Porsche makes $28,000 per car...

[JS80]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: JS80
Porsche is the biggest rip off in the world. I guess it helps their cause they have no direct competitors.

What? Which models do you claim have no direct competitors?

how about you pick the models and state the direct competitor?

How about the Porsche 911 and the new Z06?

Does that not count maybe? I'm not sure of exactly the kinds of buyers getting each so I could be wrong, but that's the closest I can think of. The BMW M5 and others are 5 door sedans, which while are very fast, aren't the design that 911 buyers want.

I would say it doesn't count because of the price difference.

Well, if they are similar, and the Z06 is a lower price, isn't that competetion? Or are you saying that it's low enough to just kind of be ruled out?

We need Zenmervolt to chime in here.

I find it amazing Porsche can charge what they do and people still buy it. Imagine if they charged $80k for the z06.

But yea, Zenmervolt come hither.

 

[overst33r]

I would say the closest competitors to the 911 carrera are the Jaguar XKR, Maserati Coupe, and the SL class from MB. Having never driven any, I can confidently say the Porsche is the better sports car.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: JS80
Porsche is the biggest rip off in the world. I guess it helps their cause they have no direct competitors.

You're a good guy and I hate to disagree with you, but have you driven the Porsche 911?

Let me give you an idea of what I've driven whether AT'ers choose to believe it or not - Lexus IS350, many Corvettes, BMW M5, many M3's, Acura NSX, some 350Z's/G35's, Volvo S60R, Subaru STi, Mitsubishi Evo, MR2 Spyder, Honda S2000, Audi S4, Mustang GT, Lexus IS300, etc.

I'm a Honda lover, however when it comes to this price range, I don't think the 911 can be beat. The only one that comes close is the BMW M5 and that's because of just how awesome it is, you don't feel the acceleration at all.

The 911 - Sit into the car and wow, this is almost worth the money even before you turn it on. The 996 911 has everything laid out perfectly and at your finger tips, no need to look around. You sit low to the ground in pretty much the most ideal position possible, IMO. The amazing engine behind you possibly with a turbo and a superb transmission at your hand.

Take it out of the stealership and even the 30mph curving roads are amazing... hit 90mph on tiny bridges without any effort, I only took the car to maybe 4 or 5 thousand RPM, I wasn't even trying to figure out where the limit was - it was entirely beyond me.

Now that I've written this, I think you're right that it's a rip off - the reason I perceive this to be worth it is because not many others, IMO, come close to this, it's a true niche market that a lot are drawn towards. Personally, because of this situation, I don't even have to convince myself that it's worth the money - if I was in a situation where I had this kind of cash on hand with everything else taken care of already, I'd love to grab one.

I don't have problem paying a premium for a product of this level - in order to get what you want after a certain level, there will be a premium and I think they've got me convinced 😛

I'm personally not that crazy about them.

Yes, they are stable at speeds, and this is pretty confidence inspiring. However, considering they're "sports cars," they feel pretty isolated. Even the GT3 is this way, though I haven't had the pleasure of trying a GT3 RS or Cup car.

The engine is powerful and produces torque from pretty low in the rpm band. It sounds terrible though, and drones from 2000-3000rpm, even with stock exhaust, nevermind things like the Fabspeed.

The transmission is great in that it holds power well, but even with their short throw shifter (both top and bottom sections), is a bit long and notchy.

 

[preslove]

Luxury brands usually have higher margins because they sell much fewer units than bargain brands. This is the secret to apple's success, too.

But which would you rather be? Toyota, which has a much smaller margin but many, many more sales, or porsche, with your high margin and small sales? I would rather be michael dell than steve jobs.

Market share usually > margin.

 

[chris7b]

Imagine if they charged $80k for the z06.

THEY DO....almost!

That and the world won't be running out of doctors anytime soon. I swear that they hand every one of them the keys right out of med school or something.

Yes I hope to be receiving my keys with my diploma...😀

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: JS80
Porsche is the biggest rip off in the world. I guess it helps their cause they have no direct competitors.

What? Which models do you claim have no direct competitors?

how about you pick the models and state the direct competitor?

Well the first to come to mind would be the Boxster and the BMW Z4.

Im quite sure I could easily come up with direct competition for every car Porsche makes.

I admit Boxster has competition but it's a relatively new line and they don't make $28k off the boxster.

So what you're saying is Porsche models do have direct competitors? Further, the 911 has competition from the MB SL series as well as Aston's Vantages and many others Im sure.

 

[vizkiz]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I'm assuming that a lot of this number must come from their high-end cars. No way that they could make a $28K profit on a Boxster.

Yea, I think most of it comes from the 911 carrera line, although there probably wouldn't be a Porsche without the Boxster.

They've been making the Boxster for what? 7-8 years now? You realize that Porsche has been in business since the late 1930s don't you?

Through consultation with Toyota, Porsche greatly decreased the cost of manufacture, and introduced large scale sharing of components between its models. Indeed, the Boxster has the exact same bonnet and front wings as the 996, and shares a large portion of other components and interior. Its original 2.5L M96 engine is the same basic design as the original 3.2L M96 engine used in the 996. It's widely seen that the combination of the new Boxster/911 styling and the reduced build costs through component sharing that saved Porsche from becoming owned by another car company.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_Boxster

I cannot remember which company was going to buy them out, could it have been VW?

VW was an owner of Porsche in the past.
Porsche is now self contained, and they are actually part owner of VW.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I applaud Porsche!

