Are Porsche dumbing down?
Discussion
Whenever I ring my OPC recently, it either rings for ages, and I mean 10 minutes or so, or it gets answered and just goes to dead air. The quality of the cars is suffering, I'm on a my second replacement which I'm rejecting today. I won't go in to details yet, but the issues have been shocking.
I notice they are putting main stream dealer principals (have to say the one at my OPC is great though) in place as well, just get the feeling its about shifting units now nothing else.
I was in my OPC last week and they've even change their B&O TV for a Samsung (or similar), it had a ticker with news updates and Porsche stories at the bottom and was talking about Jenson's hopes for the upcoming british GP, 3 weeks after the event. Just sloppy IMHO.
I've bought around 10 new Porsche's, always enjoyed the experience. No more though, I'm out, for a bit anyway!
Off to change my user name.
I notice they are putting main stream dealer principals (have to say the one at my OPC is great though) in place as well, just get the feeling its about shifting units now nothing else.
I was in my OPC last week and they've even change their B&O TV for a Samsung (or similar), it had a ticker with news updates and Porsche stories at the bottom and was talking about Jenson's hopes for the upcoming british GP, 3 weeks after the event. Just sloppy IMHO.
I've bought around 10 new Porsche's, always enjoyed the experience. No more though, I'm out, for a bit anyway!
Off to change my user name.
991fan said:
Whenever I ring my OPC recently, it either rings for ages, and I mean 10 minutes or so, or it gets answered and just goes to dead air. The quality of the cars is suffering, I'm on a my second replacement which I'm rejecting today. I won't go in to details yet, but the issues have been shocking.
I notice they are putting main stream dealer principals (have to say the one at my OPC is great though) in place as well, just get the feeling its about shifting units now nothing else.
I was in my OPC last week and they've even change their B&O TV for a Samsung (or similar), it had a ticker with news updates and Porsche stories at the bottom and was talking about Jenson's hopes for the upcoming british GP, 3 weeks after the event. Just sloppy IMHO.
I've bought around 10 new Porsche's, always enjoyed the experience. No more though, I'm out, for a bit anyway!
Off to change my user name.
Yep. The cars are anodyne and Porsche is leveraging past glories to flog mass-produced euro boxes to the impressionable masses.I notice they are putting main stream dealer principals (have to say the one at my OPC is great though) in place as well, just get the feeling its about shifting units now nothing else.
I was in my OPC last week and they've even change their B&O TV for a Samsung (or similar), it had a ticker with news updates and Porsche stories at the bottom and was talking about Jenson's hopes for the upcoming british GP, 3 weeks after the event. Just sloppy IMHO.
I've bought around 10 new Porsche's, always enjoyed the experience. No more though, I'm out, for a bit anyway!
Off to change my user name.
Not sure where my next sports car will be coming from but it's highly unlikely to be Porsche.
Glad it's not just me thinking this. The new range of cars does nothing for me and my recent OPC experiences have been dire. "Highlights" have included selling me number plates that wouldn't fit on my car and a salesman moving a Chelsea tractor around the showroom whilst my 2 year old was just feet away
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Well, I have owned two 991s and driven a number more on road and track since the day they were launched. I've also had a number of different earlier Porsches. What I have posted above is how I feel about Porsche right now. They've lost their way as far as I am concerned, or perhaps changed direction and it's not heading anywhere I am interested in going.I don't consider them a sports car marque any more, I think of them as just another German car maker that happens to have some sports cars in its range.
Eleven said:
Well, I have owned two 991s and driven a number more on road and track since the day they were launched. I've also had a number of different earlier Porsches. What I have posted above is how I feel about Porsche right now. They've lost their way as far as I am concerned, or perhaps changed direction and it's not heading anywhere I am interested in going.
I don't consider them a sports car marque any more, I think of them as just another German car maker that happens to have some sports cars in its range.
As a matter of interest, if you're not going to buy Porsche in the future, I'd be genuinely interested to hear what cars will be on your shopping list. I understand what you are saying, but still find it difficult to come up with a sports car which is going to offer me the same driving experience and practicality as the 991.I don't consider them a sports car marque any more, I think of them as just another German car maker that happens to have some sports cars in its range.
