Quote:
Originally posted by Richard Truss
I dont think the general public puts even the nicest mercs and bmw's on the same level as a porsche. Porsche has a mystique that the others cannot touch, and thats much of what this competition comes down to, in my opinion. I think as long as porsche has fantastic power, fantastic handling (i.e. no more 924 experaments), they will remain number one in the eyes of the public.
hell, a friend i work with lumps porsche with ferrari as THE cars to own. and i dont think he is unique.
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Some of the general public rates mercs HIGHER, though why a luxury cruiser buyer would chose a Mercedes over an Audi is beyond my understanding. oh wait - it's the snob reputation.
A LOT of folks place BMW and Porsche in the same class. It's sort of the Yuppie Performance category. BMW may have been inventor of the performance sedan, but the orignal 2002 niche has been taken over by upscale versions of WRX, Lancer EVO and Escort . BMW nowadays is firmly into the luxu tourer group with Audi & Mercedes. Even 5 degrees of negative camber can't save a 3500 lb car with soft springs in a tight corner.
I believe the 'Porsche Mystique' lies squarely in the realm of Corvette and Viper mystique. If Honda ever put 350 HP in the S2000 they could hit Porsche with a standing 8 count.
I LOVE my Boxster, but when I went shopping (200-2001) for the perfect convertible Porsche Mystique meant diddly to me. I almost got hooked in by Ferrari mystique and Lotus mystique but I had seen way too many 914s, 356s, 92x and old 911s for Porsche too have any allure. Outside the dedicated Porsche enthusiast, I don't think the Porsche brand is all that strong- the college kids spend a lot more time drooling over tuner cars.
Porsche may find themselves with the Mercedes problem in a few more years. As much as I respect them, Phil Hill and Dan Guerney are getting long in the tooth and names like Kevin Buckler and Sasha Massen(sp?) just don't show up on the Speed Channel or the Daily Show very often.
Football players and Basketball players don't fit into most Porsches (maybe that's why the Cayenne), so where does Porsche Mystique go to be regenrated in the hearts of the young? I wish the Speed Channel would learn how to cover a road race, or Porsche would go for Indianapolis again, I don't see it happening.
There is a glimmer on the horizon. If the Carrera GT were to go out and dominate Ferrari on ALMS and the Euro version, Porsche might earn a place in the mind alongside Ferrari. Right now Ferrari sits on a much bigger podium.