\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026I\u2019m not ready for this(\u00b4-\ufe4f-`\uff1b)<\/p>\n
Honestly, I wasn\u2019t ready. The Panamera was such a wonderful car, and I would have loved to keep it with us. But there was no point in making a fuss, so I put on my grown-up face and said, \u201cYes, that\u2019s fine. Thank you so much.\u201d<\/strong> w Before I even had time to take it all in, the Panamera was already driving away.<\/p>\n Goodbyes can be surprisingly quick. We\u2019d driven 13,800 km together over one year and seven months. I hope this Panamera finds its way to a new owner who\u2019ll cherish it just as much.<\/p>\n The new Panamera Turbo won\u2019t be delivered for another couple of weeks. In the meantime, the dealership has kindly provided a BMW 523i with the M Sport package as a loaner. It\u2019s a generous choice for a courtesy car, so we took it for a spin on the Royu Driveway with the whole family.<\/p>\n My husband seemed happy behind the wheel, saying,<\/p>\n \u201cAh, that classic BMW feel. Though if I could choose, I\u2019d rather have a 3 Series.\u201d<\/p>\n (He used to drive a 318i a long time ago, and still wishes he could drive one again.)<\/span> After taking the BMW for a spin yesterday, here are my impressions of how it compares with the Panamera.<\/p>\n I started out in the back seat, and perhaps because I\u2019m used to the Panamera, I found the up-and-down and side-to-side motion really noticeable. Honestly, I thought a long drive would get tiring. Apparently, BMWs use run-flat tires<\/strong>, which let you continue driving for a limited distance even after a puncture.<\/p>\n Run-flat tires have somewhat less give in the rubber than conventional tires, so bumps and uneven road surfaces can make their way into the cabin more easily. They seem to have improved considerably, of course. It\u2019s probably unfair to compare the BMW with the Panamera, and this one has the M Sport package rather than being a luxury-focused sedan. Still, if I were choosing a seat, I\u2019d take the front passenger seat or the driver\u2019s seat over the back.<\/p>\n I was surprised by how different the ride felt from the back seat versus the driver\u2019s seat. The BMW 523i is exceptionally comfortable from behind the wheel.<\/strong> In the Panamera, the back seat actually feels more comfortable, so it\u2019s the complete opposite. (That makes sense, given what each car is designed for.)<\/span> From the driver\u2019s seat, the vibrations weren\u2019t an issue, and the car felt smooth to drive. With no family in the back, I could imagine enjoying the drive even more and really focusing on the road.<\/p>\n It\u2019s exactly what BMW means by \u201cThe Joy of Driving.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The interior felt a bit flimsy. (I wonder if \u201cflimsy\u201d captures the Kansai expression I used!)<\/span> My husband said, \u201cThis interior is very BMW<\/strong>,\u201d but given that a new one costs just under \u00a57 million, I\u2019d have liked it to feel a little more premium.<\/p>\n What on earth do I mean by \u201cvague\u201d? (lol) I couldn\u2019t think of a better way to describe it, but if the Panamera\u2019s steering feels accurate to within a millimeter,<\/strong> the BMW\u2019s feels accurate to within a centimeter.<\/strong> I didn\u2019t get that \u201cWow, it turns exactly where I point it!\u201d feeling.<\/p>\n My husband says that in a 3 Series, the steering is precise and the car is fun to drive exactly the way you want. Maybe it\u2019s just because this is a 5 Series.<\/p>\n The BMW 5 Series loaner measures 4,920 \u00d7 1,860 \u00d7 1,470 mm (L \u00d7 W \u00d7 H)<\/strong>. Compared with our old Panamera, it\u2019s about 7 cm narrower and 4 cm shorter. That makes it easy to go anywhere without worrying about parking\u2014even a quick stop at a convenience store. Most automatic car washes can accommodate cars under 1,900 mm wide, so that shouldn\u2019t be a problem either. Add in an enjoyable drive and seating for five, and it feels like a great-value car that can do just about everything.<\/p>\n So, delivery of the new Panamera Turbo is finally set for Thursday, October 12. We\u2019ll be relying on this BMW until then.<\/p>\n The countdown is on!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Saying Goodbye to the Panamera Edition Yesterday, our Panamera finally left home. The dealership representative, Mr. H, was due to pick it up at 1 p.m. At around 12:45, I went out to the garage to retrieve something I\u2019d left in my pocket, only to find him already waiting. He\u2019d arrived early and had kindly waited in front of the house. \u201cSorry to keep you waiting!\u201d I said, hurrying off to get my husband. Then...","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3275,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=61","footnotes":""},"categories":[72,57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-testdrive","category-aboutbmw","en-US"],"yoast_head":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/20170925100301-1-800x600.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMy Loaner Car: The BMW 523i<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/20170925100800-1-800x600.jpg\")
<\/p>\n1\u3000The Back Seat Ride Is Uncomfortable<\/h4>\n
2\u3000The Driver\u2019s Seat Makes for a Comfortable, Engaging Drive<\/h4>\n
3\u3000The Interior Feels a Little Cheap<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/20170925111006-800x600.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4\u3000The Steering Feels a Little Vague<\/h4>\n
5\u3000A Well-Balanced, Practical All-Rounder<\/h4>\n