986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post

janzenms · 10-01-2004, 07:15 AM

I agree with all you comments (from a porsche enthusiast's perspective) but step back and think of it from a marketing/business perspective for a sec.

Since Porshce is in business to sell cars they must consider all the market segments that buy their new cars. (not cater to... just consider). Many sports car buyers are not as interested in the kind of performance as all of us are. Many just want to look cool and drive a well equipped fancy car at high speeds on the freeway (oh yeah and pick-up chicks). Yes...yes I agree fat cat yuppies deserve little respect but Porsche would be stupid not to consider them in their plan.

In fact I think Porsche does a very good job including them, hence all the electronic stuff, leather, etc in the cars these days.

They are especially doing well with the 911s and Cayennes but Boxster sales have slumped. Actually the whole roadster segment has slumped due to ecomony, etc, but Porsche Boxster has really lost their share. Eight years ago Porsche was a very big player in the segment and has done very well here over the past years, but as always everyone else catches up (in terms of sales). Now Porsche isn't the leader here. :-(

In order for Porsche is to remain on top of the segment they must make another leap ahead. I think the 987 will prove to be a leap, but is it a *big enough* leap with competitors like that?... It is for me but is it for the fat cat yuppies?

The MB, Z4, S2000, etc etc are definitely different and I completely agree lesser cars in many ways.... and they are definitely targeted at a slightly different demographic... but I think its a larger segment than the one we define. I just want to see Porche continue to do well and build the wonderful cars they do... and competing successfully against this MB (and others) will only make them more money... AND... give us even better cars to drive.

Its a win-win... get it? Build higher performance cars for the fat cats to spend money on and we get better cars too. Lets say the 987S had at least 300hp (a more magical sounding number on paper than 280), and/or they offered a turbo version (or something) that came close to the MBs 355hp, and kept it close to the MB's price point. The fat cat yuppies would then have another option with a better sports reputation AND we would get better Boxsters.

win-win... or ... pants-down? (are you listening PCNA? heh)

...now I'll take my market/user research vp hat off... and put back on my Porsche enthusiast hat... and get back to my 987 order form. lol

p.s. here are a couple of links to sales figures if anyone is curious...

sept. sales:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-01-2004/0002263064&EDATE=

sept sales down 5%:
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2004/10/01/ap1570690.html

10-01-2004, 07:15 AM	#7
janzenms Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fair Oaks, CA Posts: 75	I agree with all you comments (from a porsche enthusiast's perspective) but step back and think of it from a marketing/business perspective for a sec. Since Porshce is in business to sell cars they must consider all the market segments that buy their new cars. (not cater to... just consider). Many sports car buyers are not as interested in the kind of performance as all of us are. Many just want to look cool and drive a well equipped fancy car at high speeds on the freeway (oh yeah and pick-up chicks). Yes...yes I agree fat cat yuppies deserve little respect but Porsche would be stupid not to consider them in their plan. In fact I think Porsche does a very good job including them, hence all the electronic stuff, leather, etc in the cars these days. They are especially doing well with the 911s and Cayennes but Boxster sales have slumped. Actually the whole roadster segment has slumped due to ecomony, etc, but Porsche Boxster has really lost their share. Eight years ago Porsche was a very big player in the segment and has done very well here over the past years, but as always everyone else catches up (in terms of sales). Now Porsche isn't the leader here. :-( In order for Porsche is to remain on top of the segment they must make another leap ahead. I think the 987 will prove to be a leap, but is it a big enough leap with competitors like that?... It is for me but is it for the fat cat yuppies? The MB, Z4, S2000, etc etc are definitely different and I completely agree lesser cars in many ways.... and they are definitely targeted at a slightly different demographic... but I think its a larger segment than the one we define. I just want to see Porche continue to do well and build the wonderful cars they do... and competing successfully against this MB (and others) will only make them more money... AND... give us even better cars to drive. Its a win-win... get it? Build higher performance cars for the fat cats to spend money on and we get better cars too. Lets say the 987S had at least 300hp (a more magical sounding number on paper than 280), and/or they offered a turbo version (or something) that came close to the MBs 355hp, and kept it close to the MB's price point. The fat cat yuppies would then have another option with a better sports reputation AND we would get better Boxsters. win-win... or ... pants-down? (are you listening PCNA? heh) ...now I'll take my market/user research vp hat off... and put back on my Porsche enthusiast hat... and get back to my 987 order form. lol p.s. here are a couple of links to sales figures if anyone is curious... sept. sales: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-01-2004/0002263064&EDATE= sept sales down 5%: http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2004/10/01/ap1570690.html __________________ -Mike ----------------------------- 2001 Porsche Boxster, 2001 Honda Accord V6, 2006 Honda Ridgeline My other hobbie: emptum, GETitSELLit, CARazed ----------------------------- http://static.flickr.com/55/128864958_14b7e6dbeb_m.jpg Last edited by janzenms; 10-01-2004 at 11:30 AM.