[PsychDoc]

I know there's a pretty significant price delta between the two (~$20k - $25k), but....

A neighbor of ours owns a Porsche Panamera and I was really disappointed in the sound of the engine. It was loud and raucous. Comparing it to the quiet and powerful B58 in the 540xi was like comparing apples to oranges. The B58 sounded infinitely more refined and polished. I was pretty surprised as I've always seen Porsche's as the standard against which others are judged in the sub-exotic category.

[Blue Sky]

I have crossshopped it with Taycan and other EVs. Like Taycan the price varies greatly with the trim level and you options, so you don’t say which ICE engine you are referring to.

Porsche ICE is apples and oranges from a BMW 5 series vibe, quietness is never on the agenda so perhaps you didn’t understand that. That said the base engine is kind of buzzy and underpowered so the V8s or hybrids are the way to go with that car.

Unfortunately it is essentially impossible to test drive a new one (try searching nationwise inventory) and the hybrids suffer the same HV battery shenanigans as Taycan and at a higher price point so there’s always the potential for a disappointing experience. Note that the Active Ride suspension is only available on the hybrids because it requires the HV system. A tantalizing car but I really don’t feel good about Porsche’s track record with hybrids and EVs.

[8GranCouper]

The Panamera V6 isn't that special, it's the same EA839 that's found across the entire Audi lineup. I thought it was fantastic and smooth in the A6 when I drove it, but it was definitely more of a quiet sewing machine than anything with character like an inline 6. Though it's my understanding that the Panamera V6 is the twin turbo variant of the EA839 that's also in the S6.

What surprised me about the Panamera version of the engine is that, unlike Audi, it isn't equipped with a mild hybrid.

[Blue Sky]

It seems like the engine/trim variations vary a lot over time with Panamera, but there is currently the 4 E-hybrid and 4S E-Hybrid which are the V6 hybrid options. Good luck finding one to test drive, one has to really put effort into it. There are exactly two 4 E-Hybrids in the Bay Area region, and no 4S E-Hybrids. It seems absurd to have to fly somewhere to see a car that isn’t a rare special order exclusive to repeat-buyer thing like a GT3 or GT2.

[DaveDBD]

An almost fully optioned 540 is $82k.

A barely optioned Panamera 4 is $125k.

I did consider the Panamera but with a 50% premium I chose the 540.