Panamera = Fugly

[Vexige]

I was recently talking to a friend who's married to a very successful portfolio manager from Wall street. Somehow, the conversation shifted to cars. She "complained" that her husband gave her fully loaded "sooo overpriced" MB S550 for her b-day when they just appeared on the market and continued, saying how much he hates cars and driving (he refuses to drive on highways) and how horrible he is as a driver... Guess what is he driving? Porsche Cayenne Turbo...
That said, I'm sure Porsche will sell every Panamera they’ll make; there'll be a waiting list to get one. Who cares what 0.5% of the drivers, so called "car enthusiasts" (I'm one of them) think about it?
As to "Yes, the Bentley Flying Spur is faster, with a 202-mph top speed, but the Panamera Turbo would obliterate the Bentley on a road course." this statement left me a bit puzzled... It was probably ment to be a joke? How many Bentleys and Panameras will actually see one? Or how many of them will be acquired by their owners for their ability to corner?

[Eclise]

I always thought the Caymans looked horrible in pics, but it looks much better in person (I just bought one). My guess is the Panamera will be similar. I've never been a big Porsche fan, but the fanboys (like my boss) will flock to these cars like all the others in the lineup. Who would have thought a Porsche SUV would sell so well?

[mopho]

I drove a Panamera Turbo yesterday and for what it is ( a big luxury sedan) it is absolutely fabulous. It looks much better in the flesh and the interior is gorgeous. While certainly not a beautiful car, I think with a nice set of wheels it would look pretty good.

I got to do a few laps around the track in it, acceleration was strong and smooth, albeit not shockingly quick, but the handling was amazing for such a big and heavy car.

And of course there was tons of room in the back seat.

Everyone there that that drove it, left really impressed with it.

[lotusforsale]

Got a close up look this past weekend at a Porsche event. I've absolutely no doubt the thing is engineered to the 9's and performs great. But...

In pictures, in person, doesn't matter, it is one truly ugly car.

[Shine]

I saw one in person in South Beach a couple of weeks ago sporting manufacturer tags and cameras mounted on the hood. To say it is an unattractive car is a gross understatement. Reminded me a lot of a stretched Pacer. Because it looks like an awful station wagon, I don't expect we'll see a lot sales here in Texas. They can't sell wonderfully designed Audi Avants, so I don't see why anyone would buy one of these.

[jordantii]

I had dinner with Tommy Kendall a few weeks ago and he was telling me about a test he did in one. Said it really was a fantastic car but not as pleasing to the eye as one would want.

Get em while they're available. They will only see 1 model cycle then get the ax.

[mopho]

Cheyenne is ugly too, and it sold just fine

[apk919]

Originally Posted by mopho

Cheyenne is ugly too, and it sold just fine

You mean the Cayenne?

You can always get the version with the upgraded styling: the Touareg.

EDIT: Maybe VW will come out with a better looking version of the Panamera under the Bugatti badge... the Veryamera?

[mopho]

Originally Posted by apk919

You mean the Cayenne?

Yeah, that one too

[Shine]

Originally Posted by mopho

Cheyenne is ugly too, and it sold just fine

True, but the Cayenne is a different beast. Despite its ugliness, it came out during the SUV boom and men could excuse it by claiming it was an SUV which means they can preserve their machoness, they can pull their ski boats with it, and since they were getting an SUV anyway, may as well get the status symbol with it. I just can't put all those pieces together for the Panamera unless that much anticipated station wagon boom is right around the corner...

But then again, I own a Lotus Elise and those aren't exactly flying off the shelves, so what do I know.

[ACE51]

you have to admit it looks ugly, just like the X6, do they still make that thing?

Some of these cars I think will catch on more when they're being sold used at 45% of retail.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by ACE51

you have to admit it looks ugly, just like the X6, do they still make that thing?

Yup, drove an X6M today, and that thing is ugly, friggen fast though, I hit 120mph on the short straight at Cal Speedway in that thing. Goes around corners pretty well too, impressive for an SUV, ridiculous, but impressive

[jallingt]

Yesterday I was passed by a Panamera on I-76 just east of Denver ( I was driving a 1-ton truck w/ a trailer). I did not think it looked too bad. I would describe it as a "inflated 911," everything seem to be in proportion. Not fugly, but not a traditional sedan either! It did look like a Porsche.

[ACE51]

its already growing on people! ahhhh what has this world come to?

sometimes change is good though, maybe

[Exigin]

Its one of the ugliest cars on the road, along with the aztec and almost every mommy van.

[wallabyguy]

I'm not a big Porsche fan to start off with and the Panamera doesn't do much to change that. I get the marketing angle on the car and in fact, that's its only point. It's an extension of the idea hatched with the Cayanne of a family Porsche which has changed to better serve the current political market (SUV out- Sedan in). I don't see how they'll sell 20,000 of them past maybe the first year as I just don't see it appealing to twice the number of buyers who purchase Boxters. Sales should be bolstered by the "new 928" version that is being prepped but I still feel that with the Maserati Quattroporte, Audi S8 (next Gen), Mercedes Benz CLS AMG 6.3, Aston Martin Rapide (a bit pricer bbut far more attractive), new "cheap" Rolls and the Bentley Continental, things are very, very crowded in the segment.

[Cthulhu]

*chortle*

guys, I don't think you understand... it has 132 buttons!



By comparison, a Lotus has only about 5 buttons if you don't count the radio (2 for the lights, trip odometer, TCS, and engine start).

[apk919]

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

*chortle*

guys, I don't think you understand... it has 132 buttons!



By comparison, a Lotus has only about 5 buttons if you don't count the radio (2 for the lights, trip odometer, TCS, and engine start).

... and probably 2 A/C, 1 central locking, 2 horn, 2 window... if you're not counting stalks and knobs...

[Sweet Adrenaline]

Originally Posted by ...m...

...now when's lotus going to produce an evora wagon?..

haha I would love to see that! but, only for a moment...

[Cthulhu]

Originally Posted by apk919

... and probably 2 A/C, 1 central locking, 2 horn, 2 window... if you're not counting stalks and knobs...

Still, we can't beat them on number of buttons! 132! That's so many buttons! What do they all do?

We need something even more annoying than 132 buttons, a touch-screen windshield (that will get damaged if windexed).