the M5 is soft compared to some other cars I drive, the Panamera allows you to feel comfortable and feel the road at the same time. Is it fast? Yeah, and the Porsche Panamera offers exactly what the M5 does not offer. A sense of control over the car. Cruising in the M5, you can accelerate super fast, and at moments scary, but you never feel like YOU are in total control. Many who rode passenger in the M5, understand that thrust you feel when the car is WOT. In the Panamera, you dont get that thrust, mainly because its not a Twin turbo, has 430hp, but it does 0-60 around 3.9 to 4.1. Still very fast. Lets not mention the intoxicating sound it produces on the downshifts even in auto mode. What I noticed the most, is how this car is so loyal to your commands. Driving the M5, accelerating and switching lanes, I had the Traction control keep the tail end from spinning out many times. Its fun, you know its safe, and the car straightness out immediately.... but its knowing that the car sort of does as it pleases on it own, just to accomplish what you tell it to do, is not the most pleasant feeling. The GTS in this category is a true winner. I am not for one second bashing on the M5, or saying the GTS is a clear better car. Its just another car on the market that is a serious competitor to the M5. While it lacks in acceleration (even though it has enough acceleration), it excels in handling, and provides a higher fun factor. I do wish to add a GTS to my stable someday, in addition to the M5. |
12-29-2013, 12:06 AM | #2 |
Knight Commander
559
Rep 5,948
Posts
Drives: 2014 911 Turbo S
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Buckhead
iTrader: (0)
Garage List 2014 Porsche 911 Tu ... [10.00]
2015 Mercedes-Benz ... [0.00] 2015 Jaguar F Type R [0.00] 2014 BMW M5 [0.00] |
I don't think it's a serious competitor for the power reasons you mentioned. I looked at the Panamera extensively this year but the GTS did not spark my desire. The real competition is the turbo.
It was a close call for me. The Panamera Turbo is a fantastic car. However at the end of the day, I liked that characteristic you call scary. It gives the M Car a razor sharp edge. A constant awareness of that is what keeps me safe and forces me to be a better driver.
__________________
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 Ordered: EQS580, BMW IX, Lucid Air Touring, Corvette Stingray |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 12:23 AM | #3 |
Private
6
Rep 68
Posts
Drives: '13 M5 alpine white
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Los Angeles
|
The turbo is a better comparison on power, but price point favors the GTS on a comparison...
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 02:15 AM | #4 |
Savoir Faire
74
Rep 1,772
Posts |
GTS' are promising cars indeed. AWD and Porsche chassis engineering go a long way. Shame that they are crazy expensive. Wouldn't knock on someone for buying one, but I can't turn down high HP and RWD. I'll save my P-Car cherry for a 911 or Cayman.
__________________
Current: Alpine White F10 M5|H&R springs|12mm/10mm spacers|Eisenmann Race
Sold:Imola Yellow RS4-KW V3|MTM 10mm spacers|Hotchkis rear sway bar|APR Stage 1|Milltek Catless|RNS-E|Euro RS4 Flat bottom Steering Wheel Sold:E46 323i |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 04:07 AM | #5 |
Colonel
4066
Rep 2,064
Posts |
Funny you didn't mention the looks of the Panny
__________________
2004 e87 118d (ret.), 2007 e92 330d (ret.), 2007 e87 130i M-sport (ret.), 2009 e92 M3 (ret.), 2010 f10 535d M-sport (ret.), 2015 f10 M5 CP (ret.), 2017 f82 M4 CP (ret.)
2022 g26 i4 M50 & 2009 e70 X5 35d |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 06:43 AM | #6 | |
Lieutenant
40
Rep 444
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
2007 550i
2012 BMW - M5 European Delivery 2014 911 C2S- Agate, MT, PDCC, SC, SE 2015 S63AMG Sedan |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 07:07 AM | #7 |
Lieutenant
62
Rep 422
Posts |
Well, to each his own.
Honestly though, the panamera design does not bother me. Once you start to appreciate how it was built and why, you tend to understand its looks and the thinking process behind it. Plus in real life they look way better than in the pictures. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 07:10 AM | #8 | |
Lieutenant
62
Rep 422
Posts |
Quote:
Couldn't agree with you more. The first p car should be a 911, to understand the rear engine location reasoning and to just enjoy it. Mine still surprises me every time I drive it. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 07:19 AM | #9 | |
Captain
50
Rep 785
Posts |
Quote:
IMO, perceived quality & engineering prowess, would be Porsche 1, BMW 0. I also have a desire to 'pop the Porsche cherry'; can't explain, just something telling me it needs to be done (perhaps strange, but they appeal to me more that Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc.). |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 07:26 AM | #10 |
Colonel
633
Rep 2,253
Posts |
The ride and material is top notch, but not a M5 competitor as I see it. However, the car in the back is one of the ugliest cars I have seen. I would have considered adding one to the stable for my other half as she would enjoy it, but she to thinks it's ugly. I tried to talk myself into, but can't get past the rear end.
