Porsche Boxsters & Cayman being traded in

[Synchro Joe]

When it comes time for the American owners of Porsche Boxsters and Caymans to trade in their keys for something new, they usually opt for another selection within the Porsche family. However, for those who choose to go elsewhere, guess what they're most frequently buying instead?

Go ahead and throw out every sports car you're starting to list. How about this curveball: the Jeep Wrangler!!

If you're surprised, you're certainly not alone. That little sales tidbit comes way of Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Porsche North America, who amusingly described executives back in Germany utterly flummoxed at the notion of Americans trading in their precision-engineered Porsche sports cars for a crude SUV on an ox-cart suspension. It would be like asking one of them to trade in their uber-modern Stuttgart home for a yurt in the forest.

Obviously, the gap in purposes and price tags of the 718 twins and the Wrangler couldn't be more vast. Seemingly the only thing a Boxster and Wrangler have in common is the ability to remove their roofs. Consider this, however. While the cars themselves couldn't be any different, the people who buy them often do so for the same reason: to serve as a fun, third car. It isn't something for commuting or taking the kids the school. Much as someone drives a Boxster out into the country for a spirited drive on the weekend, so too does a Wrangler owner — they just get a bit muddier in the process.

Both vehicles also offer a distinctive fashion sense, and ultimately, I think that's where this information is most telling. The SUV craze isn't just about mom and dad figuring out that a Honda CR-V is more functional for their parenting lives than an Accord. It's as much about style, fashion and what they want to be seen in. It shouldn't be surprising, then, that the choice of weekend automotive toys is starting to skew in that direction as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the executives at other sports-car-selling companies are seeing similar conquest numbers.

Frankly, it doesn't seem like a trend that's likely to change. Myriad factors have led to millennials not being the most keen on driving. As they get older and finally (perhaps, maybe) have enough disposable income for a third car, a precision-engineered sports car probably won't be the most desirable choice. But a crude SUV on an ox-cart suspension that can help them escape traffic and head wherever they want into the great outdoors? That sounds about right.
Oh well, at least you can get a Wrangler with a manual.

[fanaudical]

Road quality is constantly deteriorating. It's getting harder all the time to find a clear road to drive the sports car. People are getting older and finding it more and more difficult to get into a low-slung vehicle. Jeeps are cheap and address most of these problems.

[porsche4life]

Jeeps haven’t gotten kind of stupid expensive now but are the new trendy car to drive. All the status idiots are getting Jeeps and spending 10k on mods so they can make it out of the parking lot at Walmart.


So this isn’t that surprising. Lots of leased cars getting traded for other leased cars. :facepalm:

[masraum]

I saw the same article yesterday on facebook via Road and Track or Jalopnick or something like that. The folks that buy new Boxsters and Cayman aren't necessarily diehard Porsche folks or sports car folks.

[jcommin]

IMO, the Jeep Wrangler is more of a younger person's car ( I'm 69). The amount of aftermarket products available for the Wrangler is way too long to list. This includes outside, interior, chassis and drivetrain. The customiztion available is vast. So I see the attraction.

Having said that, the vehicle looks big but is small on the inside. I had trouble getting in/out of it. The turning circle is large, so navigating thru parking lots or parking in the city isn't easy. I won't be selling my Porsche for a Wrangler. My 83 is an antique compared to elecronics and gagets found on cars today. Its night and day and shouldn't be compared. I like the old stuff.

[svandamme]

I would reckon a lot of those Boxsters and Caymans were initially bought new by yuppies and hippies.. and they got all the bling they could get, like 20 inch wheels and then got a hard ride with it...

They never track em, they never ride em hard, yet they suffer all the drawbacks of them big wheels.

So at some point it wears off and they trade it in for a new hipster fad, the I look cool in my offroader.. which they will probably never off road, with studdy tires and they will have all the drawbacks for none of the use.


Now if they had been smart, they would have gotten the Cayman or Boxster with the smaller wheels and fatter tires.

A much much better ride, not as twitchy suspension.. more forgiving when it breaks traction.. and an all round more practical car..

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by jcommin

... The turning circle is large, so navigating thru parking lots or parking in the city isn't easy.

A Wrangler? They turn on a dime. Easiest ever in a parking lot.

You must have experienced a four-door with the long wheelbase.

The maneuverability of a Jeep is what's highly praised out in the woods.
I've only had two-door Jeeps. Not interested in the goofy-looking four door version.

