Used Porsche Panamera (970) - How much to maintain and repair, can you join the big boys club for just under RM 200k?

Combining sports car looks, modern luxury and superb driving performance – few cars shout out street cred better than a Porsche Panamera.

Spanning two generations – the Type 970 and current Type 971 – has etched itself a niche within the German luxury car market for buyers who desire a sportier and more prestigious alternative to the run-of-the-mill BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class Luxo-barges.

Costing upwards of RM 750k new (without optional extras), prices of 2012 and newer units start at just over RM 150k today. So, let’s take a closer look at how you can join the German big boys club for the price of a brand new Toyota Camry.

The Porsche Panamera range offered in Malaysia

The (970) Porsche Panamera was first introduced in Malaysia in 2009 by then authorized distributor, Auto Eurokars.

Three variants were introduced to the Malaysian market at the following prices – the Panamera S (RM 990k), Panamera 4S (RM 1.12 million) and the range-topping Panamera Turbo (RM 1.4 million).

Also read: Used VW Passat B8, the continental choice from RM75k? What to look out for?

All three variants were powered by a 4.8-litre V8 which is naturally aspirated in the Panamera S and 4S (with 400 PS / 500 Nm), and twin-turbocharged in the Panamera Turbo to produce 500 PS and 700 Nm.

In 2010, the Porsche brand was subsequently taken over by Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) in Malaysia which introduced two new variants – the Panamera S Hybrid and Turbo S – priced at RM 910k and RM 1.36 million.

Shortly after in 2010, SDAP introduced the base model Panamera and Panamera 4 which featured a 3.6-litre V6 with 300 PS and 400 Nm. These variants subsequently dropped the entry price of ownership to just over RM 770k (sans options).

The Panamera S Hybrid, launched here in 2011, marked a shift to more efficient downsized engines – featuring a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 supplemented by a 47 PS / 300 Nm electric motor to deliver a combined 380 PS and 580 Nm of torque.

In 2013, SDAP introduced the facelifted Panamera which featured subtle styling revision – courtesy of a new front and rear section, new head and taillights as well as a new multifunction steering wheel on the inside.

Four variants were introduced at launch starting at RM 740k for the Panamera and Panamera Diesel, RM 780k for the Panamera 4 and approximately RM 1.2 million for the 4.8-litre turbocharged Panamera Turbo.

In all versions of Type 970 – the Panamera, Panamera 4, 4S and Turbo variants utilised a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. The Diesel and S Hybrid variants received an 8-speed automatic sourced from Aisin.

The second-generation (971) Porsche Panamera made its debut in Malaysia in 2017, starting with the base 3.0-litre V6 (330 PS / 450 Nm) Panamera and 2.9-litre V6 (440 PS / 550 Nm) Panamera 4S variants, priced at RM 890k and RM1.1 million respectively (before options).

Reasons to get one

Well for one, it is having that famed Stuttgart badge on the front bonnet and steering wheel in front of you. Besides the overtones of Porsche’s performance and motorsports heritage, owning a Porsche simply means you have done just that much better than your neighbour who drives a Mercedes-Benz or BMW.

However, don’t expect Porsche 911-like performance and handling as the 970 Panamera weighs over two tonnes. With that said, the Panamera has an uncanny ability to hide its mass when driven hard and is easily the best handling car in the German luxury-sedan class.

Additionally, with 300 PS on tap in even the least powerful variant – there’s potent performance to be had on any given road.

Finally, the Panamera offers a superbly engineered vehicle with sublime build quality and materials to accommodate four in style, comfort, and luxury.

Used market prices of the Porsche Panamera in Malaysia

If you’re talking about a market spread, they don’t come much wider than a Panamera. Prices range from just over RM 100k for pre-facelift 2009 3.6L V6 units, to just over RM 1.0 million for 2018 and up Type 971 models.

Note that there were up to 18 variants of the Panamera sold worldwide, depending on the market, but the versions found most commonly on the Malaysian used market are the short-wheelbase base Panamera, S, GTS and Turbo models – with a spattering of diesel variants here and there.

