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[BuffaloBoxster]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

Face it, Porsche has a problem on its hands. Performance per dollar, the zo6 is a ton of car.

That's true. There are a bunch of cheaper cars that can meet or beat it's performance numbers, and nearly all of it's prestige brand rivals are faster (albeit more expensive).

Boxster has the same problem - the S2000 is a hell of a car, and around $20k cheaper, and performance in the base box no better compared to BMW and Mercedes oferings.

The solution seems simple, no? A 300-hp base Boxster and a 400-hp base 911

[Brucelee]

"The solution seems simple, no? A 300-hp base Boxster and a 400-hp base 911"

I agree and I don't see the problem here, other than economics. I really believe that Porsche sits there and tries to figure out exactly how much $ they can extract per HP.

Hence, the myriad of models on the 911, an S, a 4, a 4S, a TURBO, a GT3, etc, etc.

Same goes for the options and models, ie, a coupe, a cab, a targa. Whats next, a coupe/targa combined?

After a while, it wears thin, at least to me.

Let us have a 300HP Boxster S for say $50K and I think the world will continue to beat a path to the Porsche door. Man, I woud really love to drive a 300 HP Box S with a 6 speed manual!

If I was buying a new 911, for my $75K, I would DEMAND a 400 HP base coupe, normally aspiriated.

Where is the issue here?

[Ronzi]

In accordance with their slogan "There is no substitute", Porsche has sought to manage their product line to maximize investment return, and minimize internal competition between models. Of secondary importance, apparently, is competition with other brands.
This is much like the IBM marketing philosopy in the '80s, when they would never even mention or admit that there was any other computer manufacturer, and therefore never compared their products with others, at least in front of their customers.
Not a bad strategy if there is in fact "no substitute", but ultimately there were a lot of substitutes for IBM, and there are more and more for Porsche as well.

[Brucelee]

I think the term arrogant signified the IBM culture of the 80s. I think the same term could be applied to Porsche managment.

Pride goeth before a fall?

[BuffaloBoxster]

Originally Posted by Ronzi

Not a bad strategy if there is in fact "no substitute", but ultimately there were a lot of substitutes for IBM, and there are more and more for Porsche as well.

I might point outthat IBM no longer manufactures PCs...

[denverpete]

It was truly a fascinating series of articles. 911 versus Z06, 911 versus Cayman, and 911 versus Vanquish. The 911 versus Cayman article was pretty interesting. The cornering ability of the Cayman damn near got it the win on the track. It's really only a few ponies behind spanking the 911 on the twisties.

I also agree on the Z06 - it's a hell of a car! World class performance at a "reasonable" price. One thing to note is that every review I've read (including the Motor Trend comparo) mentions that the Z06 isn't necessarily ideal as a daily driver.

[Hoosier]

But both IBM and Porsche made huge turnarounds. In the mid 90's Lou Gertsner the new CEO came in from American Express Travel Corp and turned them around. He took IBM from a company that wasted money on high rent downtown offices housing overpaid salespeople, and sent them home with a laptop and created a low expense environment of customer satisfaction, services and products the customers wanted.

In 1993 Porsche was at one of it's lowest points as well. After suffering through the 924/944/968/914 and the 928, which incidentally was supposed to replace the 911, Wendelin Wiedeking, Porsche CEO looked to the Boxster and 911, those two only to turn them around. The critical point being the 1993 Detroit Auto Show that debuted the all new prototype Boxster. The car was an extreme hit and the rest is history when it hit the US in '97. In Wendelin's own words, "I think the decision process for Porsche in the future is more based on the brand than on the real product. And anybody who knows sports cars knows Porsche. So we will keep the tradition alive."

I now ask: Is this a philosophy that will assure future chapters for Porsche history?...Not by the tone of this thread.

[Brucelee]

"In Wendelin's own words, "I think the decision process for Porsche in the future is more based on the brand than on the real product. And anybody who knows sports cars knows Porsche. So we will keep the tradition alive."

I now ask: Is this a philosophy that will assure future chapters for Porsche history?...Not by the tone of this thread."

Managing your brand IS important. However, I think Porsche is not seeing the forest for the trees.

As Porsche manages the brand, it competitors continue to improve their cars at an alarming rate (alarming, that is, if you are Porsche).

PAY ATTENTION BOYS!

Put another way, I love driving the Boxster because of what it is, not how it relates to Porsches "fabled" history, or the 550 or whatever. It is simply a great car to drive.

When it stops being that, or if something eclipses it, I am SOOOOOOOOOOO gone!

History is nice, as history.

[Perfectlap]

BruceLee you are very right! This Motor Trend article really is the first ripple.
Porsche has big problem, even if no one buys the Z06 the fact that it so convincinlgy trounces the CarreraS (flat out beats it at Laguna Seca ) in every aspect but braking really is NO GOOD for the cred of Porsche's flag ship car.
THe 911 engine's limitation to produce power is going to be too big a disadvantage with the Z06 in position to ONLY GET BETTER.

I can see an attitude developing of "Porsche? yeah good... **if **you get a turbo or GT3..otherwise its just living off past glory"

Motor Trend isn't exaclty a controversial car mag and they use some very spicy language against the 911 "The 911 is dead Long live the Cayman".
I guarantee you the boys in Stuggart are following this and the pandora's box they unleashed very closely.


said it before but Porsche's strategy about holding back the mid engine cars may no longer be entirely under their control. I can already see many running the CaymanS instead of 911 for racing.

btw, I sat in C5, C6 and it was crap interior. THe Z06 (according to the article) has much more expensive interior treatment which the Magazine points to higher base price partly accounting for Chevy putting it in the 911 $$$ territory. Not the bargain basement exotic it was before.

also interesting was that MotorTrend said it was too loud and feisty for daily use while EVO said it was the only one they compared (GT3, Lotus Exige, Noble) that was useful for daily use. I guess they are more hardcore in Europe.