After seeing several of them on the road here I am starting to kind of like the look.
They still are big cars, and they still seem to be very tall though.

But they are starting to grow on me, I cant hardly wait until the two door version hits the streets and how it will compare to our hopes for a new 928 type of car.....
Not that I will buy one any time soon.

Any body else starting to feel it for them that hated the way they looked in pictures?

 

Saw a bunch of them in Houston earlier this month. They started to grow on me a lot--although the color can really make or break them.

 

Meh.....still looks like a pregnant 911.

Design = Fail

I saw my first Aston Martin Rapid in July.......my God, that's how design a 4-door supercar.

 

Those two are not even in the same class as far as looks go, pretty much any AM is in a class by itself.

 

I love the panamera's front... the back, I just can't get over it.

 

It's the automotive version of a Buttaface, everything but good looks.

 

WOW,
earlier on another topic about the "equal to a 928", I said a Panamera, and got "killed" by others.

I test drove both the Turbo and non turbo. Both amazing! Along with the Cayanne, Cayman Turbo at Laguna Seca in the paddock coarse.

Yes, I do like the Panamera...

now, let the criticisms begin..............

 

Always been a fan of the Panamera. Once you actually drive one, you will not want another 4 door saloon. The in-laws saw one the other day, they are die hard Merc people. They fell in love and are afraid to test drive one, because they will buy one.

 

True. It's absolutely stunning

And the Panamera is how to design a useful 4-door hatchback sportscar. An entirely different exercise.

If you compare the two, the Panamera has twice the trunk space, and enough room on the backseat for an adult male.

In the Rapide, you can't be much taller than me, if you want to sit comfortably in the back.

And when you need the car serviced within a day, because it's your daily driver - well, good luck getting that done at your neighborhood Aston Martin dealer...

I love Aston Martin. I love the Rapide. But they are exotics - not daily drivers. Similar idea, different market and execution.

Let's just hope the next gen Panamera will have a bit of a more attractive rear end.

 

what's wrong with the Panamera? It's like the 928 grew up and had a family.

 

Initially, I hated it but after driving one it's really grown on me...the rear still irks me but far less than it did when it was first introduced. It's a phenomenal car from the interior.

 

I got passed by one the other day (me in my lowly 944 cab) and really liked it. I mentioned when it first came out that pretty much all Porsches seem a little ugly when you first see them, but they grow on you.

 

To me it looks like it's pregnant again and about to have a 911. J

 

I like it, and it has grown on me.
I can see how it may be polarizing.
If you remember, the 928 looks are "love it or loath it" as well.

Here's my take after sitting in one for about half-hour...
Newer automotive design trend is what I call "inside-out design"
The idea being that you figure out you interior requirements based on what you want to fit and store. Then you design a shell (the exterior) around this interior "package"
Great examples of the method are the Honda Fit and Toyota Prius.
The Panamera falls into this category as well, though I'm not sure if the exterior styling department was prepared for the cultural shift.
As opposed to "outside-in design", in example every Aston Marton, every low sweeping roofline, or high sweeping ridgeline car (sorry no specifics).
Curious? As youself when car concepts are created, what is the first model executed?
No compromises. I'm guessing Porsche's first model of the Panamera what the interior cabin. It' really fantasic! Now, how do I turn this radio off?

 

I am with you on this one. I do not like it after the front door post