[Noah930]

From Porsche's perspective, if they want to retain repeat customers, I think they need to turn their customer into an enthusiast. At least here in LA (which is one of the biggest markets for Porsche in the entire world), a fair number of these are bought as fashion accessories and status symbols. So it's not surprising--as others have pointed out--that yesterday's fashion trend gets traded in ('cause they're all leased) for the current fashion trend (4-door Wranglers). Plus, Jeeps have backseats (important if you've got kids), and they're still a lot cheaper than Macans or Cayennes.

As owners of older Porsches, we on this board are car guys and Porsche guys. So we do the Porsche wave. How many owners of Boxsters, Caymans, Macans, Cayennes, & Panameras do that? Partially because it wouldn't be practical (feels like every fifth car around here is a Porsche), and partially because of a lack of connection to the marque. And because of that latter reason, it's not surprising when these lessees turn in their cars after 3 years and go for something else. $45-50K for a nicely-optioned 4-door Wrangler is significantly cheaper than a $70-90K Macan.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

A Wrangler? They turn on a dime. Easiest ever in a parking lot.

You must have experienced a four-door with the long wheelbase.

The maneuverability of a Jeep is what's highly praised out in the woods.
I've only had two-door Jeeps. Not interested in the goofy-looking four door version.

Yes, it was a 4 door long wheelbase.

[kach22i]

Problem solved?

https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?6045569-Air-Cooled-Brown-Lifted-Targa-911.-Need-more-info



https://www.norra.com/release_2019_04_24b.php



https://newsbroadcastnetwork.com/sand-surfing-911-style-speedhunters/

[Dantilla]

As a guy who has had a handful of Porsches and a handful of Jeeps:

Porsche- Best thing on pavement
Jeep- Best thing off pavement.

[Brando]

Jeeps are pretty good on SoCal pavement.

Originally Posted by Dantilla

As a guy who has had a handful of Porsches and a handful of Jeeps:

Porsche- Best thing on pavement
Jeep- Best thing off pavement.

[Kraftwerk]

Well I found two similarities between the 911 and the Jeep anyway: They both take six spark plugs. ( some Jeeps) Jeep head lights and Porsche headlights are a similar circumference. There is even a very bright aftermarket company making headlamps which fits either make.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

As a guy who has had a handful of Porsches and a handful of Jeeps:

Porsche- Best thing on pavement
Jeep- Best thing off pavement.

Agreed. There is a purity of purpose and mission that seems to make both appeal to similar people.

[GH85Carrera]

My brother and I built a dune buggy when I was 15. I learned to drive in it. We would have bought a Jeep, but that cost real money. The dune buggy was built from an old rolled and totaled VW bug, and was $200. I had lots of fun off road with that but I was too young to drive on the road (legally) anyway.

About that same time I bought a 1960 VW bug for $600. Dad gave me an interest free loan. The day I turned 16 I was free to drive the roads with all that power. I bet I did not drive the buggy off road more than once after that. The Bug was me ride to work, and school. I started into the real world of a daily job.

A few years later I bough a 74 914 2.0 brand new. I have not been off road since. Well I have driven on some dirt roads, but that was all there was to get me to more pavement.

If I lived in the mountains or in Yankee land or the far north where snow is regular and common, I would have a real 4 wheel drive vehicle. I don't, so I don't.

[wildthing]

Next product line: Macan with a removable roof.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

A Wrangler? They turn on a dime. Easiest ever in a parking lot.

You must have experienced a four-door with the long wheelbase.

The maneuverability of a Jeep is what's highly praised out in the woods.
I've only had two-door Jeeps. Not interested in the goofy-looking four door version.

Yes they turn on a dime. Just not at speed. I'd love to have one for when it snows but we do not get enough snow that I care. My Cayman turns at speed. Not the same thing.

[911boost]

I’m not 100% sure it is fair to compare a Cayman’s handling characteristics with a Wrangler.....

Not that I really care since I do not have either.

[manbridge 74]

Salesmen here love it when people trade in their Jeep or various other brodozers. The markup is huge on new Jeeps and even better when they sell used.

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Salesmen here love it when people trade in their Jeep or various other brodozers. The markup is huge on new Jeeps and even better when they sell used.

"brodozer" LOL...

The 1st generation Hummer (H1?) must be the ultimate "bro-dozer". My buddy had one. That had to be the single worst SUV ever to hit the American roads. I'd drive a family truckster before I'd drive one of those.