Porsche, what happened to them?

I think they got tired of boom & bust cycles. When Porsche was "just" a sports car company, they had fat years (when a new model was introduced) followed by lean years (in the last couple of years before the next model was due). They were also sensitive to external factors, like environmental concerns decreasing popularity, other sports car manufacturers having a "hot" model, etc.

By adding a completely different type of car, they can phase the model intros so the peak years offset each other. The different car types also help smooth out fluctuations in demand. Also, unlike in prior decades, when a 924/911/928 were different platforms (and ended up being too expensive to re-engineer), the Boxster/Cayman/911 models have a lot of commonality (which helps keep the re-engineering costs down), so it also makes sense to keep them in the same 5 year phase. But this means they needed something else that was out-of-phase.

That does result in making them more than a sports car company, but the other factor to consider is that the high-end luxo cars are encroaching more into their market (MB SLR's, Lexus SC, AM V8's, etc) which result in ever-shrinking share. By introducing models that force the other guys to be defensive, they help to protect their core (a good offense is a good defense).

 

Posche quality and performance is better than ever before, and they are the most profitable car company in the world. Porsche doesn't race F1, just like Ferrari doesn't race Le Mans, where Porsche is very competitive. The GT cars are very focused, and if I raced professionally I would entertain a position with the Porsche team anyday. Sorry but I don't share your thoughts, quite the contrary.

 

I, too, lament the decline in the purity of the Porsche brand. Back in college, I had a fold-out brochure on my wall which read, "Many car companies have a sportscar in their lineup, Porsche has a line-up of sportscars."

I was looking at a 928 on a dealer's lot a couple of months ago. It was sitting, unloved, in the corner of their outside lot. The only pre-'99 P-car they had. One of the salesman told me, "We had this inside for a while, but we couldn't really put it next to an $80,000 car." I didn't have the balls to tell him that the 928 was the only car on their lot that was built by engineers instead of accountants.

 

I love porsche its one of my top three car companies (behind ferrari and ahead of audi) anyway they will never (as long as they don't seriously **** up) be just another car company. As said above they are the most financially succesful company (and one of few that is at all) not to mention they make some of the best cars you can buy. I admit I'm not a huge fan of the cayenne especially not when it first came back but its grown on me. It is still a porsche! It is the fastest and best handling SUV out there (I've rode in one) and I have to say it is one market they didn't have filled all they did was fill a gap just as they've done with other cars in the past.

 

Special in what way?

 

What happened was F. Porsche gave up control of his company then passed on right around the time of the 993, its now run by corporate types instead of pure sports car designers and enthusiests.

 

What happened? Their icon is no longer a no-nonsense sports car -- it's just another fluff-filled GT.

And the suits are now in charge, much to the delight of Porsche shareholders.

 

Ya they make an SUV big deal, its the fastest on the planet.
They are owned buy Porsche only, not ford or fiat or M.B.
I don't care what they do, as long as the make top notch sports cars and aren't owned buy ford or gm or whatever.
Their cars now are faster then ever, so your emotional let down is all in your head.
Also as far as being a serious sportscar company, ever heard of a "Carrera GT"

 

You forgot to mention that Ferrari has the "history" but also lacks the exoticness these days(Enzo was the last one arguably) . A wise poster summed it up best(I wish I could find their post) when he said Lambo and Zonda were the only real exotic exotics around. Now don't get me wrong, Ferrari can make a sports car, good ones in fact. But the 430s, 612s, and the 599 something aren't the exotics we came to know and love. Sorry to those who think 430s, 612s, and 599s are the pinacle of exotic design.


*wanders how many there actually are..*

 

I think everyone here has made good points. The only real difference between then and now is, as was stated, they are very a corporate creature making money by making great sports cars, instead of a well run racing and engineering firm that made cars.

But i think the new panamera will bring back the days of the 928 with power up to 600 HP in what will surely be a remarkable sedan/coupe. As for racing like they used to, it costs a LOT and doesn't do much for bringing in the business unless you want them in nascar. They almost went belly up in the early 90's so it is not surprising that they want to ensure their longevity.

hwyengr, you should have told them the 928 was an 80 k car and still out performs most that cost that today.

 

Funny! at the time I am reading this your post number is 911.
I have to tell you, I am on my 3rd porsche, 2 911's and now the Cayenne Turbo....I think porsche did the right thing with an SUV...remember they came within inches of closing altogether .the cayenne saved the company PERIOD....This SUV is the only one on the planet that can actually say it handles like a sports car....It really is lightning out of the curves, Brakes like a car half its weight and will out slalom cars considered sports.They are on track, no doubt about!

