RE: Porsche says 'kerching!'

[GTEYE]

I suspect the issue with the volumes of SUVs vs sports cars is not just Porsche specific.

Sports cars are generally in decline across all sectors, particularly the more affordable end of the spectrum. For example, witness the spectacular discounts available on MX-5s and the fact that most other manufacturers have vacated this sector....

When did you last see a new SLK or Z4? They used to be common place, but not so much now.

[vintageracer01]

excel monkey said:

k-ink said:

So Porsche is effectively an SUV maker, with a tiny little sideline in sports cars.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/04/hype-and-hypertrophy-how-lamborghini-lost-its-man-card/

"Porsche used to live or die by 911 sales, the same way Lamborghini relied on selling the Countach to keep the doors open. No longer. Today, the Panamera and Cayenne drive the business. They trade on the image of the 911 to move the metal, but the 911 itself has become irrelevant. It’s a trophy wife on the arm of the Panamera. It’s there to make the Pano look good."

Edited by excel monkey on Wednesday 12th December 16:49

...which it doesn't...!

[mollytherocker]

Pints said:

Does that mean the Boxster is more rare than the 911?

The Yugo Zastava is rare.

[Deva Link]

k-ink said:

So Porsche is effectively an SUV maker, with a tiny little sideline in sports cars.

There's a precedent - isn't Lamborghini a tractor maker?

[k-ink]

Deva Link said:

k-ink said:

So Porsche is effectively an SUV maker, with a tiny little sideline in sports cars.

There's a precedent - isn't Lamborghini a tractor maker?

They were, once upon a time. Now they are a supercar maker of course.

Porsche is going in the opposite direction.

[Deep]

J4CKO said:

I think they have gone from a high end niche manufacturer to more of a player in the normal premium German realm, I remember as a kid if you spotted a Porsche it was a rare thing, even the front engined ones, now it is a mainstream choice.

How do you mean mainstream choice? They are not rare by any stretch but how many people do you personally know (internet buddies don't count) who have ordered or own a new 991s?

[rajkohli81]

November production for a convertible 2 seater shouldn't be that reflective of annual demand should it.

Still, low volumes should mean that the Boxster's already class leading residuals, are stronger still.

[RDMcG]

Deep said:

How do you mean mainstream choice? They are not rare by any stretch but how many people do you personally know (internet buddies don't count) who have ordered or own a new 991s?

The problem for many people is that a high proportion of the total production of the 911 remains on the road, so to the casual observer, the 991 is not that different from the 997 or 993 and so on. Long model lives help to give the impression that more are made than is the case. I don't really care, will keep my 7.1RS and 7.2RS permanently and wait to see what's next, though I am a bit pessimistic right now.

[Thejimreaper]

I don't care if they are common, uninspiring to some, the new ones look like the old ones etc, if ever I come into some cash this will be my first port of call. A nice shiny 997.2 turbo S.

[Streetrod]

I don’t know if anyone has mentioned it yet but it is widely acknowledged in the industry that the 911 is the profitable from a percentage point of view of an car in the world, or it was at the time of the VW takeover

[Oelholm]

...Aren't most sports cars sold in spring/summer anyway?

[J4CKO]

Deep said:

J4CKO said:

I think they have gone from a high end niche manufacturer to more of a player in the normal premium German realm, I remember as a kid if you spotted a Porsche it was a rare thing, even the front engined ones, now it is a mainstream choice.

How do you mean mainstream choice? They are not rare by any stretch but how many people do you personally know (internet buddies don't count) who have ordered or own a new 991s?

I know someone with a Cayenne Turbo, lady at work has a 997 Cab, a lad there has a Boxster, a Cayenne S on our road and round the vicinity there are a lot of Porsches, helps that the local dealer isnt far, the town centre is full of them, but I dont know anyone with a 991 yet, I can only muster an old 944.

[anonymous-user]

the greatest con ever, make people pay for every stupid option going and reap the profits. They run there business model like brighthouse, selling an highly status driven product at great profit margins.


I love them thou but would never by a suv.

