A Female Version of Kazuo Shimizu?

The other day, my husband showed my blog to his younger brother, who’s also a car enthusiast. Apparently, he said:

“This is basically Kazuo Shimizu, isn’t it? lol”

Fair enough… It’s obvious from this blog that I’m a Porsche fan. So, while I’m nowhere near as knowledgeable about cars as my husband, who’s a full-on gearhead, I’m probably more interested in them than the average woman. That got me wondering:

“If I had to choose one Porsche—the 911, Boxster, or Panamera—which would I pick?”

…It just popped into my head. (What kind of situation would that even be? lol)

How Much Have I Driven Each Porsche?

For context, here’s my experience behind the wheel of each model:

【911】Driven once; rode in the passenger seat for five days (Five days, lol)
On a trip to Germany, I spent plenty of time riding shotgun in my husband’s 911 as we covered the Autobahn and the Romantic Road. I’ve also taken one test drive at a dealership.

【Boxster manual】Driven five times; ridden as a passenger about ten times
My husband’s Boxster GTS has a manual transmission, and I still can’t manage a hill start. I’ve just about managed to drive it along the Royu Driveway. I’ve never even shifted into fifth gear. (Yikes!)

【Panamera】Two years of driving
I’ve driven a late-model 970 Panamera Edition and our current 971 Panamera Turbo on all sorts of roads. Between the two, I’ve probably covered around 20,000 kilometers.

Of course, judging from that experience alone would make this a very Panamera-biased comparison. And “911” covers a lot of different models—standard coupe, Targa, Cabriolet, Turbo, 4S, and more. The Boxster experience also varies depending on whether it has a manual or PDK transmission, and whether it’s a 718 or 981.

But if I tried to account for every variation, I’d never finish. So I’ll compare the versions I’ve actually driven: the 911 Carrera 4S, the manual Boxster GTS, and the Panamera Turbo.

How Do They Stack Up?

① Ease of driving

911:★★★★★
Boxster:★★★
Panamera:★★★★
(The Boxster gets a lower score because it’s a manual, and I’ve never really driven it well. The 911 is easy to drive—the size, handling, and throttle response are all fantastic. The Panamera feels intimidating at first because it’s so big.)

② Maneuverability

911:★★★★★
Boxster:★★★★★
Panamera:★
(The Panamera is over five meters long and nearly two meters wide, so it’s a big car.)

③ Open-road thrill

911:★★★★
Boxster:★★★★★
Panamera:★★★★
(Nothing beats the thrill of an open-top car—the feeling of driving with the wind all around you.)

④ Tailgating, being cut off, or pressured to move over on the highway (5 = never)

911:★★★★★
Boxster:★★★★★
Panamera:★★★★★
(Actually, I’ve never been tailgated while driving a Porsche.)

⑤ How often cars move over in the highway passing lane, even when there’s plenty of space ahead

911:★★★★
Boxster:★★★★★
Panamera:★★★★
(I feel like drivers move over for the Boxster much more readily than for the Panamera. Maybe it’s because the Boxster sounds louder.)

⑥ Engine sound

911:★★★★
Boxster:★★★★★
Panamera:★★★★★
(The Boxster GTS has a manual, so I love that “brrr-brrr-brrr” sound when I downshift.The Panamera Turbo sounds fantastic under acceleration, on a cold start, and with its deep bass rumble. But this one really comes down to personal taste.)

⑦ Passenger-seat comfort

911:★★★★
Boxster:★★★★
Panamera:★★★★★
(After getting used to the Panamera’s space and smooth ride, the 911 and Boxster feel a little more vibration-prone—and I notice just how close I am to the driver!)

⑧ Mountain roads

911:★★★★
Boxster:★★★★★
Panamera:★★★★
(I once read an article about someone getting really carsick on mountain roads in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. That’s never been an issue in a Porsche.)

⑨ How much my daughters like them

911:We don’t own one
Boxster:★★★★
Panamera:★★★★★
(They seem to love the Boxster because the roof comes down and it’s so much fun. The Panamera is spacious and comfortable.)

⑩ Rear-seat comfort

911:★
Boxster:No rear seats
Panamera:★★★★★
(The 911’s rear seats are incredibly cramped. I doubt they’d work for kids once they reach the upper grades of elementary school.)

⑫ Rural highways

911:★★★★
Boxster:★★★
Panamera:★★★★★
(I feel like the 911 and Panamera have a similar ride. The Boxster, on the other hand, seems happiest on winding roads and mountain routes.)

⑬ Highway driving

911:★★★★
Boxster:★★★★
Panamera:★★★★★
(The Panamera is unbeatable on the highway. It’s like riding in the Green Car on the Shinkansen Nozomi—the bullet train’s premium-class seating. Though, to be honest, I haven’t ridden in one that often.))

⑭ Around town

911:★★★★
Boxster:★
Panamera:★★★
(Driving the manual Boxster was a challenge every time I stopped at a traffic light. That’s entirely down to my driving skills, of course… The Panamera simply gets terrible fuel economy. Around town, it shows 4.0, but since the display doesn’t show anything lower, the actual figure might be closer to 3.))

⑮ Parking

911:★★★★
Boxster:★★★
Panamera:★
(The Boxster sits a little low, so I’m nervous about parking lots with wheel-locking barriers. The Panamera won’t fit in spaces under 1,900 mm wide, which rules out most city parking garages. Finding a spot is a real challenge.) 

⑯ Overall

911:★★★★
Boxster:★★★★
Panamera:★★★★★

Ultimately, it comes down to what you want from a car—and your family situation makes a big difference, too. Would you choose the 911: easy to drive, comfortable on the highway, and fun on mountain roads, but with rear seats that are almost nonexistent? The Boxster: a fun, open-top roadster that’s a blast on mountain roads and winding routes, but seats only two? Or the Panamera: thirsty, tricky to park, and not especially maneuverable, but spacious enough for four, comfortable on the highway, fun on mountain roads, and capable of delivering all kinds of driving enjoyment?

That’s how I’d sum it up. For me, being able to enjoy a drive with the whole family matters most, so I’d choose the Panamera. Next time, I’ll ask my husband how he’d compare and rate the three.