| Author | Message | ||
| Andrew-Phillip Goalen (Andrewg)
Member Username: Andrewg Post Number: 340 Registered: 9-2002 |
dont agree with the idea that the guy's buying 996 turbos will want to upgrade to gt2, I was at my local Porsche dealer yesterday, whilst talking to one of the techs he mentioned that they had just had a gt2 traded in on a turbo, the owner had bought the "top of the Range" porsche only to bring it back several times complaing of lumpy idle, jarring ride etc.. The Gt porsches are way too hardcore for the buff n pose brigade any car from Ferrari/Mas/Dino that can perform almost as well as the boxster (not hard!)will kill the P cars sales, Boxsters are great when you've done the exhaust/suspension/ecu upgrades but I find them far too antiseptic as a fun car | ||
| Joe C (Italiancars)
New member Username: Italiancars Post Number: 31 Registered: 1-2003 |
They do plan on a boxster beater. It is called an Alfa Romeo | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 743 Registered: 10-2001 |
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| Jack (Gilles27)
Intermediate Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 1341 Registered: 3-2002 |
Ferrari DID build a Boxster-beater--lots of 'em, in fact. For that amount you can buy a pristine 328, 348 or probably even a 512. While it's a fine car, the Boxster isn't exactly the measuring stick for performance. | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 778 Registered: 6-2002 |
Steve B "Yugo does not steal any sales away from Mercedes" In the USA, where MB is marketed as high-line only, perhaps. But globally you have the A-class MB, and I suppose even the SMART car... As to market reception: I say no. The new Massers are just fine, thanks. If I want a small light kickabout for $50grand, I'll get a 348 or 328 and a major. Example: I don't think that most people droping $100k for a toy (Porsche turbo) cannot afford a GT2, they are just not that 'hardcore' (which the GT2 certinly is...) I would like to see something like a 2.6 litre V8 10krpm Lotus Elise badged by Masser, though I bet we'd get something more like an MR2. (no slight to the MR2, but hopefully you hear what I am saying.) Heck, F355 prices are diping into the 70s with no sign of slowing down any time soon! Best! Ben. | ||
| Aaron Williams (Aawil)
Member Username: Aawil Post Number: 308 Registered: 8-2002 |
I love the idea but the price would be to high for a 4 cylinder.And I don't see them going down market soon. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Advanced Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 2914 Registered: 2-2001 |
I think a Maser boxer fighter would be awesome. it could look really cool, Make it look like a 50s racer  & it could bring A LOT of $ in for Ferrari | ||
| Steve B (Sjb509)
New member Username: Sjb509 Post Number: 20 Registered: 6-2003 |
The guy buying a Boxster now will be the guy buying the 911 Turbo in a few years, and with the right opportunities and lot of hard work he will be buying a new 911GT2 a few years after that. My point being that for this buyer, he started buying new Porsches for $50k, but as his ability to upgrade to new cars increased he continued with Porsche, even when he could afford a Ferrari. Ferrari guys aspire to the next Ferrari. Some Porsche guys aspire to the next Porsche, while some work to finally buy a Ferrari. My point? Why give Porsche the chance to have a base of potential Porsche buyers, get them hooked early in their careers with the Ferrari Fever. (No offense, but does any Ferrari owner aspire to someday own a Porsche?) From the posts on this board it appears as though Ferrari owners are probably the one of the most brand loyal group of owners, so why not get them hooked earlier in their careers? Buying used is an option of course (13-year-old 348 or along those lines for my stated $55k), but in the descision process for many buyers this comparing this "old" 348 versus a new M3, Z06, or whatever is important. Many will choose the new car versus the used exotic. Why not give them an additional choice for new cars that benefits Ferrari SPa? In Ferrari's own words Maserati is to be their volume manufacturer, all I'm saying is make something you can actually sell in large quantities. | ||
| Andrew-Phillip Goalen (Andrewg)
Member Username: Andrewg Post Number: 337 Registered: 9-2002 |
Great idea, the problem I see is that Ferrari make huge amounts from licensing out to fila, and don't really see the cars as being the basis of their profit (although they are making a profit) the heritage and pedigree seen to make more, Although I would be at the head of the queue for a new Dino | ||
