Essential Options
#17
08-13-2012, 09:03 PM
Revised after reading others people's responses:
My list of essentials are Adaptive Bi-Xenon, Rear view camera, PASM, Sport Chrono, Ventilated and heated seats, Bose and Entry & Drive. Isn't the PDK standard on all models?
My list of essentials are Adaptive Bi-Xenon, Rear view camera, PASM, Sport Chrono, Ventilated and heated seats, Bose and Entry & Drive. Isn't the PDK standard on all models?
#18
08-13-2012, 09:49 PM
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Of course, if money is no object get 'em all!
Essential? Here is my list:
Burmester/sat radio
Backup cam
Break resistant thermal glass
18 way seats (I have standard, regret it on long drives)
Heated seats/steering wheel
Adaptive cruise control
Bi-xenon headlights
4-way climate control
Fold down rear seats with ski pass-through
Sport plus
Sport exhaust (GTS would be ideal)
Everything else is desirable but not essential...my opinion of course!
Essential? Here is my list:
Burmester/sat radio
Backup cam
Break resistant thermal glass
18 way seats (I have standard, regret it on long drives)
Heated seats/steering wheel
Adaptive cruise control
Bi-xenon headlights
4-way climate control
Fold down rear seats with ski pass-through
Sport plus
Sport exhaust (GTS would be ideal)
Everything else is desirable but not essential...my opinion of course!
#20
08-14-2012, 12:18 PM
To add to this: The rear camera is placed in such a place that when you park after driving in the rain, you see absolutely nothing, its full of mud and waterdrops every time. Thats when the wiper also becomes handy.
#21
08-14-2012, 12:20 PM
If you don't live in a place where it rains a lot, then maybe it's not "essential" it sounds like?
#24
08-15-2012, 03:53 PM
Evo magazine voted the Panamera S with a manual gearbox as clearly the best panamera. The press car was like the only ever manual gearbox car delivered to the uk, but it is optional.
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evoc...al_review.html
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evoc...al_review.html
#25
08-15-2012, 08:09 PM
Certainly what is essential changes significantly according to your budget. Some options are great additions but in the end you use them very little and the cost benefit makes you wonder if they are indeed "essential."
I went through everything that has been cited here and here are my 5 cents on each:
Rear view camera - a nice option. it really helps although the quality of the camera is the worst I've ever seen.
Sport Chrono - nice but far from essential.
Ventilated and heated seats - will really depend on where you live.
Entry & Drive - nice but I had on my first Panamera but decided not to add to the newer one. I did not think it was that worth it.
Burmester - will really depend on how much of an audiophile you are. To me Bose is more than enough. Certainly Burmester is better but not worth the price tag.
PASM/PDCC - great features that tremendously improve the quality of the ride. But you can certainly live without it and still have a reasonable ride.
Shadow trim - improves the looks a lot.
Emblem delete - not sure if I like it.
Shadow head lights - makes it look much nicer but I cannot say it is essential.
Alcantara head liner - also nice. but far from essential.
Lane changing assist - I thought I would not like the feature but I now sure love it. I can almost say it is essential as it helps with the big blind spots.
14 way and 18 way seats - there is noticeable improvement from the standard seats. Although the standard seats are not bad at all.
Turbo II wheels - the other wheels are way too small for my taste. I can say it is essential unless you will add aftermarket ones later.
Sport Design front - pretty, but pretty expensive.
Sports exhaust - great. but far from essential.
PDK - I think it is standard at least in US
Bi-xenon headlights - great addition.
Rear wiper - I do not use it but agree it will depend on location and weather.
Adaptive cruise control - I do not have it and never used it. The importance of the feature rests on your driving habits.
AWD - weather and location will tell its need
Rubber mats - same
Soft luggage cover - too ugly. although more practical than the hard cover.
Rear window shades + rear airbags - obviously will depend on who rides in the back.
Trunk rubber protection - nice addition.
Auto dimming mirror - essential. The standard mirror is horrible.
In a few words, I feel the essentials are Turbo II wheels, Lane change assist, auto dimming mirror, Bose, rearview camera,
I went through everything that has been cited here and here are my 5 cents on each:
Rear view camera - a nice option. it really helps although the quality of the camera is the worst I've ever seen.
Sport Chrono - nice but far from essential.
Ventilated and heated seats - will really depend on where you live.
Entry & Drive - nice but I had on my first Panamera but decided not to add to the newer one. I did not think it was that worth it.
Burmester - will really depend on how much of an audiophile you are. To me Bose is more than enough. Certainly Burmester is better but not worth the price tag.
PASM/PDCC - great features that tremendously improve the quality of the ride. But you can certainly live without it and still have a reasonable ride.
Shadow trim - improves the looks a lot.
Emblem delete - not sure if I like it.
Shadow head lights - makes it look much nicer but I cannot say it is essential.
Alcantara head liner - also nice. but far from essential.
Lane changing assist - I thought I would not like the feature but I now sure love it. I can almost say it is essential as it helps with the big blind spots.
14 way and 18 way seats - there is noticeable improvement from the standard seats. Although the standard seats are not bad at all.
Turbo II wheels - the other wheels are way too small for my taste. I can say it is essential unless you will add aftermarket ones later.
Sport Design front - pretty, but pretty expensive.
Sports exhaust - great. but far from essential.
PDK - I think it is standard at least in US
Bi-xenon headlights - great addition.
Rear wiper - I do not use it but agree it will depend on location and weather.
