Boxster Killer?

[lexuspilot]

When someone asks what kind of car I drive, I say "Porsche"....that's it.

Who wants to say "Honda, but it's a S2000, know what that is? It doesn't share components with other hondas, and it outnumbers the other cars at my SCCA"

or "Volkswagon, but it's not a wagon, it's a roadster...I mean it's not a bug or a jetta it's a mid-engine roadster". I feel worse for the Phaeton folks, they can't even say what price they paid to make it more credible.

I never hear a Porsche owner qualify his purchase. There are other nice cars, but in other ways.

[No_Name]

Originally Posted by lexuspilot

When someone asks what kind of car I drive, I say "Porsche"....that's it.

Who wants to say "Honda, but it's a S2000, know what that is? It doesn't share components with other hondas, and it outnumbers the other cars at my SCCA"

or "Volkswagon, but it's not a wagon, it's a roadster...I mean it's not a bug or a jetta it's a mid-engine roadster". I feel worse for the Phaeton folks, they can't even say what price they paid to make it more credible.

I never hear a Porsche owner qualify his purchase. There are other nice cars, but in other ways.

That's OK b/c not everyone needs to be a "brand-whore." You see, some people enjoy a car for what it truely is, not how it reflects upon you. Those are the people that I'd like be associated with and be friends with. Sadly, your notion typifies many sports car owners nowaday.

[No_Name]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

Here is a rule on price.

Supply AND demand.

It IS that simple.

LOL Com'on Rich, you know that's fairy-tale textbook stuff that they teach to freshmen. We all know the bean-counters and marketing folks predetermined the product, supply, and price, and then hope their predicted demand will follow suit. Your concept holds true if demand exceeds supply/price. If demand is below supply, the "sticky price" effect had cause a company to go bankrupt (a la Porsche in late early 90's) and still price won't reach an equilibrium w/ supply and demand.

The 987 and 997 are truely great cars, and will no doubt bolster Porsche's brand name and pocket book. I hope I don't come across as a Porsche basher.

[Porschekid]

Originally Posted by No_Name

Everything from its x-bone frame to its mid-engine layout to its interior is designed from scratch... with great success.

mid-engine?

[No_Name]

Originally Posted by Porschekid

mid-engine?

Yes, mid-engine. I knew someone would bite. I'll give you a chance to redeem youself if you can explain why that is.

[Porschekid]

Originally Posted by No_Name

Yes, mid-engine. I knew someone would bite. I'll give you a chance to redeem youself if you can explain why that is.

You call it mid-engine because the engine is behind the axle. Everyone else calls it front engine because it is front engine. Every review and write-up of the car I have read describes it as front engine rear wheel drive.

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=33&article_id=7579

[RandallNeighbour]

According to the photo, the engine is fully behind the front wheels. So on a technicality, it's a mid engine automobile. Just not where we Boxster owners think it belongs.

Bet it doesn't take the twisties as well as a boxster either.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by No_Name

Yes, mid-engine. I knew someone would bite. I'll give you a chance to redeem youself if you can explain why that is.

wait a minute the S2000 is a MR now? I guess allot of front engine cars will have to be re-examined to see if the engine is actually behind the the shock mounts!

The S2000 was on my short list until I watched top gear's ratings of the best sports cars in the world. Tiff Needell in that Silver Boxster sold me on mid engine.

[CA_Boxster]

Does anyone remember when the Boxster was introduced and it was supposed to be the $30,000 Porsche to pull in a new generation? I think the fact that it's been so popular while pushing its way to $50-$60,000 is pretty good testament to the value and quality of a Porsche.

It's definitely a relative value to buy one used now, though. Less than $30,000 gets you a good selection of 2000-2001 2.7 Boxsters with 30k or fewer miles. They don't depreciate much from that point, though. New cars like the 350Z and S2000, even with more HP or other features, are still shopped against USED Boxsters - not new ones. The Porsche is still what people prefer.

[sTTevo]

Originally posted by CA_Boxster
New cars like the 350Z and S2000, even with more HP or other features, are still shopped against USED Boxsters - not new ones.

This is so true. A colleague of mine purchased a 350Z after shopping around for quite some time. He's ALWAYS wanted a Porsche but couldn't stretch his budget. When I got my 6 year old Boxster we went for a drive and he was kicking himself he didn't save and stretch that little bit more - even though his car was brand-spanking new

[Brucelee]

VW quality????

I don't think so Tim!

[PeterJoyce]

Being a VW is what I like about VW's. The only negative to my Boxster is the turned heads and name. You can buy an incredible car from VW and keep a low profile, not have people think diffrent about you. I really like that car.

[Jeannot]

Originally posted by scubaguy10

Likewise, the 350Z costs about $36,000, and has 287 HP! It may have cheap, nasty interior, problems with front tire wear and some other shortcomings, but it's clearly more bang for the buck. If Porsche hopes to compete with the Japs and the other competition, they need to recognize the moving nature of the target, and the fact that the Boxster (without the cachet of the 911) needs to be price competitive.

I am not sure Porsche HOPES to compete with the Japs. Porsche is a luxury brand. If you look on the home page of this site, it says "FRANKFURT, Germany - Luxury carmaker Porsche AG said Tuesday it plans to launch the much-anticipated new version of its iconic 911 sports car across Europe on July 17." The Japs HOPE to compete with Porsche, offering a product with more gadget, more HPs and whatever...Brand positionning and pricing are totally different, and so are the customers in my opinion. GUCCI does not HOPE compete with GAP. Porsche high-end 911s are prices against the Ferrrari Modena. The "regular" 911 against the Maserati etc. Why would the Boxster need to be price against Nissan? On top of that, the Boxster is a unique product offering with it's engine layout. "More bang for the buck" isn't only a HP/$ ratio.

[Subanez]

Its an interesting argument. As has been argued about in the past, the Boxster was released largely as a way for Porsche to make money in sales to fuel the production of its higher-end cars, and to continue R&D to make their vehicles that much better.

Although we all must agree on some level that Porsches are superior vehicles, you gotta consider that if Porsche loses sales to these other marques, that could hurt the Porsche name. Not now, and maybe not next year, but in 5 or 10 years, if they lose enough sales, we won't keep seeing the new 911 series blowing away all competition.

So we SHOULD be worried that these other carmakers are coming up with items that will woo the market to buy their cars. For people that are looking to get a fast car, even a car that could "beat a porsche," (as so many people seem to want to do), there are many options out there.

For the enthusiast--like most of us--there isn't a choice, nothing can touch a porsche in our minds. But remember that the general public with enough money to buy a porsche doesn't always understand what that means, and to be frank, a lot of them don't really care.

I could keep going, but I'll stop for now... :-)

[Jeannot]

If you look at Porsche AG's financials, they are beating every year their records...Ok, the Cayenne added to their income...but still, their sales are doing ok. They have just introduced two new models (997/987) and they have no reason to change that positionning...

[Seth Bullock]

I owned a new 250Z Track model before owning my 2001 boxster S and there is NO comparison in ANY way of a Nissan and a Porsche!!!!!!!!