Porsche loses its mind…….

"The Great Porsche Purge" Some changes at the top!!

Thoughts May 2025 | SSO Report

 

The first "legit EV sports/performance car" was the Tesla Roadster... if you haven't drive one, I suggest you do.

There might be a market for an EV sports car, but it's a small one. Tesla only built 2450 roadsters in total, world-wide, and they weren't exactly an easy sell. I would question if Porsche could sell 5,000 EV 718s every year globally, versus the 5,000 they are selling now in the US alone.

 

Stupidity goes beyond cancelling 718 they will not increase 911 GT series production to meet demand therefore losing 100's millions of much needed profit to offset EV hemorrhaging IMO

 

And how is Yurrup electrical-infrastructure-wise?
IS it better than the USA? (which sucks)

We don't have the electrical capacity to do even 15% EV's, hell, California tells people to
unplug if it gets too hot in the Summer, and we've already read stories on how bad EV's
handle the extreme cold of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Buffalo NY - (this must be the new woooorld) < (song lyric from X)

It's not just the electricity itself, it's getting that power to all, or most neighborhoods, the infrastructure
just cannot handle it.

 

We cannot disagree with that - BUT - what do you do when, after 8~ years,
the battery won't hold a charge?
There are thousands of EV's that just sit today, because 'way back when' there were
tax incentives and discounts to buy them, that was 7-8+ years ago, today (some of) those cars
are dead because you cannot afford to replace the battery.

I've read many stories that say Tesla batteries last 7-8 years, and by then they
are only holding a 70% charge, and we are not even talking about the Ford or Chevy EV's.
I clipped the article below from JD Power, where they came up with 10-20 years is beyond me,
nobody else has said that:

Tesla Battery Replacement Cost
Considering EV batteries last 10 to 20 years, you hopefully won’t need to replace the battery.
However, if you do need to replace the battery and are outside of Tesla’s warranty period, here are a few price examples, including labor:

• Anywhere around $13,000-$20,000 for Models S
• At least $14,000 for a Model X premium SUV
• At least $13,000 for a Model 3 entry-level sedan

 

I meant first "modern" EV sports car. The majority of the Tesla Roadsters are still on the road, even though they were Tesla's first EV. The aftermarket has been able to keep the Roadsters going with even though Tesla hasn't supported them or provided parts for a very long time. EV technology has come a long way since then -- the cars, batteries, and the infrastructure. What can be built by Porsche, today, should be impressive given what Tesla's Roadster could do -- and Car & Driver liked Tesla's Roadster a lot (https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15151453/2009-tesla-roadster-road-test/).

I haven't driven a Roadster -- would like to know what you thought of it. I also am skeptical that Porsche can sell 5000 EV 718's, but I suspect it will be a hell of a car (just wish EV wasn't the only option).

 

Maybe they'll resurrect the 912 and put an version of the current ICE 718 drivetrain into a narrow body (992 911s are widebody), <$100K, 911...

Their consumer research undoubtedly tells them there's an inferiority complex if you show up to a 911 fight with a Boxster or Cayman (for the record, I like Boxsters and Caymans, had a Cayman S many moons ago and loved it, though I prefer 911s). They also know there's a ton of buyers who can't pay $150K+ to get into a 911. And they also know that people spending $100K will elect to go with a budget 911 over a similarly priced 718... and probably even convince a bunch of $85K 718 spenders to pony up an extra $15K to get into a 911 shape.

And given the recent 911 price increases, perhaps Porsche is paving the way to slot in a down market 911 and call it the 912. And then they can move forward with the next gen 718 platform as an EV so they don't sink the R&D and capital costs entirely, knowing they can sell as many 912s as they can make and produce fewer 718s to meet the smaller demand for EV sports cars.

 

The perceived snob appeal of the 911 is probably driven (heh) more by class than by automotive knowledge or savvy. Take a look at my profile; some pretty nice Porsches there. The most fun/$? The Boxster RS60. One of my best friends has a Carrera Targa (the most recent iteration) and a Boxster GTS 4.0. His Boxster is driven far more in terms of both time and mileage than the 911. I’m sure there’s some truth to the theory that Porsche intentionally engineered some performance out of the 718 so it didn’t outperform the 911. Ironically, most buyers of recent 911s would probably produce faster point to point times in the Boxster than in their 911.

