Automobiles

[davids]

We just leased a 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid that has an E-Charge mode (one of the gazillion buttons between the seats). This charges the onboard battery via more aggressive application of the regenerative brakes and IC engine powering a generator over about 20-30 miles of regular driving. It works, although it is a bit (ok, a lot) disconcerting to get out of the car after even normal driving and take in the unmistakable smell of brakes and warm electronic parts. The first time this happened I wondered for a moment if the car had somehow let me drive with the parking brake on. Also, after a weekend with the car I'm not quite convinced that I want to save the earth with a 4800lb hybrid sports sedan. Compared to the Tesla it feels prehistoric (the process of the car deciding between IC or electric and PDK pondering 1st or 2nd gear seems extremely clumsy) and SLOW. It also sounds completely uninspiring. The brake feel got lost in the translation too, as blindfolded you'd never peg the soft initial touch as Porsche-esque. Maybe it just needs some break-in time.

No, like every right-thinking American you should want to save the world with a 4800lb hybrid SUV.

[72gmc]

No, like every right-thinking American you should want to save the world with a 4800lb hybrid SUV.

With just one person and a frappucino for cargo 98% of the time…

[rmplum]

I actually have a soft spot for the Panamera, because it does drive better than it should. I just don't see the draw to this model. While this engine is perfectly pleasant in the Audi A6, it just doesn't pop here. I can't imagine being a customer for this car and picking this blown V6 with the electric bonus motor over the V8, which is both sorta fast AND actually makes good sounds. Trying to turn this into a Prius Sport is going to fail I think.

[sk_tle]

The biggest issue with the Panamera is the sheer ugliness of it. I guess you can like it if you ride a pinarello dogma.

[zetroc]

I have to speak out here. I hate, hate, hate the trend of sports cars with racing heritage being turned into 4-door and offroad vehicles. Case in point, the Mini. It should never have 4 doors or be longer or higher or have knobby tires. Never ever. Same goes for the Fiat 500, and the Panamera (sorry) and the Cayenne, and the BMW X5, and, and, and...

Am I alone?

[NickB]

The biggest issue with the Panamera is the sheer ugliness of it. I guess you can like it if you ride a pinarello dogma.

I'm quite fond of the Panamera's looks. Sedans are hard to make look good and makers frequently simply cave in and make a box like everyone else. The Panamera has some good swoop to it. I like the family resemblance and that the car is in proportion to itself. The grill is the right size. The wheels are the right size. There are no weird creases or faux fender lines for the sake of being cute like we see in other cars. A Panamera would make an awesome company town car.

Tough to get your head around the price though. That's a lot of money for a sedan. Funny how I think sports cars and coupes are worth more than sedans. Probably due to my disdain for things with four doors as symbols of compromise, utility, and a willingness to take too many passengers. By the time you have a big sedan with a huge hatch, you might as well have a wagon, which are, paradoxically, cool.

But what do I know. I drive a convertible.

[Matthew Strongin]

I have to speak out here. I hate, hate, hate the trend of sports cars with racing heritage being turned into 4-door and offroad vehicles. Case in point, the Mini. It should never have 4 doors or be longer or higher or have knobby tires. Never ever. Same goes for the Fiat 500, and the Panamera (sorry) and the Cayenne, and the BMW X5, and, and, and...

Am I alone?

I'm with you. Particularly with the mini and Panamera (that thing is a disaster, IMO).

[christian]

Re: Panamera

the car is in proportion to itself.

So just to be clear, it's the earth and everything else on it that just happens to be slightly undersized?

[jitahs]

I have to speak out here. I hate, hate, hate the trend of sports cars with racing heritage being turned into 4-door and offroad vehicles. Case in point, the Mini. It should never have 4 doors or be longer or higher or have knobby tires. Never ever. Same goes for the Fiat 500, and the Panamera (sorry) and the Cayenne, and the BMW X5, and, and, and...

Am I alone?

