In my case, it took about five months from order to delivery.
① August 2017: Contract and order at Porsche Center
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② Late September or early October: Production started
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③ November: Production completed, departed from Emden port, Germany
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④ January 2018: Arrived at Toyohashi port, Japan
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⑤ Late January: Delivery at Porsche Center
For my 4E, the production slot was probably already reserved, so delivery took five months.
Having lived without a car for 11 years since moving to Tokyo in 2006, I was completely out of touch with car info. So while some might say “That’s common, nothing to fuss about,” I had various experiences during the “1–2 months after delivery” due to my limited knowledge of hybrids.
On delivery day, the dealer told me:
“If the electric battery charge reaches zero, the engine won’t start. If you don’t plan to drive for about a week, please keep the battery charged to around 50% (about 25 km range). If the engine won’t start, we’ll arrange emergency towing. The first three years are free, but after that, there will be a charge.”
I said “Okay,” but inside I was honestly panicked: “Wait, really?” At contract time, I was asked if I’d drive about once a week, but I didn’t realize this was a warning about the battery charge.
My apartment has an underground mechanical parking garage, so installing a Panasonic charging port was impossible. I thought, “From now on, I’ll have to check the battery charge before coming home? That’s a hassle.”
Later, Porsche headquarters took measures, and my 4E-Hybrid received a software update at an authorized factory, allowing the engine to start even with zero battery charge.
Just recently, after running on E-Power until the battery was empty, I nervously turned the starter—and the engine started perfectly. Right then, the gasoline engine roared to life right after starting on electric power! Thanks, Porsche headquarters (laughs).
The specs say a full charge allows 50 km in E-Power mode, but two weeks after delivery, after borrowing the Porsche Center’s charger and fully charging for over 4 hours, the display showed “44 km.”
Why not 50 km? (At delivery, it showed 49 km.)
I wondered if 10% of the battery was already damaged and contacted the dealer for a factory inspection. The factory replied it was normal.
They explained the computer calculates the range based on past driving habits, so it showed 44 km. Eco-driving brings the number closer to 50 km, but aggressive driving or using air conditioning lowers it.
In fact, after a full charge overnight on a trip, the display showed 50 km the next morning. Then, after driving a few kilometers downhill without traffic lights, it showed 52 km, confirming the factory’s explanation. At that time, this info wasn’t widely shared with sales staff, so many were unaware.
My apartment’s mechanical parking garage has a width limit of 1950 mm for the largest spots. The 4E catalog listed the width as 1937 mm, so I thought it would fit. But documents I saw for another Panamera 4E-Hybrid showed the width as 1950 mm.
Worried about scratching fenders, tires, or alloy wheels, I asked the dealer which was correct and what the width would be with 20-inch 315 mm tires, but they couldn’t give a clear answer.
Despite these issues, I deeply respect Porsche for developing such an amazing sports car and truly love my current 971 Panamera 4E-Hybrid.
If anyone is considering buying a used 2017 Panamera 4E-Hybrid, I hope to share this honest advice: “It’s a great car, but check if the engine will start when the battery is empty.”
Next time, I’ll write about the fantastic driving performance, charm, real fuel economy, and charging experiences after actually owning the car.
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