Edited by carcrazypop on Saturday 9th August 15:37
carcrazypop said:
Eleven said:
Well, I have owned two 991s and driven a number more on road and track since the day they were launched. I've also had a number of different earlier Porsches. What I have posted above is how I feel about Porsche right now. They've lost their way as far as I am concerned, or perhaps changed direction and it's not heading anywhere I am interested in going.
I don't consider them a sports car marque any more, I think of them as just another German car maker that happens to have some sports cars in its range.
As a matter of interest, if you're not going to buy Porsche in the future, I'd be genuinely interested to hear what cars will be on your shopping list. I understand what you are saying, but still find it difficult to come up with a sports car which is going to offer me the same driving experience and practicality of the 991.I don't consider them a sports car marque any more, I think of them as just another German car maker that happens to have some sports cars in its range.
The practicality is part of the problem. The 991 in default will bimble about town quite happily and feel like an Audi, albeit a sluggish one. Then the engine will stop at the traffic lights so as not to kill the polar bears.
It will take you on a perfectly comfortable long journey, four up if that's what is required.
Yes, it can then become scary fast in Sport + mode.
But it feels soul-less. If feels like something that is trying to be all things to all men whilst offending no one.
I want a sports car to be a bit more focused, a bit more raw.
It is no coincidence that I did twice as many miles in 991s and I did in 997s. The 997 was about right in terms of the balance between refinement and sports car edginess. Ironically, when I first drove a 991 my 997 was immediately history. If I had to pick one today however it would be the 997.
But as much as anything else, it's where Porsche is at that bothers me. Simply put they are trying to sell a car to every market segment on the strength of the badge.
What will my next car be? If I had to go to one showroom this afternoon and buy a car it would probably be Ferrari.
Guys, if you want to feel pampered and special, book yourself into a weekend a chewton glen.
OPC sell cars. If you go in and have the money to buy one ..... big deal. Either do so, or don't and if you don't, someone else will !
As for the cars, as drivers cars, all modern stuff is a bit s
t imo. Even my 96 GT3 stuggles a bit sometimes compared to my 993 as its a bit too 'good' and capable. Wouldnt want to go more modern than that.
OPC sell cars. If you go in and have the money to buy one ..... big deal. Either do so, or don't and if you don't, someone else will !
As for the cars, as drivers cars, all modern stuff is a bit s
t imo. Even my 96 GT3 stuggles a bit sometimes compared to my 993 as its a bit too 'good' and capable. Wouldnt want to go more modern than that.anonymous said:
[redacted]
In point of fact I wasn't referring to the sports cars originally, I was referring more to the likes of the Macan. Porsche wants to supply cars to every segment and is not a sports car manufacturer anymore.But if you want to talk about the 981/991 I am not aware of anything amazing about them. They couldn't even get ant-roll (PDCC) right. They've only just started shipping DAB and full postcode sat navs FFS.
Eleven said:
In point of fact I wasn't referring to the sports cars originally, I was referring more to the likes of the Macan. Porsche wants to supply cars to every segment and is not a sports car manufacturer anymore.
Porsche supply some cars which are sports cars and some which are not. Even those which are not are generally regarded as best in class.Eleven said:
But if you want to talk about the 981/991 I am not aware of anything amazing about them. They couldn't even get ant-roll (PDCC) right. They've only just started shipping DAB and full postcode sat navs FFS.
Yep, DAB and full postcode NAV - the essence of a proper sports car....
991fan said:
Whenever I ring my OPC recently, it either rings for ages, and I mean 10 minutes or so, or it gets answered and just goes to dead air. The quality of the cars is suffering, I'm on a my second replacement which I'm rejecting today. I won't go in to details yet, but the issues have been shocking.
I notice they are putting main stream dealer principals (have to say the one at my OPC is great though) in place as well, just get the feeling its about shifting units now nothing else.
I was in my OPC last week and they've even change their B&O TV for a Samsung (or similar), it had a ticker with news updates and Porsche stories at the bottom and was talking about Jenson's hopes for the upcoming british GP, 3 weeks after the event. Just sloppy IMHO.
I've bought around 10 new Porsche's, always enjoyed the experience. No more though, I'm out, for a bit anyway!
