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Porsche Panamera 4.8 V8 4S auto 4WD

The V8 Panamera 4S with four-wheel drive. No emissions standard in the address. A large, complex grand tourer where a pre-purchase inspection pays for itself.

What the original address encodes
MarquePorsche
ModelPanamera
Engine4.8-litre V8 petrol
Trim4S
TransmissionAutomatic
DriveFour-wheel drive
Emissions standardNot stated in the address
BodyFive-door fastback

In Porsche’s naming the 4 in 4S means four-wheel drive and the S marks the higher-output engine. The Panamera is the marque’s large four-door grand tourer.

What to check on this specification

Get it inspected

Buying guides for the Panamera point at the manufacturer’s own multi-point mechanical check at a franchised dealer, which produces a written report with any required work priced up. On a car with this many systems, a paid inspection is cheaper than the first surprise.

The specific items reviewers flag

There was a recall on this model concerning faulty turbochargers, which at best cost power and at worst risked fire; most cars will long since have been dealt with, but check the registration on the DVSA recall service rather than assuming. Reviewers also warn about radiators becoming clogged with leaves, which leads to corrosion and substantial repair bills — look into the front intakes with a torch.

The automatic gearbox

Drive it from cold and then again warm. What you are looking for is a clean pull away in first, a clean engagement of reverse, and shifts that are firm rather than jerky, slurred or accompanied by a thump. Torque-converter and dual-clutch boxes both have scheduled oil and filter changes; those services are frequently skipped because nothing obviously breaks when they are, and the bill when something does break is one of the largest in used-car ownership.

Air suspension and wheels

Where air suspension is fitted, leave the car standing and come back to see whether a corner has settled. Inspect every rim: large wheels on a heavy car collect kerb damage, and replacements are not cheap.

Ownership notes

The address records no emissions standard. A petrol car needs Euro 4 for the London ULEZ, which a car of this era is likely to meet, but confirm against the registration on the TfL checker.

Vehicle tax on a large petrol registered under the CO2-based system sits high in the tables. Check the rate for the registration.

About this page

The address you are on was part of a used-car dealer site that no longer exists. The individual vehicle it once described was sold years ago; there is no stock here, nothing is for offer, and no enquiry goes anywhere. What has been kept is the specification the address itself encodes, written up as a reference for anyone looking at the same combination of model, engine, transmission and emissions standard on the used market today.

Nothing here is advice about a particular vehicle. Every point above is a thing to check on the car in front of you, and the official services linked below answer against a registration number rather than a model name.

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