Sporty Performance for Everyday Life

The other day, someone replied to me on Twitter:

“You could say, ‘Forget about the family and just get one!’ Or, ‘Wait until you can afford a second car for the family!’ But when you think about family and everyday practicality, trunk space and the number of doors matter. Still, I don’t want to give up on a sporty car. For people like me, the Panamera, Giulietta, BMW M models, and Audi RS models are all dream cars.”

Exactly. “I don’t want to give up on sporty driving, but my family needs to use the car every day, too.” On the face of it, those two priorities seem to pull in opposite directions, so it’s no surprise that car-loving husbands find themselves torn. The key thing to remember is:

Buying a car isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point. (Just like getting married, haha.)

Everyday family life begins the moment you bring the car home, so you can’t simply make an impulsive purchase and celebrate as if there’s nothing more to think about.

Picture Life After Buying a Sports Car

Even after you buy a sports car, if your wife is the one who uses it most of the time, you can probably expect to hear complaints like these:

“Why is the cargo space so tiny? I can’t fit everything in after grocery shopping!”
“Why does it only have two seats? I can’t give anyone a ride!”
“Why does it have only two doors if it seats four? It’s such a hassle getting in and out!”
“And with all that, why is its fuel economy so much worse than a Prius?”
“Seriously, why did you buy such an impractical car?”

Meanwhile, the husband, who may only get to drive on weekends because he’s working during the week, might find himself saying:

“Why are you drinking coffee in the car? You spilled it!” (That one hits close to home.)
“Why did you scrape it?”
“I found shoe prints from the kids all over the car!” (That one hits close to home, too.)
“If you use up the gas, fill it up! It’s always empty when I get in!”
“Come on, you’re driving a Porsche—the car everyone dreams of owning! You should be more grateful!”

Before long, frustration builds on both sides, and the car becomes a constant source of arguments. Eventually, you might end up thinking, “We should never have bought this car.”

The Panamera Is a Sports Car

That’s why I think the Panamera is a sports car that can make everyone happy.

“Why is the cargo space so tiny? I can’t fit everything in after a trip to the supermarket!”
→ You can fit golf bags and even two suitcases in the Panamera!
“Why does it only have two seats? I can’t give anyone a ride!”
→ The Panamera comfortably seats four adults! (Not five, though, haha.)
“Why does it have only two doors if it seats four? It’s such a hassle getting in and out!”
→ The Panamera has four proper doors (five, if you count the tailgate?), so getting in and out is easy!
“And with all that, why is its fuel economy so much worse than a Prius?”
→ As for the Panamera’s fuel economy… if you buy a plug-in hybrid, it should be about the same as an older Prius! (Just kidding!)

That’s the idea. But what really sets the Panamera apart is that it’s also a sports car. It isn’t a luxury sedan with a sporty touch; it was built first and foremost as a sports car, with luxury added on top. The two may sound similar, but they’re fundamentally different.

That means it’s perfectly usable every day, while still delivering an engaging drive on mountain roads, rural highways, and the open road. And whether you’re shopping new or used, many Panameras cost less than a 911.

Now that’s impressive!! (゜o゜)！

If your wife enjoys the Panamera’s everyday practicality instead of finding fault with it, you can take the wheel on weekends without feeling guilty—and maybe even head out on a family road trip together. In every sense, I think the Panamera is a truly great car.