Off to change my user name.
You have fallen foul of the new OPC rules (gleaned from Pistonheads). Namely that they are not allowed to answer the phone, or sell any more Porsches, to people who abuse apostrophes. I notice they are putting main stream dealer principals (have to say the one at my OPC is great though) in place as well, just get the feeling its about shifting units now nothing else.
I was in my OPC last week and they've even change their B&O TV for a Samsung (or similar), it had a ticker with news updates and Porsche stories at the bottom and was talking about Jenson's hopes for the upcoming british GP, 3 weeks after the event. Just sloppy IMHO.
I've bought around 10 new Porsche's, always enjoyed the experience. No more though, I'm out, for a bit anyway!
Off to change my user name.
Eleven said:
What will my next car be? If I had to go to one showroom this afternoon and buy a car it would probably be Ferrari.
Before buying my 2012 991 I was seriously looking at getting an F430; I was very close to buying a 2006 F430 F1 coupe, but on inspection I found the paintwork to have outbreaks of paint blistering, especially on areas such as door edges.I spoke to a couple of approved bodyshops, one that dealt with Ferraris, Lambos, McClarens & Porsche etc about the problem, and they both said that this was fairly typical for Ferraris despite their boasting about the investments they have made with their paintshops. It's due to paint edges not being sealed properly therefore allowing moisture ingress.
Both bodyshops recommended that I stick with Porsche, unprompted.
I still think that the Ferrari would have been more of an 'occasion' to use, but am also sure it would have caused more headaches, and pain to my wallet. I don't know if this paint problem still exists with the 458 but I think my head won out over my heart when I stuck with Porsche, and I'm sure I'll sleep better at night.
I will admit though, if I was a multi-millionaire, the decision might have been different, but then I could have both !!
carcrazypop said:
Eleven said:
What will my next car be? If I had to go to one showroom this afternoon and buy a car it would probably be Ferrari.
Before buying my 2012 991 I was seriously looking at getting an F430; I was very close to buying a 2006 F430 F1 coupe, but on inspection I found the paintwork to have outbreaks of paint blistering, especially on areas such as door edges.I spoke to a couple of approved bodyshops, one that dealt with Ferraris, Lambos, McClarens & Porsche etc about the problem, and they both said that this was fairly typical for Ferraris despite their boasting about the investments they have made with their paintshops. It's due to paint edges not being sealed properly therefore allowing moisture ingress.
Both bodyshops recommended that I stick with Porsche, unprompted.
I still think that the Ferrari would have been more of an 'occasion' to use, but am also sure it would have caused more headaches, and pain to my wallet. I don't know if this paint problem still exists with the 458 but I think my head won out over my heart when I stuck with Porsche, and I'm sure I'll sleep better at night.
I will admit though, if I was a multi-millionaire, the decision might have been different, but then I could have both !!
Eleven said:
But it feels soul-less. If feels like something that is trying to be all things to all men whilst offending no one.
Soulless - exactly how I felt about my Cayman S. It was a great car, far more capable as a car than my driving skills could possibly explore. But I felt it lacked exactly as you say - a soul., some character. Traded it for a 993. Contributors to this forum, and every other Porsche related forum, are a tiny fraction of the buyers of modern Porsche.
To this end, I feel the majority couldn't give a flying toss about the nuances in differing steering inputs, or chassis made of unobtainium, or seats stuffed with the finest lightweight angel pubes.
No, they want a Porsche.
Any Porsche they can afford.
They are the ones that put money in the shareholders accounts and today, in the 21st century, that appears all that matters.
To make it as easy as possible for Porsche to sell cars, then in answer to the OP, I think yes - Porsche *have* dumbed down.
I've seen the change in only 5 years of ownership.
To this end, I feel the majority couldn't give a flying toss about the nuances in differing steering inputs, or chassis made of unobtainium, or seats stuffed with the finest lightweight angel pubes.
No, they want a Porsche.
Any Porsche they can afford.
They are the ones that put money in the shareholders accounts and today, in the 21st century, that appears all that matters.
To make it as easy as possible for Porsche to sell cars, then in answer to the OP, I think yes - Porsche *have* dumbed down.
I've seen the change in only 5 years of ownership.
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