Edited by The Spruce goose on Wednesday 12th December 22:15

[Deep]

J4CKO said:

I know someone with a Cayenne Turbo, lady at work has a 997 Cab, a lad there has a Boxster, a Cayenne S on our road and round the vicinity there are a lot of Porsches, helps that the local dealer isnt far, the town centre is full of them, but I dont know anyone with a 991 yet, I can only muster an old 944.

My mistake, I thought you were talking about the 911 but reading back through your post I see what you mean.

Yes Porsche has diluted its brand somewhat by producing SUVs, etc but it's still not just like any other high end German marque because none of the others have come close to producing a product like the 911. BMW, MB, Audi etc have never produced a sports car that can really beat the 911 especially models like the GT3, turbo etc.

Perhaps the only exception to that is Audi with the R8, but they've had to produce about a hundred sh6te cars to get one that actually delivers.

So Porsche has diluted its brand I agree but their halo product still sets them apart from the other German marques imho.

[Amirhussain]

Deep said:

J4CKO said:

I know someone with a Cayenne Turbo, lady at work has a 997 Cab, a lad there has a Boxster, a Cayenne S on our road and round the vicinity there are a lot of Porsches, helps that the local dealer isnt far, the town centre is full of them, but I dont know anyone with a 991 yet, I can only muster an old 944.

My mistake, I thought you were talking about the 911 but reading back through your post I see what you mean.

Yes Porsche has diluted its brand somewhat by producing SUVs, etc but it's still not just like any other high end German marque because none of the others have come close to producing a product like the 911. BMW, MB, Audi etc have never produced a sports car that can really beat the 911 especially models like the GT3, turbo etc.

Perhaps the only exception to that is Audi with the R8, but they've had to produce about a hundred sh6te cars to get one that actually delivers.

So Porsche has diluted its brand I agree but their halo product still sets them apart from the other German marques imho.

Has to be done, it makes money for them, I doubt they care too much about purists stuff, they are a business after all and their number one aim above all is to make loads of money.

[J4CKO]

Deep said:

J4CKO said:

I know someone with a Cayenne Turbo, lady at work has a 997 Cab, a lad there has a Boxster, a Cayenne S on our road and round the vicinity there are a lot of Porsches, helps that the local dealer isnt far, the town centre is full of them, but I dont know anyone with a 991 yet, I can only muster an old 944.

My mistake, I thought you were talking about the 911 but reading back through your post I see what you mean.

Yes Porsche has diluted its brand somewhat by producing SUVs, etc but it's still not just like any other high end German marque because none of the others have come close to producing a product like the 911. BMW, MB, Audi etc have never produced a sports car that can really beat the 911 especially models like the GT3, turbo etc.

Perhaps the only exception to that is Audi with the R8, but they've had to produce about a hundred sh6te cars to get one that actually delivers.

So Porsche has diluted its brand I agree but their halo product still sets them apart from the other German marques imho.

Not saying its a bad thing, they are a commercial entity and need to make what people want and they can sell to make a profit, they just arent such a big deal nowadays, still a tier up on the Audi's, Merc's and BMW's as they dont make a < 20k hatch but, like you say, a lot of crossover higher up the ranges of the other manufacturers. Manufavturing techniques means quality isnt that far apart now, in fact a VW Touareg is the same basic car, the Cayenne isnt made of different materials by and large, it is all spec differences, even a Bentley is basically a VW these days, with the 991 I guess you are paying for additional and bespoke development as there is very little commonality with anything else and that is where the pure Porsche lineage still is

[bugster]

Porsche don't sell cars. They take orders. You only need to go to a dealer to experience it. The sales staff have a special "buy the car... Don't buy the car. If you don't someone will" attitude.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Well let's face it, Porsche still sell more sportscars than just about anyone else even if the majority of company sales are bloated SUVs and executive barges.

The entry Boxster with 2.9 litre 6-cylinder engine is competitively priced at £38,000. And there's no complusion to buy the numbingly expensive extras.

[projectgt]

I suspect the weak engines that have thwarted the 996, 997, 986, 987 (RS & Turbo models not inc) put people off. The Cayenne is a safe choice as it uses trusted VW engines, chassis etc.

[Viperz888]

why would sales be stagnant on a model just released?