Always Taking the Golf to My Parents’ House

Last week, I had work in Tokyo in the latter half, so I went back to my parents’ home with my daughters to ask them to babysit. Whenever I go to my parents’ place, the car I take back is always the Volkswagen Golf 7. This is because my parents still say things like,

“You used to be a paper driver who even bumped into things in supermarket parking lots, so the thought of you driving a big Porsche on the highway to come home worries us terribly. Please, just don’t come back in the Porsche.”

The Wonderful Panamera

So, after returning home from my parents’ house, I recently drove the Panamera for the first time in a while on my way to work…

Wow… what an incredible car this is…

I was once again deeply moved.

I often hear fellow Porsche drivers say, “You feel amazed every day you drive a Porsche,” but I think the feeling of awe only grows stronger when you get back behind the wheel after some time. That said, the Volkswagen Golf 7 is also a very good car, and every time I drive it I think, “This is a nice car,” with no complaints at all. But when I get into the Panamera, I’m always moved to the point of sighing in admiration.

What Makes the Panamera So Amazing

What exactly moves me so much? There are so many things I could write about that it’s hard to cover them all, but here are the main points:

① The Steering Wheel

The Porsche steering wheel is solid and, although it’s a bit thicker than those in regular cars, it fits comfortably in my hands as a woman. Also, the angle of the Porsche steering wheel is not “laid back” but rather “upright,” which makes you firmly grip the wheel and feel, “Alright, I’m ready to drive now!”

② The Weighty Presence

The Panamera is a massive car weighing over two tons, so it’s definitely heavy. But that doesn’t mean there’s any “heaviness when starting or accelerating.” (I think the standard Panamera feels even more nimble than the Turbo.) It has a solid weight but accelerates smoothly and drives beautifully. I absolutely love this balance.

③ The Accelerator Response

When I drive other cars after getting used to the Panamera’s accelerator, I sometimes think, “Wait, do other cars really have this much free play on the accelerator?” “I’m pressing the pedal but it’s not moving at all! Or if I press too much, it suddenly shoots forward!”

But with the Panamera, none of that happens. It feels completely in sync with the driver’s intentions. You could say the accelerator responds as soon as you think “Let’s accelerate” (even though you’re actually pressing the pedal), and if you press firmly, it delivers incredible acceleration. There’s no awkwardness in this accelerator feel—it’s exactly what “oneness between horse and rider” must feel like.

④ The Brakes

The brakes have no free play either. If you press lightly, they respond lightly; if you press deeply, they grip firmly with a low center of gravity. There’s no feeling of pitching forward, and you can stop with confidence. When I drove a McLaren before, the brakes were so heavy (it honestly felt like a training machine) that I couldn’t react quickly, and I thought, “This is hard for women to drive.” But the Panamera’s brakes aren’t too heavy at all. Considering it’s a massive car over two tons, it’s amazing how stable and effective the brakes are.

⑤ No Cutting In or Tailgating

Recently, I had work in downtown Osaka. When I drive the Golf on the Hanshin Expressway or city streets, I often experience cars cutting in or tailgating. The Hanshin Expressway’s tricky lane changes might be partly to blame… but when I’m driving the Panamera, I never get tailgated or cut off (laughs). As a result, I can drive safely and with peace of mind.

⑥ Firm Yet Luxurious Ride Comfort

For those who love the ride comfort of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or other high-end luxury sedans, the Panamera’s ride might feel firm and “not very comfortable.” The Panamera’s ride has no softness at all; when going over concrete joints on the highway, it doesn’t “float” over them but rather absorbs the shock firmly through the lower body and overcomes the bumps. (I can’t quite express it well…)

Personally, I don’t like a soft, floaty ride because it feels like being on a bus, so I love the Panamera’s firm yet luxurious ride.

High Praise from Porsche Professionals

Actually, I recently had the chance to talk with someone who works in the Porsche industry, and they said this:

“Having driven various Porsches, I truly believe the Panamera is a great car. Just today, I happened to be on the highway and ended up overtaking a VIP vehicle in front of me. I had to remind myself not to get too carried away by how smoothly it was running, and I got a little flustered.”

Yes, the Panamera really is a wonderful car. The new Panamera seems to be selling well, and I hope more and more people come to appreciate the greatness of this Panamera.