I traded my 550 and Maserati GranSport today and picke up a drop dead amazing Panamera Turbo. Basalt Black on Black with Carbon Fiber and Ceramic Brakes, among other lesser options. I'll post some pix this weekend. For now, I am trying to work my way thru the manuals...holy cow....you need to be an alum from MIT to figure this stuff out! (Especially after the 550...which was a key, a wheel, 3 pedals....and that is about it.)
Congratulations. You'll love it more and more as you get used to it. I'll agree, the manual is extensive and yet, believe it or not, a little incomplete. This car is a rolling technological masterpiece. The personalization settings take a little trial and error to get right and make them stay that way, but once you "get" the logic in the system you will be amazed. And fast! There's not many things out there that can hope to keep up. Put some friends in the back seats and get ready for compliments about how nice it is. I'm jealous of the ceramics. Mine doesn't have them and I think that's the only thing that might make it better.
Actually, before the trade I almost backed out...heart wa spounding...the 550 is a special car for sure. My 8 year old actually was crying. 30 min later....it was like the 550 never existed. The Turbo is beyond sensational. Stunningly fast. Handles like a dream. Smooth driving. Interior is the best I have ever been in at any price point....including AM Rapide, Bentleys and Rollers....nothing out there compares, or is even close. The electronic gizmos are a bit over the top, I'm not a gizmo guy, but there are some cool features. I love the exterior...especially given that I am 6'2"....that means when I am looking at the car I am looking down towards it, and the bulky C-pillar issue pretty much goes away. It is only noticeable in picttures becasue they are loften taken with camera level at height of car, and unless you are 5' tall that is not how you see it.
Ohh man .... well you did once say, after picking up your 1st 911, that you would ALWAYS own a Porsche! Congrats!
Well....at least there is still 1 Ferrari in the family! This Porsche is sick...you'll have to drive it when you come down.
That was what stuck out at me too when we looked at them the day we bought our Cayenne. The interior of the Panamera is simply the most impressive interior I have ever seen. Its definitely sets the bar high for other manufacturers. The exterior to my eye is nice, but the interior and performance is what must be selling these cars, IMO.
The interior is truly awesome. When you sit in the back seat, you understand why it has the big butt that it does. Tons of head room. And the materials are second to none. Love the head liner!
I am truly considering one... Do we have any first hand reports of winter usage... are there any all season tires and is there a height adjustment feature... Black / Black for me too!
ENJOY! imho the panamera is essentially a cayenne lowered down a few feet! albeit, with an upgraded interior. some critics have derided the appearance of the rear end. being a bit of a butt connoisseur, i have no issues with it!