Safe to say there’s a Panamera for just about any premium budget – but note, a greater majority of these cars are recon imported than purchased through official channels.

Which variant of the Panamera should I consider?

In keeping with the pre-requisites of the vehicle being 10 years or under and can still qualify for conventional hire purchase financing, we will be looking in particular at the 970 and 970.2 facelifts Panamera models sold between 2012 and 2014.

The most sensible choice for a first-time Porsche owner would be the Panamera 3.6L V6 RWD and AWD versions. There are a few reasons for this:

• With prices ranging between RM160k to RM280k, these are relatively cheap
• Requires the cheapest roadtax
• Offers the simplest naturally aspirated powertrain for cheaper maintenance and greater reliability

Note, however, that you could pony up roughly the same amount of cash for the 4.8L V8 Panamera S variant of the same period – which is essentially the 3.6L V6 with two extra cylinders – but as you might surmise, the cost of ownership will be substantially higher.

Here’s a shortlist of the basic running costs between the 3.6L V6 and 4.8L V8 models.

Also read: Buying your first BMW: From RM 15k, a used E46 BMW 3 Series is a perfect starter’s choice

Things to look out for when buying a 970 Panamera

Now the exciting part. Now from the outset, we’ll have to stipulate that finding your perfect Panamera isn’t going to be easy as finding a used BMW 5 Series. Prospective buyers should be vigilant in getting as much information beforehand so they don’t end up with a burning money pit later on.

Firstly, prioritize vehicles that have been sold by official channels here, because this gives you the best chance of obtaining official service records. If the car has been maintained by external workshops check and verify all service records to see if maintenance has been done on time.

Secondly, is the number of owners. Search for one-owner cars – there’s a higher chance the owner would have maintained the car well from day one. Multiple owners could mean problems have been passed on from one to the next or the car is simply too problematic to keep.

Don’t be afraid of a higher mileage unit, a higher mileage unit with comprehensive maintenance will outperform a low mileage unit with a sketchy maintenance record.

Lastly, regardless of buying an official used vehicle or a recon imported – pay to have it properly diagnosed and inspected by Porsche Malaysia or a specialist workshop. This cost is pennies on the dollar versus repairing unwanted problems.

The following is a simplified maintenance schedule of the 970 Porsche Panamera along with the indicative costs:

Besides routine maintenance, a prospective buyer should account for two major items that typically will also require replacement after a few years, i.e.: the brakes and active suspension (absorbers).

Given all Panamera's use active air suspension, it is wise to plan for plan your replacements well in advance or look for a vehicle that has already had it replaced.

And you'd be best informed that replacing a complete set Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) system will cost in the region of RM 10k if it comes fitted on your car - nearly four times the cost of the base model's steel alloy brakes.

Now to address the elephant in the room – the Porsche PDK transmission – given it’s a double-clutch transmission, you might think that certain components might wear out after some time, and you’d be right. However, here’s the kicker, as far as we know, Porsche’s PDK transmissions are a single-use, sealed component, meaning if your transmission starts to give up, you have to replace it with a new one.

We would estimate this cost to be around RM 50k for a Porsche Panamera.

Therefore, you cannot simply replace clutch packs and mechatronic units as you would on other double-clutch transmissions. With that said, Porsche prepares a transmission maintenance schedule for up to 180,000 km (or 12 years depending on the market) for its PDK transmissions, and owners report that, if well-maintained, a PDK transmission will last years without issues. 

Conclusion

Now, of course, the Porsche Panamera isn't going to be for everyone - there is a price to pay for the prestige and performance and it comes in the form of hefty maintenance bills. 

However, as any Porsche owner worth his/her salt will tell you - a well-maintained Porsche is pretty much the pinnacle of reliability when it comes to sports cars, and worth every penny for the driving experience it returns in spades on any given road, on any given day. 

And at current prices, looking like a million bucks (literally) has never been more attainable. 

Also read: Used Honda Civic FB for under RM 65k – Newer and better than the Civic FD, how much to maintain and repair?