2011 Quattroporte S

[kmac1980]

new 2011 audi a8 or 2010 S8 maybe worth looking at

[niqui]

hey guys,
thanks for all the help/
ill try and clarify and respond to a few points:

This car is not intended to be a really fast driver's car or anything, it is replacing an s550 4 matic if that helps give perspective. We are looking for a 4 door luxury sedan that is fun to drive/ a comfy, classy family car.
BMW and Audi are out.
as of now all we have left of interest is the Maserati and the XJL S/c.

slammed, thanks for the info on its reliability, precisely what i didnt want to hear.

We were heavily considering a cls63 but the new body is out in 2012 and we buy, so thats out, and quite frankly a little bored of benzes.

Looked at the rapide and vantage (for fun) - the rapide is nice but not much space at all in the back actually impossible to get my grandparents in comfortably, even the maserati is a little squished. Dealer also said something around 308k if my memory serves me right and that's a little intense for a dd in the snow.

looked at the bentley continental sports: left us confused, the spur left mixed opinions.

XFR: not a fan of the look at all, but thanks for the suggestion. if any jag other than the xjl it will likely be the XKR, doubt it cause of size, but still being considered.

Panamera: everybody thinks its ugly in the house, and my family, mostly driven by my mother, has no need for a turbo. i have driven the 4s and was hum-ho as a dd.

Driving the maserati this weds, didnt know about the body change coming, i will ask. i know the 2011's come with matching insignias and grills and no chrome and a few better option packages, thats all i was told.
if a new body is coming out in 2012 its a no-go.

thanks for all the advice, please keep it coming or any recommendations or reliability issues.

e63 is also out, dont need the power nor do we actually like it, also too cramped.

[Scoobe]

http://www.teslamotors.com/models/

This is pretty far out there, but something new and gorgeous. Though not available now.

[Tonybest]

Watch Top Gear episode 3. in no particular order, Rapide, Quatroporte, Panamera.. test
All three presenters agree with the final verdict. Watch it to know their verdict.

[SlammedR8]

Originally Posted by Tonybest

Watch Top Gear episode 3. in no particular order, Rapide, Quatroporte, Panamera.. test
All three presenters agree with the final verdict. Watch it to know their verdict.

did the new season of Top Gear start yet? Or when does it start?

[Donbona]

Originally Posted by slammedm3

did the new season of Top Gear start yet? Or when does it start?

Yes it has... plays every Sunday here in the UK... just watched the 3rd episode.

[niqui]

anybody know a good site to watch it, tried couldnt find one that would let me without some bs.
dont get it at home, tony, just tell me the verdict already, ha.

[Donbona]

Originally Posted by niqui

anybody know a good site to watch it, tried couldnt find one that would let me without some bs.
dont get it at home, tony, just tell me the verdict already, ha.

http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?suggi...%2F&q=Top+Gear

[niqui]

Originally Posted by Donbona

http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?suggi...%2F&q=Top+Gear

thks.

[SlammedR8]

link doesnt work unless your in the UK.

we should have it on TV within a few weeks

[Donbona]

Originally Posted by slammedm3

link doesnt work unless your in the UK.

we should have it on TV within a few weeks

Thats a shame...1st episode is so so... next 2 are pretty good.

[SlammedR8]

Without giving too much away... what cars do they test in ep 1, 2 and 3 ?

[Donbona]

Originally Posted by slammedm3

Without giving too much away... what cars do they test in ep 1, 2 and 3 ?

Ep1 nothing tested
Ep2 New 911 Sport Classic and Boxter Spyder
Ep3 Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide. Also Rubins Barechello does a lap in their reasonably priced car which is a pretty decent lap.

[mPlasticDesign]

I think the corvette/pinto analogy is ridiculous. The Panamera Turbo, I think is the best looking sedan, period. It's different from the bunch and the interior is simply sublime. Don't get me wrong, the Quatroporte is a great looking car, as is the Aston, but I personally think the Porsche looks better. It all just preferences, why people use words like 'UGLY' or 'HIDEOUS', is beyond me. I can think of a whole army of cars that are truly ugly and the Porsche Panamera is definately not one of them. If anything it is a stretched 911 with 4doors. At 6ft. the backseats were suprisingly comfortable to me. Last but not least, the performance is out of this world unbelievable and doesn't even belong in a luxury sedan!

[Hotan Braskey]

Originally Posted by niqui

anybody know a good site to watch it, tried couldnt find one that would let me without some bs.
dont get it at home, tony, just tell me the verdict already, ha.

Try www.finalgear.com
They have all of the Top Gear episodes for all seasons and they usually have the latest episode torrent up within an hour of it being on the air in the UK. The HD versions are available a little later, but not much. Definitely worth checking out.

