If you shop on the used market, even a Porsche becomes potentially affordable. And one common bargain is a used Porsche Panamera sedan. But can a used Panamera really compare to a brand-new one? Especially something like the 2021 Porsche Panamera GTS? That’s what YouTube team Throttle House wanted to find out.

A used 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S is quick—but the 2021 Panamera GTS is fast

The used Porsche Panamera in Throttle House’s video is specifically a 2010 Panamera 4S. When it was new, the German luxury sedan started at just under $94k, Road & Track reports. And that’s before options. But the car in the video, which has just under 80,650 miles on the clock, is currently listed on Autotrader.ca for the equivalent of $26,300. That’s new VW GTI money.

But that $26k gets you more than GTI speed. The used 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S has a 4.8-liter V8 rated at 400 hp and 369 lb-ft, Car and Driver reports. It’s linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and an AWD system. As a result, this is a 4100-lb sedan that goes 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds, Automobile reports.

However, the 2021 Porsche Panamera GTS is even faster. While it’s not quite as powerful as the Turbo S or Turbo S E-Hybrid models, the Panamera GTS does have the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. And for the 2021 model, it’s gotten a power boost from 453 hp to 473 hp, Car and Driver reports.

But even before the extra horsepower, the Porsche Panamera GTS could sprint past the used 4S. Thanks to AWD, launch control, and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, the 453-hp GTS went 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds in Car and Driver’s hands. That’s actually faster than Porsche’s claim of 3.7 seconds. And that’s despite the Panamera GTS weighing about 580 pounds more than the 2010 Panamera 4S.

However, the extra power and speed come at a price. The 2021 Porsche Panamera GTS starts at $129,300. And the car in Throttle House’s video is optioned up to $154,700.

Is the 2010 model one-fifth as luxurious as the 2021 car?

Being a 4S model, the used 2010 Porsche Panamera didn’t come standard with air suspension like the contemporary GTS, PCA reports. Air suspension is standard on the 2021 Panamera GTS, though, and rear-wheel steering is optional.

However, the used Panamera 4S in Throttle House’s video does have the Sport Chrono Package. So, not only does it have adaptive suspension, but also ‘Dynamic Chassis Control,’ extra driving modes, and launch control, Automobile and Roadshow report.

True, the 2010 Panamera 4S isn’t as fast as the 2021 Panamera GTS or as composed in the corners. But the steering delivers more feedback, if not quite the same level of precision. And even after more than a decade, the 2010 car still rides comfortably. Plus, Throttle House found that the new car might be too composed. Though, to be fair, for luxury sedan buyers, that’s likely the point.

Technology-wise, the used Porsche Panamera does understandably give up some ground to the new car. It doesn’t have all of the same ADAS features, for one, and its headlights aren’t quite as bright. Also, a more modern infotainment system. However, some may prefer the old car’s plethora of buttons over the new car’s multiple touchscreens and touch-capacitive controls.

Plus, the featured 2010 Panamera 4S isn’t exactly barren. It has navigation, Bluetooth, a Bose audio system, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, parking sensors, and a backup camera. And the ergonomics and material quality of the used Panamera’s interior are still excellent. Age, though, has introduced a few creaks.

Can a used $26k 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S compete with a new $155k Panamera GTS?

Admittedly, buying a used Porsche Panamera comes with the uncertainty of reliability. And while the 2010 models have relatively few problems, the 2011 car is significantly more trouble-prone, CarComplaints reports. The subsequent model years, though, are noticeably less problematic.

But that being said, the Panamera’s naturally-aspirated 4.8-liter V8 is one of the most reliable Porsche engines. By now, engine-related recalls should have been performed, and more durable metal replacement parts exist for the original plastic coolant pipes. Plus, there’s a bonus to not getting a Turbo or GTS: no expensive air suspension to repair, PCA explains.

So, yes, the 2021 Porsche Panamera GTS does many things better than the 2010 Panamera 4S, Throttle House reports. And the person who’s eying a new Panamera won’t be interested in a used one anyway. However, just because the used model costs one-fifth as much as the new one, doesn’t mean it’s one-fifth of the car.

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