Porsche Desigers/Planners - Listen Up

[daepp]

Change course please.

1) No more SUV's.
2) Make a light weight, fun, lower cost car
- Must be light like a Lotus (lots of AL and CF)
- Flat four (unfortunately would probably have to be water cooled)
- Mid-engine
- Direct injection - High HP and Hi MPG - very cool
- No power windows
- No power seats (S/B light weight racing seats)
- As little high-tech electronics as possible
- Radio delete option
- A/C delete option
- Removable top
- Must be in the $30-40K range
3) Get back to what made your cars a hit to begin with

I am sure this car would be a hit. High MPG deals with high gas prices, low cost addresses the economy we face today. Should be light weight, balanced and fun to toss around. Drive to work during the week, AX on the weekend.

What's wrong with this idea?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

This formula sounds suspiciously like the 914 (70s) and 944 (80s) that saved the company in those bad times...

I hope they're smart enough to remember it.

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by daepp

What's wrong with this idea?

Nothing save for the cost of Al and CF.

[KaptKaos]

HA!

While I agree with your sentiments, Porsche has made more money on the Pepper Wagon than we can imagine. Those profits have allowed Porsche to stay independent and grow stronger. They have also allowed development of PDK and other tech.

Also, since Porsche has been making automatic (or manumatic) transmissions for the 911, those sales are up too.

While I like your concept, it is for a niche market.

[the]

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

HA!

While I agree with your sentiments, Porsche has made more money on the Pepper Wagon than we can imagine. Those profits have allowed Porsche to stay independent and grow stronger.

How much did they make on the Cayenne?

Are those profits really the reason Porsche has "managed" to stay independent? They were, after all, the world's most profitable car company immediately before the intro of the Cayenne.

Do you know where Porsche makes most of its money?

[daepp]

Originally Posted by the

Do you know where Porsche makes most of its money?

Selling Early car parts?

[VincentVega]

How much did they make on the Cayenne?

I dont know the answer to this. But, considering you can buy the same chassis for 1/3 the price tells me there is significant margin in the product. Sure, the Porsche engine, suspensions and interior bits have real costs, but 3x the VW? Brilliant financial move.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by daepp

Change course please.

1) No more SUV's.
2) Make a light weight, fun, lower cost car
- Must be light like a Lotus (lots of AL and CF)
- Flat four (unfortunately would probably have to be water cooled)
- Mid-engine
- Direct injection - High HP and Hi MPG - very cool
- No power windows
- No power seats (S/B light weight racing seats)
- As little high-tech electronics as possible
- Radio delete option
- A/C delete option
- Removable top
- Must be in the $30-40K range
3) Get back to what made your cars a hit to begin with

I am sure this car would be a hit. High MPG deals with high gas prices, low cost addresses the economy we face today. Should be light weight, balanced and fun to toss around. Drive to work during the week, AX on the weekend.

What's wrong with this idea?

Ever full of hope, aren't we? Why not just buy a Lotus now?

[SGB]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Ever full of hope, aren't we? Why not just buy a Lotus now?

or a 914 or two.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by daepp

Change course please.

1) No more SUV's.
2) Make a light weight, fun, lower cost car
- Must be light like a Lotus (lots of AL and CF)
- Flat four (unfortunately would probably have to be water cooled)
- Mid-engine
- Direct injection - High HP and Hi MPG - very cool
- No power windows
- No power seats (S/B light weight racing seats)
- As little high-tech electronics as possible
- Radio delete option
- A/C delete option
- Removable top
- Must be in the $30-40K range
3) Get back to what made your cars a hit to begin with

I am sure this car would be a hit. High MPG deals with high gas prices, low cost addresses the economy we face today. Should be light weight, balanced and fun to toss around. Drive to work during the week, AX on the weekend.

What's wrong with this idea?

Quite simply, they don't need to.

[Monza_dh]

i agree on the car idea but with VW in the baq and the $$$ it made from derivatives they seem to not be too worried about the brand.

VW Gamble Nets Porsche $20B, Wallops Hedge Funds
(Newser) – Hedge funds that bet on a dive in Volkswagen shares are nursing some pretty stiff hangovers—to the tune of a possible $20 billion in losses—after the shares soared when rival Porsche announced over the weekend it had secretly acquired a 74% stake in its fellow German automaker, reports the Independent. The losses could push some of the firms into bankruptcy.

Porsche today said it would sell some 5% of its stake in Volkswagen—which has risen 384% in value over the previous two days—to put some shares back in the market and reduce their volatility somewhat, AP adds. European hedge funds—which rely heavily on short selling—are expected to lose as much as $500 billion in the second half of 2008, analysts say.

Great article here:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/be3f8d74-a6ac-11dd-95be-000077b07658.html


And here:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b26a806e-a5e7-11dd-9d26-000077b07658.html

[daepp]

My neighbor has a 1-2 year old Lotus - he's a small (Asian) and even he has to contort himself to get in.

And I am just a huge Porsche fan. And I think it's a winning combination - they should be able to make a bundle on.

As for a 914 - I would love one (always like the 2.0's) but I'm talking about something new and fun and (relatively) cheap and fast and stripped and light.

[vash]

i wonder what percentage of the lotuses out there do track time?

porsche needs to sell to the (rich) masses. and those masses want comfy goodness, in a sporty package. even that main pcar tester feels that the new cars are getting to porky. even he cant get the company to put out a lightweight.. i forget the dudes name. i read and article about him and that was his main complaint.

[svandamme]

well, rumour is Porsche will bring out a 4 banger Boxster in the near future

[poorsche930]

Originally Posted by vash

i wonder what percentage of the lotuses out there do track time?

porsche needs to sell to the (rich) masses. and those masses want comfy goodness, in a sporty package. even that main pcar tester feels that the new cars are getting to porky. even he cant get the company to put out a lightweight.. i forget the dudes name. i read and article about him and that was his main complaint.

Was it Walter Rohrl?

VW and Audi have been on the idea of a midship targa for quite a few years. Porsche will probably put the brakes on the project, as it could comete than the redesigned Boxster due to be released in the next few years. The car has been designed and changed many times. This pic shows one of the uglier ones. search around for the rest. http://www.motorauthority.com/volkswagen-roadster-concept-pegged-for-la-auto-show.html

They do need a small speedy car, but NOT an inexpensive one, thats why they have majority control of VAG. Let VW or Audi have that market. There are no "inexpensive, entry-level" Ferrari or Aston Martin models. Cheap Porsches ruin the "mystique" of the brand. High production numbers would make our cars a little less special. BMW-esque if you will. The 1-series is $30. Unless you want the current level of Mercedes quality in a Porsche, dont hope for an inexpensive Pcar, just buy the Lotus or a........miata, and boost it until the head studs lift out, ha! (bullet proof and flame suit on, awating the next "opinion")

Daepp---- Your right, I think Porsche should return to it's roots. Small, stripped,spartan interior, insane handling, but with a $30-40k tag on it, it'll be nothing but another VAG parts bin car. For it to be a Porsche, it should be developed by PORSCHE, and their R&D isnt cheap.

[Milu]

Porsche has never made cheap or real entry level cars. Their cars have always been expensive compared to their competition and I don't see that changing.

I would love to see a return to roots product line-up with a small, 1600cc, 356 like town car and a fast, basic, traditional 911. Aircooled by choice. In the real world? No chance!