One Last Drive in the Panamera

This winter, I ordered a 911 Cabriolet. Because Porsche’s factory had temporarily stopped due to COVID-19, I thought, “the delivery will probably be quite delayed,” but production surprisingly started earlier than expected. It arrived in Japan by August, and the delivery is scheduled for around mid-September.

It’s finally happening…

Along with the delivery of the 911 Cabriolet, we will be saying goodbye to the Panamera currently at our home. I’m about to return to my parents’ home for childbirth, and by the time I come back, our family will have grown by one. Since the Panamera seats four, it won’t be able to accommodate our family anymore, so recently, we decided to take one last drive nearby as a family in the Panamera.

Having had several opportunities to test drive SUVs lately, riding in the Panamera made me once again think, “after all, the Panamera really is a sports car.”

The Panamera is generally categorized as a luxury sedan, and its ride comfort is excellent. However, it still offers a strong connection to the road, with a very firm suspension. When you turn the steering wheel, it responds precisely without any play, and the brakes grip powerfully and confidently.

During this drive, we even took some mountain roads, and my husband said,

It corners aggressively, it’s amazing — the Panamera really is a sports car. Also, the ride in the passenger seat is just as comfortable as the driver’s seat. Honestly, it’s hard to let go of this car; I wish we could keep it forever.

He sounded quite reluctant to part with it.

Unchanging Porsche

The other day, my husband and I went to test drive a Mercedes-Benz GLS. After the test drive, he said,

The old Mercedes-Benz S-Class used to be much more luxurious, with a smoothness like driving on a carpet. The SL (R129) I used to drive had such a comfortable, plush ride that I never wanted to stop cruising on the highway. Compared to that, the GLS’s ride felt really light.

Compared to that, Porsche might be a brand whose driving feel changes very little over time.

Of course, from the perspective of owners of air-cooled Porsches, modern Porsches have become lighter and easier to drive, with lighter clutches in manuals, which might feel a bit lacking. But still, I think Porsche’s suspension is amazing even today.

While the interior can feel cheap for the price and the lack of options can be surprising (“Really? Seriously? (-_-)”), once you drive it, you realize they invest a lot in the suspension and invisible details. That hasn’t changed since the old days.

When we previously owned the 970 Panamera Edition, we said, “There’s nothing to complain about with the 970; it drives so well. There’s no way the 971 could top this!” But when we test drove the 971, just seconds after starting, we felt, “It’s completely different from the previous model. It really feels like a 911 just made bigger!” and were deeply impressed.

Whether it’s the 911 or the Cayenne, every test drive amazes us with their evolution.

Manufacturers like this are becoming rare nowadays. Of course, as I’ve said many times, the standard equipment is surprisingly sparse, and the interior luxury doesn’t match the price at all… but for those who prioritize driving performance, Porsche has remained a brand that never disappoints.

Riding the Panamera one last time made me reflect on that.

I remember back in 2015, when I first drove a Porsche (Panamera) at the dealer and was amazed, “What is this? It’s completely different from any car I’ve driven before!”

A photo from that time. My driving position and how I held the steering wheel were all over the place lol.

From there, I was captivated by the Panamera, it came to our home, I became interested in Porsche, and this blog started…

Soon, we will say goodbye to the Panamera that was the starting point for everything, and if we ever welcome another Panamera, it will probably be long after our child has grown up.

That thought makes me a little sad, but I hope to continue enjoying our own Porsche and car life in our way.

That said, maybe I’ll ask the dealer to let me test drive a Panamera again sometime…