Adaptive cruise control - I do not have it and never used it. The importance of the feature rests on your driving habits.
AWD - weather and location will tell its need
Rubber mats - same
Soft luggage cover - too ugly. although more practical than the hard cover.
Rear window shades + rear airbags - obviously will depend on who rides in the back.
Trunk rubber protection - nice addition.
Auto dimming mirror - essential. The standard mirror is horrible.
In a few words, I feel the essentials are Turbo II wheels, Lane change assist, auto dimming mirror, Bose, rearview camera,
#27
08-16-2012, 06:42 AM
Haha... I wished I could have a M2 Browning machine gun coming out of the sunroof, a must if you live in some parts of the world. 
#28
08-16-2012, 07:11 PM
1. Sport Chrono (Sport Plus).... it's a Porsche!
2. Air Suspension
3. Full Leather interior.... Looks like a $100K+ car then on the inside
4. Bose surround
5. 20" Turbo II
6. Sport Exhaust
7. 14-way or better seats...
8. Back-up camera
9. AWD
2. Air Suspension
3. Full Leather interior.... Looks like a $100K+ car then on the inside
4. Bose surround
5. 20" Turbo II
6. Sport Exhaust
7. 14-way or better seats...
8. Back-up camera
9. AWD
#29
09-23-2012, 09:10 AM
Certainly what is essential changes significantly according to your budget. Some options are great additions but in the end you use them very little and the cost benefit makes you wonder if they are indeed "essential."
I went through everything that has been cited here and here are my 5 cents on each:
Rear view camera - a nice option. it really helps although the quality of the camera is the worst I've ever seen.
Sport Chrono - nice but far from essential.
Ventilated and heated seats - will really depend on where you live.
Entry & Drive - nice but I had on my first Panamera but decided not to add to the newer one. I did not think it was that worth it.
Burmester - will really depend on how much of an audiophile you are. To me Bose is more than enough. Certainly Burmester is better but not worth the price tag.
PASM/PDCC - great features that tremendously improve the quality of the ride. But you can certainly live without it and still have a reasonable ride.
Shadow trim - improves the looks a lot.
Emblem delete - not sure if I like it.
Shadow head lights - makes it look much nicer but I cannot say it is essential.
Alcantara head liner - also nice. but far from essential.
Lane changing assist - I thought I would not like the feature but I now sure love it. I can almost say it is essential as it helps with the big blind spots.
14 way and 18 way seats - there is noticeable improvement from the standard seats. Although the standard seats are not bad at all.
Turbo II wheels - the other wheels are way too small for my taste. I can say it is essential unless you will add aftermarket ones later.
Sport Design front - pretty, but pretty expensive.
Sports exhaust - great. but far from essential.
PDK - I think it is standard at least in US
Bi-xenon headlights - great addition.
Rear wiper - I do not use it but agree it will depend on location and weather.
Adaptive cruise control - I do not have it and never used it. The importance of the feature rests on your driving habits.
AWD - weather and location will tell its need
Rubber mats - same
Soft luggage cover - too ugly. although more practical than the hard cover.
Rear window shades + rear airbags - obviously will depend on who rides in the back.
Trunk rubber protection - nice addition.
Auto dimming mirror - essential. The standard mirror is horrible.
In a few words, I feel the essentials are Turbo II wheels, Lane change assist, auto dimming mirror, Bose, rearview camera,
I went through everything that has been cited here and here are my 5 cents on each:
Rear view camera - a nice option. it really helps although the quality of the camera is the worst I've ever seen.
Sport Chrono - nice but far from essential.
Ventilated and heated seats - will really depend on where you live.
Entry & Drive - nice but I had on my first Panamera but decided not to add to the newer one. I did not think it was that worth it.
Burmester - will really depend on how much of an audiophile you are. To me Bose is more than enough. Certainly Burmester is better but not worth the price tag.
PASM/PDCC - great features that tremendously improve the quality of the ride. But you can certainly live without it and still have a reasonable ride.
Shadow trim - improves the looks a lot.
Emblem delete - not sure if I like it.
Shadow head lights - makes it look much nicer but I cannot say it is essential.
Alcantara head liner - also nice. but far from essential.
Lane changing assist - I thought I would not like the feature but I now sure love it. I can almost say it is essential as it helps with the big blind spots.
14 way and 18 way seats - there is noticeable improvement from the standard seats. Although the standard seats are not bad at all.
Turbo II wheels - the other wheels are way too small for my taste. I can say it is essential unless you will add aftermarket ones later.
Sport Design front - pretty, but pretty expensive.
Sports exhaust - great. but far from essential.
PDK - I think it is standard at least in US
Bi-xenon headlights - great addition.
Rear wiper - I do not use it but agree it will depend on location and weather.
Adaptive cruise control - I do not have it and never used it. The importance of the feature rests on your driving habits.
AWD - weather and location will tell its need
Rubber mats - same
Soft luggage cover - too ugly. although more practical than the hard cover.
Rear window shades + rear airbags - obviously will depend on who rides in the back.
Trunk rubber protection - nice addition.
Auto dimming mirror - essential. The standard mirror is horrible.
In a few words, I feel the essentials are Turbo II wheels, Lane change assist, auto dimming mirror, Bose, rearview camera,
#30
09-25-2012, 07:24 PM
Lane change assist is absolutely a must. Huge blind spots on these things. Didn't think I wanted it at first, but now realize after driving on the highway daily how important this option is for the Panamera.