[TheRox]

My e90 detail got delayed due to eggshell damage which I need to wetsand over the next couple weeks. So I did the other car.

1. Wash with Meguiar's orange wash stuff with wool wash mitt
2. Clay bar with Mother's clay and ONR lube; ONR is pretty good...very impressed!
3. Menzerna SIP ? Or the one product all-in-one below SIP -- this took effort using Porter Cable random orbital polisher -- using Lake County Orange Pad
4. Zaino Z5 + ZFX -- Lake County Green pad
5. Zaino Z2 + ZFX -- Lake County Blue pad
6. Zaino Z2 again + ZFX mix -- Lake county blue pad
7. Zaino ZCS -- using microfiber from costco...

8. Meguiar's hot wheels on the tires....yes those are winter tires/rims (Pirelli Sottozeros -- amazing tires, they drive like my pilot super sports on my 335)
9. Rain-X on the rear winshield as it has no wiper

10. Aerospace 303 on the interior...this stuff is amazing! Nice and Matte -- using microfiber and a paintbrush
11. Lexol leather cleaner and condition on the leather
12. ONR wash for the engine bay and door jambs, trunk jambs, hydraulics, etc.

too lazy to put on Zaino Z8...will do after wash

ONe query: The Menzerna (I forgot the name, its the all in one polish below SIP)...did a great job on the swirl marks, BUT did not TOUCH the marks left by purse scratches....deeper scratches. Would I have to use SIP to remove these?

Images are from Iphone 4.0...taken in Ottawa, Images are ghetto don't really show the depth...but it is DEEP...damn Iphone camera won't capture it:

[Bobble]

Was it 106F/FA? Did you try the SIP with a more aggressive pad? What are the pad combos you used or intend to use? Have you thought about using Megs 105/205 combo? Any pictures of said scratches, nice car BTW.

[ceenik]

OFF TOPIC : Nice Car , how do you like it (performance wise)

[catch]

came out GREAT!
love those

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by ceenik

OFF TOPIC : Nice Car , how do you like it (performance wise)

Very nice "other car" looks great! Curious on how you like it too.

[TheRox]

Originally Posted by Bobble

Was it 106F/FA? Did you try the SIP with a more aggressive pad? What are the pad combos you used or intend to use? Have you thought about using Megs 105/205 combo? Any pictures of said scratches, nice car BTW.

I used Menzerna PowerFinish....


I used Orange Pad x 3...I changed pads 3 times to ensure none were too wet. Used green pad for Z5 and blue pad for Z2 x 2. i will specify in edit.


The product Power finish is great at getting swirls out and adding that wet look....I mean just GREAT! But as mentioned, it does not deal with purse scratches from women...I will add pics of said scratches later on, it is raining all over ontario right now!

[TheRox]

Originally Posted by jopa489

Very nice "other car" looks great! Curious on how you like it too.

I'll try...value wise I still believe the BMW 335i is the best value-sports sedan money can buy. Panamera is a tad pricey...and the benefit is incremental for double the price. THe jump from a Honda Civic to a 3 series is HUGe...the jump from a 3 series to a Porsche Panamera is there...its a whole different class, but not as much bang for your buck as Civic --> 328i.




Main Differences:

1. Steering --> Lord Have MERCY the steering in this vehicle is a Godsend...it is SO accurate, like a razor...so responsive, if you turn the wheel right...the nose of the car immediately drives right...wayy more responsive and accurate/sharper than the BMW. And this is WINTER tires...pirelli sottozeros. I haven't driven the car on Continental Contisport 3 max summer tires yet. Also the steering feel is truer than BMW...the feel for the road is more true, if that makes sense. So accuracy and feel for the road is just....more real/truer/more accurate

2. Brakes -- BMW cannot touch Porsche here...simply cannot touch Porsche in steering feel/accuracy...and it cannot touch Porsche in the brake feel. The e90 brakes grab with almost all their power immediately the moment you press the brake pedal.

In the Porsche, the brakes are PROGRESSIVe....perfect for track driving. One of the reasons you can drive the Panamera like a track car/drive it on the track, is the brakes -- they are so progressive at modulating brake force...the brake pedal feel is SO good...that I can stop the nose of the car at the exact spot I want. You can't do that in an e90.



3. Status/Looks -- this is obvious...its unique shape, broad broad front...and Porsche badge make it an attraction; people point, blah blah blah...if this matters, it is there -- the Porsche badge is below Ferrari/Lambo...so thats where this plays; its nice to have one. But obviously this is a superficial point that us car guys dont' care about.

It also looks very nice in person...its not balanced, but somehow just works because it has that historical Porsche look. Looks broad and smooth at the front, and fast from profile and back view. The spoiler helps make up for the bulbous rear --- personally I love the bulbous rear...its just Porsche, nothing else.

4. PDK -- is fast, the car accelerates so quickly with its light weigh (100 KG heavier than my 335, with the same HP and Torque numbers but no turbos); PDK is also butter smooth and very fun to shift using the paddle shifters/PDK wheel shifters

5. WEight -- The Panamera 4 is made of magnesium/aluminum alloys making it 100 KG heavier than my 335xi....and its naturally aspirated engine makes 300 hp and 300 torques.

So its about as fast as the 335....yet so much bigger; its also very agile. Most people don't realize how light this car is....which is why the V6 version is blazing fast.

6. Interior -- no comparo here...thanks to Audi, the Panamera has one of the best interiors in its class. Its on a different level. Enough said. The seats are stellar, best seats in class, all four are buckets.


Overall: The car is an amazing GT car. Its not a small putter around town car like a 911...it is a large, big, comfy GT car with an interior to die for. The performance is amazing, it feels like a giant Porsche...which is what it is. It has that razor sharp steering and braking ability...and near 50/50 balance....its suspension is responsive and predictable at the limit.

Overall...it is an amazing car... very agile when needed, and YOU CAN easily track this car....it is a much easier car to drive at the track than a 335i simply because of its steering, suspension, and brakes. But it really shines best as a GT Car. It has a nice stereo, beautiful interior, nice GPs, great trunk space/drop the seats to carry cargo space...and has unique looks and a Porsche badge.



Overall...probably the best sedan in the world/best car in the world. I think the V6 version is underpriced only because its a V6...it does so much more than any competing car does. The V6 is very very swift, almost as fast as 335i without using turbos b/c of its light weight. In Canada the V6 with modest options goes for 110 K ...so its pricey for what it is, but worth it.



Negatives:

1. Suspension -- Its a wonderful suspension great performance but its not an S-class...so not for those who want an air-soft ride; suspension is forgiving enough though and adjustable. So this may not be a negative.

2. Cost - it is much more expensive b/c of its new technology, magneium based body construction and Porsche badge....less bang for buck, but what you get is quality.

3. Options -- it simply costs too much to option this car with stuff that a Lexus LS 460 comes as standard....Youll end up paying 200 K for the car! So you need to be frugal with options and just enjoy the drive. Not for those who want all the bells and whistles...unless you can pony up.



Summary: The operative word is "smooth". The car is butter smooth and razor sharp in everything it does. That is all.

Overall, the 335i is still the best bet for money and a much more engaging car. E90/BMW 3 series is the way to go. Panamera's benefits come at a very high cost.

[MuttGrunt]

Beautiful work - way to take care of her and sorry to hear about the egging

[lopealle]

Tell us about this car man.....looks great by the way.