These 991 opening nights, just a thought.
These 991 opening nights, just a thought.
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Discussion

Buster73

Original Poster:

5,635 posts

184 months

Friday 16th December 2011
quotequote all
I was at the Newcastle one on Thursday night for half an hour and it occurred to me that out of say 250 people there.

That 50 % of them were partners or spouses.

That leaves say 125 ish.

How many have just come for a bit of a neb at the new model ?

How many have come for a free drink / social type aspect ?

How many eventually sort out test drives ?

And finally how many actual sales will come from it ?

I wonder if someone from the trade could satisfy my curiosity ?


spareparts

6,796 posts

258 months

Friday 16th December 2011
quotequote all
Who cares. Free champers, souvenir Porsche toy, voucher, nice views wink and a nosey at the latest we all want to see. What's not to love?

majordad

3,631 posts

228 months

Friday 16th December 2011
quotequote all
It's a long term investment by Porsche. The car you buy today or tomorrow may not be a 991, but it could be someday. I've driven the car both on the road and on a race track, and it's stunning. Only IMHO of course, and some day I might just be a buyer. It's a very good car, period.

DS240

5,774 posts

249 months

Friday 16th December 2011
quotequote all
majordad said:
It's a long term investment by Porsche. The car you buy today or tomorrow may not be a 991, but it could be someday. I've driven the car both on the road and on a race track, and it's stunning. Only IMHO of course, and some day I might just be a buyer. It's a very good car, period.
Exactly. It is all about keeping the love going in a Porsche direction. I just went for an early look at the new car. Not really for the food or drink and certainly not to socialise with the people there. Also hate dealing with the dealership as a whole.

Had a drink, looked at car, no staff could even be arsed saying hi (far more wealthy there to arse-lick), left.

It was a low turn out, but then there wasn't much extra that you'd not get just turning up the next day in the showroom.

nickfrog

25,443 posts

248 months

Saturday 17th December 2011
quotequote all
DS240 said:
Exactly. It is all about keeping the love going in a Porsche direction.
I can think of a few better things for Porsche to invest in to keep the love going:

- fit water pumps that last more than 60K miles
- engineer a way to protect the front rads to extend their current 4 year average life expectancy
- fit door membranes that don't leak within 2 years
- stop putting the immobiliser ECU at the lowest point of the car (see related door membrane issue)
- fit radiator fans that will survive more than 50K miles
- use control arms / drop links / top mounts that can survive a couple of years
- etc...





Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 17th December 00:44

DSM2

3,624 posts

231 months

Saturday 17th December 2011
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
I can think of a few better things for Porsche to invest in to keep the love going:

- fit water pumps that last more than 60K miles
- engineer a way to protect the front rads to extend their current 4 year average life expectancy
- fit door membranes that don't leak within 2 years
- stop putting the immobiliser ECU at the lowest point of the car (see related door membrane issue)
- fit radiator fans that will survive more than 50K miles
- use control arms / drop links / top mounts that can survive a couple of years
- etc...





Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 17th December 00:44
What you mean is build better not different. And I agree.

exigepete

1,005 posts

234 months

Saturday 17th December 2011
quotequote all
Cambridge took four deposits on the night, it was nearly five but managed to resist!

mike58

154 posts

284 months

Saturday 17th December 2011
quotequote all
These people who pay a deposit " on the night " are the type who wish to be seen to do so. " Look at me I have enough money to do this and take a shafting with depreciation in a year or two"
Paying a deposit in a public arena is in my opinion not good taste ( but might impress some people)

exigepete

1,005 posts

234 months

Saturday 17th December 2011
quotequote all
Well excuse me, I went away into a quiet side office to discuss some delivery times etc, didn't see anyone signing in public and nor did I say that! Was merely answering the OP's question about how much business they do on these nights vs cost etc with personal experience.

Edited by exigepete on Saturday 17th December 09:44

mollytherocker

14,469 posts

240 months

Saturday 17th December 2011
quotequote all
Dont forget the spread of 'excitement' it causes. This thread! People tell friends, talk on forums, it gets published in various formats, etc etc.

It is just one part of the whole strategic plan to create that elusive 'want' in people. Its not like selling toilet rolls or photocopiers.

A 911 is virtually pointless. Its a luxury, a toy, a lifestyle, a status symbol. If you cant create excitment towards it, failure is inevitable.

How many small sports manufacturers struggle with this?