Thank you for being the one true German automaker left. Rather then relying on electronic gizmos you have simply refined and honed what you do best. Oh, and kudos for studying Japanese manufacturing techniques and integrating them into your own!

I can't think of another car (referring to the 911) that exudes more non-flashy class and simple, fun sophistication. If I had $100K to spend on a car, the Porsche 911 S would be it!

 

[DukeN]

Great engineering but built for midgets. Sorry but that rinky-dink sized car won't accomodate my 6'4 frame. Plus I can't believe the ugly exterior crappy beetle like design they have, its like someone put the best engine in a fricking kids toy car.

 

[theeedude]

Not my cup of tea, but they do make good product, and they do manage their brand really well, so they are reaping the rewards.

 

[vizkiz]

Originally posted by: DukeN
Great engineering but built for midgets. Sorry but that rinky-dink sized car won't accomodate my 6'4 frame. Plus I can't believe the ugly exterior crappy beetle like design they have, its like someone put the best engine in a fricking kids toy car.

BS. We have customers your height and taller. One of our salesman is 6'4 and fits in them perfectly fine. In fact, his personal car is a 986 Boxster.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: RGUN

Well the first to come to mind would be the Boxster and the BMW Z4.

Im quite sure I could easily come up with direct competition for every car Porsche makes.

IMHO RR and FR cars are ALWAYS in different classes. Perhaps RR and MR can compete, making Porsche's competitors Ferrari and Lamborghini, but there's a completely different feel from the car when you move the engine behind the driver.

Originally posted by: mariok2006
I would say the closest competitors to the 911 carrera are the Jaguar XKR, Maserati Coupe, and the SL class from MB. Having never driven any, I can confidently say the Porsche is the better sports car.

Again, the 911 is really a different car from the others.

 

[Aharami]

Porsche is a dream that I will one day achieve. That is all I have to say about this.

 

[GTaudiophile]

You Porsche doubters need to watch this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=p4PTxOv4JFY

 

[DukeN]

Originally posted by: vizkiz

Originally posted by: DukeN
Great engineering but built for midgets. Sorry but that rinky-dink sized car won't accomodate my 6'4 frame. Plus I can't believe the ugly exterior crappy beetle like design they have, its like someone put the best engine in a fricking kids toy car.

BS. We have customers your height and taller. One of our salesman is 6'4 and fits in them perfectly fine. In fact, his personal car is a 986 Boxster.

That is indeed cool, I did not know that was done by Porsche. Which models can be customised?

Also, will Porsche ever release a car that doesn't have the round, bug-like design? (Crapayenne doesn't count for its a SUV).

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Well, if they are similar, and the Z06 is a lower price, isn't that competetion? Or are you saying that it's low enough to just kind of be ruled out?

We need Zenmervolt to chime in here.

I find it amazing Porsche can charge what they do and people still buy it. Imagine if they charged $80k for the z06.

But yea, Zenmervolt come hither.

This is just me talking, I'm not a marketing expert for any car company.

I would say that the Boxster has competition, a BMW Z3, for example, similar to how the Cayman has the BMW M Coupe.

I don't think that the 911 really has competition. Just like I don't think the Corvette really has competition. In cars like that, if you want one, you want one. If you lust after the 911, the Corvette isn't going to be on your list, and if you lust after the 'Vette, the 911 isn't going to be on your list.

Cars like this, while they have excellent merits, are not sold on their merits. They are sold because people want the car and nothing else.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: vizkiz
VW was an owner of Porsche in the past.
Porsche is now self contained, and they are actually part owner of VW.

VW never owned Porsche. Not in any legal sense anyway.

However, VW, Porsche, and Audi were all run by members of the same family for many years, and for a long time Porsche essentially functioned as the entire R&D unit for VW. This is why cars like the 914 and 924 were originally designed as VW's.

ZV

 

[Kirby]

I would kill for a 911 GT2 Evo. 600 HP of teh sex

 

[d33pt]

wow what happened to the other thread? it wasn't just locked..it disappeared.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
You Porsche doubters need to watch this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=p4PTxOv4JFY

I would stomp on a puppy for any of those cars. 😉

I want the BMW's engine, the AM design, and the Porsche dynamics.

 

[ch33zw1z]

28,000...that's it?

 

[loic2003]

Does that value include things like R&D, testing and all that, or is it one of these myopic "final price - cost of materials = total profit" shït statistics?

 

[vizkiz]

Originally posted by: DukeN

Originally posted by: vizkiz

Originally posted by: DukeN
Great engineering but built for midgets. Sorry but that rinky-dink sized car won't accomodate my 6'4 frame. Plus I can't believe the ugly exterior crappy beetle like design they have, its like someone put the best engine in a fricking kids toy car.

BS. We have customers your height and taller. One of our salesman is 6'4 and fits in them perfectly fine. In fact, his personal car is a 986 Boxster.

That is indeed cool, I did not know that was done by Porsche. Which models can be customised?

Also, will Porsche ever release a car that doesn't have the round, bug-like design? (Crapayenne doesn't count for its a SUV).

They're not customized at all.

I believe all cars will have that similar headlight design, even the upcoming Panamera and 928.

 

[vizkiz]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I would kill for a 911 GT2 Evo. 600 HP of teh sex

One of our customers has a Ruf GT2. I believe it is 1 of 6 in the US. He has a GT3 on order, but not from us. He didn't get on our list early enough.

 

[OS]

funny this thread is back, autoblog has an entry with porsche refuting the claim