 

Not sure Porsche was ever out to be "exotic." Actually, Porsche wanted his cars to be driven during the week and raced on the weekends (if I'm quoting their product literature correctly...) While I think the 911 drifted too far into GT territory after the 993, it was never intended to be "exotic".

It's a great observation you just made about financial success not always translating to a "great car company." In a way, the legendary marques have always struggled (Aston-Martin, Ferrari, Maserati...) while the business school darlings (Toyota, Nissan...) have viewed cars as product. So we have Camrys and Maximas that run flawlessly and have no soul.

I'm hoping the Cayenne goes away at some point -- didn't Lambo build a monster SUV for a year or two? -- but Porsche has made some astute moves (the Cayman looks super) and for the well-heeled guy who wants a new sports car, to drive daily, Porsche just about owns that space.

 

Hey msdesignltd, nice to see other CT fans out there, I thought I was the only one. Its a shame this car gets no respect, if I could have one and one 1 car this is the one. I took the Porsche Drive Experience off-road and track day with Cayennes, turbo, dry weather, we weather, autocross, everything, this is 1 amazing car. Mostly those that don't appreciate it have never really driven one. The CT will take on a boxter s (I had one of those two) and many 911s. BTW, I gemballa'd mine to 550HP, its insane. In the track and in the wet I was keeping up with 997s.

Mike

 

Porsche still makes wicked sports cars and now they make a few other models to help keep them alive. Wait until Ferrari does the same in 5, 10 or 15 years. It's like aging, everyone gets wrinkles, saggy parts and sore backs, the game is not letting on that it's happening.

 

i agree, and keep in mind that 20 years ago porsche was losing money and by the earily 90s were in financial trouble....now they have the highest profit margins inthe business and have the highest return on equity...their stock has increased 50 fold in the past 10 years...the new 997 and 987 are the best made and fastest everyday sports cars porsche has ever made, and they can be driven hard and often with little maintanence,the carrera gt is one of the best pure sports car ever made, and they didnt have to resort to a trick automatic tranny either.....as for the cayenne, i dont drive suvs but i do have to say for a suv, the car handles and drives great....

 

If you look at Porsche from the perspective of a car company that offers a real 'line,' from entry level sports car to soon to be luxo-sedan, is profitable (and not just at the expense of a rich corporate parent that can underwrite it), and continues to deliver higher performance cars to a larger customer base, there is really very little to criticize; just the opposite, i think.
The fact that they make an SUV does not in any way detract from the sportscars. The cars are terrific- they deliver huge performance, are basically reliable and relatively inexpensive to maintain, and in the real world, are 'exotic enough' to go from a jaunty roadster (the new Boxster is an amazingly balanced car for those of you who haven't driven it), to some very, very good GT cars that you can use as dailies, to some serious track day machinery, none of which, save for the CGT, is really overpriced, compared to the competition.
I'm willing to bet that their eventual sedan pulls alot of customers away from high-end MB and big BMWs. While it is true that some of the great car companies eventually had financial difficulties and died, that doesn't mean that a financially sucessful company has 'sold out' or cannot produce great cars. I would probably be proud to be an executive at that company right now, particularly when you look around at the general state of the industry, here and abroad.
PS- one of the all time greats, Bugatti (the original company, not the revived ones), not only made great sportscars, but touring cars and what was at one time the biggest luxo-barge on the planet. I doubt there were many Bugatti purists in the day who thought the company was lost because it produced these other vehicles.

 

Well said whart, I totally agree with you. Producing the second most desirable sports cars, arguably the most practical, is not half bad. And lets not for get about the RS and GTR models, they are pretty sweet.

 

I see this question asked all the time, and can never surpress a smile. The cars have never been more popular. The sales have never been stronger. The marque continues to be used as the benchmark for other sportscars to aspire to. The Company is in the best financial health it has ever been in. While we can criticise and complain about their 'commercialism,' Porsche is laughing all the way to the bank. What they choose to do with all their coin (such as invest it into VW) can be the subject of another thread, but they do make a lot of coin.

On a personal note, I think the C2S looks amazing, and would not hesitate to use it as my daily driver if I had a commute.

You may hate Porsche for choosing to broaden their commercial interests, but do not think for a minute they have forgotten their heritage of making exciting, inspiring sports cars.

If you still believe Porsche has lost their way, try jumping into a small little two-seater they call the Carrera GT. - If that doesn't renew your faith in this Company, you never had any to begin with.