The Motor Forum

Turbonutter · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:32 am Post subject: Autocar 30th September

Forgotten cars on the back page - Mazda 323 4x4 Turbo
My friend used to maintain the Works rally ones for a while when Timo Salonen was a in the team - great handling but never enough poke

Buying a 2nd hand Monaro

A 'race' between a few cars to see how far a gallon will get you

Porsche Panamera Turbo road test

0-60 in 4.0, 0-100 in 9.2
188 max
ss1/4 12.5@116

A big gap over the Jag XFR wet or dry on the handling course - but the Jag is still the favourite

Guitar Zero · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:41 am Post subject:

Holy crap that's fast - 1 second quicker than the XFR to 100 mph (and 0.7 seconds quicker than an RS6)

Hmmm 493 bhp my arse !
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Previous convictions :

2006 Focus ST 2.5
2001 BMW 520i
2002 Focus 2.0 zetec
1999 Fiat Punto

franki68 · Petrolhead Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2310

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject:

It's usefully lighter than the RS6, which I'm sure helps a lot.

Guitar Zero · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject:

Well, based on quoted kerb weights, the panna cotta is only 15 kilos lighter than the RS6. Even if it was 100kgs lighter - I can't see how that would account for taking 0.7 seconds out of the 100 mph sprint.

My guess is the test car is putting out way more than the claimed figures at UK ambient temperatures. It's probably been certified at 493 bhp and 516 lbs ft as a minimum in 40 degree heat at a few 1000 feet above sea level.

Or it's had it's nips tweaked
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Previous convictions :

2006 Focus ST 2.5
2001 BMW 520i
2002 Focus 2.0 zetec
1999 Fiat Punto

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:41 pm Post subject:

The RS6 - like most Audis - was far heavier as tested than Audi's quoted figure - 2150 kg IIRC.

Eff One · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:07 pm Post subject:

Perhaps I'm becoming acclimatised, but the Panamera works far better in those pics than any other example I've seen. I could imagine it being a fine companion for a four-up cross-continent blat - in a manual N/A, of course.
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"Racing is life. Everything before and after is just waiting." Steve McQueen

Guitar Zero · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject:

I'm loving the Panna cotta.

The interior is especially delightful and the turbo's pace is just ferocious (assuming it's representative of the car your average customer will get). To put it in perspective, the pre LP640 Murcielago manual needed 4.0 seconds and 9.0 seconds to reach the 60 and 100 mph increments. Yet here is a huge 4 door saloon that will spit those figures out time and time again for my grandma, never mind a seasoned road tester. Murcielago clutches can only take 4 or 5 full throttle starts before they fail - so if you pull up to one at the lights in your Carreranamera it's curtains for Lambo man and his 4 wheel drive chest wig.

The only black mark is the ride quality - if Jag can make an XFR ride like it does - why can't Porsche ???

A big saloon that doesn't ride properly is stoopid
_________________
Previous convictions :

2006 Focus ST 2.5
2001 BMW 520i
2002 Focus 2.0 zetec
1999 Fiat Punto

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject:

I've seen quite a few Pannacottas now, and although they're dependent on colour (dark works best) and wheels, they do look good, especially on the move.

The ride is a black mark though.

Scouse · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:08 pm Post subject:

Parm · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject:

I expect Panameras are in UK showrooms now. Might pop over to my nearest for a poke around one. I'm intrigued to see how good/bad it looks in the metal.
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Guitar Zero · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:16 pm Post subject:

Why would anyone even entertain the merest hint of a suggestion of thrapping a two tonne monster around a track ?

These are road cars and no compromise should ever be made in on road dynamic behaviour just to improve track performance.

Anyone attempting to take a Coxsterama on a track should be punched in the goolies repeatedly until they have no goolies left to punch
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Previous convictions :

2006 Focus ST 2.5
2001 BMW 520i
2002 Focus 2.0 zetec
1999 Fiat Punto

DaveGibson · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject:

Guitar Zero · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:

ds240 · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:31 am Post subject:

saw the panamera at le mans and thought it looked a bit crap. Black one in showroom on sat and thought it looked great, a lot sleeker looking. Fantastic interior.

The turbo tested would be a lot more expensive than xfr, so should be faster and more capable.
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www.lemans24.piczo.com

Scouse · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:58 pm Post subject:

Frank Bullitt · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:49 am Post subject:

Think the Panamera is lovely but mine would be a manual S as I'm not convinced by PDK (a-la S-Tronic a-la DSG).

Porsche allow some true retina-destroying colour schemes so make mine one of those then!
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Shame your mind don't shine like your possessions

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:00 am Post subject:

franki68 · Petrolhead Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2310

To me any car bigger than the xfr/m5/e63/rs6 is completely and utterly pointless.
They can carry 4 grown adults in comfort and are of a reasonable size.
The fugly porker is far too big,and has less appeal to me than the cayenne (which I really don't like,but its a lot more practical).

There is not a car in the current porsche range that I would swap my car for.

TimR · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject:

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:01 am Post subject:

Boxer6 · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:46 am Post subject:

TimR · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 3:15 pm Post subject:

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

TimR · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject: