Porsche Panamera

[robbiemc]

Mentioned before - how about the Cayenne Turbo or Discovery4?

I'd say a Volvo XC70 (or maybe XC90). Someone mentioned V70, but the XC70 is a 'rugged' (soft roader) version and comes with awd. The top engine isn't too bad: 3 litre V6 with 285hp and 0-60 in 7.1 secs.
I test drove one yesterday and found it to be very comfy and spacious, with an enormous boot. I'm 6'6" and had tons of room.
I'm not entirely sure it's upmarket enough though, considering some of the options you're looking at are nearly twice the price (although that does mean it offers good value!)

 

[Spie]

If your dismissing the LR range then why not just buy another Q7? maybe the V12?

Just cant see how it measures up to a Range Rover. I've got an A6 which is the same interior pretty much as a Q7 and its a nice place to be, but its completely outclassed by the Range Rover (again not the sport which is only suitable for pimps and drug dealers )

Another Q7 is an option. V12 is too heavy and too much power in an SUV.

My Q7 has full extended leather - whole dash etc + alcantara roof + nappa seats. Everything and I mean everything looks, smells and feels far superior to the crappy RR Sport we had, although I do accept the non-sport RR is nicer. Just not for me (too slow etc).

 

[Spie]

Mentioned before - how about the Cayenne Turbo or Discovery4?

Cayenne - NEVER!
Disco - good car, bit out of it's depth in this class of vehicle.

 

[Edward01]

The awd stipulation means you lose the Rapide and the Quattroporte S, the obvious contenders, so you'll have to compromise somewhere in consideration.

Doesn't the Quattroporte S GT come with AWD or am I imagining it?

Over £81,000 and still handles like a hippo on Stella.

Not that it's a major consideration but the RR 5.0L managed just 19mpg combined to the Panamera's 23.2.

The RR weighs nearly a ton more!!!!

The general consensus is that the big RR is one of the best cars in the world at the moment, all I'm asking is that you don't dismiss it out of hand because you had a RRSport several years ago. Go and try a proper 5.0L 10 plate, (recent facelift) one, (NOT a sport, a proper one), and if you still don't like it, fair enough.


Other cars to consider:

7 Series - Not sure about AWD
S Class - See above
CLS - Possibly a bit small inside
A8 - Good choice
XJ - New out, defiantly worth a look
Continental Flying Spur - Expensive
M Class - Ugly and crap
X5 - Bad off road
X6 - Very ugly and bad at everything
XC90 - Good car, will look like a school run though
Cayenne - Ugly, but worth a look, expensive
Lexus RX - No presence
Toyota Land Cruiser - Good car, doesn't handle well
Other Japense 4x4s - Ugly, no presence

 

[Fett]

I wouldn't buy another RR Sport and they are not spacious enough.

A8 4.2TDI would fit the bill. In fact I test drove one before I bought the Q7 and it sold me on the fab 4.2TDI engine.

I bang on about that engine because it's just so bloody impressive in isolation, let alone in comparison to the FSI. The 2010 ups the game again. Extra 110lb/ft, 8 speed box, more economical, sport diff as standard on the TDI, Touchpad with refined MMI, Google Earth 3D sat nav, clever adaptive cruise with lane change assist, adaptive lights linked to the nav system, night vision with pedestrian warning etc etc and the usual superlative build quality. Analogue clock in the centre now which I detest on the S class is a bit of a downer. Bland outside again, but I rate that highly on something like this. I've never replaced an older model with it's direct replacement but I think the A8 may change that for me this year.

Skip to 5:15 for the interior

Only other thing I can think of is the Phaeton W12, AWD and everything else you want bar the pace again.

My Q7 has full extended leather - whole dash etc + alcantara roof + nappa seats. Everything and I mean everything looks, smells and feels far superior to the crappy RR Sport we had, although I do accept the non-sport RR is nicer. Just not for me (too slow etc).

My A8 is fantastic inside, easily on par with a fully loaded Q7 and as much as I love the Audi and highly rate the interior, there is no way I could ever call the 2010 RR Sport I've been in crappy or far inferior. One of the reasons my mate chose it over his Q7 was how nice it was with the new leather. I'm not sure how long ago you had the RR or if it left a sour taste in your mouth, but it looks like they have moved on in a big way. Press love the thing as well. No point trying to convince you but personally, shelling out +£80K, I would want to see everything. The RR Sport has twice the loadspace as well, seats up, over the Porsche and I would have thought easily the equivelent leg room, decent turn of pace and not the pig in corners it was either...I'll leave it there.

Alternatively, just get the Porsche. Ugly as sin to me but I would have thought extremely competent, it fits all your criteria precisely.

Doesn't the Quattroporte S GT come with AWD or am I imagining it?

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[hurfdurf]

Aston Martin Rapide?

If you are considering the Panamera give it a look in. I was fortunate enough to get a lift to Vmax in the press car with one of the owners of Piston Heads, whilst at first the back seemed far to cramp, when actually sat in it on a journey it is lovely. I'm 6ft but rather slender though.

 

[Hxc]

Quattroporte does have an AWD version, I'm confident?

 

[hurfdurf]

Aston Martin Rapide?

If you are considering the Panamera give it a look in. I was fortunate enough to get a lift to Vmax in the press car with one of the owners of Piston Heads, whilst at first the back seemed far to cramp, when actually sat in it on a journey it is lovely. I'm 6ft but rather slender though.

Ignore this because I did not see the 4wd requirement.

 

[Liquidfox]

Yep, the A8 is lovely. No S8 yet though. When that arrives it will be a serious contender.

I swear to God i saw an S8 the other day?

 

[Alex_6n2]

I would be considering an R Class Mercedes. R63 AMG has a V8. Does 60 in 5.0s and has 630 lovely NM's of torque. It's not slow, has lots of room etc

Pretty certain that would do everything you wanted and in black I think they look pretty good. Certainly no worse than a Panamera

There's always the Brabus version if the AMG still isn't lairy enough. Consider whether or not this won't do using RWD everything that the other options with 4WD will do. I doubt there's little in it, even in the snow.

Edit: Infact I am mistaken. It has AWD. So.....winner?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Why would you consider an R Class, out of interest? I thought they were generally considered to be the biggest white elephant in the entire Mercedes range?

 

[peterattheboro]

I assume 4WD is a necessity. The hint being he wants to carry skis about in the car which would suggest driving on some cold white fluffly stuff where traction may be a problem?

 

[Alex_6n2]

Why would you consider an R Class, out of interest? I thought they were generally considered to be the biggest white elephant in the entire Mercedes range?

My house mates Dad has one and we used it when we stayed over snowboarding in Switzerland. He bought it with the same intent as Spie, and funnily enough has a Q7 as well (Which he uses less now). Really nice inside and out I thought. Picked up and held the road well when it was pushed a bit and his house sat on the side of a rather large mountain. It had no trouble getting up in the sketchy conditions. Plus the engine sounded awesome.

 

[4T5]

Sounds to me like you Already have the Ideal motor for your needs. Why not update it & get all the trick bits slung on it.

 

[Fett]

I swear to God i saw an S8 the other day?

Not a D4 you didn't. Probably worth mentioning that depreciation is an issue so the S8 might as well get binned.

I assume 4WD is a necessity. The hint being he wants to carry skis about in the car which would suggest driving on some cold white fluffly stuff where traction may be a problem?

If the R Class becomes a contender, I'll be stunned. If you remove the AWD stipulation then there are some really obvious contenders that have been mentioned but disregarded because they're rwd.

edit - now it has AWD, but if a RR Sport is too small...

 

[Alex_6n2]

I was mistaken. R-Class is infact AWD. Ticks all the boxes. Just depends if he likes it.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I was mistaken. R-Class is infact AWD. Ticks all the boxes. Just depends if he likes it.

It really isnt very good and is nowhere near the rest of the metal in this thread.

 

[Alex_6n2]

It really isnt very good and is nowhere near the rest of the metal in this thread.

All a matter of opinion in the end. From my brief experience I think it's good, although that's not much to go on. The owner think it's good however and there are a few reviews out there that sing its praises.

There are many options, but most have been brushed aside thus far and the R-Class hadn't been mentioned.

 

[Will]

I believe the R63 is no more though - since nobody bought one. The quickest one now is the R500.

Brabus probably do a mentally quick one, but it is bound to be absolutely silly money.

 

[Fett]

Sounds to me like you Already have the Ideal motor for your needs. Why not update it & get all the trick bits slung on it.

Re-reading the thread, this seems sensible. I can't think of anything that will satisfy the requirements if the Q7 is regarded so extensively superior to a Range Rover, bar a Flying Spur Speed. If you ignore the mpg, price and size, it should do the trick.