Vehicle Description
Occupying the elusive space between a luxury sedan and a proper
sports car, the Porsche Panamera has been extremely successful for
the German geniuses in Stuttgart. Initially panned by Porsche
purists upon its inception, much like the top-selling Porsche
Cayenne SUV was (which now happens to be the company's best-selling
car ever), this mid/full-sized luxury vehicle has been nothing
short of a rousing success in the world market. Porsche can't make
them fast enough, and rarely do you see them last long on the
secondary market before they're gobbled up well-above subjective
'book-value'. With an Audi-based 3.0L Supercharged V6 hybrid motor,
impeccable interior, and top-of-the-line German ingenuity that just
can't be rivaled, this 2012 Panamera S-Hybrid is the exotic that
you can drive every day.
The unique Panamera name, much like the Carrera, was derived
directly from the storied Carrera Panamericana race, and is widely
viewed to be the long-awaited result of the 989 prototype developed
between '88-'91. With an original MSRP of over $95K+, you'd better
believe this luxurious 4-door hatchback is beautifully finished.
Buyers at that price level don't put up with the niggles that
plague lesser cars and the Germans seem to excel at creating paint
that's so smooth and glossy that it still looks wet enough to
smear. Porsche calls the finish Platinum Silver Metallic, a shade
that has graced many 911s through the years, and it looks stunning
on the sculpted bodywork of this 1st Generation Panamera. With just
55,985 miles on the clock, it's in fantastic condition with very
few signs of use, because cars like this always see above-average
levels of care. There might be a small swirl or two acquired from a
past car wash, but nothing that can't be buffed-and-waxed to a
showroom shine that stops onlookers dead in their tracks. Yes, it's
really that pretty but it's only fully evident when you see it in
person, where the long hood up front and lift-back hatch in the
rear remind us that this car has 911 blood running through its
veins. All the chrome trim is metal, not plastic, and it has a
cool, heavy feeling that suggests quality, and despite the fact
that it's been on the road for almost 9 years now, it still looks
practically new with a design that seems to defy the passage of
time.
Finding one of these with such a clean leather interior is not
easy, as many of these cars were used as luxury family haulers that
ran errands around town all day long. Quite frankly we were shocked
at how showroom-new things are inside, almost as if it's never been
sat in. In the usual German fashion, the stitchwork is exquisite
and the hides are almost sinfully soft, but everything still feels
incredibly durable, supportive, and downright tough inside - a
combination not found in many other marquee brands. Plush carpets,
flashy trim, and a comprehensively organized control layout are all
plusses for the Panamera, which by virtue of its name, was designed
to be a comfortable long-distance cruiser. Big, simple gauges are
easy to read and offer digital screens that monitor all the car's
functions (and yes, this is still a Porsche, so the tachometer is
front-and-center), most of which are managed through both the
center console and steering wheel controls. Yes, there are plenty
of buttons and tech to satisfy the guy who loves gadgets, and it
all works properly, and rather than list the laundry list of
options for the next 10 minutes, just know that it's equipped with
pretty much everything that was offered by any major luxury
automaker in 2012. A few nods to the car's ancestry can be found in
the Porsche emblem on the center of the wheel and the bolstered
bucket seats front and rear, and the E-Power button in the center
console means switching from gas to battery power is as easy as
changing the radio station. And because this is a rare front-engine
Porsche, it also includes a good-sized rear hatch area that shows
no signs of wear and tear.
Using the same hardware as the uber-successful Cayenne S-Hybrid,
this Panamera is equipped with an Audi-sourced, supercharged 3.0L
V6 engine producing a 333 horsepower rating, along with an electric
motor rated at 47 horsepower to boot, and an incredible 428
pound-feet of max torque. Despite being fairly heavy (like all
hybrids), it still hits 0-60 in 5.5 seconds (according to Car and
Driver), has a governed top speed of 168MPH on standard tires, and
was Porsche's most efficient vehicle at the time achieving 35 MPG
on the European drive cycle, with an estimated EPA rating closer to
23 City/28 Highway. The Aisin-supplied 8-speed automatic Tiptronic
S transmission with steering-wheel-mounted shifters is a civilized
yet very sporty set-up, and the torque converter takes some of the
head snap out of the driveline, making it very easy to be smooth
and fast in this car. Provided standard are multiple system
settings for a custom driving experience, including six separate
driving modes (we recommend Sport Plus for huge grins), an
abbreviated version of Porsche's brilliant Hybrid Management
System, Adaptive Air Suspension system, the PASM shock absorber
system, and the Porsche Communication Management. Weight
distribution is just about ideal, with 53% of the mass on the rear
wheels, so despite being a big, heavy luxury RWD coupe, this car
doesn't mind hustling through the corners. It is obviously
beautifully maintained and has never seen winter weather, so no
worries there. And the 19-inch alloy wheels with giant
cross-drilled brakes behind them are simply gorgeous, all-wrapped
up in grippy Michelin radials.
Beautifully maintained, exceptional to look at, and a joy to drive,
this is a great opportunity to own an A-list supercar for a
fraction of the price of a new one. Why do it any other way? Call
today!