In would say the quality surpasses anything BMW has to offer, and Merc too. I will stick with the 911's true Porsche heritage 50 years running. M5 is still a keeper until the next GEN, but if BMW screws this one up I may have to totally abandon the product. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 09:24 AM | #11 | |
Brigadier General
154
Rep 3,041
Posts |
Quote:
This is the thing about the Porsche lineup. They DO respond to you more in a way that you are in command rather than holding on for the ride. Dare I say that you even feel more connected in the Cayenne Turbo? Yes, I would say that. The Panamera GTS is a heck of a great car and I would most definitely call it an M5 competitor. People tend to say, when defending the M5 against comments about the 991 I regards to things like handling comparisons "well, it does MORE well. I need room and doors,etc." Here you have it in a more connected feeling car.
__________________
2016 McLaren 675LT - Chicane Grey 2016 Corvette Z07 - Artic White 2016 BMW F86 X6M - Black Sapphire Metallic |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 09:51 AM | #12 |
Colonel
2275
Rep 2,523
Posts |
Dynamically, it may be fantastic. It's amazingly unattractive though.
__________________
?16 M2 Long Beach Blue/Black, 6MT
'22 X5 4.0 M Sport Black Sapphire/Tartufo ?22 Tesla Model Y Performance Midnight Silver/White |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 10:13 AM | #13 | |
Captain
10
Rep 784
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 11:40 AM | #14 | |
Colonel
633
Rep 2,253
Posts |
Quote:
I was reading a article on the 991 Turbo, and some guy was saying 0 to 60 in 2.7 is not fast enough. Some people have no idea how fast that really is. The launch control is in that car will give you whip lash, and it never heats up and has no limit to the launches. After 7 BMW's, and 1 Porsche I have never been so impressed with a car maker and customer service. Hell Cold was a Porsche hater now he's the spokes person for Porsche(: |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 12:40 PM | #15 | |
Brigadier General
154
Rep 3,041
Posts |
Quote:
They key element to "her" car is that she got it like this "Hey Kim, come pick up your new M6." She says "huh?". I said "just come get it. I drove it and love it."-lol! Incidentally, this was while returning a 997.1 Turbo cab with that miserable tiptronic to the BMW dealer. Jumped in the M6 and it was all she wrote. Now Kim did see the car in the showroom a month earlier and loved it so it's not like I forced a car she didn't wan ton her-lol. Trust me, she would have said "nope". She wouldn't trade the M6 for my 991 or the Cali. Likes to brag about having the fastest car in the garage. That's about to change....stay tuned. Big Daddy rides again!-hahahahahahahaha!
__________________
2016 McLaren 675LT - Chicane Grey 2016 Corvette Z07 - Artic White 2016 BMW F86 X6M - Black Sapphire Metallic Last edited by ColdList; 12-29-2013 at 12:47 PM.. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 12:46 PM | #16 | |
Brigadier General
154
Rep 3,041
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
2016 McLaren 675LT - Chicane Grey 2016 Corvette Z07 - Artic White 2016 BMW F86 X6M - Black Sapphire Metallic |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 01:21 PM | #17 |
Colonel
633
Rep 2,253
Posts |
Nope in DFW now, and only fly over LA going to HNL(: not nice calling names now I guess I can't drive the gt3????
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 01:41 PM | #18 |
Colonel
4066
Rep 2,064
Posts |
IMO, a Porsche is mighty machine for sure (P > M) but somehow most of their designs are a big fail (except for the 911/991). Cayenne, Panny:
Maybe because they recycle too many classic 911 curves into their designs? Anyway, the Panny shooting brake concept looks seriously hot:
__________________
2004 e87 118d (ret.), 2007 e92 330d (ret.), 2007 e87 130i M-sport (ret.), 2009 e92 M3 (ret.), 2010 f10 535d M-sport (ret.), 2015 f10 M5 CP (ret.), 2017 f82 M4 CP (ret.)
2022 g26 i4 M50 & 2009 e70 X5 35d Last edited by EdM5; 12-29-2013 at 01:51 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 01:55 PM | #19 |
Brigadier General
154
Rep 3,041
Posts |
Haha..of course you can...that is IF the GT3 makes it here....you know where I am going with this...think 50 yr old.-lol!
__________________
2016 McLaren 675LT - Chicane Grey 2016 Corvette Z07 - Artic White 2016 BMW F86 X6M - Black Sapphire Metallic |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 01:58 PM | #20 | |
Captain
10
Rep 784
Posts |
Quote:
Rant over. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 02:00 PM | #21 |
Captain
10
Rep 784
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2013, 02:09 PM | #22 |
Colonel
4066
Rep 2,064
Posts |
Agreed.
__________________
2004 e87 118d (ret.), 2007 e92 330d (ret.), 2007 e87 130i M-sport (ret.), 2009 e92 M3 (ret.), 2010 f10 535d M-sport (ret.), 2015 f10 M5 CP (ret.), 2017 f82 M4 CP (ret.)
2022 g26 i4 M50 & 2009 e70 X5 35d |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|