[M3Fool]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

I think the corvette/pinto analogy is ridiculous. The Panamera Turbo, I think is the best looking sedan, period. It's different from the bunch and the interior is simply sublime. Don't get me wrong, the Quatroporte is a great looking car, as is the Aston, but I personally think the Porsche looks better. It all just preferences, why people use words like 'UGLY' or 'HIDEOUS', is beyond me. I can think of a whole army of cars that are truly ugly and the Porsche Panamera is definately not one of them. If anything it is a stretched 911 with 4doors. At 6ft. the backseats were suprisingly comfortable to me. Last but not least, the performance is out of this world unbelievable and doesn't even belong in a luxury sedan!

Attachment 407130

Yep... still hideously ugly!!!! But to each their own. That is what makes the world go round. My lack of buying one just means there is one more for you to choose from.

[kmac1980]

Originally Posted by M3Fool

Yep... still hideously ugly!!!! But to each their own. That is what makes the world go round. My lack of buying one just means there is one more for you to choose from.

I have to agree its hideous in any form, but will admit the interior is absolutely stunning, simply porsches best interior to date.

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by M3Fool

.....My lack of buying one just means there is one more for you to choose from.

There is no lack of buyers for this car. The Turbos usually sell before they even hit the showroom floor in my neck of the woods....

[adc]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

The Panamera Turbo, I think is the best looking sedan, period. (...) It all just preferences, why people use words like 'UGLY' or 'HIDEOUS', is beyond me.

When you get 50 votes for "ugly" and "hideous" and only 1 (yours) for best looking, then it's probably your own sense of aesthetics that's strange, not everybody else's. So you shouldn't be so puzzled about it...

The performance may be out of this world, but of all the reviews I've read and seen, all accompanied it by words like clinical and soulless. The equivalent of a bigger, heavier, slower, 4 door GT-R. You're leaving luxurious family transportation behind at around the $50-60k mark, anything more has to be special - a treat.

Quattroporte is pure sex on wheels, and sounds like no other sedan. It's literally oozing class from every angle. And it's quick - I ran with one on the Autobahn and it showed strong performance.


OP - what about an Alpina B7?

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by adc

When you get 50 votes for "ugly" and "hideous" and only 1 (yours) for best looking, then it's probably your own sense of aesthetics that's strange, not everybody else's. So you shouldn't be so puzzled about it...
The performance may be out of this world,....

You my friend need to learn how to count! I'm not the only person in this thread and there isn't 50 people voting for UGLY or HIDEOUS either. My point wasn't to convince anyone that it was a popular design approach. It's obviously polarizing. I also wasn't implying anyones sense of aesthetics is strange as you are implying. If someone said 'meh, I don't like it', that's reasonable. I guess I'm not so black and white about things. Even though I may not prefer a particular car's design or even choose to ever buy it, I can usually find something I might appreciate about it. Everything is relative and relative to most cars on the road the Panamera is not in the bottom half of car designs. In my life I have been attracted to skinny, tall, short, petite, blonde, brunette, voluptious girls. I prefer blondes but that doesn't mean I would call a girl ugly if she wasn't exactly what I prefer. Do you get where I'm going with this? It's much easier for people to immediately hate than appreciate something for some reason. There are good qualities to be found in almost anything and I think there are some in the Porsche even though you may not like the overall design.

Originally Posted by Scoobe

Panamera is pretty hot too. The Turbo is roughly the same price and way quicker.

Originally Posted by ACZakka325i

This body-style has been out for a LONG time. Just something to consider. And for that reason maybe you will want to look at e63, Panamara turbo, or something else.

Originally Posted by ghosthi32

just get the panemera. you will be happy.

[adc]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

You my friend need to learn how to count!

You as well my friend. I might point out that out of the examples you've quoted, only 1 other person says it's hot.

There are good qualities to be found in almost anything and I think there are some in the Porsche even though you may not like the overall design.

There are things I like about it - beautiful interior for example. But most everybody's gripes were about the exterior styling, of which I simply cannot say a good word. IMO the basic shape/premise of such a large car doesn't lend itself to the shape inspired from a sports car - as simple as that.


Your analogy with dating girls is not relevant - any sex is good if it's free. But if you pay $100k out of pocket, better make sure you get an amazing looking girl.

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by adc

...IMO the basic shape/premise of such a large car doesn't lend itself to the shape inspired from a sports car - as simple as that.

Fair enough.

Originally Posted by adc

Your analogy with dating girls is not relevant - any sex is good if it's free. But if you pay $100k out of pocket, better make sure you get an amazing looking girl.

Sorry, I've never had to pay for sex in my lifetime. My analogy still holds. There are many cars that are great examples of beautiful innovative designs that don't cost $100k. I don't judge whether or not a car has 'good' design by the cost of the car.