Quote:
Ron (Houston) said:
Now it doesn't sound like a bad idea if Porsche gets taken over by a giant company so they can pump money into making real sports cars.
You know, I used to think that was a horrific and dangerous idea but now the more I see what is going on, I'm starting to really agree. I can't be any worse if Porche was bought by a big company;
- they have no racing program which is repeatedly promised and then delayed again,
- they are building non-sportcar or exclusive models,
- they are sharing parts and platforms with other companies
- and they are de-sportifying their sportcars.
All to remain independant. So whats the advantage of being independant? if you have to turn into what you are fighting against? its still a bunch of hired suits thats calling the shots either way. The only advantage I see is for the different hands the profits are going to, nothing more. Only non-profitable makers are in danger of being sacked or changed into something unrecognisable if the shot are called from the outside by their bigger owner. On the other hand, if Porsche is profitable and succesful at making sportcars (which obviously is), it has nothing to fear about being run by another company. Porsche doesn't need outside engeneers or managers to run things differently to save the company or make a different concept of sportcar, Porsche is very succesfull at it already, they just need the back up and security of a big company so they can dedicate to their sportcar philosophy it was founded on.
If we look at other "similar" sportcar companies that were bought (Ferrari, Maserati, Aston, Bentley, Lambo, etc), Porsche would likely get ;
- funding for a decent racing program (Le Mans, F1, you name it),
- they will be able to devote all their resources to building sportcars and not have to dilute themselves with non-sportcars and their R&D resources to remain independant,
- and best of all, they can go back to building exclusive and specialised models that we all love once again with no fear.
So with the fear of being turned into something else by another company if they were bought, they are doing exactly that by trying to remain independant, right now paradoxically it seems that being bought is the best thing that can happen to Porsche for us all-time Porsche enthusiasts.