Is the Boxster the unloved stepchild?

[thstone]

Its surprising that Porsche hasn't followed BMW down the path of maximizing the sales of each model through model proliferation.

For example, the 5-series is available as a Sedan, Estate, and GT. Three engines are offered across these models along with an option for all wheel drive. And of course, there is the M option. Similar configurations are available for all of the major BMW models (1, 3, 5, and 7).

BMW has shown that this proliferation of models results in higher total sales. Sure, there might be a few low end 7-series sales cannibilized by high end 5-series buyers but overall the company has demonstrated that its earns more sales in total.

Porsche takes this approach for the 911 (Carerra, CarerraS, convertible, 4, Turbo, and GT-3) but surprisingly not for the Boxster or Cayman. Some might say that they are leaving a lot of potential sales on the table.

If I were running Porsche (insert a lot of laughter here!), I would merge the Boxster and Cayman into one car model (as the convertible or coupe options) and then proliferate the model line as discussed above. I would have the upper end of the Boxster/Cayman line overlap the lower one-third of the Carerra line. This way, any Boxster/Cayman sales that came at the expense of Carerra sales would be about the same revenue.

[pothole]

Originally Posted by thstone

BMW has shown that this proliferation of models results in higher total sales. Sure, there might be a few low end 7-series sales cannibilized by high end 5-series buyers but overall the company has demonstrated that its earns more sales in total.

Porsche takes this approach for the 911 (Carerra, CarerraS, convertible, 4, Turbo, and GT-3) but surprisingly not for the Boxster or Cayman. Some might say that they are leaving a lot of potential sales on the table.

Ahhh, but the 911, Boxster and Cayman are all one model. It's just brilliant branding and some clever engineering tweaks that make you view them as separate models. So what we're dealing with is one model in a very large array of configurations. Very clever.

Given Porsche's profitability, I'd say they know exactly what they're doing. Sure, they could do a Boxster Turbo (ghastly idea, but people would no doubt buy it). But there are implications for that sort of model re 911 sales

What you have to appreciate is that a Boxster / Cayman and a 911 are essentially the same car. But when you look at the list prices, you realise the margins on the 911 must be massive. And that's why Porsche doesn't make Boxster / Caymans that threaten to cannibalise 911 sales.

They are way ahead of us on this stuff, I reckon.

[Heiko]

Pothole Quote - "Ahhh, but the 911, Boxster and Cayman are all one model"
Aside from the front end looking much the same how do you figure this? The boxsters are mid-engine cars and the 911 is a rear engine car... completely different setup and both drive completely different.

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by Heiko

Pothole Quote - "Ahhh, but the 911, Boxster and Cayman are all one model"
Aside from the front end looking much the same how do you figure this? The boxsters are mid-engine cars and the 911 is a rear engine car... completely different setup and both drive completely different.

Different set up? yes....different hardware? Not so much. The bits are all essentially from the same bin, just assembled and attached in different ways...

[Heiko]

Originally Posted by shadrach74

Different set up? yes....different hardware? Not so much. The bits are all essentially from the same bin, just assembled and attached in different ways...

Well I'm sure there's lots of parts that cross-match because the 'style' of the cars is so much the same, but that doesnt mean the cars themselves are the same! In the end they'd be silly to make or redesign every part seperately. Personally I think the 911 is far overpriced for what you get, but in the end you're paying for the '911' badge and its historic success which is what the stealerships use as leverage to boost the price tag.
Hey I can go out and buy a Escalade or a Yukon and get fancy trim and some extra features for and extra 30K in the Escalade and the parts are essentially the same....

[pothole]

Originally Posted by Heiko

Well I'm sure there's lots of parts that cross-match because the 'style' of the cars is so much the same, but that doesnt mean the cars themselves are the same! In the end they'd be silly to make or redesign every part seperately. Personally I think the 911 is far overpriced for what you get, but in the end you're paying for the '911' badge and its historic success which is what the stealerships use as leverage to boost the price tag.
Hey I can go out and buy a Escalade or a Yukon and get fancy trim and some extra features for and extra 30K in the Escalade and the parts are essentially the same....

It's not "part sharing". It's platform sharing. The front 2/3rds of the platform and structure and just about everything else is shared and more or less identical. The rear 1/3rd is configured for rear or mid installation.

People have someone misconstrued my post. I never said 911s and Boxsters drove the same. The engine location makes a big difference obviously. But the fact is, they are one model with two different engine installations.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by pothole

Ahhh, but the 911, Boxster and Cayman are all one model.

The key differentiator between the 911 and the Boxster/Cayman is the engine location. This results in signifiicantly different handling characteristics not to mention back seats vs rear trunks.

BMW gets by just fine with even less differentiation (than engine location) by using old fashioned "size" to uniquely define the 3, 5 and 7 series.

[pothole]

Originally Posted by thstone

The key differentiator between the 911 and the Boxster/Cayman is the engine location. This results in signifiicantly different handling characteristics not to mention back seats vs rear trunks.

BMW gets by just fine with even less differentiation (than engine location) by using old fashioned "size" to uniquely define the 3, 5 and 7 series.

Totally different propositions. A BMW 3 and a 7 are completely separate platforms and architectures. A 911 and a Box are the same save for changes made for engine installation.