 

As I first heard during my enlistment in the USN 50+ years ago, "Opinions are like..." FWIW, mine is the current iteration of Porsche management could give a rat's behind for aspirational buyers. They have become so wrapped up in offering expensive cars and unfortunately have been able to get away with it until maybe recently, if the stats on current sales trends hold true for a period of time. Our local dealer has a modest inventory of 718 Boxsters, mostly 2.5l 4 cyl. S's, and 992 911's. They have a few older gen Porsche sports cars. The 718's are listed at +/- $98K and the 992 Carreras are all average +/- $240K. The older model years also are higher priced. It's not much better checking other dealer's inventories. Although I could replace my "old reliable" 19 year old Cayman, or add a second, I'm loathe to do it for the kind of $ being generally listed currently.

 

I get the part you are an EV fan.....I am not. If I take your 5,698 cars and multiple it by $100,000 ......that is $570M in Revenue. I don't know if kicking half a billion to the curb in the effort to be more woke is a smart call.

I don't agree that EVs will be more profitable. Porsche has already paid back the tooling for ICE vehicles. The cost to build EV plants hasn't begun. Ask Ford what happened when the lined up their EV investment against vehicle sales.....they lost almost $50k per vehicle.

One bad decision after another.

 

It is interesting that you think I am an EV fan... I do own one EV (a Tesla Model S), but I own many more non-EVs. The reality is that it is about choosing the best tool for the job-- for a heavy traffic urban commute, the Tesla is pretty hard to beat.

I am not sure what your point is-- they could get the same revenue through selling gas powered cars. I don't think they will be able to sell 5,000 EV 718s per year (again, Tesla only sold 2450 roadsters over a 3 year period, world wide)-- I'm not sure who the customer would be for an EV Cayman. I think the customer for an EV Boxster would be someone who doesn't really care about cars but wants the cheapest Porsche convertible they can get.

The best idea I have heard for EV Porsches is this: create an EV skateboard chassis (batteries in the floor plan) with EV motors on all four wheels. Add a body that looks vaguely 911-ish... then, through software and stability control, create the ability to replicate the driving dynamics of anything from an early 912 to a 930 to a modern 992 Turbo or GT3. Pipe in some simulated sound, and let the driver select whatever version of 911/930 that they want to drive.

 

The typical EV battery life for Teslas has proven to be far longer than 8 years and 100k miles. They wouldn't warranty them for 8 years and 100k miles if that was the typical life.

Technology advancements will likely bring battery costs down in the 10 or 15 years when a replacement is needed.

Even if battery costs remain the same, what you save on cumulative maintenance (and repairs and brakes) over the 10 to 15 year battery life on an EV Porsche versus ICE will more than pay for a new battery.

Here is the maintenance schedule for a Porsche EV: https://www.porschesandiego.com/resource-library/ev-hybrid/porsche-ev-maintenance/

Porsche Electric Car Maintenance Schedule
While this is not the complete Porsche electric car maintenance schedule, you’ll need to perform these Porsche EV routine maintenance tasks on a regular basis.

• Battery Checks – We always recommend regular battery inspections due to the battery’s important purpose in an electric vehicle. Regular battery checks are even more important if your vehicle features a lithium-ion battery pack. Generally, you can expect about 100,000 miles out of your EV battery — possibly more if it’s well-maintained. Taking a look at the battery on a regular basis can help catch small issues before they cause larger problems.
• Brake Fluid Replacement – While oil changes are no longer needed, you’ll still need to replace other fluids, such as brake fluid. Replace the brake fluid every 3-5 years.
• Coolant System Maintenance – If your EV contains a special thermal management or cooling system to improve battery performance, this service is also needed. How often this service should be performed varies by make and model, so it’s a good idea to consult your owner’s manual.
• Tire Rotation – While tire maintenance is necessary for all vehicles on Carlsbad roads, tire care is especially important for EV drivers. This is because EVs are often heavier than gasoline-powered vehicles. This is because of the battery pack. A tire rotation should occur every 5,000 to 10,000 miles.
• Wheel Alignment – You should also regularly have your wheels aligned. This task should happen every 15,000 miles to improve mile range and reduce tire tread wear.
• Air Filter Replacement – The purpose of the cabin air filter is to minimize the amount of pollen, road dust, and dirt that enter the cabin. To keep these contaminants out of your vehicle, replace the filter every 2-3 years. If your vehicle is equipped with a specialty filter that lasts longer, you may only have to replace it every 5 years.

