RE: 9ff files for insolvency
Discussion
Just seen the news article in Blloomberg. Wiesmann applied for 'creditor protection' while looking to restructure and for new investors.
Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed.
There are many factors that affect this sector of the car market.
Major manufacturers have upped their game and the electronics used now are much harder to "crack" for tuners, especially when it applies to gearboxes, suspension, brakes, etc.
Any car builder selling at a price point above £100K has the depreciating supercar to compete with. A tweaked 911 or an Aventador? No contest.
The super rich have other options, many offered by the majors. McLaren P1, La Ferrari, etc. or an appreciating classic - Ferrari, Aston, Mercedes, Alfa, and many others.
Some are very fast others just feel fast at lower speeds.
There are very few companies that can make a mainstream manufactured car worth more as it gets older. Some of the Italian design houses can do it but only with very limited numbers (think Aston Bertone Jet). People with considerable wealth like to keep it and a car that grows in value is a bonus.
Roads have an influence. If you have driven any distance in the UK in the last few months you cannot fail to have seen the appalling state of the road surface. Driving rapidly now involves watching out for large potholes or missing surface finish. Combined with the level of congestion and speed enforcement and you get to the point where a comfortable, quiet car is more attractive to the high earner.
Track days have also given the chance to drive with more gusto and many are quick to realise a road car is not entirely suited to track use. Used racing cars are available for less money than a new 9ff and would leave it struggling on a track.
Fashions change too. Going into a bar and having to explain to a non-car person that you drive a 9ff is not as impressive (to the non-car person) as saying you drive a Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Ferrari.
Add these reasons all up and you can see life is difficult for the specialist builder.
Weissman had a major presence in the drivers parade at Le Mans this year but it can't have boosted their profits sufficiently.
Paul
Major manufacturers have upped their game and the electronics used now are much harder to "crack" for tuners, especially when it applies to gearboxes, suspension, brakes, etc.
Any car builder selling at a price point above £100K has the depreciating supercar to compete with. A tweaked 911 or an Aventador? No contest.
The super rich have other options, many offered by the majors. McLaren P1, La Ferrari, etc. or an appreciating classic - Ferrari, Aston, Mercedes, Alfa, and many others.
Some are very fast others just feel fast at lower speeds.
There are very few companies that can make a mainstream manufactured car worth more as it gets older. Some of the Italian design houses can do it but only with very limited numbers (think Aston Bertone Jet). People with considerable wealth like to keep it and a car that grows in value is a bonus.
Roads have an influence. If you have driven any distance in the UK in the last few months you cannot fail to have seen the appalling state of the road surface. Driving rapidly now involves watching out for large potholes or missing surface finish. Combined with the level of congestion and speed enforcement and you get to the point where a comfortable, quiet car is more attractive to the high earner.
Track days have also given the chance to drive with more gusto and many are quick to realise a road car is not entirely suited to track use. Used racing cars are available for less money than a new 9ff and would leave it struggling on a track.
Fashions change too. Going into a bar and having to explain to a non-car person that you drive a 9ff is not as impressive (to the non-car person) as saying you drive a Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Ferrari.
Add these reasons all up and you can see life is difficult for the specialist builder.
Weissman had a major presence in the drivers parade at Le Mans this year but it can't have boosted their profits sufficiently.
Paul
The GT9 Clubsport gives me goosebumps. Something as apparently brilliant in engineering terms as this surely has to find a lifeline somewhere?
http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/09/9ff-gt9-clubsp...
http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/09/9ff-gt9-clubsp...
I think it's fair to say there are plenty of other Porsche tuners about, so realistically I doubt they'll be missed all that much. Besides, when I think 'barking mad non-standard Porsche' it'll always be Ruf that springs to mind first, even if 9ff's cars were a whole lot more powerful.
If there's a financial crisis hitting German tuners, though, it'd better leave Brabus alone. The world NEEDS 1000bhp S-classes.
If there's a financial crisis hitting German tuners, though, it'd better leave Brabus alone. The world NEEDS 1000bhp S-classes.
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