I do love the fact that you can get the V6 with a stick. I just wish that option was available with the V8 as well.

 

would you honestly plunk down the $$ for it if they did?

 

The problem with the lower-model Porsches (base Boxster/Cayman/911, V6 Cayenne/Panamera) is not the performance, but the lack of standard equipment. If you put similar options (plus the ones you want) on both a Panamera V6 and an "S", the price difference will be much closer than their respective base prices. I owned a base Cayman and it was a lot of fun to drive, but it was still short of the standard items on a Cayman S. If one can live without things like big reds, etc., then the base models are decent value.

 

Test drove the V6 it really wasn't that bad for a V6 in a really big car. However I think it should be about $10k cheaper.

 

Here's a post I had on another board...all-in-all, I was pleased with the V6...but agree with the comments regarding buying a 'base' model Porsche and then adding all of the options which are included in the next level (in this case the S/4S). In the case of the Panamera, there really aren't too many items that come standard in an S that aren't also standard in the V6. Anyway, here's my review:

*********************

First and Foremost: Thumbs Up.


Let me preface this with the comment that I immediately pressed the 'Sport' button, so I have no reference (and no interest) in how it drives in normal mode. I drive my P2S in Sport 90% of the time, Sport Plus the rest.

Acceleration:
For the most part, there is no discernible difference in ride/feel between the V6 & V8. The major difference is low-speed and high-speed acceleration. Obviously, with less torque available, there is less pull at those low speeds as well as less power available to move through the 100mph marker. But once the car gets moving, it has plenty of pull and acceleration with little difference in feeling the pull of the car.

And lets be honest, how many times are these cars going to be blowing well past 100? I do get mine up there a few times a week when I see some open road on the tollway, but I always have to slam on the brakes before I hit the next bend/hill/entry so I don't end up in Johnny Laws backseat.

Now, acceleration off the line isn't as powerful than the P2S, and you can feel it, but that was expected.

Cornering:
Even though the engine is only 67 lbs lighter, all of that weight is removed from the front axle and forward, so it makes a noticeable difference in handling. When I take corners aggressively in my P2S, I can feel the understeer and have to either plan accordingly or adjust during the turn (usually be additional braking). The V6 just handles these turns better and takes the steering input as directed.

Sound:
The one area that I was expecting me to be completely turned off was the engine/exhaust note. Most large(r) cars with V6 engines sounds as if they're struggling, with weak exhaust notes. Given that this 6 is simply the 4.8 with 2 cylinders chopped off, it actually sounds quite similar to the V8 and doesn't give the sensation of struggling to move the vehicle. Unless you have Sport Exhaust, the S/4S doesn't have the most aggressive exhaust note in the first place anyway...

Verdict:
I'm slightly disappointed that I didn't wait 3 months and buy the 6. There isn't enough difference in ride/feel for the $20K+ difference in price (although some of that difference is in options that I have in mine), and I'd much rather have a lesser-optioned Panamera V6 with an extra $20K to use against a Boxster Spyder or used 997. I still love my P2S and enjoy the hell out of the V8, but the Panamera V6 is that good.

 

Thank! for the input...we are looking for a Panamera 4 as an option.