Unfortunately some of these just kill the sports cars of yore with hp, not handling, and I wish I were driving one a few minutes ago, whenupon, whilst avoiding a gaping maw, the suspension bottomed on the left side as first the front, then the rear tire exploded. Brand new tires, sidewall pinch flats, possible dented ryams. Eff me. Since when are 45 section tires not enough for the world?

If y'all have seen a Ferrari FF that thing makes the Panamera look like a Hello Kitty sippy cup. Udderly ridic.

[maunahaole]

So I'm over in Kona for work today. As fate would have it, I got put into a very bright yellow Camaro SS for my rental. Decent power...but I have not really had an opportunity to stick my foot in it for much more than a couple seconds. Good strong brakes. I'm really more shocked on how big the car is considering how small it is on the inside. Not sure if I would want to pitch this thing into corners. My head is touching the ceiling, but I don't feel as though I can see out of the car in any direction or have any sense of where the corners are.

[jitahs]

Tough to get your head around the price though. That's a lot of money for a sedan. .

For every 10k driven the price goes down $10k 'til it reaches your budget - everyman's car!

Every once in awhile I see a new Camaro, Mustang or Challenger, its owner looking lost in the local tight twisites. They're completely terrified, tootling around at 17, looking for the corners of their cars, never to return.

[jitahs]

flat tire yadda yadda...

Side story: tow truck driver runs a claimed 10.7 in his 550hp Del Sol and can get me an LS1 for my MPV. These are words that should not go together.

[Philster]

I have to speak out here. I hate, hate, hate the trend of sports cars with racing heritage being turned into 4-door and offroad vehicles. Case in point, the Mini. It should never have 4 doors or be longer or higher or have knobby tires. Never ever. Same goes for the Fiat 500, and the Panamera (sorry) and the Cayenne, and the BMW X5, and, and, and...

Am I alone?

I don't know if you are alone, but I'm not with you. It's the BRAND that is expanding to include these cars. The cars aren't being turned into 4 doors, SUV's whatever. What I can't stand is when Porsche ruins the 911 by coming out with the ridiculously huge and soft 991.

[nahtnoj]

What I can't stand is when Porsche ruins the 911 by coming out with the ridiculously huge and soft 991.

Yet another reason to not like the Chinese.

[Too Tall]

+1 The new Porsche 911s are awful. They got soft, pretty and way too involved with creature comforts. I'm really not sure what the point of a radio is in a 911 for that matter...oooooooo.

[rydesteel]

C7 Corvette, 1LT, Z51, magnetic ride control, performance exhaust, 50/50 weight distribution and a TON of fun to drive for about $65,000. Before you get Snarky... drive one it's a different car than the previous generation. It's not an old mans sport's car anymore.

[sk_tle]

The Corvette is one of the very few modern cars which is lighter than its previous iteration. I like that and it says a lot about the thinking and engineering behind it.

[roseyscot]

We just leased a 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid that has an E-Charge mode (one of the gazillion buttons between the seats). This charges the onboard battery via more aggressive application of the regenerative brakes and IC engine powering a generator over about 20-30 miles of regular driving. It works, although it is a bit (ok, a lot) disconcerting to get out of the car after even normal driving and take in the unmistakable smell of brakes and warm electronic parts. The first time this happened I wondered for a moment if the car had somehow let me drive with the parking brake on. Also, after a weekend with the car I'm not quite convinced that I want to save the earth with a 4800lb hybrid sports sedan. Compared to the Tesla it feels prehistoric (the process of the car deciding between IC or electric and PDK pondering 1st or 2nd gear seems extremely clumsy) and SLOW. It also sounds completely uninspiring. The brake feel got lost in the translation too, as blindfolded you'd never peg the soft initial touch as Porsche-esque. Maybe it just needs some break-in time.

You realized all these downfalls AFTER signing a $800(?) per month lease? Is there a money back guarantee or something?

[Too Tall]

You realized all these downfalls AFTER signing a $800(?) per month lease? Is there a money back guarantee or something?

Hey no fair kicking a man while he's in confession ;)

[davids]

You realized all these downfalls AFTER signing a $800(?) per month lease? Is there a money back guarantee or something?

I think when he says "we" he means his business. He works in the industry if I recall correctly.