I Love the Panamera

On this blog, I’ve shared my personal take on what a wonderful car the Panamera is. But when people ask, “Why do you love the Panamera so much?” I find it surprisingly hard to put into words. I tried to explain it in an earlier post:

Its commanding presence in a parking lot,
the confidence of a true heavyweight,
its acceleration as it merges onto the highway,
the sound of the engine,
the way the handling makes you feel at one with the car,
the way it responds faithfully to every press of the accelerator,
the sure-footed feel and stability,
the sense of its substantial size,
and the way it never lets that weight get in the way of an enjoyable drive.
There’s even an atmosphere that makes you feel as if you’ve somehow become a more impressive person just by getting behind the wheel…
…It’s amazing. It’s almost too good to be true.
Sure, it has a wide turning circle,
it won’t fit into every parking space,
it’s not fuel-efficient,
and narrow roads can be a challenge.
But it’s such a wonderful car that all of that pales in comparison.

I realize that’s a pretty subjective take. And because I’ve always admired the Panamera, I sometimes wonder if I’m seeing it through rose-tinted glasses and rating it a hundred times higher than it deserves.

Then, just as I was thinking about this, my husband emailed me a link to an article.

An Article Comparing Three Cars

He sent nothing but the URL—not even a note. So I took it to mean, “You should read this” (haha). I opened the link and found an article from AUTOCAR JAPAN.

AUTOCAR JAPAN launched in 2003 as the Japanese edition of the British motoring magazine Autocar, which has more than a century of history. It now publishes online only.

The article compared three cars: the Porsche Panamera, BMW M6 Gran Coupé, and Mercedes-Benz AMG S63 Coupé. The opening line made me laugh:

“In this merciless test, the newly launched Porsche Panamera is immediately pitted against its German rivals. This is the second part of our comparison.”

“Merciless”? (-_-) After bringing together the top sports coupes from each manufacturer, AUTOCAR JAPAN came to that verdict. It reassured me that perhaps my own impressions weren’t so far off the mark after all.

The article wrapped up with these words:

The M6 offers greater satisfaction in terms of performance and is the archetypal super-saloon, while the S63’s comfort and luxury set the standard for what a high-end car should aspire to. But if we have to pick a winner—and it may seem an odd choice—we’d go for the Panamera.
For AUTOCAR, a car’s overall quality isn’t enough. What matters most is how much it can entertain the driver.
The Panamera is a sports car.

…The Panamera is a sports car.
…The Panamera is a sports car.

…That’s it! The Panamera is a sports car!!

The Panamera Is a Sports Car!

The Porsche Panamera, BMW M6 Gran Coupé, and Mercedes-Benz AMG S63 Coupé. It’s not a matter of one being simply better or worse than the others; it all depends on what you want from a car.

If you want a smoother, more luxurious ride, the S63 is likely the one for you. For sportiness and nimble handling, you might choose the M6. But if you’re after a firm, sporty ride with a touch of luxury, the Panamera is the clear choice.

I’ve often felt that:

There’s no other luxury saloon quite like the Panamera: it’s this much fun to drive, makes you feel at one with the car, inspires you to keep going for miles, and still delivers a luxurious ride.

(Though I’ve never actually driven an S63 AMG or an M6 Coupé, haha.)

Now I’d really like to try the S63 AMG and M6, too. I remember seeing an S63 AMG stopped at a red light, then hearing it launch like a rocket as soon as the light turned green. The sound was so incredible that I spent some time looking it up and thinking, “The S63 AMG is seriously cool!”

Taking a three-year-old and a baby to a dealership and asking for a test drive would be quite a challenge. But maybe I could find some time on a weekend soon and give it a try. I’ll ask my husband.

＊Source: Sports Coupe Showdown: Part Two — Porsche Panamera Turbo vs BMW M6 Gran Coupé vs Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupé – First Drive | AUTOCAR JAPAN