SLR production volume to be teeny?

It's probably just like the Carrera GT (which has just had production cuts announced, see http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=204304&page=1 ):

Day one: The SLR is announced.

Day two: All the dealers in the world scramble to order.

Day three: The entire production run is "sold out"

Then, a year or two later, the cars begin to ship.

Months 1-6:
Production slow, "I gotta get one now" customers drive prices even higher.

Months 7-12:
Production ramps up, customers willing to pay significant premiums are gone, cars begin to sell for close to MSRP

Months 13+:
Manufacturer and dealers begin to realize that most remaining orders are from dealers that do not have a commitment from a retail customer.

Dealers advertise cars "in stock for immediate delivery," get few takers.

Dealers begin to contact big-buck customers to ask if they want one. (Porsche is even doing track events where they invite selected customers for a weekend at a racetrack, all expenses paid.)

Big buck customers say "no thanks, I like the car, but I don't like it that much."

Cars begin to be advertised by dealers at discounted prices.

Some early buyers were speculators, and now advertise their cars, initially at a premium, then at sticker, then at a discount as they realize the "investment" they paid above sticker for is decreasing in value every day.

Manufacturer cuts production, makes up story why this is necessary or even good.

Bottom line: Mercedes and Porsche were insane to think they could sell over 1000 $450,000 cars, no matter how great they are. (And having driven both, I think the Porsche is great, but the Mercedes is just noisy, rough, and weird, especially with an automatic tranny!)

At $299,000 they both might have had a chance.

 

Sounds great to me, I'll get my CGT in a few years once prices collapse

 

SPOT ON!

 

Even at that price, they still didn't have a chance.

The market in the stratosphere just isn't as big as people think.

 

That just makes me think, when prices tank. Ill put one in my garage. and Slr, Zonda F and Carrera GT

 

Yea, but according to that thread, PAG is cutting CGT production because of the high costs of a new airbag requirement that goes into effect on 9/1/05. Since this requirement would only affect 250 units, it would make the remaining cars too expensive if you split the million dollar costs evenly over the remaining cars. I know dealers have been known to sell the CGT below MSRP to get them off the showroom floor, but I don't think it's as bad as the SLR.

 

Of course Porsche has a story/excuse why they are cutting production, but the only possible real reason is a worldwide lack of customers. If there is indeed a "new airbag requirement" that goes into effect then, it was certainly announced years ago.

 

If "fixing" the airbag cost $1,000,000, that's only $4000 per car over 250 cars.
.

 

Zonda ill never tank enough to be able to get one cheap. That car is in such demand that it make the demand for the F430 seem laughable.

I'm curently looking into getting the rights to import the Zonda into Canada. My market reasearch is just getting started and it already looks positive. Now all I need are some investors..which as of right now I have 3 big dollar guys interested...we shall see what our governamnet says about the car.

 

are you saying that the zonda could sell out 15000units over the next 4 years as the 430 has...that is an impressive feat for a car costing over600k....i quess they will really have to crank up production of the zonda to meet demand....

 

at 299k, the cgt is a steal and i would buy one, and several other friends of mine have indicated they would do likewise...the slr i wouldnt buy one for 200k, or for that matter 150k....it does nothing for me... the cgt is a real supercar and a drivers car that sounds and looks great and is well built.....the slr is a fast , blown up slk with out the retractable roof....

 

You know what I mean..in relative terms. They cannot keep up with the demand for this car..and they are refusing to sacrafice quality for the sake of a few cry babies who want their cars tomorrow.

 

And upset the working class who cannot afford the car?

That's not The Canadian Way. I'm sure they will try their darndest to find SOMETHING - bumper standards, emissions, crash testing - to prevent you from bringing something to Canada so offensive to the proletariat. After all, $700,000 Canadian would support 30 unemployed families - and make sure their social services were in French!

 

A guy in Calgary is getting delivery of the only SLR sold here in about 10 days time from now. We have had the hottest economy in Canada since this car came out.....and MB has only managed to sell one car locally.....!! That tells you something.

I remember Napolis and I defending ourselves about two years ago on this very topic (the market for $500K cars) when everyone thought we were wrong for suggesting that the numbers for the CGT...SLR...etc....would never make it in reality and that the market was not like the manufacturer's though it would be.

There have only sold 2 CGT's here in Calgary.....and one.....was to a guy in Edmonton.

There are also a few Enzo's under a million $$ US now as well and they are not going anywhere but....you guessed it.....

Looks like we were right.

 

imagine that, a zonda in Canada, that would make my day seeing it.