pewter82

Bothers me to see 911 sales near the bottom.

MJones

Last year there was the "Cash for Clunkers" program so p car sales were off.

Drive a Panamera, you will be surprised..
The 6 handles quite good not to mention it's lighter buy about 400#.

alexb76

I was at unveiling of BOTH cars in Frankfurt Auto Show, Rapide and Panamera. While Rapide had a HUGE LINE-UP for people to take a look, Panamera was mostly ignored. The one Rapide at the show was sold RIGHT THERE to a guy who came with his two sons.

As much as I love Porsches, Panamera is just BUTT UGLY, no matter how people try to spin it. Rapide on the other hand is just DEAD GORGOUS, and I also think Quattroporte looks better.

Which handles better? Have no idea, as I never drove any of them, but I assume Panamera and Rapide would be a bit better than Maserati, but all three would be amazin 4-door sedans performing better than 90% of all sedans out there!

Graygoose997

What can I say, I'm shallow.
The Panamera is Linda Hamilton and the Quattroporte is Sharon Stone .

On a Porsche lot the Panamera sort of looks OK, (if you squinch your eyes , don't stand too close, and you park it next to a Cayman) but in the real world, surrounded by Astons and Bentleys and beautiful Italian designs, she is the fugly sister.
She might be the most athletic, but like I said, I'm shallow.
I'll sell a bit of my soul for great sex.

racer

Wonder how many 911 sales were lost by folks buying Panameras instead.

Timmy

I agree, if you test drive a Panamera the sales numbers are not surprising.

winkingchef

Only in Italian can you call something "Four Door" and have it sound awesome.
If I were 20 years older, I would show up to my board meetings in the Maser.
911 still for the weekends though.

ADias

The Maser is not so hot as a driver's car. I would take a V6 Panamera over a Quattroporte any day. The AM Rapide is an OK driver's car but it is no more than a stretched DB9, thus it is a joke as a sedan. The Panamera is a spacious 4-seater sedan It's form follows function design, through and through - awesome executive sedan, if the executive is a sports car enthusiast.

I do not see you in a sedan, but you ought to test drive a Panamera. The others may be pretty - the style of the day - but the Pana has soul.

ADias

I think the explanation is HERE.

Transcription:

Alan Smithee

Same here in LA...they're everywhere, and all black. Saw six in a two block stretch of Brentwood last weekend.

I got to drive the Panameras at CA Speedway last month, and while their handling is very impressive...right up until you forget how much they weigh and realize the laws of physics can't be repealed as you come into a turn too hot...but I won't be trading my MB for one anytime soon. Just too ugly, and I don't need my luxury car to handle that well. Plus, you get a lot more for your money with a Cayenne.

Marine Blue

I have also heard the Porsche is cutting back production but I think it is being done due to reduced demand. IMHO of course. Makes sense not to have too much inventory if the demand is low, it helps retain prices for the future.

kosmo

IMO, the Panny s/b compared to the 5 and E class and not the 7 and S. I was surprised how the Panny S performed vs the M5 despite having 100 fewer horses.
The Maser, while it sounds great, is a bit long in the tooth.

TigerStadt

Test drove Masser and Pano (4S & Turbo) back to back. Masser despite having Ferrari engine had no guts. From the drivers seat Pano wins hands down. Walking around just looking at them maybe not. Color and Wheel choice seems to be more key in the looks of the Pano. IMHO the Pano is a better driver, and that's where I spend more of my time.

hockeyguy

I hate to say this, but the 911 is slowly fading at the moment. While 911 traditionalists want minimal changes in its design and looks, the market is saying otherwise.
So I think that this may give ammunition for VW/Porsche to make a lot of changes to the new 911, even in looks...a "major" refresh, which, I suspect, will bother everyone here significantly.

kosmo

you may be right, however, many other German models are seeing similar EVOLUTIONS, like the BMW 5 and AUDI A8, rather than complete redesigns- JAG comes to mind.
Anyway, i think im more middle of the road when its comes to changes.