| Dan 360 (Dan360)
Junior Member Username: Dan360 Post Number: 116 Registered: 2-2003 |
Fiat owns Alfa, the theory goes: Alfa - low end to medium Maserati - Medium to High Ferrari - High end I think this is the reason for no Alfa Brera going to production - perhaps the most beautiful concept of the last few years with the 4.2 engine, it would have to be priced below the Maser and would steal sales. Now a mid engined Alfa with the V6 that might be an interesting car... | ||
| J Dirk Carnahan (Dirk989)
Junior Member Username: Dirk989 Post Number: 52 Registered: 9-2001 |
Keep your eyes on Lotus if you want an idea of how your idea will play out in the real world. Lotus is strapped for cash. The last of the hand made Esprit has rolled off the line. They have been mass producing a small 2 seat bare bones performance roadster, the Elise, for awhile now. The Elise has now been green-lighted for sale in the US and will be here in 04. The idea is to sell the hell out of these (and they will) and have enough capital to release a successor to the Esprit. While Lotus doesn't have the same aura as Ferrari (to most), I would say the concept is still similar. DC | ||
| Gene Agatep (Gagatep)
Member Username: Gagatep Post Number: 358 Registered: 8-2002 |
remember the Maser biturbo? if done right, there is a market for Fer/Mas to tap into to increase sales and profitability? is Fer being traded publicly yet? the last i heard were rumors that they were going public. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Advanced Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2521 Registered: 6-2001 |
Maybe they could have Toyota make it for them. NOT! The brand is a high end brand, we don't need a cheap Ferrari/Maserati sports car. Madza, Porsche, BMW, etc. all make good ones. Art | ||
| Jamil Jamal (Jameel)
Junior Member Username: Jameel Post Number: 112 Registered: 9-2002 |
Good Idea and I was thinking about this a while ago. Although I don't think it should be a 2.1L, I-4, supercharged. I was thinking more along the lines of 3.0L, V6, 280HP, and between 2500 and 2700 lbs. I wouldn't consider that selling-out. Remember when sports cars where considered "selling-out", if they had electric windows, seats, a/c, navagation systems, 250 watt sound systems, etc... Now they all have them and we think nothing off it. In fact it's the market that demands all these weight loading options into cars. A True / Real sports car doesn't have all that fluff in it. That's why the F40, F50 and Enzo where built. | ||
| Steve B (Sjb509)
New member Username: Sjb509 Post Number: 19 Registered: 6-2003 |
I know a variation on this has been posted before but would be interested in opinions. Think about it: a) small two-seater convertible or hardtop b) take half of Maser 4.2L engine to form 2.1L I-4, supercharge it for about 250hp. c) 6-speed or optional F1 trans d) Keep it simple & light (i.e. no navigation, self-leveling suspension, wood interior, electric seats). If done correctly, the interior could be made at reasonable cost without looking "cheap". Of course, all of these things mentioned above could be options, but allow the sports car enthusiasts the opportunity to buy a simple car, let the doctor's wife option out her car. e) base MSRP target of about $55k, fully loaded/F1 about $75-80k. With Maserati being the "mass-market" brand for Ferrari, why not? For every potential buyer of a $110k Maser, there must be 10 or more with the means and desire to buy the car described above. Profit could be made from the factory options, after-the-sale-accessories, servicing, and most importantly volume. Not just exotic car volume, but real-world 20,000+ cars-a-year volume. No production capacity you say? Build them at Fiat, they apparently have plenty of capacity. I know some may say this would cheapen the brand and that Ferrari would be selling out. I would argue that a bread-and-butter car like the one above would actually bring additional cash into the organization, allowing for a stronger company, more R&D, and better "real" Ferraris to be developed over time. The car above would not be real competition for a 360, 575, or even Maser Spyder. In general, the new car buyers of those cars are in a different income level/place in life than Boxster buyers, IMO. As the old saying goes, "Yugo does not steal any sales away from Mercedes". Just my $.02, looking forward to yours. |