The Macan is quite good.

[thstone]

I'm sure that its a great little SUV. But therein lies the problem. I think that it will continue to erode the brand.

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by thstone

I'm sure that its a great little SUV. But therein lies the problem. I think that it will continue to erode the brand.

At least the "normal" cars they make are still good. Gotta say it looks better than a GLA and much much better than a X1.

[TeamOxford]

Originally Posted by thstone

I'm sure that its a great little SUV. But therein lies the problem. I think that it will continue to erode the brand.

I concur..........but I have no logical reason to think this.

I guess I can empathize with how the Porschephile felt when the Mother Company marketed the 914, or when it decided that the front engine, rear transaxle setup of the 924/944/928 was the future of Porsche. Or when the Boxster/Cayman platform was introduced, and they suddenly became aware of the fact that that little sucker could eventually run circles around their time honored swinging pendulum layout, given the same power plant.

Right now, the SUV platform is the most popular, and Porsche is producing a superior example. And they're making a ton of money on it. Enough to keep the "pure" Porsches going.

TO

[BYprodriver]

If they would make a rear wheel drive SUV I would buy it! Like the Macan looks but refuse to pay for 300 lbs I'll never use. Add lightness!

[Joe B]

"Erode the brand?" What does that mean? Porsche is in business to make money, and evidently they feel that this is a lucrative market. I don't see how they can erode the brand as long as they continue to make Boxsters, Caymans and 911s.

[RawleyD]

Originally Posted by thstone

I'm sure that its a great little SUV. But therein lies the problem. I think that it will continue to erode the brand.

Right, this SUV is eroding the brand.

Not anymore that some 16 year old driving a Porsche to high school imo... :troll:

[j.fro]

Quote:
Originally Posted by thstone
I'm sure that its a great little SUV. But therein lies the problem. I think that it will continue to erode the brand.

Hate to say it, but I agree. What could be done to curb this erosion??? How about a little Motorsport. I would love to see Porsche return to Dakar (even though terrorists have forced the rally to South America) or try the Baja 1000. How about Ken Block in a Macan doing rally cross?

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by j.fro

Quote:
Originally Posted by thstone
I'm sure that its a great little SUV. But therein lies the problem. I think that it will continue to erode the brand.

Hate to say it, but I agree. What could be done to curb this erosion??? How about a little Motorsport. I would love to see Porsche return to Dakar (even though terrorists have forced the rally to South America) or try the Baja 1000. How about Ken Block in a Macan doing rally cross?

I think they compete in everything they should.... You know the guys at Porsche are perfectionist so they only compete where they know they can win. I love watching Porsches in the euro and now American eundurance championships. No to mention the return to Le Mans prototypes. They are very rich in (successful) Motorsport.

[MikenOH]

I've never quite understood the mission of many of the small SUV models. Are these SUVs, AWD sedans or AWD sedans with sporting intentions?

I ask because what seems to limited in these vehicles is cargo capacity; My RAV4's--first an 07, now a 13--have both had more than 70+ cubic ft. of space with seats down which is great for hauling things like dog crates and other boxy packages. A small package with a lot of utility

The X3, Q5 and now the Macan are under 60 cubic ft. It's not the end of the world for sure, but does limit what you carry in this vehicle. Is this Porsche's answer to the Mazda 3 speed / WRX or something else?

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by MikenOH

I've never quite understood the mission of many of the small SUV models. Are these SUVs, AWD sedans or AWD sedans with sporting intentions?

I ask because what seems to limited in these vehicles is cargo capacity; My RAV4's--first an 07, now a 13--have both had more than 70+ cubic ft. of space with seats down which is great for hauling things like dog crates and other boxy packages. A small package with a lot of utility

The X3, Q5 and now the Macan are under 60 cubic ft. It's not the end of the world for sure, but does limit what you carry in this vehicle. Is this Porsche's answer to the Mazda 3 speed / WRX or something else?

It is the Suv look without the suv mpg or price.... mercades gla, bmw x1, and the nissan juke are examples.

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by RawleyD

Right, this SUV is eroding the brand.

Not anymore that some 16 year old driving a Porsche to high school imo... :troll:

Sounds like a smart guy, most teens with a decent budget waste it on a jeep. The SUVs are great, even the diesel ones, I feel that Porsche fans hold the company back with too big of a foot in tradition. Then again I'd personally flip my crap if the next Porsche had its ignition on the right haha.

I can understand a distance to the SUVs but you have to respect the panameras, in my eyes they will sit alongside the other great front engine Porsche sports cars.

[j.fro]

You know the guys at Porsche are perfectionist so they only compete where they know they can win

Agreed. They won Dakar in 1984 in a 953, and then took it again in '86 racing the 959. If they took the Macan off-roading, I'm sure wins would follow. And I can't help but think that would positively affect brand image as Porsche as a sports car company.
FWIW, when Parade was in Charlotte, one of the head honchos from Porsche was a keynote speaker. He talked a bit about the Cayenne and it's impact on the brand, repeating over and over, "Porsche is a sports car company".

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by j.fro

You know the guys at Porsche are perfectionist so they only compete where they know they can win

Agreed. They won Dakar in 1984 in a 953, and then took it again in '86 racing the 959. If they took the Macan off-roading, I'm sure wins would follow. And I can't help but think that would positively affect brand image as Porsche as a sports car company.
FWIW, when Parade was in Charlotte, one of the head honchos from Porsche was a keynote speaker. He talked a bit about the Cayenne and it's impact on the brand, repeating over and over, "Porsche is a sports car company".

I know they have done great in the past, i just feel that rally is something they couldnt step onto the scene with and start winning again... id love to see it myself, but you do have a good point about the macan, all i had in mind were the modern 911s and that was the root of my doubt.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by BIGJake111

I know they have done great in the past, i just feel that rally is something they couldnt step onto the scene with and start winning again... id love to see it myself, but you do have a good point about the macan, all i had in mind were the modern 911s and that was the root of my doubt.

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