MTR

mrdemon

21,146 posts

296 months

Saturday 17th December 2011
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
I can think of a few better things for Porsche to invest in to keep the love going:

- fit water pumps that last more than 60K miles
- engineer a way to protect the front rads to extend their current 4 year average life expectancy
- fit door membranes that don't leak within 2 years
- stop putting the immobiliser ECU at the lowest point of the car (see related door membrane issue)
- fit radiator fans that will survive more than 50K miles
- use control arms / drop links / top mounts that can survive a couple of years
- etc...


the 991 is a much better build so every one says.




Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 17th December 00:44

mollytherocker

14,469 posts

240 months

Saturday 17th December 2011
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
nickfrog said:
I can think of a few better things for Porsche to invest in to keep the love going:

- fit water pumps that last more than 60K miles
- engineer a way to protect the front rads to extend their current 4 year average life expectancy
- fit door membranes that don't leak within 2 years
- stop putting the immobiliser ECU at the lowest point of the car (see related door membrane issue)
- fit radiator fans that will survive more than 50K miles
- use control arms / drop links / top mounts that can survive a couple of years
- etc...


Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 17th December 00:44
the 991 is a much better build so every one says.
We wont know that for some time!

MTR

khushy

3,984 posts

250 months

Saturday 17th December 2011
quotequote all
Buster73 said:
I was at the Newcastle one on Thursday night for half an hour and it occurred to me that out of say 250 people there.

That 50 % of them were partners or spouses.

That leaves say 125 ish.

How many have just come for a bit of a neb at the new model ?

How many have come for a free drink / social type aspect ?

How many eventually sort out test drives ?

And finally how many actual sales will come from it ?

I wonder if someone from the trade could satisfy my curiosity ?
YAWN ......... another ...... Pointless "how dare they advertise their Porsche like that, without conulting us first - even though i have no interest in buying it" TYPE thread ........ you dont own the OPC network, so why do you/we care?

pistonheed

38 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
quotequote all
Hi, I won't divulge in the numbers but it was a fantastic success and we are already quoting April/may delivery. Sorry DS240 if we did not get to speak with you, lots of customers to catch up with new and old familiar faces, we were exhausted but still left with the feeling there was not enough time to talk to all. Please feel free to prod us in the back next time and introduce yourself, thanks for coming and joining in.

ChrisW.

8,164 posts

286 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
quotequote all
I thoroughly enjoyed the Leeds day ad I hope they did sell loads ...

There is a lot to like about the 991 .... though I feel that the look of this model is more colour specific than any other I have seen.

I adore the use of sharp edges with curves, and fort hat reason I think the silver and midnight blue metallic look great.

I was strangely underwhelmed by the red ...

Arenki

252 posts

200 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
quotequote all
the one at guildford made me cringe. Some of the people there were so stuck up each other it was unreal. 991 is a thing of beauty though, holding out for either a 991 GT3 or maybe a GT2RS 997. time will tell...

kent_phil

329 posts

274 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
quotequote all
pistonheed said:
Hi, I won't divulge in the numbers but it was a fantastic success and we are already quoting April/may delivery. Sorry DS240 if we did not get to speak with you, lots of customers to catch up with new and old familiar faces, we were exhausted but still left with the feeling there was not enough time to talk to all. Please feel free to prod us in the back next time and introduce yourself, thanks for coming and joining in.
Seriously - new gen 911 and only a 4 month wait list of which 3 months is probably factory build lead time? I had to wait 18 months for a Boxster back in '98 and had a friend who had to wait a similar time for a 996 Cabrio - guessing this is the new volume Porsche...

Thinking about it, I've waited longer for a VW Golf.

mollytherocker

14,469 posts

240 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
quotequote all
kent_phil said:
Seriously - new gen 911 and only a 4 month wait list of which 3 months is probably factory build lead time? I had to wait 18 months for a Boxster back in '98 and had a friend who had to wait a similar time for a 996 Cabrio - guessing this is the new volume Porsche...

Thinking about it, I've waited longer for a VW Golf.
Its not an encouraging sign is it. If buyers arent fighting over it now, the future doesnt look bright.

With the way the world is going, Porsche may need to rethink that new Assembly plant!

MTR

pistonheed

38 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
quotequote all
Lead time will increase as time goes by, eg New Cayenne. Very low up take then as soon after it hit the market bang, success!!! Numbers to the uk will be slim which is great news for residuals.

mollytherocker

14,469 posts

240 months

Sunday 18th December 2011
quotequote all
pistonheed said:
Lead time will increase as time goes by, eg New Cayenne. Very low up take then as soon after it hit the market bang, success!!! Numbers to the uk will be slim which is great news for residuals.
You hope!

MTR