Here's the Taycan service schedule: https://www.porscheriverside.com/service/porsche-taycan-service-intervals/

Pollen Filter and Air Filter Every 20,000 miles or 2 years
Brake Fluid Every 20,000 miles or 2 years
Battery Coolant Lifetime – Change if Replaced
Tire Rotation Check and rotate every 10,000 miles or 1 year
Wiper Blades & Windshield Wiper Fluid Check every 20,000 miles or 2 years (replace as necessary)
​

 

That's BS...

I don't see muffler bearings listed ANYWHERE.... (LOL)

 

Don, I have been saying that for years: EV's are great - if you stay within 25 miles of home,
and 90% of the population drive within 25 miles of their home 90% of the time.

And actually, for ME, I COULD make 90% of my driving within 4 miles of my house if I HAD to.
Go just 3 miles in any direction from my house I have:
A major hospital, 9 grocery stores, a couple dozen restaurants, UPS and Post Office, big-ass liquor store (LOL),
2 large shopping malls (one is near-dead), 10-12 new car dealerships, every school your kid would ever go to is within 10 blocks of me,
you name it, it's around me.
So what the above means is - I COULD get by with a golf cart if I had to, except in the Winter.
But that's me, not everyone is in the same geographical type of location I am in.

Omaha NE near 15600 Pacific Street.

 

?????????

You must not know anyone with a Tesla. The number 1 thing many of them love is never having to go to the gas station. My sister-in-law has had a Model Y for 4 years, she’s only needed to use a SuperCharger twice. In a ICE, 4 years would be 100 fuel stops if you refill every 2 weeks, 200 times if you refill every week. Zero maintenance needed on the Tesla in 4 years. Charging costs are a small fraction of gas.

I hate the Tesla golf cart front end and golf cart dashboard and single screen user interface - I’m with you on that — but they are very good appliances - er, I means cars .

 

I KNOW Teslas are nice, but I am not going to go on 2000 mile trip in ANY EV,
let alone a 500 mile one, or even a 300 mile one.
And yes, I know a few folks that own them and they LOVE them - but they also don't venture much
more that about 75 miles out with them.

I have seen COMPLETE charging stations 'out of order' - which must suck if you are COUNTING on it to be open,
they still are not prevalent, here anyway. One spot I am familiar with has 8 spots - and on any given day only 4 work,
and there is a line waiting for one of those 4 to open up.

As I said, 90% of all driving is within 25 miles of your house, they are great for that, no question.

 

Snatching failure from the jaws of success.

 

Good and thoughtful: https://rennlist.com/how-tos/slideshows/7-reasons-porsche-s-golden-years-are-ending-and-3-ways-to-keep-them-going-995902#fix-3-keep-ice-alive

Does management really care about it, especially the "little" people who made the company?

 

Given the choice of EV and ICE on the same platform, buyers choose ICE.

Given the choice of EV and hybrid, they choose hybrid.

So if they make two, they know darn well no one will buy the EV. I'm only seeing second hand but reportedly the EV G-wagen is a sales flop. Again, rumors are that Ferrari execs know there is essentially "zero" customer interest in a full EV sportscar. Even reading our feedback here supports that.

 

Electrical gadgetry is where the money is. A circuit board costs nothing but the market pays huge for the bells and whistles.

But I see the tide turning. People beginning to yearn for simplicity in this overly computerized world.