Panamera and Boxster

Come to think of it, I haven’t written much about the Panamera on the blog lately. Since our home parking space only fits two cars, we rent several other parking spots elsewhere. And because the Panamera has been parked for a while at a spot a bit farther from home, it hasn’t seen much use recently.

However, to avoid the battery dying, the other day we decided, “Maybe we should swap the Panamera and Boxster…” so I went to switch them while out on an errand.

Our Boxster is a 981 GTS, and it’s clearly become more supple and smoother to drive than when it was first delivered. Compared to the GT3, it’s vastly more comfortable. That day, I drove the Boxster on the Hanshin Expressway, and it handled the bumps at road joints smoothly without any unpleasant jolts. It really made me appreciate what a great car it is wherever you drive it.

That said, the Hanshin Expressway has way too many speed cameras, so it wasn’t exactly fun (-_-)

Finally, the Panamera

On the way back from work, I went to pick up the Panamera. Seeing it again after a while in the parking lot, it felt incredibly imposing and even bigger than before. I wondered how it would feel to drive the Panamera right after the Boxster.

First, I was surprised when I started the engine.

Vroooom!!

Our Panamera Turbo has the sport exhaust, so I think it’s one of the loudest engine sounds among all Panamera models. The engine noise was so loud it felt like it was “about the same volume as the Boxster GTS!?”

Maybe it was louder because it hadn’t been driven for a while and it was cold that day.

The first impression when I slowly moved the Panamera was the sheer weight and presence of the car body. It’s incredibly heavy. But not in a sluggish or cumbersome way — more like the dignified presence of a king… I really felt, “this is what a different class of car feels like.”

It’s definitely very different from the Boxster. (The actual weight difference is about 1.3 tons for the Boxster and around 2 tons for the Panamera.)

That said, the Panamera 4S I test drove before felt lighter and more nimble, with a smooth start, so I think this heavy presence is unique to the Panamera Turbo.

Next, I noticed the smoothness of the ride. I mentioned earlier that the 981 Boxster GTS became smoother compared to when it was new, but the Panamera’s smoothness is on a whole different level — more like a velvety smoothness… (I’m terrible at describing this) — truly a luxury sports car.

Of course, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is even smoother and more refined, so compared to such luxury sedans, the Panamera is a bit firmer. But among Porsches, the Panamera’s ride comfort and smoothness really stand out.

The Monster: Panamera Turbo

Also, while the Boxster’s power is quite fun even in the city, the Panamera Turbo offers a different kind of thrill.

Just a slight press on the accelerator lets you experience its powerful acceleration. It feels like you’re only using about 2% of its 1000 units of power, but the immense hidden power gives it a monstrous aura that sends chills down your spine, haha.

Unlike the Boxster, it’s all-wheel drive, so the tires grip the road firmly, giving a strong sense of contact and confidence. (Of course, the Boxster’s grip is also impressive.)

Also, this isn’t just because it’s a Panamera but because of the difference between AT and MT, I was once again amazed at how incredibly smooth the Panamera’s PDK transmission is. The shifts are so seamless it feels like nothing is happening, which made me realize how clumsy I am at driving a manual and feel a bit embarrassed.

Driving a manual is fun, but for amateurs like me, PDK is overwhelmingly smoother and allows faster acceleration, fully unleashing the car’s performance.

My Husband’s Thoughts on the Panamera

When my husband used to drive the Panamera almost daily, he thought it was a good car but didn’t fully appreciate its greatness. However, after driving other cars and having a comparison, he now understands just how incredible the Panamera really is.

Of course, the Boxster is also a fantastic car, but the appeal of the Boxster and Panamera is completely different. Yet, the brakes and handling are unmistakably Porsche — it really makes you admire Porsche all over again.

Later, my husband took the Panamera to Royu Driveway for the first time in a while, and he said this about the Panamera:

The Panamera really is an amazing car. Of course, it’s totally different from the Note e-POWER NISMO S. That car is fun too, but sorry, it’s laughably different. It’s incredibly smooth. Also, the road-hugging and grip are amazing. When taking the curves on Royu, it turns along the curve without needing to increase steering or drifting out, even though it’s such a big car. I tried driving it in Sport Plus mode — it’s incredible. Honestly, it felt like it could go even further and faster. It really hits home that when you drive a car every day, your senses get numb. And lately, I feel like you notice the difference more clearly when you go from a lower model to a higher model, rather than the other way around, which helps you truly understand the car’s character.

He was full of praise.

Wow, the Panamera really is a fantastic car. We’re considering replacing it with another car before the next inspection, but these days I find myself thinking, “It’s such a great car, I’d rather keep it forever than trade it in.”