Not Sold on a Minivan? Here’s Another Option…

When kids come along or the family grows, plenty of people decide it’s time for a different car. Someone who used to talk about how much they loved “the way it drives” or “the sound of the engine” can seem like a different person just a few years later, enthusing, “Minivans have so much room for luggage! They’re incredibly convenient!”

If a minivan or a van is what you really want, that’s absolutely fine. But when I see people settling for one even though they’d rather have something else, I can’t help feeling a little conflicted.

They may be complete strangers, but I feel like saying, “Is this really how you want to live? If you died tomorrow, you’d regret it.”

Can’t fit a stroller?
Then leave the stroller at home and bring a baby carrier like an Ergobaby instead. Plenty of shopping centers these days will lend you a stroller.

Can’t fit bulk packs of diapers or groceries?
Then don’t go out to buy them. Order diapers from Amazon, and Yamato Transport will deliver them the next day. You can get pretty much anything you need from Aeon’s online supermarket, too. A quick trip to Hankyu Oasis now and then should be plenty.

Can’t go camping or skiing because there’s no room for all your gear?
Then don’t go camping or skiing. And if you really want to, there are places where you can rent everything.

Not enough room in the back for a child seat?
Slide the driver’s or front passenger seat as far forward as you can and bring the seatback upright. Driving ramrod straight even has a certain charm—it’s like showing the car the respect it deserves.

Can’t fit everyone’s suitcases for a family trip?
Pack the whole family’s essentials into one suitcase and travel light. As long as you change your underwear, wearing the same outfit again won’t kill you—and no one else will care. You could even do a load of laundry at your hotel or ryokan.

As for me, if not being able to carry enough luggage meant I couldn’t own a Panamera, I’d rather not have a car at all.

No Panamera, no life.

The Panamera Has a Surprisingly Spacious Trunk

…Then it occurred to me…

The Panamera can actually carry quite a lot of luggage.

It’s in a completely different league from a Boxster or a 911, even though they’re all Porsches (though the Boxster can hold a fair amount, too). There’s room for a compact stroller, and plenty of space for a bulk shop of diapers and groceries. Even with a child seat or infant seat installed in the back, the driver and front passenger still have plenty of room to stretch their legs. And a regular-sized suitcase? You can fit two.

The Panamera is a sports car with room for plenty of luggage—a wonderful car that combines both “performance” and “practicality.” Honestly, I find myself sighing in admiration at just what a great car it is.