Why the Right Driving Position Matters

Yesterday, I wrote a blog post making the point that many people in Japan don’t pay much attention to their driving position. Just as golf and tennis have proper form, driving does too—and it’s worth learning how to get it right. One of this blog’s readers left the following comment:

I’m really particular about my driving position! When I get in the car, I start by adjusting how much my knees are bent.
I press the clutch pedal and set the seat so my knee stays slightly bent.
Then I adjust things so my elbow is bent when I grip the steering wheel at the very top.
There are other things to consider, too. I have a semi-bucket seat at the moment, but eventually I’d like to get a full bucket seat.

You can’t really push hard on mountain roads if your driving position isn’t right.
You need to feel what the car is doing through your back and hips ^^

That’s fantastic! Whether you want to enjoy a spirited drive on mountain roads or simply drive safely, take a moment to adjust your driving position before starting the engine whenever you get in the car. I think they taught us that at driving school, too…(Though that was so long ago, I’ve forgotten.) It would be nice if refresher classes for renewing your license covered basics like this, too.

Deliveries of the New Panamera Are Underway

Lately, I’ve started spotting the new Panamera around town. It looks several times better on the road than it does at the dealership. My husband has already seen quite a few around Osaka and near our home, so the first Panameras ordered early have probably arrived in Japan, with deliveries now getting underway at Porsche Centers.

As I mentioned briefly in an earlier post, my husband and I went to test-drive the new Panamera 4S around March this year. Compared with the Panamera Edition we currently own, the 4S felt much lighter off the line, with a lively takeoff and a wonderfully satisfying engine note from behind as it accelerated. The design was also very refined, with the look of a 911 scaled up.

Next Up: A Test Drive in the Panamera Turbo

A few weeks later, we went back to test-drive the new Panamera Turbo. “We just drove the Panamera 4S, so there’s no real need to test this one too…” I told my husband. But he said, “We have the chance, so let’s see for ourselves how the 4S and Turbo compare.” And off we went to the Porsche Center.

When we arrived, H, our sales rep, kindly suggested:

“Since you’re here to drive the Panamera Turbo, I’d love for you to experience its acceleration on the highway!”

So my husband took the wheel first and headed for the nearest interchange. We went through the ETC toll gate and drove along at the legal speed for a while. Then, as we reached a nice, straight stretch, H said, “The road’s clear now, so please give it a try and accelerate!” My husband replied, “Sure, I’ll accelerate.”

And in the very next instant…

I was shoved back into my seat with such force that I actually held my breath. It probably lasted only two or three seconds, but I was so stunned I couldn’t speak. Then my husband said:

I barely pressed the accelerator—maybe a centimeter—and we were already doing 1*0 km/h…

“Seriously?!” The Panamera was so composed at speed that it didn’t feel quite as fast as it was. It wasn’t until I heard the number that I realized just how ferocious the acceleration had been. No wonder—it’s a car that can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds.

I Never Got to Experience the Panamera Turbo’s Full Potential

After we exited the highway, it was my turn to drive. But having just experienced that incredible acceleration(and knowing my husband had only pressed the accelerator about a centimeter), I was far too nervous. Despite concentrating as hard as I could, I crept along for the rest of the drive back to the dealership.

I didn’t get even the slightest glimpse of what the Panamera Turbo can do… (-_-)

What a waste… I’d been given the chance to drive a Panamera Turbo packed with incredible performance. And that morning, we’d been casually saying, “It’d be great if we could feel the difference from the 4S.” But I didn’t just fail to experience the difference—I was completely out of my depth, and the test drive was over before I knew it. I was left feeling utterly defeated. Then, feeling a little dejected, I got out of the car and settled into a seat at the Porsche Center. As I finally caught my breath, I noticed something.

Wait… why does my jaw feel so tired? (-_-)

That’s right. I’d been clenching my teeth the entire time I was driving, without even realizing it. The new Panamera Turbo… what a machine. I wish I’d been better prepared before going for the test drive. It was an astonishing car, combining almost frightening power and high-speed stability with a luxurious ride.

↓↓

Later, once I’d had a chance to calm down, I wrote a somewhat more useful test-drive review.

新型パナメーラ4Sと新型パナメーラターボ ー 試乗比較レビュー