Obviously a test drive is required to really answer the question, but based on reviews and specs what do you think?

Personally, I love the idea. I've always been jealous of markets outside the U.S. (namely Europe) that offer buyers the ability to specify a sporty chassis (i.e. an M sport BMW) on models other than the top of the range. With lower - and better distributed - weight, the V6 Panameras should actually be the best handling and most nimble of the lot? (and thus ahead of an S class, an A8, 7 series or any SUV in that regard).

I understand that an entry level model will likely dilute brand image and certainly resale value, but no cars in this segment have solid residuals anyway.

Whereas the 1st gen. V6 Cayenne, IMHO, offers unacceptably poor power and acceleration, I think the V6 Cayenne should fare much better based on the numbers published to date.

I wouldn't be surprised to see many a V6 replace the Cayenne (mostly Ss) as the wife's car. I know I wish my wife would agree to ditch the X5 for a non-SUV

DRP

 

In terms of handling, our Pan4 is way ahead of S-class and 7-series that I've driven.

For the same money, and if you don't need a 5 seaters, there is no reason to buy other sedans over a Panamera if you ask me.

My wife loves it so much that she wouldn't let me drive it.

 

I had the opportunity to drive a Pan-V6 today and wanted to give a couple of impressions.

First and Foremost: Thumbs Up.


Let me preface this with the comment that I immediately pressed the 'Sport' button, so I have no reference (and no interest) in how it drives in normal mode. I drive my P2S in Sport 90% of the time, Sport Plus the rest.

Acceleration:
For the most part, there is no discernible difference in ride/feel between the V6 & V8. The major difference is low-speed and high-speed acceleration. Obviously, with less torque available, there is less pull at those low speeds as well as less power available to move through the 100mph marker. But once the car gets moving, it has plenty of pull and acceleration with little difference in feeling the pull of the car.

And lets be honest, how many times are these cars going to be blowing well past 100? I do get mine up there a few times a week when I see some open road on the tollway, but I always have to slam on the brakes before I hit the next bend/hill/entry so I don't end up in Johnny Laws backseat.

Now, acceleration off the line isn't as powerful than the P2S, and you can feel it, but that was expected.

Cornering:
Even though the engine is only 67 lbs lighter, all of that weight is removed from the front axle and forward, so it makes a noticeable difference in handling. When I take corners aggressively in my P2S, I can feel the understeer and have to either plan accordingly or adjust during the turn (usually be additional braking). The V6 just handles these turns better and takes the steering input as directed.

Sound:
The one area that I was expecting me to be completely turned off was the engine/exhaust note. Most large(r) cars with V6 engines sounds as if they're struggling, with weak exhaust notes. Given that this 6 is simply the 4.8 with 2 cylinders chopped off, it actually sounds quite similar to the V8 and doesn't give the sensation of struggling to move the vehicle. Unless you have Sport Exhaust, the S/4S doesn't have the most aggressive exhaust note in the first place anyway...

Verdict:
I'm slightly disappointed that I didn't wait 3 months and buy the 6. There isn't enough difference in ride/feel for the $20K+ difference in price (although some of that difference is in options that I have in mine), and I'd much rather have a lesser-optioned Panamera V6 with an extra $20K to use against a Boxster Spyder or used 997. I still love my P2S and enjoy the hell out of the V8, but the Panamera V6 is that good.

 

I'm surprised more members aren't responding..

 

great post Wj -

i was up at the dealer on the weekend and they were moving around and cleaning a couple P's; quiet exhaust note but must say they were only shuffling them about.

 

what I like is that the Panamera gets a proper Porsche engine and not some VW VR6 like the Cayenne

 

i thought it was the same engine as the 3.6L VW R36 engine that's also found in the 08+ cayenne v6, which a great engine anyway? why would they bother making a new engine when they could just use that one?

 

I'm not a huge fan of the Pana 4. I saw one yesterday, and for 84K they should have given it more power. If it wants to compete with the others (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) it should have just a little more umph. I know they have the Panamera 4s, but that was selling for 115K, maybe they should have not made such a dramatic drop in power?

 

easier to make it work with the Panamera's gear box and AWD system
since the new V6 is just the same V8 with 2 cylinder chopped off

 

+rep Crea, thank you for such a quick reply! i'm actually looking at an '10 P2S in Texas for $85,000 that only has 5,000miles.. good deal?

 

depends on a lot of variables, no?

 

ahhh no, actually the 955 used the VW 3.2L "VR6" engine and the 957 and the Panamera use the 3.6L VW VR6 engine... the VR6 is a very well respected design and is both sturdy, powerful and efficient.

But no fear... they're both VERY good engines and most here will acknowledge that the VW sourced engines have had less issues than the PAG engines like coolant tubes, oil use and such...

 

I test drove a P4 last weekend. Liked it so much I spent way over my planned budget for the wife's new DD.

 

Wow, that said a lot coming from an S owner! Thanks for the comment.

 

The VR6 is "a narrow-angle engine with undersquare cylinders, so it proved too tall and skinny to fit under the low, sleek hood of the 2011 Porsche Panamera."

http://www.insideline.com/porsche/pa...rst-drive.html