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Re: Need Quick Primer
IOW, are people thinking the Carrera will be less the "flagship" car and more just an offering for, uh..., how do I put this..., us older guys who saw the 1965 911 when were were kids?
So the Cayman is the hot-stuff, "flagship" Porsche car for the next generation Porsche owners?
Something like this? Has the Carrera reached the end of it's evolution and now time for a Poor Man's CGT in the form of a mid engien Cayman?
So the Cayman is the hot-stuff, "flagship" Porsche car for the next generation Porsche owners?
Something like this? Has the Carrera reached the end of it's evolution and now time for a Poor Man's CGT in the form of a mid engien Cayman?
Re: Need Quick Primer
I've posted this a few times, I should just copy and paste. I think many believe the simple approach that yes, the 911 may come to an end, and a midengine car will be the future. I think things are more complicated though because I think the rear-engined layout of the 911 is perfect for many consumers wanting its great rear biased handling (mid engine cars have a rear weight bias too, it's GOOD for rear wheel drive cars), but also want little seats for the kids. A mid-engine car is better on the track, but you can't take your kids. I really hope a Cayman becomes the performance flagship, while the 911 stays around indefinitely for the buyer who wants more practicality. Porsche would lose something if it doesn't let GT3 buyers have a midengine GT3 and they'd also lose a lot if they didn't let other buyers have a rear engined practical sports car.
Jul 1, 2005 11:08:08 AM
- LowPolarMoment
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Jul 1, 2005 12:59:50 PM
- DaveC
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Re: Need Quick Primer
I don't believe that the 9ll is threatened by the Cayman or any other Porsche derivative. The 9ll's future is solely determined by the market demand, not just among sporting enthusiasts but also among the GT crowd looking for alternatives to Mercedes/BMW/etc. I see the Cayman as the coupe alternative to the Boxster which seems odd only because the convertible model came first. Porsche had only 911 coupe and targa models for years prior to introducing the cabrio. You can quibble with the marketing ("new" model) but its introduction is quite logical. I had a Boxster and would prefer a coupe with the chasis and features offered by the Boxster. No one complains that the 9ll coupe is just a hardtop version of the 9ll cab. I don't see Porsche going "downmarket" as they say. Even the lightened RS version, were it to appear, will not be the "loss leader" some people expect. In fact Porsche typically charges more for the RS and CS models because of the increased performance, even if that performance is achieved through removing expensive features (a/c, electric windows, etc.).
Jul 2, 2005 1:28:40 AM
- Yargk
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Re: Need Quick Primer
Quote:
LowPolarMoment said:
Which begs the question, if a Boxster/Cayman had a 3.8 engine, drilled brakes, etc., so as to be equipped and priced identically to a 911, would you still buy the 911?
Me, no, I see these cars as race cars so I'd choose the best one, a mid-engined one. However as a second Porsche, I'd like the extra room. I'm not a typical customer though, and I know many fathers get a 911 over another sports car because it's a 2+2, so they would get the 911 over a Cayman. Porsche could further differentiate them by putting stiffer suspensions on the caymen. The decision would be more like a GT3 vs. regular 911 then.
Re: Need Quick Primer
Quote:
MMD said:
I'm supposed to be the office resident Porsche expert so someone asked how the Cayman might change Carerra marketing in Porsche's future.
I said I didn't have any idea but would find out.
Would you guys be able to sum this up in a few sentences? I need a few clues.
Here's what I wrote in a different thread:
Porsche have a choice:
They can choose between losing customers to other carmakers or lose customers to themselves.
The Cayman is a classic example of "product cannibalizing".
People who find the 911-series worn or simply want a "real" sportscar setup (mid engine) could either turn totally away from Porsche or get a less-dedicated no-roof Boxster.....until recently when the Cayman came along.
So Cayman might very well keep business within the Porsche family.
Another thing:
I more and more believe that Cayman will be a bigger threat to the 911 than you think.
Everyone refers to the Boxster and Cayman as "smaller brother of the 911", "mini-911" etc. I think it's vice versa: The 911 is a "butt-heavy" version of the siblimely balanced Cayman.
And with the Cayman line-up we have seen, you can believe the 911 will get ample competition from the Cayman.
Not just because it's a more affordable car - but simply because it's better.
I wouldn't be surprised at all, if Porsche ended up having a Cayman-like line-up as their primary.
Hope this helps
Jul 4, 2005 9:26:51 AM
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Dr. Phil
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Re: Need Quick Primer
Quote:
LowPolarMoment said:
Which begs the question, if a Boxster/Cayman had a 3.8 engine, drilled brakes, etc., so as to be equipped and priced identically to a 911, would you still buy the 911?
Not me. The rear engine setup works perfectly, but IMO it's more a Porcshe quirk than it is an actual advantage.
I'd pick a mid-engine Boxey/Cayman over a rear engine 911 anyday.
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