Panamera would be a good choice if you get something on the tamer end like a Panamera 4 with the 3.6 V6. The GTS and Turbo models need deeper pockets to run. Probably a really nice highway cruiser. You also get the added versatility of a hatch with folding seats (if that matters at all to you).
Some object to the styling, but I don't mind it. I think they freshened the styling around 2013/2014 to make it a bit cleaner looking from the rear. If I didn't need an SUV and had the choice between Panamera and Cayenne, I would go Panamera. Way more Cayennes on the road. Panamera is much rarer. They were very expensive when new.
Audi A7 falls along those lines too.
Really nice driver.
Yep for sure. The Audi is probably 80% of the Porsche, for a lot less. The Porsche brand prestige definitely brings added cost.
Does it though?
And how does Panamera reliability compare to Audi A7/8? It might be worth spending a little more upfront for less trouble later.
I've looked at fast/expensive Audi's before, and this pic scared the crap outta me!
Look at all those plastic guides!
That looks like the 4.2 V8 with the chains on the back. Known to have timing chain issues.
Porsche and Audi, like almost all Global auto manufacturers, do share engineering and development costs. For example, the 3.6 V6 in the Cayenne is the same VW sourced VR6 from the Touareg (3.6 V6 in Panamera is their own unit). The Cayenne is currently built at the Slovakia alongside the Touareg and Q7 and the Macan now has Audi sourced engines.
Having said that, you are probably correct that Porsche has higher standards/tolerances for quality. An Audi A7 was around $80,000 new. A Panamera 4, which is on the lower end of the Panamera range had a sticker around $115,000 to $120,000. That is a pretty big spread. And today, even looking at used examples, there is still a decent spread between the two.
