"Why didn't you just get one of those?"

Eric,

I have a '17 Panamera Turbo that I lease as my daily driver and love the car - it's an absolute monster when pushed and very livable/comfortable around town. It really is an amazing vehicle to drive, almost like a 4 door 911T (I've owned) - no joke! In fact, I have a'19 Pano Turbo arriving in 2 weeks as this one's lease ends. Having said all of this, and we all have our own little picky quirks about our cars, I would love to own and drive the GTC4L as my DD were it not for omitting an option for a heated steering wheel! Yes, a total deal breaker for me but willing to fork over the additional $150k for it if it WAS available, as crazy as that sounds! I have been accustomed to having a warm steering wheel in cold weather for years and don't adjust to change very well. I can't for the life of me understand why the 4WD Lusso, an appropriate winter car in my view (I guess not Ferrari's), would not have that as an option. Perhaps that'll be an option in the upcoming FUV. We'll see...

No, I 'm not a glove wearer

 

I agree with you about the heated steering wheel, it would be nice to have. But so far I have been pleasantly surprised that the air vents are lined up in such a way its possible to warm your fingers on the steering wheel. I look at it from a little different point of view though: I'm not letting the lack of a heated steering wheel keep me from my dream of almost daily driving a V12 Ferrari

FWIW, my wife spotted a Panamera and asked what it is etc and in my explanation I told her some might try to compare it to our Lusso and she said: oh no way! And no way would you ever choose that over the Lusso!

And that is why she is my wife

PS- I think the Panamera is a really nice car, I would definitely consider it if I didn't have problems.

 

I test drove last gen panamera turbo.

The quality of the interior finish and assembly is far higher than Lusso.
Technology much better.

Now it is a small car, barely more practicle than Lusso other than for not being a Ferrari and being more discreet.

I found the drive boring, soulless, and the car lacking punch.

It is a superb daily driver, to me competing with s class and m5.
But not same league than Lusso for DD.

 

I don't think any Porsche can be seen as comparable to any Ferrari, although arguments will always be posited by those who disagree. That's just the nature of everyone having their own opinions. Never a right or a wrong! Just "to each their own" is how it should be, always.

 

918

 

can someone who has had both chime in on how much more practical having 4 doors on the pana is vs ferrari? pana still only seats 4 just like lusso but how hard is it for passengers to get in and out of 2 door? thx

 

Heated wheel is a must for a DD in the winter. Your hands warm your whole body when it's frigid out.

 

I almost bought the Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo before the Lusso. I can share some opinions.

PTST
Pro:
- very sporty and actually feel nimble for this type of car.
- technologies in this car are just better than anything else in the market.
- build quality is the best. ferrari, bmw, audi, etc. all falling very behind in comparison.

Con:
- the suspension is a bit too stiff for this type of car, I like the normal Panamera but hate the ones in the turbo.
- shifting and throttle, i couldn't find a good mode that i like. normal feels laggy, sport feels too punchy, sport plus would just kill me.
- overall it feels like porsche trying to compromise comfort and sport driving into one, but i dislike all the outcome. in the end, i do like normal Panamera much better than the turbo.

Lusso
Pro:
- one of the best looking hatchback in the US money can buy. I always love hatchback design.
- the car has the most comfortable seating and suspension in any sports car.
- it comes with an allocation of ordering a pizza

Con:
- car is huge, parking can be struggle
- the doors are too long and they dont open wide
- typically ferrari build quality, the screen has its own mind
- hmm, i think the gas tank is too small, need to go gas station every 2-3 days if you daily it.

 

Not the same cars, but I went from a 2-door BMW to a sedan and for kids its not really any easier (I'm assuming you're not putting adults in the back of either car on a regular basis). The kids don't care about climbing in, and its just as easy for them to go through the front door than the back.

 

we re empty nesters so no kids but grandkids probably in near future. I would use back seats maybe once month for 15 min or so drive w 4 adults to local restaurant. can ff fit a rear child seat? I know pana now has option of a sort of rear middle seat.

 

Yes you can fit child seats. Search on member @ttforcefed posts on this. You can fit adults into the car too. For a one a month 15 minute drive you'd be fine. I think depending on size, you could comfortably have adults in the car for even up to an hour. I've done it a few times now- no problems. I'm not tall at 5'5" but I had a 5'8" and two people a little over 6' in the car with me driving and no issues. This was a 30 minute drive out to lunch. Everyone loved the car. And everyone in the family loves the car.

 

I have both. The Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid and the GTC4 Lusso. While I love the sound of the V12 and its rich leather interior, the Lusso will have a hard time keeping up with the Turbo S in the twisty. I average 30mpg with my 680HP hybrid Turbo S. Can't say the same with the 690hp Lusso

 

Ferdinand Porsche designed the Beetle which is more of a success in terms of units sold.

 

Michael,
I had an opportunity to order the Turbo S e- Hybrid but found it to be a much "heavier" drive with the added 600 lbs. weight of the batteries, etc. vs my '17 Turbo ('19 due in shortly). No question with over 100hp more it certainly handles and accelerates with aplomb but I couldn't get over the noticeable weight difference. I felt off the line mine was a little quicker and generally more nimble. That's seat-of-the-pants data, not official data

 

Have a Panamera Turbo for a day and winter drive a Cayenne Turbo. I love my Cayenne Turbo as a daily usable SUV and its even more fun in the snow but its just not like my Ferraris, nothing is really. I think its a combination of many things not just the way they drive, sound, or are built. Ferrari has worked tirelessly to stand above and they are worth the premium in my humble opinion.

 

It's funny I stumbled onto this thread. Two years ago I took my wife to do a test drive of a 2014 FF. I was hoping she would like it because I really wanted it. Well she was so intimidated by the car, I had to do the test drive, she wouldn't get behind the wheel. Her real choice was a Panamera.

Well we ordered a 2018 model in July of 2017 and took delivery a week before Christmas in 2017. The dealer did a nice job by parking it out front with a big red bow on the roof. We've had the car a year now and she just loves it. Her previous car (Jag S-Type) didn't have a heated steering wheel, and now she is in heaven.

Hey, you know what they say, happy wife ...... happy life!

 

The Panamera "sedan" has been a controversially styled Porsche perhaps because of it’s proportions. Nonetheless there are many people who appreciate de car’s performance capabilities. Even the car’s creators once admitted that the first Panamera it was lacking something in the aesthetics department and they tried to improve that in the new Panamera. Despite of not being the belle of the ball the Panamera has been one of Porsche’s best-selling vehicles.
Below there are some pictures with the old and the new Panameras side by side where we can spot some differences. On the last picture there is the new Panamera and the GTC4 side-by-side and it’s easy to see that in terms of aesthetics and proportions they are two completely different cars.


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"Aesthetics and proportions" - don't forget the heated and non-heated steering wheels!

 

Yes, only this one can compare, in my opinion.

 

How about the CGT?

 

Good question. I am just not sure about a car that does not even offer the option to turn off ESC because it does not have ESC. Anyway, that's my opinion which really means a lot, like 2 dollars.

 

I call it real driver's car, like the F40 and F50.