There are a lot of mixed feelings about the Porsche Panamera. Some people say it’s not a true Porsche. Others say it’s a great addition to the German carmaker’s lineup to offer something to the public that might be more practical on a day-to-day basis.
We drove the a car in 4S trim, which lands right about in the middle of the vast sea of Panamera models. Seriously, go check it out on Porsche’s website. They offer 12 different trim levels just for the Panamera. If you are in the market, we bet you will be able to find one that fits your needs exactly.
If I had the coin, yes, I'd drive a Panamera everyday. Our test car was a white. I'd probably do something closer to black, though. Of course I'd also have a GT3. And my own skate ramp.
But it doesn't have a clutch pedal? Fine, I'm rich. I don't need to shift. I have little microbes and computers to handle that mundane task. Plus Porsche PDK transmission is amazing. I don't care if you're Ronnie Sox, you're not out-shifting the PDK. Perfect shifts. Every time.
The rest of the car is just the perfect mix. Perfect power. Perfect seats. Lots of buttons for things.
As a hatchback, it's also practical, too. My bass amp fit in the way-back. (Full disclosure: My bass amp isn't all that; still that fact sounded impressive, no?)
The Panamera jumps into the waters already swimming with the S-class Benz and big Audi. You're not going to cross-shop it against a Camry or 12-year-old Miata. If you're shopping in that rarified air and want something that feels like a Porsche, then this is (obviously) the answer.
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