I currently own a 2006 911 C4S and it's no longer practical for my daily driver. I have 3 kids (5,4,1yrs) and I need something my wife can drive. I have the 4&5 year old in the 911 know but my wife doesn't drive manual and I'm looking for something that she can drive but I can still have fun driving.

NOTE* I do not need to fit all my kids in the car so I'm o.k. with the 4 seater. I just need more room.

2010 Pan 4S- has every option possible but is $5K more and has 50,000km
2011 Cayenne - Fully loaded with 25,000km

Both cars have warranty and are NOT porsche approved pre-owned.

I have never driven either vehicles and I'm really torn with which one I like most. They are both very different and I thought I was sold on the Pan but the more I see the cayenne, the more I start to like it.

Thoughts???

 

The Panamera is so sexy.. I wouldn't factor in the price as it is just 5k when yoru talking about something so expensive. You already mention you don't need to fit them all in at the same time. I have driven both the Cayenne and the Panamera at one of Porsche's roadshow event here and if I had it my way.. I would choose the Panamera but I have a different goal which is to pack things and tow and do it in style yet have the performacne that's why I opted for the Cayenne Turbo.

I know it's not much of an answer but.. just my opinion

I would say weigh out your pro and cons, if it's something you want to have fun driving, I think you'll ultimately have more fun driving the Panamera. I already have a 4 door car and I don't have an SUV and I'm someone that's looking to diversify what I own.. so I opt for an SUV and.. with an SUV there isn't many choices out there.. such as.. Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes, Acura, Infiniti, Audi, Porsche and etc.. the selection for SUV is only so many and.. well when it came down to wanting the worlds fastest production SUV I was met with the Cayenne Turbo

Larry

 

I've owned both, and am currently in my second Cayenne (2013 Diesel, first was a 2006 Turbo). I loved the Panamera, although decide to go back to the Cayenne as it served more practical purposes (additional seat / room for the kids, more cargo, towing ability, etc...). The Panamera is a great car, but is more of a 4 door sports car (best sedan i've ever owned), where the Cayenne is just an amazing SUV.

While the interiors are very similar, the driving style / dynamics are obviously completely different. I'd test drive both, and see which one your wife (or you) like more Either way, you can't go wrong!

 

+1 on the previous comments. I think living in Toronto I would lean towards the Cayenne easier to haul ski/snowboard equipment during the winter and a lot more versatile all the way around. Your best bet is going to be to test drive both and see what one you and your wife like the best. The best of luck and keep us posted on what you end up choosing.

 

+2

Plus this is the cayenne forum so you will get more pro cayenne feedbacks. I picked the cayenne for its usability as well, but the Panamera is an awesome car to drive.

 

Just MAKE SURE you go S. I have a 2011 CS and truly dig it. I get lots of comments and have a freaking blast driving it.

 

Well, went to the local Porsche dealer today to take a good look at them both. I also had the chance to test drive the Panamera S.

All I could say is that it's unbelievably refined. Gorgeous car and fun to drive. It did feel huge but I was really impressed. However, I was equally impressed with the Cayenne they had on the showroom.

There's no question the Cayenne is more practical and I would possibly use it for road trips with kids. Ski trips and possibly towing but my wife does drive a big escalade that's more suitable for our 3 kids.

My next step is to test drive the Cayenne and go from there. I would want fully loaded and at least an S.

I did think that I would get Cayenne supporters here but that's why I posted the same question in the Panamera forum.

Thanks for all the posts, I will keep you posted.

 

If you want fun and practical, go Cayenne GTS, best of both worlds.

 

I ran into a similar dilemma. One factor that is huge is that the Cayenne is about $30k cheaper on comparable models. I went for the Cayenne Turbo instead of a Panamera GTS because I can use it for virtually anything... snowy days, camping trips, grocery shopping, etc. I felt like the Panamera's cargo space was far too small to be of much use. Another thing I liked about the Cayenne is that its very low key. You can drive it without attracting much attention, whereas the Panamera is a bit more dramatic.

 

I would go Cayenne S. Panamera is ok but given you are getting out of the current one for practical reasons, why opt for just something with additional doors! If you still have the Escalade however, thats a different story.

 

I went for the cayenne when I was considering the panamera.

I am considering a panamera at the moment as well. I will have to go with the turbo at least bc I am so used to that with my CTT.

Amazing cars, BOTH!

 

Drove a Panamera for 6 weeks while the Dealer was sorting out a brake issue.
It is lighter and more responsive and has more of a fun factor. As Edward mentioned it gets attention and you have to decide if that's a positive or not. I would opt for a Cayenne because of the seating position. In the Panamera you sit Way down low. The Cayenne is adjustable and even at its lowest is a more comfortable height for me.

 

.... Get rid of the Escalade and get both Cayenne and Panamera!

- once you have the Cayenne nobody wants to drive the Escalade anymore
- the Panamera is a great bigger 911 so you keep your sports car experience
- don't worry about the money, life is too short anyway (and think about the fuel savings from the departure of the Escalade, the additional space in the garage, your support of the economy, the benefits for the environment, the smiles on your families faces and last not least world peace!

 

I have had both. If I were you and had enough cash, I would try to get both the Cayenne as the SUV and Panamera as the daily driver sport sedan. At my point in life, I decided to do do the opposite, get a new 991 Carrera S for my summer fun driving and the Cayenne Diesel for my winter/daily driver for areas I would not take a sport car. The torque with the eight speed tip believe that you are in a S and the mileage is a plus.